EP4504427A1

EP4504427A1 - A dual-chamber dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP4504427A1
Application number: EP22936111.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Xin Xin; Hong Shen
Original assignee: Nivea Shanghai Co Ltd; Beiersdorf AG
Current assignee: Beiersdorf AG
Priority date: 2022-04-07
Filing date: 2022-04-07
Publication date: 2025-02-12
Also published as: WO2023193164A1; CN119013106A; EP4504427A4

Abstract

A dual-chamber dispenser is disclosed, which includes an inner shell, an outer shell, an engine, a pushing platform mounted within the inner shell, two chambers positioned side by side within the inner shell, each containing a certain amount of fluid, two actuators for dispensing the respective fluids contained in the individual chambers, a top cap mounted onto the inner shell and a dispenser base for supporting the outer shell. The inner shell is movable relative to the outer shell. The engine is configured to cooperate with the pushing platform such that the rotation of the engine causes a vertical movement of the pushing platform. The pushing platform is configured to simultaneously push the two actuators when it is moved. With such arrangement, the same amount of fluid can be discharged from the individual chambers each time when the top cap is pushed down. The dual-chamber dispenser according to the invention is able to always discharge the same amount of fluids from its individual chambers.

Description

A dual-chamber dispenser

Technical Field

The invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing fluids, e.g., liquids, and more specifically to a multiple-chamber dispenser, such as a dual-chamber dispenser.

Background

Dispensers are widely used in dispensing fluids, such as liquids, e.g., perfume. Due to the properties of some fluids, which contain two or more components, it may be desirable to store the various components of a fluid in separated chambers of a dispenser. The components are dispensed by the dispenser and then mixed into the fluid just before use.
A dual-chamber dispenser is known in the art, which is useful in dispensing different liquids from two separated chambers of the dispenser. However it is difficult to ensure that the amounts of liquids dispensed by the two chambers are identical with each other.
Thus there is still a need for a multiple-chamber dispenser which is able to dispense different liquids in an accuracy manner.
Summary of Invention
An object of the invention is to provide a novel multiple-chamber dispenser, in particular a dual-chamber dispenser, which is able to always discharge the same amount of fluids from its individual chambers.
According to an embodiment, a dual-chamber dispenser includes an inner shell, an outer shell, an engine, a pushing platform mounted within the inner shell, two chambers positioned side by side within the inner shell, each containing a certain amount of fluid, two actuators for dispensing the respective fluids contained in the individual chambers, a top cap mounted onto the inner shell and a dispenser base for supporting the outer shell. The inner shell is movable relative to the outer shell. The engine is configured to cooperate with the pushing platform such that the rotation of the engine causes a vertical movement of the pushing platform. The pushing platform is configured to simultaneously push the two actuators when it is moved. With such arrangement, the same amount of fluid can be discharged from the individual chambers each time when the top cap is pushed down.
In the embodiment, the engine includes an engine top, an engine base, a spring mounted between the engine top and the engine base, and a screw fixed to the engine top at a top side thereof. The engine top is positioned inside the engine base such that the engine top is movable relative to the engine base in an up-down direction by means of the spring. Preferably the spring is a coil spring with one end being mounted to a bottom side of the engine base and the other end abutting against a top side of the engine top.
Also, in the embodiment, the engine top includes a body portion, a groove disposed adjacent a bottom side of the body portion, and a rectangular opening centrally disposed in a top surface of the body portion. The groove extends circumferentially and is divided into four identical parts, each part extending over an angle of 90 degrees and consisting of a first groove segment, a second groove segment and a third groove segment which are continuous with each other. The first groove segment extends upwardly from the lowest point to the highest point of the part in an inclined manner, the second groove segment extends vertically downwardly from the highest point of the part to an intermediate point located between the highest and lowest points of the part, and the third groove segment extends downwardly from the intermediate point to the lowest point of an adjacent part in an inclined manner, so that the three groove segments form a zigzag-like shape.
Further, in the embodiment, the engine base includes a body portion, four sliders disposed on an inner wall of the body portion, and two lugs. Preferably the sliders are evenly circumferentially distributed. The lugs are diametrically opposite to each other. The outer shell is also supported onto the lugs.
Furthermore, in the embodiment, the screw includes a body portion having a male thread, and a base portion, which is larger than the rectangular opening of the engine top so as to be fixed against the engine top.
Furthermore, in the embodiment, the pushing platform has a body portion and a threaded portion in the form of a female thread which is formed in the body portion. Preferably the threaded portion is also slightly projected from the body portion.
Moreover, in the embodiment, there is provided a protrusion at each widthwise side near a top edge of the inner shell so as to be engaged with the outer shell. Accordingly, there is provided a corresponding limiter notch at each widthwise side near a top edge of the outer shell.
Moreover, in the embodiment, the top cap has a body portion and a dispenser outlet. Also, there are provided in the top cap two curved fluid passages, each of which extends from the dispenser outlet and is terminated at a respective recess. Accordingly, each of the chambers has a cylindrical body portion defining the hollow interior of the chamber, and a hollow boss projecting from the top surface of the body portion, the recess being in fluid communication with the interior of an associated chamber. In this way, the fluid contained inside the interior of the chamber can be discharged to the dispenser outlet via a respective fluid passage of the top cap.
Moreover, in the embodiment, the actuator is in the form of a plunger, which has a top portion, an actuator rod and a base portion. The top portion is sealedly fitted within an associated chamber. The base portion abuts against a top surface of the body portion of the pushing platform. In this way, the actuator can be moved together with the pushing platform.
Beside, according to an embodiment, the dispenser base has a body portion and two catch hooks for engaging the outer shell.
Brief Description of Drawings
For better understanding, the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the Figures showing in the Drawings in which:
Fig. 1A is a plan view of a dual-chamber dispenser according to an embodiment of the invention in which interior components are depicted in dotted lines;
Fig. 1B is a front view of the dual-chamber dispenser shown in Fig. 1A in which interior components are not shown;
Fig. 1C is a side view of the dual-chamber dispenser shown in Fig. 1B;
Fig. 2A is a perspective view of an engine of the dual-chamber dispenser shown in Fig. 1A in which interior components are depicted in dotted lines;
Fig. 2B is a plan view of the engine as shown in Fig. 2A;
Fig. 3A is a perspective view of an engine top of the engine as shown in Fig. 2A;
Fig. 3B is a plan view of the engine top as shown in Fig. 3A;
Fig. 4A is a perspective view of an engine base of the engine as shown in Fig. 2A;
Fig. 4B is a plan view of the engine top as shown in Fig. 4A;
[Corrected under Rule 26, 22.04.2022]
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a screw of the engine as shown in Fig. 2A;
[Corrected under Rule 26, 22.04.2022]
Fig. 6A is a perspective view of a pushing platform of the dual-chamber dispenser as shown in Fig. 1A;
Fig. 6B is a front view of the pushing platform as shown in Fig. 6A;
Fig. 7A is a perspective view of an inner shell of the dual-chamber dispenser as shown in Fig. 1A;
Fig. 7B is a top view of the inner shell as shown in Fig. 7A;
Fig. 8A is a perspective view of an outer shell of the dual-chamber dispenser as shown in Fig. 1A;
Fig. 8B is a bottom view of the outer shell as shown in Fig. 8A;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a chamber of the dual-chamber dispenser as shown in Fig. 1A;
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an actuator of the dual-chamber dispenser as shown in Fig. 1A;
Fig. 11A is a perspective view of a top cap of the dual-chamber dispenser as shown in Fig. 1A;
Fig. 11B is a front view of the top cap as shown in Fig. 11A;
Fig. 11C is a bottom view of the top cap as shown in Fig. 11A; and
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a dispenser base of the dual-chamber dispenser as shown in Fig. 1A.

Detailed Description

In the context of the invention, for the sake of conveniences, directional terms, such as “top” , “bottom” or the like are used with reference to the orientations depicted in the figures.
Figs. 1A, 1B and 1C are schematic views of a dual-chamber dispenser 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in Fig. 1A, the dual-chamber dispenser 1 includes an inner shell 10, an outer shell 20, an engine 30, a pushing platform 40 mounted within the inner shell 10, two chambers 50 positioned side by side within the inner shell 10, each containing a certain amount of fluid, two actuators 60 for dispensing the fluids contained in the respective chambers 50, a top cap 70 mounted onto the inner shell 10 and a dispenser base 80 for supporting the outer shell 20. The inner shell 10 is movable relative to the outer shell 20. The engine 30 is configured to cooperate with the pushing platform 40 such that the rotation of the engine 30 causes a vertical movement of the pushing platform 40. The pushing platform 40 is configured to simultaneously push the two actuators 60 when it is moved such that the same amount of fluid can be discharged from the individual chambers 50.
Figs. 2A and 2B are schematic views of the engine 30, which includes an engine top 31, an engine base 32, a spring 33 mounted between the engine top 31 and the engine base 32, and a screw 34 fixed to the engine top 31 at a top side thereof. The engine top 31 is positioned inside the engine base 32. The spring 33 is a coil spring with one end being mounted to a bottom side of the engine base 32 and the other end abutting against a top side of the engine top 31 so that the engine top 31 is movable relative to the engine base 32 in an up-down direction by means of the spring 33.
Fig. 3A is a schematic view of the engine top 31 in the form of a hollow cylindrical shaped body, which includes a body portion 31a, a groove 31b disposed adjacent a bottom side of the body portion 31a, and a rectangular opening 31c centrally disposed in a top surface of the body portion 31a. As shown in Fig. 3B, the groove 31b extends circumferentially and is divided into four identical parts, each part extending over an angle of 90 degrees and consisting of a first groove segment 31b1, a second groove segment 31b2 and a third groove segment 31b3 which are continuous with each other. The first groove segment 31b1 extends upwardly from the lowest point to the highest point of the part in an inclined manner, the second groove segment 31b2 extends vertically downwardly from the highest point of the part to an intermediate point located between the highest and lowest points of the part, and the third groove segment 31b3 extends downwardly from the intermediate point to the lowest point of an adjacent part in an inclined manner, so that the three groove segments form a zigzag-like shape.
Fig. 4A is a schematic view of the engine base 32 also in the form of a hollow cylindrical shaped body, which includes a body portion 32a, four sliders 32b disposed on an inner wall of the body portion, and two lugs 32c. The sliders 32b are evenly circumferentially distributed (see Fig. 4B) , so that they can slide along the respective parts of the groove 31b of the engine top 31, whereby the engine top 31 is rotated. The lugs 32c are diametrically opposite to each other. When assembling, the outer shell 20 is supported onto the lugs 32c at a bottom side thereof.
Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the screw 34, which includes a body portion 34a having a male thread, and a base portion 34b, which is larger than the rectangular opening 31c of the engine top 31. Thus, when assembling, the body portion 34a of the screw 34 extends through the rectangular opening 31c of the engine top 31 while the base portion 34b is fixed against the engine top 31, so that the screw 34 can be rotated with the engine top 31.
Fig. 6A is a schematic view of the pushing platform 40, illustrating that the pushing platform 40 has a body portion 41 and a threaded portion 42 in the form of a female thread which is formed in the body portion 41. As shown in Fig. 6B, the threaded portion is slightly projected from the body portion 41 in order to ensure a reliable engagement between the threaded portion 42 of the pushing platform 40 and the screw 34. When assembling, the threaded portion 42 is engaged with the body portion 34a of the screw 34 so that the pushing platform 40 can be moved up and down within the inner shell 10 depending on the rotation direction of the screw 34.
Fig. 7A is a schematic view of the inner shell 10 in the form of a hollow rounded rectangular cylindrical shaped body, illustrating that there is provided a protrusion 11 at each widthwise side near a top edge of the inner shell 10. The protrusion 11 extends in a width direction of the inner shell 10. Also, as shown in Fig. 7B, the inner shell 10 has two openings 12 near a top side thereof, through which two respective chambers 50 extend, which will be described later. When assembling, the protrusion 11 abuts against a respective limiter notch 21 of the outer shell 20, which will be described below in detail, so that the movement of the inner shell 10 relative to the outer shell 20 can be guided by the engagement between the protrusion 11 and the limiter notch 21. The protrusion 11 may be chamfered for a better guide. Meanwhile, the limiter notch 21 serves as a stop for limiting the movement of the inner shell 10.
Fig. 8A is a schematic view of the outer shell 20 also in the form of a hollow rounded rectangular cylindrical shaped body, illustrating that there is provided a rectangular limiter notch 21 at each widthwise side near a top edge of the outer shell 20. As discussed above, the limiter notches 21 are engaged with the respective protrusions 11when assembling. Also, as shown in Fig. 8B, the outer shell 10 has an opening 22 at a bottom side thereof through which the engine 30 extends. During use, the upper and lower limits of the movement of the inner shell 10 relative to the outer shell 20 are defined by the top and bottom edges of the limiter notches 21, respectively..
Fig. 9 is a schematic view of the chamber 50. As shown in Fig. 9, the chamber 50 has a cylindrical body portion 51 defining the hollow interior of the chamber 50, and a hollow boss 52 projecting from the top surface of the body portion 51. When assembling, the boss 52 is preferably sealedly received in a respective recess 74 of the top cap 70, which will be described below in detail, so that the interior of the chamber 50 is in fluid communication with a respective fluid passage 73 of the top cap 70.
Fig. 10 is a schematic view of the actuator 60 that can be moved reciprocately within an associated chamber 50. As shown in Fig. 10, the actuator 60 is in the form of a plunger, which has a top portion 61, an actuator rod 62 and a base portion 63. During use, the top portion 61 serves as a piston and thus is sealedly fitted within the associated chamber 50.The base portion 63 abuts against a top surface of the body portion 41 of the pushing platform 40 so that the actuator 60 can be moved together with the pushing platform 40.
Fig. 11A is a schematic view of the top cap 70. As shown in Fig. 11A, the top cap 70 has a body portion 71 and a dispenser outlet 72. The body portion 71 is of a rounded rectangular plate shape. The dispenser outlet 72 is aligned with a top surface of the body portion 71 and located centrally in a length direction of the body portion 71, as shown in Fig. 11B. Also, as shown in Fig. 11C, there are provided in the top cap 70 two curved fluid passages 73, each of which extends from the dispenser outlet 72 and is terminated at a respective recess 74, the recess 74 being in fluid communication with an associated chamber 50. In this case, the fluid passages 73 meet at the dispenser outlet 72 so as form a V shape.
Fig. 12 is a schematic view of the dispenser base 80. As shown in Fig. 12, the dispenser base 80 has a body portion 81 and two catch hooks 82 for engaging the outer shell 20. The body portion 81 is of a rounded rectangular plate shape. The catch hooks 82 are disposed on a top surface of the body portion 81 such that they are located adjacent opposite edges of the body portion in a length direction and centrally in a width direction of the body portion. When assembling, the outer shell 20 is placed onto the dispenser base 80 such that it engages the catch hooks 82 at a bottom side thereof.
During use, once the top cap 70 is pushed down, the engine top 31 will be moved downwardly from the original height position (i.e., the lowest point of each groove part) and at the same time rotated by an angle of 90 degrees in an anti-clockwise direction due to the sliding movement of the sliders 32b along the groove 31b, and the screw 34 which is fixed with the engine top 31 will also be rotated by an angle of 90 degrees. The pushing platform 40 which is engaged with the screw 34 should also be rotated by an angle of 90 degrees. However, due to the fact that the pushing platform 40 is mounted within the inner shell 10 so as to be prevented from a rotation movement, the pushing platform 40 will be moved upwardly by a certain distance. Then the two actuators 60 will also be moved upwardly by the same distance, thereby discharging the same amount of fluid from the individual chambers 50. Thus the dual-chamber dispenser has always a 1: 1 outcome by volume each time when the top cap 70 is pushed down.
After releasing the top cap 70, the engine top 31 will move back to the original height position due to the spring 33 while further rotating in the anti-clockwise direction. With the third groove segment being shorter than the first groove segment, the rotation angle during the return movement direction may be less than that during the pushing down movement. Thus the pushing platform 40 will be gradually moved upwardly till all the fluids contained in the individual chambers 50 are dispensed.
The embodiment of the invention as discussed above exemplifies a dual-chamber dispenser. However it will be understood that the invention can also be applied to a multiple-chamber dispenser having more than two chambers which are actuated by their respective actuators, the actuators being activated by a common pushing platform.
The invention has been described above in exemplary form with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent a single embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that many different embodiments of the invention exist, and that these embodiments all fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
List of Reference Signs
1 dispenser
10 inner shell
11 guide protrusion
12 bottom opening
20 outer shell
21 limiter notch
22 bottom opening
30 engine
31 engine top
31a body portion
31b groove
31b1 a first groove segment
31b2 a second groove segment
31b3 a third groove segment
31c opening
32 engine base
32a body portion
32b slider
32c lug
33 coil spring
34 screw
34a body portion
34b base portion
40 pushing platform
41 body portion
42 threaded portion
50 chamber
51 body portion
52 boss
60 actuator
61 top portion
62 actuator rod
63 base portion
70 top cap
71 body portion
72 dispenser outlet
73 fluid passage
74 recess
80 dispenser base
81 body portion
82 catch hook

Claims

A dual-chamber dispenser, which comprises: an inner shell, an outer shell, an engine, a pushing platform mounted within the inner shell, two chambers positioned side by side within the inner shell, each containing a certain amount of fluid, two actuators for dispensing the respective fluids contained in the individual chambers, a top cap mounted onto the inner shell and a dispenser base for supporting the outer shell, wherein the inner shell is movable relative to the outer shell, the engine is configured to cooperate with the pushing platform such that the rotation of the engine causes a vertical movement of the pushing platform, and the pushing platform is configured to simultaneously push the two actuators when it is moved.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the engine includes an engine top, an engine base, a spring mounted between the engine top and the engine base, and a screw fixed to the engine top at a top side thereof, and wherein the engine top is positioned inside the engine base such that the engine top is movable relative to the engine base in an up-down direction by means of the spring.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to claim 2, wherein the spring is a coil spring with one end being mounted to a bottom side of the engine base and the other end abutting against a top side of the engine top.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the engine top includes a body portion, a groove disposed adjacent a bottom side of the body portion, and a rectangular opening centrally disposed in a top surface of the body portion, and wherein the groove extends circumferentially and is divided into four identical parts, each part extending over an angle of 90 degrees and consisting of a first groove segment, a second groove segment and a third groove segment which are continuous with each other, wherein the first groove segment extends upwardly from the lowest point to the highest point of the part in an inclined manner, the second groove segment extends vertically downwardly from the highest point of the part to an intermediate point located between the highest and lowest points of the part, and the third groove segment extends downwardly from the intermediate point to the lowest point of an adjacent part in an inclined manner, so that the three groove segments form a zigzag-like shape.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the engine base includes a body portion, four sliders disposed on an inner wall of the body portion of the engine base, and two lugs onto which the outer shell is also supported.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the sliders are evenly circumferentially distributed and/or the lugs are diametrically opposite to each other.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the screw includes a body portion having a male thread, and a base portion, which is larger than the rectangular opening of the engine top so as to be fixed against the engine top.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pushing platform has a body portion and a threaded portion in the form of a female thread which is formed in the body portion of the pushing platform.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the threaded portion is also slightly projected from the body portion of the pushing platform.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein there is provided a protrusion at each widthwise side near a top edge of the inner shell so as to be engaged with the outer shell.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to claim 10, wherein there is provided a corresponding limiter notch at each widthwise side near a top edge of the outer shell.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the top cap has a body portion and a dispenser outlet, and wherein.there are provided in the top cap two curved fluid passages, each of which extends from the dispenser outlet and is terminated at a respective recess.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to claim 12, wherein each of the chambers has a cylindrical body portion defining the hollow interior of the chamber, and a hollow boss projecting from the top surface of the body portion, the recess being in fluid communication with the interior of an associated chamber.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the actuator is in the form of a plunger, which has a top portion, an actuator rod and a base portion, and wherein the top portion is sealedly fitted within an associated chamber, and the base portion abuts against a top surface of the body portion of the pushing platform.
The dual-chamber dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the dispenser base has a body portion and two catch hooks for engaging the outer shell.