EP3928873A1 - Disinfectant dispenser, dispensing head for a disinfectant dispenser, disinfectant container and method for dispensing disinfectant - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispenser head (10) for a disinfectant dispenser (12), with a contact area (18) for applying a compressive force when the dispenser is actuated, and with a dispensing channel (24) running through the dispenser head (10) for dispensing disinfectant a dispensing orifice (26) or spray nozzle (22) of the dispensing head (10). The invention also relates to a disinfectant dispenser (12) with such a dispenser head (10) and a method for dispensing disinfectant. In order to prevent or at least minimize a possible transmission of pathogens via the dispenser head (10) in a simple and cost-effective manner, the dispenser head (10) comprises at least one branch channel (30) branching off from the dispensing channel (24), through which with each actuation of the dispenser (12) disinfectant reaches the contact area (18) and wets it.

Description

The invention relates to a dispenser head according to the preamble of claim 1, a disinfectant dispenser according to the preamble of claim 13, a disinfectant container according to the preamble of claim 14, and a method for dispensing disinfectant according to the preamble of claim 15.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an increased need for disinfectants in the population, which has also led to a greater demand for disinfectant dispensers.

A number of dispensers are known which are used to dispense liquid disinfectant contained in a disinfectant container onto a hand of a user. The simpler manual dispensers very often include a moveable actuator which is hand operated by the user to cause disinfectant to be dispensed onto one of his hands.

A distinction can be made between stationary dispensers mounted on a wall or on a stand and mobile dispensers. Examples of mobile dispensers are pump dispensers or spray atomizers that can be picked up and placed on a flat surface, for example at the edge of a wash basin.

In the case of the last-mentioned dispensers, the actuating element is a dispenser head which is arranged above the disinfectant container and which can be moved up and down in relation to the disinfectant container and when the Dispenser is depressed by the user with one hand, mostly with the palm, thumb or finger.

If the dispenser is a spray atomizer, in which the disinfectant container also contains a pressurized propellant gas in addition to the disinfectant, when the dispenser head is pressed down, the disinfectant is pressed by the propellant gas upwards from the disinfectant container into a dispensing channel in the dispenser head, through which it reaches a spray nozzle Flows at the end of the dispensing channel and then exits as a spray mist through the spray nozzle. Such dispensers and dispenser heads are generally known, for example from DE 1994681 U1 .

If the dispenser is a pump dispenser, when the dispenser head is depressed, disinfectant is sucked in from the disinfectant container by a piston, conveyed up to the dispenser head and then also released through a dispensing channel and, if necessary, a spray nozzle of the dispenser head as a spray jet or spray mist. Such donors are also generally known, for example from US-A-3,997,086 , EP-B1-0 835 165 , DE-T2-898 12 621 and EP-B1-1 125 856 .

Such mobile disinfectant dispensers have the advantage that they require little space and can easily be exchanged or relocated if necessary. On the other hand, they can be produced very inexpensively, so that they can be disposed of together with the disinfectant container after it has been emptied.

However, not a few people fear that the dispenser heads of publicly accessible donors could have been contaminated with pathogens, for example bacteria or viruses, by a previous user and that these pathogens could be transferred to their own hands when the donor head is pressed down. However, failure to use the dispenser for this reason can also lead to disease transmission. Based on this, the invention is based on the object of improving a dispenser head, a dispenser and a method of the type mentioned at the outset such that a possible transmission of pathogens via the dispenser head can be prevented or at least minimized, preferably in a simple and inexpensive manner .

This object is achieved in the dispenser head and method according to the invention in that, when and preferably each time the dispenser is operated, disinfectant arrives at the contact area through at least one branch channel branching off from the dispensing channel and wets it.

The contact area is preferably a flat or curved contact area for a hand of a user which, when the dispenser is operated, exerts a pressure force on the dispenser head, for example in order to depress it. Disinfectant is dispensed through the dispensing opening or spray nozzle of the dispenser head, preferably on the other hand of the user. At the same time, part of the disinfectant is diverted and wets the contact area, from where it also reaches the hand of the user operating the dispenser.

The invention is based on the idea of ensuring that the contact area is regularly disinfected by wetting the contact area of the dispenser head with fresh disinfectant each time the dispenser is operated, so that pathogens cannot survive there for long. Because disinfectant also gets from the contact area to the hand of the user operating the dispenser each time the dispenser is operated, this hand or at least the part of this hand that comes into contact with the contact area, e.g. the palm or thumb, is already in contact with partially disinfected in the dispenser head. Both of these contribute to the fact that when the donor is operated, a possible transmission of pathogens can be effectively counteracted.

Since in most commercially available pump dispensers or spray atomizers with a pressurized propellant gas contained in the disinfectant container in addition to the disinfectant, the dispensing channel is generally oriented transversely to the axis of movement of the dispenser head when the dispenser is operated, while the contact area is usually arranged directly above the disinfectant container on the top of the dispenser head is, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the branch channel or, in the case of several branch channels, at least one of the branch channels extends in an extension of a movement path of the dispenser head up to the contact area and opens at this. As a result, the disinfectant entering the dispenser head from the disinfectant container flows generally in a straight line through the at least one branch channel, while the flow through the dispensing channel bends in a lateral direction. As a result, even if the at least one branch channel has a very small flow cross section, disinfectant passes through the branch channel to the contact area.

In addition, it is sufficient if a relatively small part of the disinfectant released when the dispenser is operated reaches the contact area, while the largest part is advantageously released through the discharge opening or spray nozzle at the end of the discharge channel. For this reason, too, it is advantageous if the at least one branch channel has a significantly smaller flow cross-section than the discharge channel, preferably only a tenth or less.

Depending on the shape and size of the contact area, it will usually be sufficient to provide a single branch channel, which opens into or near the center of a generally round contact area, for example. In this case, the branch channel preferably has a flow cross section of less than 0.5 mm ² , better of less than 0.3 mm ² . The branch channel can advantageously already be molded into the dispenser head as a passage opening during the injection molding of the dispenser head. Alternatively, the branch canal can be made later, for example by drilling or laser drilling. Furthermore, the branch channel can be part of a spray nozzle which is molded into the dispenser head and opens in the contact area.

On the other hand, where the dispenser head and thus also the contact area has a rather elongated shape and extends above the dispensing channel, for example in the case of pump dispensers without a spray nozzle, such as those used, among other things, for dispensing liquid soap, it can be advantageous if Several branch channels branch off from it along the length of the delivery channel. In this case, the branch channels running upwards to the contact area are expediently aligned parallel to one another in order to facilitate removal of the dispenser head during injection molding. In this case, the branch channels have smaller flow cross-sections, advantageously of less than 0.3 mm ² , better of less than 0.2 mm ² .

Basically, it is sufficient to convey the disinfectant to the mouth of the branch channel and let it escape at the mouth or around the mouth directly onto the contact area, which is formed, for example, from the top of the dispenser head made of plastic by injection molding. However, if the user applies the required pressure force to press down the dispenser head around the mouth of the branch duct unevenly with his hand, there is a possibility that the disinfectant will not be evenly distributed on the contact area, so that the entire contact area will not be wetted by the disinfectant. In addition, there is the possibility that the disinfectant inadvertently emerges as a jet from the mouth of the branch duct if the user's hand does not cover the mouth when the dispenser head is pressed down.

Both can be avoided if, according to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the dispenser head comprises an open-pored and / or absorbent material in the contact area. Such a material provided on the dispenser head, which covers the mouth of the branch channel and distributes disinfectant emerging from the mouth around the mouth, ensures uniform wetting of the contact area with the disinfectant. The open-pored and / or absorbent material is advantageously a textile product because absorbent textile products are inexpensive and available on the market in a large variety. The textile product is expediently felt, for example a polyester felt, or a nonwoven fabric, for example a nonwoven fabric made of polyester, viscose or a viscose / polyester mixture, as is commercially available for the manufacture of dishcloths, kitchen towels or wipes is available. These materials can be easily punched without fraying the outer circumference afterwards. The material thickness of the textile product is preferably less than 3 mm, because thicker felts or nonwovens store a larger amount of liquid disinfectant that can be pressed out of the felt or nonwoven and drip off the dispenser head if pressure is applied to the felt or nonwoven when the dispenser head is actuated is exercised.

Because disinfectants with a high alcohol or isopropanol content also act as solvents, whereby dirt can loosen from the user's hands and deposit on or in the textile product, the textile product is colored differently depending on the intended use of the dispenser. In medical environments, the product is preferably light-colored so that soiling is immediately visible and the dispenser head can be replaced in this case. In heavily contaminated environments, the textile product is better to be dark so that contaminants are not visible.

As an alternative to a textile product, however, an open-cell foam material can also be used, which is expediently provided in a thin layer on the contact area and is preferably foamed onto the dispenser head around the mouth of the branch duct.

An integration of a large number of branch channels and an open-pored and / or absorbent material in a single element is possible if the dispenser head in the contact area consists at least partially of a sintered material, the spaces between which form a large number of branch channels with small flow cross-sections, which uniformly distribute the disinfectant in the contact area distribute one Prevent a jet of disinfectant from escaping and also limit the amount of disinfectant that reaches the contact area. This is particularly advantageous if the dispensing opening is equipped with a spray nozzle, as a result of which a higher pressure builds up inside the dispensing channel and too much disinfectant reaches the contact area without countermeasures.
An upwardly directed disinfectant jet can also be avoided in that the branch channel runs through a spray nozzle from which the disinfectant emerges as a spray mist. In this case, the spray mist hits a hand or finger of the user who is depressing the dispenser head and is also distributed almost evenly over the contact area between the top of the dispenser head and the hand or finger.

In particular, where the dispenser is disposed of together with the container after the disinfectant has been used up in the container, such as commercially available spray cans or pump dispensers for cosmetics, the open-pored and / or absorbent material is preferably attached to the dispenser head during the manufacture of the dispenser, expedient by firmly connecting the material to the dispenser head. For example, during the injection molding of the dispenser head, the material can be molded onto it in the contact area or, in the case of a sintered material, it can be molded into the dispenser head.

Preferably, after the injection molding of the dispenser head, the open-pored and / or absorbent material is permanently glued to the dispenser head around the mouth of the branch duct in the contact area by means of a hot melt adhesive. Since dispenser heads are usually interchangeable, the dispenser head is expediently replaced in this case if the contact area is contaminated. In order to ensure that the hot-melt adhesive does not close the mouth of the branch channel, the open-pored and / or absorbent material is advantageously not glued to the dispenser head in an annular zone immediately adjacent to the mouth of the branch channel.

However, where the disinfectant container is refilled with disinfectant after emptying and the dispenser is mounted again on the disinfectant container, it can also be advantageous to detachably connect the open-pored and / or absorbent material to the dispenser head, so that it can, for example, be soiled is exchangeable by, for example, an accessory part previously produced by injection molding and provided with the material being snapped onto the dispenser head. As an alternative to this, the dispenser head can be provided in the contact area with a cut of a hook part of a Velcro material or Velcro tape, to which a cut of a material capable of being hooked up is detachably attached. The Velcro material can be a loop part of the Velcro material or Velcro tape or alternatively a Velcro felt or fleece material. As a result, the accessory or the blank made of the Velcro-compatible material can be removed if necessary and replaced by a new accessory or a new blank, for example if the open-pored and / or absorbent material is soiled.

As is already known in the case of conventional dispensers, the dispenser head is expediently detachably connected to a movable, hollow piston of the dispenser by plugging and / or locking the dispenser head onto a hollow tube protruding upwards over the dispenser by means of a socket located in front of the opening of the dispensing channel which is pressed down together with the dispenser head in order to deliver the disinfectant through the tube into the dispensing channel of the dispenser head.

Pump dispensers advantageously have a screw cap with a screw thread so that they can be screwed onto a complementary screw thread on the neck of the disinfectant container. In this case, a hollow cylindrical skirt that is provided on the underside of the dispenser head, surrounds the socket, is concentric to the axis of movement of the dispenser head and protrudes downwards over the dispenser head, when the dispenser head is depressed, overlaps the screw cap of the dispenser on its outer circumference, making the contact area relatively large can.

In the context of this invention, only the dispensing mechanism itself is usually referred to as a dispenser, but sometimes also the unit consisting of the disinfectant container and the dispensing mechanism.

The invention is not only suitable for mobile dispensers, but also for dispensers that are mounted on a stand or on a wall. In this case, the movement of the dispenser head when depressed is vertical or horizontal, depending on the installation location.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine teilweise geschnittene schematische Ansicht eines Desinfektionsmittelbehälters mit einem Spender und einer ersten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Spenderkopfs;
• Fig. 1a zeigt eine Oberseitenansicht des Spenderkopfs aus Fig. 1;
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine vergrößerte Schnittansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform des Spenderkopfs;
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine vergrößerte Schnittansicht einer dritten Ausführungsform des Spenderkopfs;
• Fig. 4 zeigt eine teilweise geschnittene schematische Ansicht eines Desinfektionsmittelbehälters mit dem Spender und einer vierten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Spenderkopfs;
• Fig. 5 zeigt eine teilweise geschnittene schematische Ansicht des Spenders und einer fünften Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Spenderkopfs;
• Fig. 6 zeigt eine Draufsicht von oben auf den Spenderkopf aus Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7 zeigt eine Unterseitenansicht des Spenderkopfs aus Fig. 5;
• Fig. 8 zeigt eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht einer sechsten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Spenderkopfs;
• Fig. 9 zeigt eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht einer siebenten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Spenderkopfs;
• Fig. 10 zeigt eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht einer achten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Spenderkopfs;
• Fig. 11 zeigt eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht einer neunten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Spenderkopfs;
• Fig. 12 zeigt eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht einer zehnten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Spenderkopfs.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with the aid of some exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing.

• Fig. 1 shows a partially sectioned schematic view of a disinfectant container with a dispenser and a first embodiment of a dispenser head according to the invention;
• Fig. 1a FIG. 14 shows a top view of the dispenser head from FIG Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 2 Figure 12 shows an enlarged sectional view of a second embodiment of the dispenser head;
• Fig. 3 Figure 12 shows an enlarged sectional view of a third embodiment of the dispenser head;
• Fig. 4 shows a partially sectioned schematic view of a disinfectant container with the dispenser and a fourth embodiment of a dispenser head according to the invention;
• Fig. 5 shows a partially sectioned schematic view of the dispenser and a fifth embodiment of a dispenser head according to the invention;
• Fig. 6 shows a plan view from above of the dispenser head Fig. 5 ;
• Fig. 7 FIG. 14 shows a bottom view of the dispenser head from FIG Fig. 5 ;
• Fig. 8 shows a partially sectioned view of a sixth embodiment of a dispenser head according to the invention;
• Fig. 9 shows a partially sectioned view of a seventh embodiment of a dispenser head according to the invention;
• Fig. 10 shows a partially sectioned view of an eighth embodiment of a dispenser head according to the invention;
• Fig. 11 shows a partially sectioned view of a ninth embodiment of a dispenser head according to the invention;
• Fig. 12 shows a partially sectioned view of a tenth embodiment of a dispenser head according to the invention.

The dispenser heads 10 shown in the drawing are each part of a dispenser 12 with a screw cap 14 that can be screwed onto an external thread on the neck of a disinfectant bottle 16 and then partially protrudes into the interior of the bottle 16.

The disinfectant bottle 16 contains a low-viscosity disinfectant, such as a commercially available liquid disinfectant based on ethanol with an ethanol content of 75% to 99% as well as possibly one or more other constituents such as isopropanol, hydrogen peroxide, glycerine and Water. The bottle 16 can, however, also contain another low-viscosity or low-viscosity disinfectant. The bottle 16 is closed at the bottom by a base (not shown) serving as a floor space.

The filled disinfectant bottle 16 with the dispenser 12 and the dispenser head 10 can be placed with the floor on a relatively small storage area. A user can then press down the dispenser head 10 with one hand in relation to the bottle 16, the screw cap 14 and the storage area in order to dispense a metered amount of the disinfectant to his other hand for hand disinfection.

Similar dispensers are commercially available in a variety of shapes and designs and can be manufactured very inexpensively. In all such dispensers, the dispenser head 10 is provided on the top with a contact area 18 with which the user's hand comes into contact when the dispenser 12 is actuated or on which pressure is exerted by the user with his hand when the dispenser head 10 is pressed down .

In addition to the liquid disinfectant, the disinfectant container 16 can also contain a pressurized propellant gas. In this case, the dispenser 12 is inextricably linked to the disinfectant container 16, which is designed as a spray can (not shown in the drawings). In the case of these dispensers 12, in many cases a thin tube 20 which can be moved up and down together with the dispenser head 10 protrudes upwards over the spray can. When actuated, disinfectant is dispensed from the spray can as long as the dispenser head 10 is depressed. The dispensers 12 are usually designed as spray atomizers. A spray nozzle 22 in the dispenser head 10 ensures that disinfectant is dispensed as a spray mist after it has passed through a dispensing channel 24 of the dispenser head 10, thus limiting the amount of disinfectant dispensed. Such dispensers 12 and dispenser heads 10 are, for example, from the aforementioned DE 1994681 U1 known, the disclosure of which with regard to the construction and operation of the dispenser 12 is incorporated by reference into the present patent application.

If a metered amount of disinfectant is to be dispensed when the dispenser 12 is operated, the dispenser 12 is usually designed as a pump dispenser, as shown in the drawings. In this case, when the dispenser head 10 is pressed down, the dosed amount of disinfectant is sucked in by a piston (not visible) from the bottle 16 and then upwards through a tube 20 protruding above the dispenser 12 to the dispenser head 10 and through a dispensing channel 24 in the dispenser head 10 before it is released either as a drop through a discharge opening 26 or as a spray jet or spray mist through a spray nozzle 22. Such dispensers 12 are, for example, from the aforementioned US-A-3,997,086 , EP-B1-0 835 165 , DE-T2-898 12 621 and EP-B1-1 125 856 B1 known, the disclosure of which with regard to the construction and functioning of the dispenser 12 is incorporated by reference into the present patent application. Although such dispensers 12 are mainly used as a dispenser for liquid soap, they can also be used as a dispenser for a liquid or flowable disinfectant.

In both types of dispensers 12, the dispenser heads 10 are arranged above the disinfectant container 16 and from the dispenser 12 and together with the tube 20 and the piston in relation to the container 16, the screw cap 14 and one protruding from above into the container 16 and through the screw cap 14 movable up and down with this connected part 28 of the dispenser 12. A dispensing channel 24 runs through the dispenser heads 10 through which, when the dispenser 12 is actuated, ie when the dispenser head 10 is pressed down, disinfectant is conveyed to a spray nozzle 22 or dispensing opening 24 of the dispenser head 10 at the free end of the dispensing channel 24, where it then exits .

In the case of the last-mentioned dispensers 12, the dispenser head 10 can often be rotated in relation to the part protruding into the container 16, namely between a closed position in which the dispenser 12 cannot be actuated and the container 16 is closed in a liquid-tight manner, and an actuated position , in which the dispenser head 10 can be pressed down (not shown).

During the Covid-19 pandemic, however, it has been shown that quite a few users do not use such dispensers 12, which are public or accessible to other users, for hand disinfection, because they fear that the dispenser head 10 in the contact area 18 may have been infected by one of the previous users with pathogens, such as, for example, corona viruses, could have been contaminated and that the latter could possibly be transferred to one's own hand when the dispenser head 10 is pressed down.

With the dispenser heads 10 shown in the drawing, a possible transmission of pathogens via the dispenser head 10 or its contact area 18 to subsequent users of the dispenser 12 is to be prevented or at least minimized in a simple and inexpensive manner.

For this purpose, the dispenser heads 10 each comprise one or more branch channels 30 through which, during the actuation of the dispenser 12, i.e. when the dispenser head 10 is pressed down, part of the disinfectant conveyed upward from the bottle 16 reaches the contact area 18 of the dispenser head 10 and wets it. The branch channels 30 each branch off from the dispensing channel 24 between the thin tube 20 protruding from the dispenser 12 and the spray nozzle 22 or dispensing opening 26 and each open at the contact area 18.

The dispenser heads 10 shown in the drawing, made of plastic by injection molding, each have on their underside below the contact area 18 a cylindrical plug-on opening 32 which is used to attach to the tube 20 and whose longitudinal axis 34 is aligned with a longitudinal central axis 36 of the disinfectant bottle 16 and the dispenser 12. A first cylindrical section 38 of the dispensing channel 24 adjoins the push-on opening 32 in the direction of flow of the disinfectant, which, like the push-on opening 32, is molded into the dispenser head 10 from below during the manufacture of the dispenser head 10 and whose longitudinal center axis is aligned with the longitudinal center axis 34. The first section 38 is adjoined by a second section 40 which runs generally radially or transversely to the longitudinal center axis 34 and which, during the manufacture of the dispenser head 10, is inserted into the Figures 1 to 8 is molded from the side.

In the generally cylindrically shaped dispenser head 10 in the Figures 1 to 3 The second section 40 extends to the spray nozzle 22, which is inserted from the side into the free end of the second section 40 of the dispensing channel 24 and delimits a spray opening 42 with a diameter of 0.5 to 1 mm, through which a spray jet or Spray is released.

In the generally elongated dispenser head 10 in the Figures 4 to 8 the second section 40 extends as far as the dispensing opening 26 at the free end of the dispensing channel 24, through which the disinfectant exits obliquely downward. In this case, the second section 40 is inclined slightly downwards in the direction of the dispensing opening 26 or is bent slightly downwards.

The dispenser head 10 in Fig. 1 is formed in one piece apart from the spray nozzle 22. The circular contact area 18 on the top of the dispenser head 10 consists of the plastic material of the dispenser head 10. The branch channels 30 have very small diameters of 0.1 to 0.2 mm, so that the sum of their flow cross-sections is much smaller than the flow cross-section of the spray nozzle 22 and, comparatively, considerably less disinfectant can escape through the branch channels 30. The branch channels 30 may be arranged in a circle, as in FIG Fig. 1a shown, open directly at the top of the dispenser head 10 in the contact area 18 and are expediently molded in from below during the manufacture of the dispenser head 10.

The dispenser heads 10 in the Figures 2 and 3 and 8 to 12 consist of several parts and have a contact area 18 made of an open-pored, absorbent textile nonwoven material 46. These dispenser heads 10 each have only one Branch channel 30 which, as an extension of the longitudinal center axis 34, penetrates the upper delimiting wall 44 of the somewhat narrower and shorter first section 38 and the diameter of which is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the spray opening 42 of the spray nozzle 22. The fleece material 46 covers the mouth of the branch channel 30 on the upper side of the boundary wall 44 or the dispenser head 10 and ensures that the disinfectant is evenly distributed over the entire contact area 18 and that the disinfectant is prevented from escaping upwards as a jet of liquid.

For the 10 in Fig. 2 For example, the dispensing channel 24 and the branch channel 30 are recessed in a body 50 of the dispenser head 10, on which the fleece material 46 is held by a cuff 52 which surrounds the body 50. The cuff 52 can subsequently be molded or glued to the body 50. The lower part of the cuff 52 forms a hollow cylinder 54 which protrudes downwards over this on the underside of the dispenser head 12 and is concentric to the longitudinal center axis 34 and which, when the dispenser head 10 is pressed down, moves up and down in an upwardly open annular groove (not visible) of the screw cap 14 emotional.

For the 10 in Fig. 3 For example, the dispensing channel 24 and the branch channel 30 are recessed in a body 50 of the dispenser head 10, over which the hollow cylinder 54 protrudes as a unit on the underside of the dispenser head 10. The nonwoven material 46 here has a base 56 made of a thermoplastic material, which is molded onto the nonwoven material 46 before the unit of base 56 and nonwoven material 46 is placed in an injection mold and integrally connected to the body 50 of the dispenser head 10 by molding.

To ensure that the user's hand only comes into contact with the fleece material 46, its outer edge 58 is bent slightly downwards and outwards so that the cuff 52 ( Fig. 2 ) or the body 50 ( Fig. 3 ) in the overlapping area over the outer edge 58 of the nonwoven material 46 does not protrude upward beyond the latter or is even located somewhat lower than the nonwoven material 46.

The dispenser heads 10 in the Figures 4 to 7 each consist of a single part, so that here too the contact area 18 on the top of the dispenser head 10 consists of the plastic material of the dispenser head 10 itself.

The dispenser head 10 in Fig. 4 has a single branch channel 30 which penetrates the upper delimiting wall 44 of the section 38 as an extension of the longitudinal center axis 34. The two dispenser heads 10 in the Figures 5 to 8 each have four branch channels 30, which branch off upwards at intervals along the delivery channel 24 and each open at the contact surface 18. One of the four branch channels 30 runs as an extension of the longitudinal center axis 34 through the upper wall 44 of the first section 38. The three other branch channels 30 are aligned parallel to one another and pass through the upper wall 44 of the second section 40, being inclined upwards in the flow direction to the contact area 18 run and flow directly to this. Here, too, the branch channels 30 have very small diameters of 0.1 to 0.2 mm, so that only a small amount of disinfectant can pass through.

In the case of a dispenser head 10 with a circular cross-section, a marking 64 indicating the direction of spray, for example an arrow, can be embossed or printed on the top of the dispenser head 10, as shown in FIG Fig. 1 is shown. For the dispenser heads 10 in Figs. 2 and 3 For example, the marking 64 can be embossed over the edge 58 of the fleece material 46 into the cuff 52 or the body 50 or, alternatively, can be printed on top of the fleece material 46. Alternatively, the spray nozzle 22 can be inserted into a projection (not shown) which protrudes laterally over the dispenser head 10 and which then indicates the direction of the spray jet.

The top of the dispenser head in Fig. 8 is provided at least in the contact area 18 with a subsequently applied coating 62 made of an open-pored absorbent material 46, which covers the mouths of all branch channels 30 and, for example, after the injection molding of the dispenser head 10 by means of a thin layer of hot melt adhesive around the mouths of the branch channels 30 Top of the dispenser head 10 is glued.

The dispenser head 10 in Fig. 9 has a cylindrical body 50 with a concentric flat circular top surface 66 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 34 of the attachment opening 32 and a cylindrical circumferential surface 68, as well as a thin tube 70 protruding to one side over the circumferential surface 68, at the end of which the dispensing opening 26 is arranged. A single branch channel 30, which is aligned with the longitudinal center axis 34 and opens in or near the center of the upper side 66, runs between the dispensing channel 24 running through the tube 70 and the top side 66. A flat circular blank 72 made of the open-pored absorbent nonwoven material 46 is attached to the upper side 66, the upper side of which forms the contact area 18. In this case it is a nonwoven made of 85% viscose and 15% polyester, which has a thickness of about 1 mm and a weight per unit area of about 150 g / m ² . The blank 72 completely covers the circular upper side 66 of the dispenser head 10, its outer peripheral edge being flush with the cylindrical peripheral surface 68. The blank 72 is glued to the top side 66 of the body 50 made of polypropylene by means of a hot melt adhesive 74. The adhesive 74 surrounds the mouth of the branch duct 30 in a ring-shaped manner at a distance between approximately 5 and 10 mm, so that the blank 72 is not glued to the mouth of the branch duct 30 and no adhesive 74 can penetrate into the branch duct 30 when it is glued on.

At the donor heads in the Figures 8 and 9 A marking can be printed on the top of the cover 62 or the blank 72 (not shown), which indicates in a known manner in which direction the dispenser head 10 must be rotated in order to bring it into the actuating position or into the closed position.

At the donor head in Fig. 10 For example, the contact area 18 is formed by the smooth surface of the body 50 of the dispenser head 10, which is formed from plastic, for example polypropylene, by injection molding. The single branch channel 30 runs there through a spray nozzle 76 which is inserted concentrically to the axis 34 in the upper boundary wall 44 of the first section 38 of the dispensing channel 24 and generates an upwardly directed spray. The spray nozzle 76 consists of a cup-shaped outer part 78 and an inner part 80 loosely inserted into the outer part 78 and having a generally cylindrical peripheral surface. The outer part 78 is provided with a spray opening 84 at its closed end 82. The inner part 80 rests from the inside with a flat end face against the inside of the end 82. When pressure is built up in the dispensing channel 24 when the dispenser head 10 is pressed down, liquid disinfectant flows between the inner part 80 and the outer part 78 to the spray opening 84. When exiting the spray opening 84, the spray mist hits the limb of the body acting on the contact area 18 from below User, for example his thumb or palm, and is thereby distributed in the contact area 18 without an open-pored and / or absorbent material 46 being required there.

Instead of the spray nozzle 76, an insert made of a sintered material (not shown) can also be inserted into the upper delimiting wall 44 of the first section 38 of the dispensing channel 24. The open-pored sintered material has a larger cross-section than the spray nozzle 76, delimits a multiplicity of branch channels with small flow cross-sections and, with its upper side, forms part of the contact area 18.

The dispenser heads 10 in Figures 11 and 12 are intended for a pump dispenser 12 with a metallic casing 86 which forms the visible surfaces of the screw cap 14 and the dispenser head 10. The dispenser head 10 comprises a cylindrical body 50 made of plastic, for example polypropylene, a sleeve 88 made of metal, for example made of stainless steel, which covers the circumference of the body 50 and protrudes slightly above it, and a thin metal tube 70 with a Dispensing opening 26 at the free end, which extends through a bore 90 in the sleeve 88 and through the body 50 to the section 38 of the dispensing channel 24. The branch channel 30 extends in a straight line upward through the body 50 along the axis 34.

For the 10 in Fig. 11 a circular blank 92 is attached to the top of the body 50, which is made from the hook part of commercially available There is Velcro tape or Velcro material and is provided with a through opening 94 as an extension of the branch channel 30. The diameter of the blank 72 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 88 and is inserted into the sleeve 88 in such a way that the free ends of the hooks protrude slightly upward beyond the plane spanned by the upper edge of the sleeve 88. The open-pored and / or absorbent material 46 is detachably attached to the blank 72 and consists here of a circular blank 96 made of a synthetic felt material with a thickness of 1 to 3 mm that can be Velcro. The diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the blank 72 so that the felt material covers the upper edge of the sleeve 88. The blank 96 can be removed if it is dirty and replaced by a new, unused blank 96.

For the 10 in Fig. 12 the open-pored absorbent material 46 is held in the form of a circular blank 72 made of a fleece material by a detachable screw ring 98 so that it can be replaced if necessary. The screw ring 98 comprises a threaded sleeve 100 with an internal thread 102, which is complementary to an external thread 104 on the outer circumference and at the upper end of the sleeve 88, as well as an annular shoulder 106, which the circumferential edge of the blank 72 from above against a circumferential step 108 on the upper Front end of the sleeve 88 presses. The upper end of the sleeve 88 is higher in the middle than on the outer circumference, so that a central part of the blank 72 with the contact surface 18 protrudes above the top of the screw ring 98.

Claims (15)

Dispenser head (10) for a disinfectant dispenser (12), with a contact area (18) for applying a pressure force when the dispenser (12) is actuated, and with a dispensing channel (24) running through the dispenser head (10) for dispensing disinfectant through a Dispensing opening (26) or spray nozzle (22) of the dispenser head (10), characterized by at least one branch channel (30) which branches off from the dispensing channel (24) and through which disinfectant reaches the contact area (18) and wets it when the dispenser (12) is operated . Dispenser head (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact area (18) is a flat or curved contact area for a hand of a user and that when the dispenser (12) is operated, disinfectant is applied to the user's hand via the contact area (18) got. Dispenser head (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the branch channel (30) or at least one of the branch channels (30) branches off or is aligned in an extension of a movement path of the dispenser head (10) when the dispenser (12) is actuated. Dispenser head (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one branch channel (30) has a smaller flow cross-section than the delivery channel (24). Dispenser head (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one branch channel (30) opens out at the contact area (18). Dispenser head (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact area (18) consists at least partially of an open-pored and / or absorbent material (46). Dispenser head (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the open-pored and / or absorbent material (46) covers an opening of the at least one branch channel (30) and distributes disinfectant emerging from the opening of the branch channel (30) around the opening. Dispenser head according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the open-pore and / or absorbent material (46) is a textile product (62, 96) or a foam. Dispenser head according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the open-pore and / or absorbent material (46) is firmly or detachably connected to the dispenser head (10). Dispenser head according to Claim 9, characterized in that the open-pored and / or absorbent material (46) is glued to the dispenser head (12) around the mouth of the at least one branch channel (30) by means of a hot melt adhesive. Dispenser head according to Claim 9, characterized in that the open-pored and / or absorbent material (96) is an exchangeable Velcro-type material. Dispenser head according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one branch channel (30) runs through a spray nozzle (76) or through a sintered material. Disinfectant dispenser (12) with a dispenser head (10) according to one of the preceding claims. Disinfectant container (16) containing a liquid or flowable disinfectant, characterized by a disinfectant dispenser (12) according to Claim 13, the dispenser head (10) of which can be pressed down to dispense disinfectant from the disinfectant container (16) in order to dispense disinfectant through the dispensing opening (26). or to dispense the spray nozzle (22) of the dispenser head (10) and to convey disinfectant branched off from the dispensing channel (24) to wet the contact area (18) to the contact area (18). Method for dispensing disinfectant from a disinfectant container (16), with disinfectant being dispensed through a dispensing opening (26) or spray nozzle (22) of a dispensing channel (24) by a pressure force exerted by a user on a contact area (18) of a dispenser head (10) , characterized in that part of the disinfectant is branched off from the dispensing channel (24) and directed to the contact area (18) in order to wet it with disinfectant.

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