WO2003039312A1

WO2003039312A1 - Metering device for metering a pasty substance

Info

Publication number: WO2003039312A1
Application number: PCT/NL2002/000719
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pieter Adriaan Meeuwenoord
Original assignee: Pieter Adriaan Meeuwenoord
Priority date: 2001-11-09
Filing date: 2002-11-08
Publication date: 2003-05-15
Also published as: NL1019343C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering device (1) for metering a pasty substance. The metering device (1) is characterised in that the pressure device (6, 23) comprises a gear rack (6) provided with a rotating wheel (7) connected to it, and the gear rack (6) acts as a piston rod. An advantage of the metering device (1) is that a quantity of pasty substance can be metered accurately by rotating a rotating wheel (7). The metering device (1) is suitable in particular for use in sanitary rooms as a toothpaste dispenser.

Description

Metering device for metering a pasty substance

The invention relates to a metering device for metering a pasty substance, in particular toothpaste, comprising: • a paste holder

• expelling means for expelling paste present in the paste holder

• a dispensing tube with an inlet end that opens into the paste holder, and with an outlet end that is accessible from the outside.

Such metering devices are already known from the prior art and have the disadvantage that accurate metering of the pasty substance with the aid of these devices is not possible. Such metering devices also have the disadvantage that they leak pasty substance from the dispensing tube onto what is placed below, in particular by dripping after use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a metering device which releases a pasty substance in a simple manner, by means of which a user can meter accurately, and in the case of which dripping after use is prevented.

The object of the present invention is achieved by the fact that the expelling means comprise:

• a pin provided with rack teeth and pointing with one longitudinal end towards the inlet end of the dispensing tube;

• a rotating element fitted on a shaft that by way of a tooth system is connected in a driving manner to the rack teeth, in order to be able to move the pin up and down in the longitudinal direction in the paste holder.

The use of a pin provided with rack teeth has the advantage that a pressure exerted upon the pasty substance by rotating the rotating element is reduced to zero again virtually immediately after the rotating element has been released. This means that there is virtually no dripping of pasty substance, for example toothpaste, after use. Furthermore, the rotation makes accurate metering possible in a simple manner, in a quantity that the user himself can choose. Metering devices according to the invention can be used, for example, as toothpaste dispensers or soap or cream dispensers in sanitary rooms such as bathrooms and toilets.

In one embodiment the metering device is characterized in that the longitudinal end of the pin facing the inlet end is provided with a piston element. This piston element in the operational position exerts a force upon the paste holder, in order to force the pasty substance out of the paste holder. In one embodiment said paste holder contains toothpaste.

A further embodiment is characterized in that the metering device comprises a cartridge with paste, which cartridge can be accommodated in the paste holder and has an outflow aperture that connects, preferably in a sealing manner, to the inlet end of the dispensing tube when the cartridge has been placed in the paste holder, and which paste holder at a side facing away from the inlet end of the dispensing tube is provided with a passage for the pin and the piston element that may be provided on it. Cartridges containing paste, which can be accommodated in the paste holder, can be changed in a simple manner when the cartridge is empty. The cartridge can be made of, for example, a cardboard material with a plastic coating. This means that the (empty) cartridge can be processed in a relatively environmentally friendly way.

In the operational position the paste is pressed out of the cartridge through the outflow aperture. The paste coming out of the cartridge goes into the inlet end of the dispensing tube, after which the paste flows through the dispensing tube to the dispensing point, in order to be dispensed to a user. In the case of toothpaste the user need only hold his toothbrush under the dispensing point.

In a further embodiment the metering device is characterized in that the rack teeth are provided with coding that changes in the longitudinal direction, in order to indicate the amount of pasty substance that is left in the paste holder. The provision of coding, for example different colours, letters or combinations of the two, has the advantage that the user is given an indication of how much paste is still left in the cartridge. In the longitudinal direction of the rack teeth the colour coding can run from green, for example, to red, for example. Through the shifting of the rack teeth, only a red part of the rack teeth will eventually be visible just before the paste cartridge is empty. This can lead the user to establish that the paste cartridge is empty and to change it for another paste cartridge. The use of both different colours and different letters has the advantage that users who suffer from colour blindness can also use the indication means for the remaining quantity in the paste cartridge.

In a further embodiment the metering device is characterized in that the outflow aperture of the dispensing tube comprises a sealing cap that is placed on a pivoting arm in such a way that the sealing cap can be swung away from the outflow aperture. Placing a sealing cap on a pivoting arm ensures that a quantity of toothpaste that leaks accidentally out of the dispensing point is caught in the sealing cap. Moreover, it is more difficult for dirt and impurities to reach the fluid when the device is closed.

In a further embodiment the metering device is characterized in that the pivoting arm can pivot about a horizontal pivot axis, and in that the pivoting arm has a first arm part extending on one side of the pivot from the pivot to the sealing cap, and has a second arm part extending on the other side of the pivot, and in that the second arm part is operatively connected to the bottom of a storage space, all the above being in such a way that when the cap is swung away in the downward direction from the outflow aperture the bottom is pressed upwards, and that when the bottom is subsequently pressed down the cap is swung towards the outflow aperture, in order to shut off the latter. The bottom can be pressed down by placing an object, in the case of a metering device for toothpaste, for example a toothbrush, in the storage space. It is an advantage of this embodiment that the user does not have to make any additional movement in order to close the shut-off valve and shut off the outflow aperture after use. A force that an object, for example a toothbrush, exerts when placed in the storage space is sufficient to produce closure of the pivoting arm, which forms a shut- off valve. The pivot can also comprise a dead centre, in such a way that, by means of a spring, the cap swings towards or away from the outflow aperture. In this way less force is required for swinging towards or away from said aperture. On reaching the dead centre, the cap can swing entirely by itself into the open or closed position. A user therefore need [lacuna]

In a further embodiment the metering device is characterized in that the sealing cap is detachable from the pivoting arm. Owing to the fact that the sealing cap is detachable, said sealing cap can be detached from the arm and cleaned, for example by cleaning the sealing cap in a dishwasher.

In a further embodiment the dispensing tube is also detachably connected to the support. This makes the dispensing tube quick and easy to clean. The dispensing tube can be made of a transparent material, in order to permit a visual check for impurities in the pasty substance present in the dispensing tube. This is advisable from the point of view of hygiene. The user can also make a visual check when a first supply arrives at the outflow aperture.

In a further embodiment the metering device is characterized in that it comprises retention means, such as a charging connection with holder for an electric toothbrush, or a holder for oral hygiene products, such as toothpicks or dental floss. The metering device can be provided with a charging connection for charging a battery of an electric toothbrush. When not in use, said electric toothbrush can be charged by leaving the toothbrush in a holder that is provided on the metering device and is provided with an electrical connection.

All the above will be explained with reference to the figures included in the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a metering device according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the metering device of Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a metering device 1 according to the present invention. The metering device 1 comprises a support 2, which acts as a frame for the metering device 1. A paste holder 3 for holding a paste cartridge 4, such as, for example, a refill pack 4 with toothpaste, is placed on top of the support 2. A lid 5 is placed on the top of the paste holder 3, which lid is provided with a pin 6 that has rack teeth, and with a rotating wheel 7. The rotating wheel 7 is connected by means of a shaft 8 to a tooth assembly (not shown in Fig. 1) that converts the rotation of the shaft 8 into a translating motion of the pin 6 provided with rack teeth. The gear rack 6 projects above the lid 5. The pin 6 provided with rack teeth can be enclosed by a casing 9, which is placed on a top side of the lid 5. On one side the casing is provided with an aperture 10 or a transparent part 10, so that the pin 6 is visible from the outside. The pin 6 provided with rack teeth has colour coding running in the longitudinal direction of the pin. The top end of the pin 6 is a red colour, while the opposite, bottom end of the pin 6 is a green colour. If the paste cartridge 4 is virtually empty and the gear rack 6 has rotated at least almost entirely to the bottom, only the red-coloured top end of the pin 6 is still visible. The user can then read that the paste cartridge 4 is virtually empty and needs replacing.

Two separate holders in the form of cylinders 12, in which oral hygiene products can be placed, are also provided on the support 2. Said cylinders 12 can contain, for example, toothpicks or dental floss (not shown). The cylinders 12 can be closed with a lid 13. The cylinders 12 are connected to the support 2 by means of clamping arms 14. The support 2 is provided with a raised edge along the bottom circumference of the cylinders 12, so that the cylinders 12 do not slide over the support 2. On one side, the support 2 is provided with a wall 17, on the top of which a hanging eye 18 is provided, which allows the metering device 1 to be hung in a simple manner. Instead of a hanging eye 18, it is also possible to provide the wall 17 with a double-sided adhesive layer for hanging the metering device. On the side of the wall a storage space 19 is provided for storing both toothbrushes (not shown) and brush parts of electric toothbrushes (not shown). The toothbrushes 33 can be placed in the storage space 19, while the brush parts of electric toothbrushes can be kept on the projections 20 of a rack that is placed in the storage space 19. This rack, provided with projections 20, can be removed from the storage space 19 for easy cleaning. The support 2 is provided on the front side with a shut-off valve 21, 22 for shutting off the underside and the outflow aperture 30. Said shut-off valve 21, 22 can pivot on a shaft parallel to the rear wall 17 of the metering device 1. The projection 22 comprises a removable cap 32, which can be removed for cleaning.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the metering device of Figure 1. A pin 6 provided with rack teeth and connected to a piston element 23 is shown. In the operational position the piston element 23 forces the top 24 of the paste cartridge 4 in the direction of the outflow aperture 26 of the paste cartridge 4.

The pin 6 provided with rack teeth comprises an elongated pin provided with teeth 27 on one side. Said teeth 27 are relatively large, in order to facilitate power transmission from the rotating wheel 7 by way of the shaft 8 and the gearwheel 28. The pin 6 provided with rack teeth and the piston element 23 are accommodated in the lid 5 of the metering device 1. The casing 9 on the top of the lid 5, in which the pin 6 provided with rack teeth is accommodated, is provided with a transparent window 10. Owing to the fact that the pin 6 provided with rack teeth is provided with colour coding (not shown) that changes in the longitudinal direction, a user can establish through the transparent window 10 the quantity of pasty substance, for example toothpaste, that is still present in the paste cartridge 4.

The paste cartridge 4 is placed on a supporting part 2. A holder 3 is placed on said supporting part, in order to prevent the paste cartridge 4 from moving. The paste holder 3 is made of a transparent material 25, so that it can be seen from the outside which paste cartridge 4 is present in the metering device 1.

An outflow aperture 26 is present in the support 2. The pasty substance flows out of the outflow aperture 26 in the direction of the arrows A, B and C through a dispensing tube 29 to a dispensing point 30, where a user takes the pasty substance from the metering device 1.

A pivoting arm 21, in the form of a shut-off valve 21, is placed on the underside of support 2. The shut-off valve is fixed on the metering device 1 in such a way that it pivots about a pivot point 31. The pivot point 31 can comprise a limit point (not shown) for the creation of a dead centre. As soon as the valve 21 has pivoted past said dead centre, the valve opens or closes by itself by means of a spring (not shown) placed in the vicinity of the pivoting device. On the side of the projection 22, the shut- off valve 21 comprises a sealing cap 32, which closes off the outflow aperture 30 on closure of the shut-off valve 21. The sealing cap 30 can be removed from the valve 21 for quick and easy cleaning.

On the side of the valve 21 near the wall 17, a device is fitted for automatic closure of the valve 21. A storage space 19 for toothbrushes 33 and the like is provided on the wall 17. A movable bottom 34, on which a toothbrush 33 rests, is placed in the storage space 19. Said movable bottom 34 can move in the vertical direction. If a toothbrush 33 is placed in the storage space 19, the movable bottom 34 is pressed downwards. On the underside of the movable bottom 34 is a bar 35, one end of which is connected to the movable bottom 34. The other end of the bar 35 is connected to the shut-off valve 21. Placing a toothbrush 33 in the storage space 19 causes the movable bottom 34 to be pressed downwards, and the shut-off valve 21 is closed. In this way the outflow aperture 30 of the dispensing tube 29 is shut off, and the toothpaste present in the dispensing tube 29 cannot dry out.

Claims

1. Metering device for metering a pasty substance, in particular toothpaste, comprising: • a paste holder

• expelling means for expelling paste present in the paste holder

• a dispensing tube with an inlet end that opens into the paste holder, and with an outlet end that is accessible from the outside, characterized in that the expelling means comprise: • a pin (6) provided with rack teeth and pointing with one longitudinal end towards the inlet end of the dispensing tube; • a rotating element (7) fitted on a shaft (8) that by way of a tooth system (28) is connected in a driving manner to the rack teeth, in order to be able to move the pin (6) up and down in the longitudinal direction in the paste holder (3, 25).

2. Metering device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the longitudinal end of the pin (6) facing the inlet end is provided with a piston element (23).

3. Metering device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the paste holder (3, 25) comprises toothpaste.

4. Metering device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metering device comprises a cartridge (4) with toothpaste, which cartridge can be accommodated in the paste holder and has an outflow aperture (26) that connects, preferably in a sealing manner, to the inlet end of the dispensing tube when the cartridge has been placed in the paste holder (3), and which paste holder (3) at a side facing away from the inlet end of the dispensing tube is provided with a passage for the pin (6) and the piston element (23) that may be provided on it.

5. Metering device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rack teeth (6) are provided with coding that changes in the longitudinal direction, in order to indicate the amount of pasty substance that is left in the paste holder (4).

6. Metering device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outflow aperture of the dispensing tube (29) comprises a sealing cap (32) that is placed on a pivoting arm (21) in such a way that the sealing cap can be swung away from the outflow aperture (30).

7. Metering device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the pivoting arm (21) can pivot about a horizontal pivot axis, and in that the pivoting arm has a first arm part extending on one side of the pivot (31) from the pivot (31) to the sealing cap (32), and has a second arm part extending on the other side of the pivot (31), and in that the second arm part is operatively connected to the bottom (34) of a storage space (19), all the above being in such a way that when the cap (32) is swung away in the downward direction from the outflow aperture (30) the bottom (34) is pressed upwards, and in that when the bottom (34) is subsequently pressed down the cap (32) is swung towards the outflow aperture (30), in order to shut off the latter.

8. Metering device according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the sealing cap (32) is detachable from the pivoting arm (21).

9. Metering device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing tube (29) is detachable.

10. Metering device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising retention means, such as a charging connection with a holder for an electric toothbrush, or a holder for oral hygiene products, such as toothpicks or dental floss.