Media dispenser

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6478196
  • Patent Number
    6,478,196
  • Date Filed
    Friday, December 18, 1998
    27 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 12, 2002
    23 years ago
Abstract
Radial actuation of a handle (15) axially retracts the dispensers shaft (6) inclusive an exit head (9) relative to a base body (5) and a reservoir (7). The shaft (6) is prevented from rotating. The medium thus flows from a pressure chamber (26) via an outlet valve (32) through the entire shaft (6) to a medium exit (20) while being swirled. For facilitated handling the base body (5) and the reservoir (7) form a rod-shaped grip with the handle (15) on one side and a finger scallop (72) on the other.
Description




TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The invention relates to a dispenser for media. They can be liquid, powdery, gaseous and/or pasty. The dispenser may be carried and simultaneously operated single-handed. The discharge unit or deliverer can be a pump, the valve of a pressure vessel, such as an aerosol vessel or the like. The medium may be atomized at the medium exit in an atomized state, or may be discharged as a non-atomized jet, as droplets or as an extruded line.




A small dispenser having an axial actuation stroke of less than 5 mm or 3 mm and a maximum outer diameter of less than 25 mm, 20 mm or 18 mm comprises a handle which could be manually actuated parallel to the axis of the dispenser or transverse thereto. This motion of the handle is to be translated into an axial motion of an actuating shaft. The individual components of such a dispenser are very small. They are sensitive to mechanical loads as well as being difficult to support. An external surface which is irregular over the length of the dispenser and multiply stepped at the outer circumference or in the manual gripping zone may make handling and stowing away difficult.




OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION




An object is to provide a dispenser which obviates the disadvantages of prior art constructions or of the kind as described. Particularly, the intention is for the dispenser to ensure despite miniature dimensions high mechanical stability, safe and precise functioning as well as being easy to use and uncomplicated to handle.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




According to the invention means are provided to reliably guide the actuating shaft radially and/or prevented from rotation over a length which is more than half its diameter. This guidance may be provided in the vicinity of the coupling connection between the handle and the shaft and/or directly adjacent upstream thereof. Guidance is done directly on the inner circumference of the outermost shell wall of the base body. The guide part of the shaft may form an axial stop for the actuated end position or for the position remote from the initial position. This stop abuts against an end face of the housing of the deliverer into which the shaft permanently protrudes.




Over its major length or over more than two-thirds or three-quarters of its length, the dispenser in use has constant outer width. This is reduced only in the vicinity of the exit head. Beyond this width bound only the handle protrudes radially outwards. The dispensers overall length is at least five, seven or eight times more than the outer width. Within the length of constant outer width a medium reservoir is longer than the base body by at least half the bodies length. This constantly wide outer circumference extends over a length of at least 8 cm or 10 cm. Thus this outer circumference forms a favorable gripping face while actuating because all fingers of the user hand can surround and support on it. A removable cover for the exit head directly adjoins the base body and the handle by the cited outer width.




The cited, constantly wide circumferential face of the pin-shaped dispenser is interrupted only in sections which extend over part of the length and of the circumference of the base body. These sections in which the circumferential face is transversely offset relative to the constantly wide portions may be a window opening for engaging the handle, an inclined surface for receiving the handle in the actuated end position or a recessed finger scallop remote from the handle.




The cover cap for the exit head engages the inner circumference of the base body. The cap comprises an inclined face which is tensioned relative to a conical end face of the base body or of the handle. Thus actuation is locked in the initial position. In this position the handle protrudes radially beyond the outer circumference of the base body by maximally a third or half of the constant outer width. In every position the handle is spaced from and located between both ends of the base body so that it cannot cover the reservoir.




The exit head comprises a one-part, oblong head cap. The end wall thereof is traversed by a nozzle duct or the medium exit. A separate nozzle core extends from the inside of this end wall exclusively upstream. This core forms an assembly unit with the actuator. The core is located without contact within the head cap over its major length. An outlet duct traverses the actuator shaft and the nozzle core. In cross-section this duct is non-circular but flat. The cross-sectional length of this duct is at least half or twice as large as its cross-sectional width or at least as large or larger than the outer width of the nozzle core. Thus the duct traverses an outer end wall in the region of the ducts narrow sides. The core body emanates from this wall only upstream. The duct forms passage openings at the outer circumference of the core body and adjoins this end face. Through these openings the medium can exit from the interior of the duct to the outer circumference of the core body.




The passage openings extend up to the inner side of an end wall by the outer side of which the core body is located directly adjacent to the end wall of the head cap or to the inner end of the nozzle duct. An axial duct leads from each opening of the core body to the outside of the end wall of the core body from where a transverse duct is directed to the nozzle duct. Each of the cited duct sections is circumferentially sealingly closed. All duct sections connecting downstream to the duct exits traversing the end wall and these duct exits are bounded in two parts, namely by the actuator shaft and the cap of the exit head. Upstream thereof and up to the pressure space of the discharge unit the duct is located totally within the actuator shaft, which circumferentially entirely bounds the duct in one part. Thus minute dose quantities can be discharged very accurately and thereby atomized.




Reference is made to DE-OS 196 10 456 as regards further features and effects to be incorporated in the present invention.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Example embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail in the following and illustrated in the drawings in which:





FIG. 1

is an inventive dispenser in side view and partial cross-section;





FIG. 2

is an exploded side view of the dispenser from the right in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is an enlarged axial view of the nozzle core body;





FIG. 4

is an exploded view of a particular portion of an exit head of the dispenser shown in

FIG. 1

; and





FIG. 5

is an exploded view of a particular portion of a coupling area between a driver and a shaft of the dispenser shown in FIG.


1


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION




The dispenser


1


comprises two units


2


,


3


. They are moved axially relative to each other for discharge actuation and for effecting the discharging pressure of the medium. Thereby a third unit


4


is moved transverse to units


2


,


3


along a circular arc. Unit


2


comprises a sleeve-shaped base body


5


. The base body of unit


3


is an actuator formed by an actuating shaft or ram


6


. A reservoir or flask


7


and the housing of a discharge unit, such as a pump


8


or a thrust piston pump is included in unit


2


which is dimensionally rigid. An exit head


9


located at the downstream base end of body


5


facing away from flask


7


is included in unit


3


. When made as a single-use pump without return stroke the reservoir may be formed by the pump or unit casing and totally emptied by a stroke oriented in but a sole direction. All parts of units


2


,


3


are located in a common central axis


10


, relative to which unit


4


is arranged partly eccentric. The medium flows through the dispenser


1


substantially parallel to axis


10


in downstream direction


12


to the free end of head


9


or downstream. Head


9


is retracted in the opposite or stroke direction


13


when actuated relative to unit


2


and body


5


. Unit


4


forms a handle


15


shown in the rest position in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. For actuation, the handle


15


is pivoted about a pivot axis


11


and caused to approach body


5


at an acute angle to the rear in actuating direction


14


. Axis


11


is located within body


5


at right angles transverse to axis


10


on the side thereof which faces away from handle


15


.




Unit


4


comprises a driver


16


freely protruding from the inside of dish-shaped handle


15


, inserted radially in body


5


and made in one part with unit


4


and handle


15


. A counter cam or member


17


for driver


16


is provided on ram


6


. Thus the pivot motion of driver


16


results in motion of unit


3


in direction


13


. One-part body


5


comprises a wall or jacket


18


. Within jacket


18


body


5


includes an end wall


19


which is spaced from and located between the base ends of jacket


18


, namely between the upstream and downstream base ends. Wall


19


is located nearer to the downstream base end


111


than to the upstream base end


112


of body


5


and cross-sectionally projects toward axis


10


. Thus body


5


forms a cap in which a part of flask


7


, pump


8


and members


16


,


17


are located. Driver


16


is located directly adjacent to the inner side of wall


19


. The linear member


17


connects upstream to driver


16


. Pump


8


and flask


7


connect downstream to member


16


,


17


. Pump


8


extends by its major casing length into flask


7


defining a central reservoir axis which is parallel to respective coaxial with axis


10


.




The free end face of the downstream head


101


end of head


9


is traversed by a medium exit


20


, namely a nozzle orifice having a diameter of less than half a millimeter about a nozzle axis. Exit


20


is formed by the outer end of a straight nozzle duct


201


which is widened as a funnel in direction


13


. This duct


201


traverses end wall


22


which connects to a shell wall


21


in one part and only in direction


13


. Walls


21


,


22


commonly provide a head casing. The medium leaves exit


20


as an atomized conical jet


300


. Head


9


is tapered in direction


12


. Head


9


is suitable for being introduced into a body opening like a humans nostril. Then the slimmer end section which has a diameter of less than 7 mm, protrudes into the nostril and the connecting wider section closes off the nostril. During actuation exit


20


is retracted in the nostril and relative to unit


2


. Thus the nostril closure by the wider section of shell


21


is opened and the medium distributed over a major length of the nasal duct.




Pump


8


comprises a two-part unit casing


23


. A duct or riser tube


24


extends from the upstream end of casing


23


to the bottom of flask


7


. An inlet or ball valve


25


connects downstream to riser tube


24


. Valve


25


closes and opens tube


24


with respect to a pressure space or chamber


26


pressure-dependently. Opposite to valve


25


the chamber


26


is bounded by a piston unit


27


or the plunger respective piston


28


thereof. Piston


28


includes a piston sleeve. Unit


27


or ram


6


comprises in addition to the sleeve-shaped piston


28


a shaft part or piston core


29


which entirely traverses piston


28


. Casing


23


includes upstream and downstream casing sections to thus consist of a longer casing jacket or shell


30


and a shorter cap-shaped closure or cover


31


which includes an internal jacket and is fixedly connected to the downstream casing section or end of shell


30


by a snap connector. Piston


28


slides on the inner circumferential face of shell


30


. On this circumference the movable valve element of valve


25


comes into contact. At its downstream end piston


28


comprises an elastically compressible piston neck


121


with an inner circumferential face. Piston


28


and core


29


commonly provide a self-closing outlet valve


32


.




Valve


32


opens at a predetermined pressure in chamber


26


or by piston


28


abutting on an inner shoulder of shell


30


at the end of the actuating stroke. An internal jacket of cover


31


, which protrudes into shell


30


in direction


13


, forms with piston


28


, a valve


33


for venting flask


7


. The inner circumferential face of piston


28


forms the movable closing face of valve


32


. The outer circumferential face of piston


28


forms the movable closing face of valve


33


. In its initial or rest position valve


33


is sealingly closed while opening with the start of the piston stroke. Shell


30


is traversed by three apertures or venting ports


34


which are equally distributed about the circumference and connect to cover


31


. Chamber


26


is permanently sealed off relative to ports


34


. Ports


34


are located in the same axial section as valves


32


,


33


. Ram


6


traverses cover


31


so that air is able to flow along its outer circumference from outside of the dispenser


1


up to valve


33


. With valve


33


opened air then flows through ports


34


as well as along the outside of shell


30


into flask


7


. When an overpressure exists in flask


7


this air is also able to flow out in the counter direction.




On the one-part cover


31


casing


23


comprises an outwardly protruding annular flange


35


at a casing transition between the upstream and downstream casing sections. Pump


8


is supported and tensioned against an end face of a neck


37


of flask


7


with an interposed ring or member


36


. Neck


37


adjoins the flask belly


38


via an annular flask shoulder against which the upstream base end of jacket


18


may be tensioned. At this end, body


5


comprises a flask connector including a female thread which mates with the male thread of neck


37


and tensions pump


8


. Annular member


36


comprises, between flange


35


and neck


37


, an annular flange and a shell which protrudes exclusively in direction


13


from this annular flange. The shell radially spacedly surrounds ports


34


or shell


30


. For centering shell


30


, the member


36


comprises ribs which protrude beyond its inner circumference and directly connect to both the upstream casing section and the ring.




On its inner circumferential face


62


of the jacket


18


includes at least six, eight or ten axial longitudinal ribs


39


providing a rib structure. Ribs


39


are circumferentially uniformly distributed. Ribs


39


correspondingly center cover


31


downstream of flange


35


. The upstream ends of ribs


39


are axially tensioned against flange


35


. End wall


19


projects radially inwardly over ribs


39


. Over its full length the outer diameter of belly


38


is the same as the outer diameter of jacket


18


. Belly


38


may consist of a transparent material or comprise a window to permanently enable visual control of the medium level from outside. As evident from

FIG. 2

the largest width of unit


4


and of handle


15


is maximally as large as the diameter of jacket


18


. The widest portion of handle


15


extends over an angle of more than 100° and less than 180° about axis


10


, particularly an angle of 125°. Flask


7


may be removed without destruction from body


5


and replenished with medium.




Ram


6


is assembled of a plurality of five shaft parts


29


,


40


to


43


which chain longitudinally and are interconnected by axial plug connections. These shaft parts or shaft sections may also be commonly made in one part. For example, shaft parts


41


to


43


plus a shaft section


44


and/or shaft parts


40


,


42


,


43


are in one part. Shaft part or piston core


29


forms the upstream shaft end of ram


6


. To the stem of core


29


, which protrudes downstream over piston


28


, a shaft part


41


connects, which has the same length as core


29


and in the interior of which the core shaft is plugged in. The reduced downstream stem section of part


41


is plugged into the interior of longer shaft part


40


. The downstream end of part


40


overlaps the outside of the shortest shaft part


42


. Part


42


engages the interior of the next, longest shaft part


43


. Thus the mutually facing ends of both shaft part


40


,


43


are directly juxtaposed. When in one part the outer width of ram


6


is continuously reduced in direction


12


and not increased.

FIG. 4

shows an enlarged view of a particular portion (i.e., portion A as labeled in

FIG. 1

) of the exit head


9


. The downstream end


203


of part


43


forms section


44


which is a core body or nozzle core for a nozzle cap including walls


21


,


22


. The end or core face of section


44


contacts a shoulder


204


provided by the inside of end wall


22


, possibly axially tensioned. This shoulder envelopes the upstream end


205


of the nozzle duct


201


, which is end covered by section


44


. Part


43


with section


44


forms the downstream shaft end.




The length of section


44


is at the most as large as its diameter which may conically taper by a few degrees in direction


12


or


13


. In direction


13


the section


44


connects to a widened shaft section


45


. In direction


13


a further widened section


46


connects to section


45


. An again widened socket (not shown in

FIG. 3

) connects to section


46


and receives part


42


. The transition between sections


44


,


45


is formed by an end face or flat annular core shoulder


47


to which section


45


connects via a section or cone


48


constricted at an acute angle in direction


12


. Shoulder


47


projects radially outwardly at the outer circumference of section


44


. All cited part sections of part


43


are commonly in one part. Part


43


is traversed by a core or outlet duct


49


which in

FIG. 3

is rectangular and flat. The narrow sides of duct


49


are concavely curved about axis


10


. The cross-sectional length of duct


49


is at least twice as large as its cross-sectional width or half thereof. Furthermore, the cross-sectional length is at least as large as the outer diameter of section


44


. Thus duct


49


emerges at the shoulder


47


only in the vicinity of its narrow sides. In shoulder


47


the duct


49


forms graduated annular ports


50


. Ports


50


are curved about axis


10


and oppose each other on both sides of axis


10


. Duct


49


also emerges over the same or smaller width at the outer circumference of section


44


with ports


51


which face away from each other. Thus in each case two ports


50


,


51


are interconnected at an angle. Duct


49


and ports


51


extend up to an inside of an end wall


52


of section


44


. This inside is remote from shoulder


47


. The thickness of wall


52


is smaller than the outer diameter of section


44


or half thereof. The outer diameter of section


44


is smaller than 4 mm or 3 mm.




As viewed in

FIG. 1

the port


51


may be constricted in width at an acute angle in direction


13


. If in production of part


43


the duct


49


is injection molded with a mold core or mandrel the shape of port


51


is achieved alone from the conicity of section


44


. The mold core simultaneously forms ports


50


,


51


and the inside of wall


52


. Wall


52


is connected to section


45


,


48


only via two mutually opposing legs separated by ports


51


. These legs bulge radially outwards when axially tensioned and can thereby be sealingly pressed against the inner circumference of wall


21


. Each of section


45


, cone


48


, and a section transition


56


is circumferentially and over its entire length in sealing and full contact with the inner circumference of wall


21


. Section


46


is at least twice as long as each of section


45


, cone


48


and section


56


. Section


46


is entirely without contact inside of wall


21


. Core


29


and parts


41


,


40


,


42


,


43


are connected to each other resistant to tensile stress, for example, by bonding, welding or snap connectors. Except for core


29


all of these shaft parts are internally traversed by continuations of duct


49


or by central longitudinal bores.




To the downstream end of port


51


and to the outer circumference of section


44


a shallow depression or longitudinal respective axial groove


53


of same width connects. Groove


53


in the outer circumference of section


44


is sealingly covered at its open side by the inner circumference of wall


21


. Thus groove


53


and part


40


commonly form a shallow subduct having the same cross-sections as port


50


. This shallow duct is traversed by port


51


at its associated flat side and at its upstream end


202


. Port


51


extends up to wall


52


. The named flat side is traversed by a transverse duct or port


54


downstream of port


51


. Port


54


is formed by a groove in the outside of wall


52


which subdivides two grooves


53


providing subducts. The open groove side of this groove is sealingly covered by the inside of wall


22


. Port


54


has significantly smaller flow cross-sections than ports


50


,


51


and groove


53


. Port


54


issues into a widened chamber


55


towards axis


10


. Chamber


55


is formed by a circular depression in the outside of wall


52


. Chamber


55


has the same diameter as the inner end of the nozzle duct


201


. This end is widened and directly connects to chamber


55


which is coaxial with the nozzle duct


201


. Ports


54


issue tangentially into chamber


55


in opposing directions and laterally offset from each other. Thus medium flow is caused to swirl and to rotatingly pass the nozzle duct


201


.




At an upstream head end, the wall


21


and the head


9


comprise one or more cams


57


or annular beads which protrude beyond its outer circumference. Cam


57


centers and sealingly guides head


9


at an inner circumference of unit


2


. Body


5


comprises two intermeshed or nested jackets respective shell walls


58


,


59


at its downstream end. Walls


58


,


59


are mutually radially spaced and protrude from wall


19


in direction


12


. Inner wall


58


protrudes further than outer wall


59


. The outer circumference of wall


59


forms a smooth continuation of the constant outer circumference of wall


18


. A sleeve-shaped member


60


is inserted in wall


18


. A sleeve-shaped member


60


is inserted in wall


58


and includes the downstream base end. Member


60


may also be in one part with body


5


. Member


60


axially abuts on wall


58


in direction


13


. Member


60


protrudes beyond wall


58


in direction


12


by a sleeve section which is open around axis


10


. Cam


57


sealingly slides on the inner circumference of this sleeve section. Thus member


60


telescopically displaceably engages cam


57


. The shaft parts


40


,


43


may be supported against radial motions within wall


58


or on the inner circumference of member


60


. Member


60


is secured to wall


58


by a press fit. Wall


21


is permanently spaced from unit


4


or handle


15


in direction


12


.




Axis


11


is defined by a location or bearing


61


or a knife-edge suspension. The knife edge is formed by an acutely angled corner zone of driver


16


. The rectangularly flanked bearing reception or cup is formed by the inside of wall


19


and the length edge of a rib connecting to wall


19


. The spacing between axes


10


,


11


is slightly less than the radius of the curved inner circumferential face


62


of shell


18


from which ribs


39


emanate. The rib height of the bearing cup is smaller than the height of ribs


39


. The ribs of the cup are significantly shorter than ribs


39


and directly connect to both sides of one of ribs


39


. Ribs


39


permanently engage inside a guide groove


65


of driver


16


. For this purpose driver


16


comprises a projection


64


at its end which is remote from handle


15


. The width of projection


64


is reduced relative to driver


16


(FIG.


2


). Projection


64


includes groove


65


. The widened section of driver


16


comprises a passage for ram


6


or part


40


. This passage is located between projection


64


and handle


15


. Ram


6


and part


40


are inserted into body


5


and unit


4


in direction


12


, like units


7


,


8


are.




Sleeve-shaped or first shaft part


40


is in one part with counter members


17


. Members


17


protrude beyond the outer circumference of part


40


at two remote sides and form a crossbeam. In view of

FIG. 1

members


17


do not protrude beyond the outer circumference of part


40


. Members


17


are located nearer to the upstream end than to the downstream end of part


40


. At its ends the crossbeam comprises shaft members or slide cams


66


which protrude in direction


12


and which are narrower than the crossbeam. Each cam


66


and thus ram


6


is guided and prevented from rotation by being displaceably received in a slide groove located between two juxtaposed ribs


39


. Each cam


66


of ram


6


externally spacedly and laterally overlaps driver


16


. Slide cams


66


and the slide groove provide slide members separate from the second shaft part


41


to


44


.




Member


17


forms a straight edge or slide face between cam


66


and the opposite outer circumference of part


40


. The web-shaped driver face or drive cam


74


of driver


16


permanently supports against this edge with pressure and between axis


10


and handle


15


within jacket


18


. Motion of handle


15


in direction


14


thus results immediately in motion of unit


3


in direction


13


. Ram


6


, head


9


and unit


27


are included in unit


3


. Unit


4


is in one part. In the rest position part


40


extends from cover


31


through driver


16


up into wall


58


. Thus part


40


protrudes beyond unit


4


in direction


12


. Counter faces of members


17


are formed by two edges of the crossbeam. These edges are rounded and mutually aligned. The counter faces of members


17


are located radially within cam


66


and on both sides of part


40


. Within driver


16


the ram


6


defines inner and outer circumferential sections remote from pivot axis


11


. Drive cam


74


is located radially outside these sections.




Handle


15


is curved about axis


10


to form a tray. The width of handle


15


increases in direction


13


over its major length and then decreases again. Thus side wings or tray legs are formed between the handles ends. The wings are less thick than 1 mm. While laying the wings against the outer circumference


63


of jacket


18


these wings are resiliently spread. Thus the width of handle


15


increases. The wing thickness increases towards the middle of the width of handle


15


. Thus the handle


15


is dimensionally stiff in its median zone including the driver


16


emanating therefrom. This median zone includes a reinforcement or wall thickening


67


which provides a counter face, adjoins the driver


16


upstream and reinforces both handle


15


and driver


16


. Also a projection or jut


68


of unit


4


may be tray-shaped and resiliently widenable. Jut


68


protrudes beyond driver


16


in direction


12


. Jut


68


permanently tightly envelopes the outer circumference


63


over an arc angle which is smaller than that of the wings or maximally 100°.




Jut


68


includes on its inside and downstream end a protruding cam


69


. Cam


69


is in contact with the end face of wall


59


in the initial position. Wall


59


and cam


69


have the same radial spacing from wall


58


. In this zone a cutout or depression


75


is provided in the end face of wall


59


(FIG.


2


). The inclined end section of jut


68


including cam


69


engages inside depression


75


. In the initial position unit


4


is positionally locked by cam


69


providing a snap connector. This non-positive or frictional locking can only be overcome with a snap effect or audible click by applying a corresponding high actuating force. Jacket


18


is traversed by an aperture or a rectangular window


70


providing a port and extending only up to the inside of wall


19


. Driver


16


is inserted into window


70


radially and transverse to axis


10


. From the upstream transverse bound of window


70


and at the outer circumference


63


extends a surface


71


which is planar and inclined away from axis


10


in direction


13


. The complementary inclined surface of thickening


67


may be brought fully into contact with surface


71


when handle


15


is in the actuated end position.




Handle


15


covers window


70


permanently completely. For this window


70


and driver


16


have the same width but are significantly narrower than handle


15


. Window


70


extends about axis


10


over an arc angle of less than 90°. Circumference


63


is provided with an actuating counter face, depression or scallop


72


on its side facing away from handle


15


. Scallop


72


extends over an arc angle of more than 1000 and less than 120°. The scallop depth increases more inclined at the depressions downstream end than at the upstream end. The users thumb or index finger finds support in this scallop when handle


15


is actuated, according as whether handle


15


is actuated by the thumb or index finger. The inner circumference


62


is also constant in width in the vicinity of scallop


72


. Thus in this zone jacket


18


is significantly less thick than 1 mm. Scallop


72


bilaterally circumferentially directly connects to circumferential sections of circumference


63


of body


5


.




As seen in

FIGS. 1 and 2

the driver


16


has the shape of a flat plate. In

FIG. 1

this plates thickness increases only between axis


10


and handle


15


. Ram


6


and part


40


form an actuator which traverses a transition port of passage


73


of driver


16


. Passage


73


is an oblong hole which is circumferentially entirely bounded by a transition bound including bound zones. Because of being oblong this transition bound is circumferentially varingly spaced from pump


8


. The minor width of passage


73


is located in the cross-sectional plane of FIG.


2


. This width is closely adapted to the corresponding diameter of part


40


with clearance near to zero. The cross-sectional length of passage


73


is located in the cross-sectional plane of

FIG. 1

oriented perpendicular to the plane of FIG.


2


. In the rest position the hole end or bound zone remote from handle


15


respective most far away from pivot axis


11


is parallel to axis


10


and the end or bound zone near handle


15


is acutely inclined away from axis


10


in direction


13


. In the vicinity of this latter end the inclined cams


74


located on both sides of passage


73


slide on members


17


with pressing points


401


(as shown in

FIG. 5

which illustrates an enlarged detailed view of the coupling between the driver


16


and the shaft


6


as illustrated in area B of FIG.


1


). Jut


68


forms a tray which is curved about axis


10


and includes an end face


76


. Face


76


is inclined to be conically flared in direction


13


. Face


76


is located on the radial outside of cam


69


. When cam


69


engages depression


75


then face


76


forms a smooth continuation of the analogous end or inclined surface of wall


59


.




A counter member


77


may be axially tensioned in direction


13


against face


76


. Member


77


thereby radially resiliently yields slightly. Member


77


is annularly continuous about axis


10


and therefore tensioned against the end face of wall


59


in the same way. Thus member


77


sealingly closes this end of jacket


18


and unit


4


. A sleeve-shaped member


78


protrudes beyond the tensioning end face of member


77


and into the interior of wall


59


in direction


13


. Member


78


has a twin-pitch male thread for mating with the female thread


79


of wall


59


. A rotation of maximum 180° or 90° is sufficient for screwing member


78


on or off. The inner circumference of member


78


may sealingly contact the outer circumference of wall


58


and member


60


. Members


77


,


78


may be in one part with a cover


80


or cover cap fully receiving head


9


, wall


58


and member


60


while sealingly directly closing exit


20


. Cover


80


locks unit


4


against actuation without motion play and tensions unit


4


radially toward axis


10


.




Following removal of cover


80


the handle


15


is actuated by finger pressure in direction


14


, the cam


69


thereby unsnapping. Thus ram


6


instantly moves in direction


13


, piston


28


pressurizes the medium which fills chamber


26


entirely. Thereby valve


25


is tensioned in its closed position. After an axial stroke of between


2


mm and


3


mm valve


32


opens. Then the medium flows between piston


28


and core


29


in direction


12


into the shaft sections. The medium emerges axially as well as radially from ram


6


not before reaching ports


50


,


51


. Then the medium is caused to rotate in chamber


55


whereafter it is atomized at the bound edge of exit


20


. In addition to the force of a return spring


81


an increase of the actuating force is effected over the last stroke section, since the wings of handle


15


must be spread on circumference


63


. Spring


81


is located within chamber


26


and is permanently supported with axial pretension on core


29


. Valve


32


recloses automatically at the stroke end. Following its release handle


15


and cams


74


are first lifted off from member


17


by the resilient return action of its wings. Simultaneously spring


81


returns unit


3


and also unit


4


to their initial position which is stop limited. Thereby valve


25


opens due to evacuation of chamber


26


. Thus while valve


32


is closed medium is sucked from flask


7


into chamber


26


via tube


24


.




For assembly pump


8


including member


36


may be inserted in direction


12


into body


5


up to abutment. Thereby the entire ram


6


can be inserted in the same direction through the passages provided in driver


16


, wall


19


, member


60


and head


9


. The dimensions or the dimensional relationship shown are particularly favorable for use of the dispenser


1


. All components may consist of plastic material or produced as injection molded items. All properties and effects may be provided precisely as described, or merely roughly so or substantially so, but may also deviate therefrom even more so for corresponding applications. Except for the wings of handle


15


, piston


28


and spring


81


each of the components or sections thereof as cited is dimensionally rigid in operation.



Claims
  • 1. A dispenser for discharging medium, comprising:a base body including an end wall and defining a central axis; a reservoir for storing the medium; a discharge unit for forcing the medium through the end wall in a downstream direction, the discharge unit extending inside the base body; a handle for actuating the discharge unit and including a driver; an exit head including a medium exit, an upstream head end and a downstream head end, the end wall being located upstream of the upstream head end; and an actuating shaft connecting the discharge unit with the exit head and engageable with the driver, the actuating shaft being displaceable relative to the base body, wherein the driver is externally overlapped by shaft members of the actuating shaft.
  • 2. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the driver includes a transition port circumferentially entirely bounded by a transition bound, the transition bound projecting towards the discharge unit and being circumferentially varyingly spaced from the discharge unit, the driver being located directly adjacent to the end wall.
  • 3. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising:a pivot axis for pivotally actuating the driver, wherein the driver includes a transition port traversed by the actuating shaft, the driver including a driver face for axially pushing the actuating shaft, wherein, in a cross-section perpendicular to the pivot axis, the actuating shaft defines a circumferential section remote from the pivot axis, and the driver face is spaced from the central axis, and wherein the driver face is located radially outside the circumferential section.
  • 4. A dispenser for discharging medium, comprising:a base body including an end wall and defining a central axis; a reservoir for storing the medium; a discharge unit for forcing the medium through the end wall, the discharge unit being mounted on the base body; a handle for actuating the discharge unit and including a driver; an exit head including a medium exit; and an actuating shaft connecting the discharge unit with the exit head and engageable with the driver, the actuating shaft being moveable relative to the base body, the actuating shaft being centered and displaceably guided between the end wall and the discharge unit relative to at least one of the base body and the handle, wherein downstream of the end wall the base body includes jacket walls having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall being located inside the outer wall, the actuating shaft traversing the jacket walls.
  • 5. The dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the outer wall defines an outside, the handle being located at the outside.
  • 6. A dispenser for discharging medium, comprising:a base body including an end wall and defining a central axis; a reservoir for storing the medium; a discharge unit for forcing the medium through the end wall, the discharge unit being mounted on the base body; a handle for actuating the discharge unit and including a driver; an exit head including a medium exit; and an actuating shaft connecting the discharge unit with the exit head and engageable with the driver, the actuating shaft being moveable relative to the base body, the actuating shaft being centered and displaceably guided between the end wall and the discharge unit relative to at least one of the base body and the handle, wherein downstream of the end wall the base body includes jacket walls having an outer wall and an inner wall, the inner wall being located inside the outer wall, the actuating shaft traversing the jacket walls, and wherein the inner wall axially projects over the outer wall and supports the exit head.
  • 7. A dispenser for discharging medium comprising:a base body including an end wall and defining a central axis; a discharge unit for forcing the medium through the base body, the discharge unit being mounted on the base body; a handle for actuating the discharge unit; an exit head including a medium exit; and an actuating shaft connecting the discharge unit with the exit head, the actuating shaft being displaceable relative to the base body, wherein the exit head includes a nozzle duct and a nozzle core, the nozzle duct being linear and bounded in one part, the nozzle duct including a downstream end including the medium exit, the nozzle duct including an upstream end enveloped by a shoulder, the nozzle core including a core face directly opposing the shoulder, exclusively upstream of the core face the nozzle core being internally traversed by a core duct which is flat in cross-section, the nozzle core including an outer circumference and a core shoulder projecting radially outwardly at the outer circumference, an axial groove connecting to the outer circumference, the core duct emerging at the outer circumference and at the core shoulder into the axial groove.
  • 8. The dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the axial groove and the nozzle core include a groove bottom, the core face including a transverse groove directly connecting the groove bottom radially inwardly with the upstream end.
  • 9. A dispenser for discharging medium, comprising:a base body including an end wall and defining a central axis, the end wall cross-sectionally projecting toward the central axis, the base body integrally including a connector and a downstream base end; a reservoir for storing the medium, the reservoir defining a central reservoir axis substantially parallel to the central axis, the connector directly positively interconnecting the base body and the reservoir; a discharge unit for forcing the medium through the end wall in a downstream direction, the discharge unit extending inside the base body, the discharge unit being substantially parallel to the central axis; a handle for actuating the discharge unit and including a driver; an exit head including a medium exit, an upstream head end and a downstream head end, the end wall being located upstream of the upstream head end; and an actuating shaft connecting the discharge unit with the exit head and engageable with the driver, the actuating shaft being movable relative to the base body substantially parallel to the central axis, the actuating shaft being centered and displaceably guided between the end wall and the discharge unit and the actuating shaft being centered and displaceably guided relative to at least one of the base body and the handle, wherein the downstream base end is open around the central axis and telescopically displaceably engages the upstream head end, the downstream head end being operationally entirely freely exposed and including the medium exit, and wherein the driver includes a transition port circumferentially entirely bounded by a transition bound, the transition bound projecting towards the discharge unit and being circumferentially varyingly spaced from the discharge unit, the driver being located directly adjacent to the end wall.
  • 10. The dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the actuating shaft is rotationally limited with respect to at least one of the handle and the base body, and wherein the exit head is a component which is separate from the actuating shaft, is axially parallel to the central axis, and is directly connected to the actuating shaft.
  • 11. The dispenser according to claim 9, further comprising:a nozzle duct and a nozzle core, wherein the nozzle duct is linear and bounded in one part, the nozzle duct including an upstream end covered by the nozzle core, the actuating shaft including the nozzle core, the nozzle duct including a downstream end defining the medium exit.
  • 12. The dispenser according to claim 9, further comprising:a nozzle duct and a head casing traversed by the nozzle duct, wherein the actuating shaft includes a major length section freely exposed without contact inside the head casing, wherein, using the handle, the head casing is operationally displaceable with respect to the base body.
  • 13. The dispenser according to claim 9, further comprising:a circumferential location remote from the handle, wherein the base body includes circumferential sections and an actuating counter face bilaterally circumferentially directly connecting to the circumferential sections, the actuating counter face being radially displaced towards the central axis with respect to the circumferential sections providing external circumferential faces, the actuating counter face being located at the circumferential location, the central axis being located between the handle and the actuating counter face.
  • 14. The dispenser according to claim 9, further comprising:a length extension, over which the reservoir engages inside the base body, wherein the base body includes an external circumferential face freely exposed and defining a width extension, the width extension being substantially constant over the length extension, the base body being shorter than the reservoir and including remote ends, the handle being permanently located between the remote ends, the connector being in one part with the base body and the end wall.
  • 15. The dispenser according to claim 9, wherein a bearing defining a pivot axis is provided for pivotally displacing the driver, the bearing being a knife edge suspension bearing including a knife edge and a bearing reception, the bearing reception being angularly flanked and pivotally supporting the knife edge.
  • 16. A dispenser for discharging medium, comprising:a base body including an end wall and defining a central axis, the end wall cross-sectionally projecting toward the central axis, the base body integrally including a connector and a downstream base end; a reservoir for storing the medium, the reservoir defining a central reservoir axis substantially parallel to the central axis, the connector directly positively interconnecting the base body and the reservoir; a discharge unit for forcing the medium through the end wall in a downstream direction, the discharge unit extending inside the base body, the discharge unit being substantially parallel to the central axis; a handle for actuating the discharge unit and including a driver; an exit head including a medium exit, an upstream head end and a downstream head end, the end wall being located upstream of the upstream head end; and an actuating shaft connecting the discharge unit with the exit head and engageable with the driver, the actuating shaft being movable relative to the base body substantially parallel to the central axis, the actuating shaft being centered and displaceably guided between the end wall and the discharge unit and the actuating shaft being centered and displaceably guided relative to at least one of the base body and the handle, wherein the downstream base end is open around the central axis and telescopically displaceably engages the upstream head end, the downstream head end being operationally entirely freely exposed and including the medium exit, and wherein the actuating shaft is directly guided on the end wall and spacedly upstream of the end wall, one of the base body and the actuating shaft including a slide groove and another one of the base body and the actuating shaft including a slide cam which displaceably engages the slide groove, and wherein the slide cam is located upstream of the end wall and outside the discharge unit.
  • 17. A dispenser for discharging medium, comprising:a base body including an end wall and defining a central axis, the end wall cross-sectionally projecting toward the central axis, the base body integrally including a connector and a downstream base end; a reservoir for storing the medium, the reservoir defining a central reservoir axis substantially parallel to the central axis, the connector directly positively interconnecting the base body and the reservoir; a discharge unit for forcing the medium through the end wall in a downstream direction, the discharge unit extending inside the base body, the discharge unit being substantially parallel to the central axis; a handle for actuating the discharge unit and including a driver; an exit head including a medium exit, an upstream head end and a downstream head end, the end wall being located upstream of the upstream head end; an actuating shaft connecting the discharge unit with the exit head and engageable with the driver, the actuating shaft being movable relative to the base body substantially parallel to the central axis, the actuating shaft being centered and displaceably guided between the end wall and the discharge unit and the actuating shaft being centered and displaceably guided relative to at least one of the base body and the handle; and slide members including a slide cam and a slide groove displaceably receiving the slide cam, wherein the slide members movably guide the actuating shaft, the slide members being components which are separate from the handle and the exit head, the actuating shaft including a first shaft part and a second shaft part separate from the first shaft part, the first shaft part integrally including one of the slide members and axially fixedly connecting to the second shaft part, wherein the downstream base end is open around the central axis and telescopically displaceably engages the upstream head end, the downstream head end being operationally entirely freely exposed and including the medium exit.
  • 18. A dispenser for discharging medium, comprising:a base body including an end wall and defining a central axis; a reservoir for storing the medium; a discharge unit for forcing the medium through the end wall in a downstream direction, the discharge unit extending inside the base body; a handle for actuating the discharge unit and including a driver; an exit head including a medium exit, an upstream head end and a downstream head end, the end wall being located upstream of the upstream head end; and an actuating shaft connecting the discharge unit with the exit head and engageable with the driver, the actuating shaft being displaceable relative to the base body, wherein the base body includes an inner circumference including at least one guide groove, the actuating shaft being guided in the at least one guide groove and being axially stop limited.
  • 19. A dispenser for discharging medium comprising:a base body including an end wall and defining a central axis; a reservoir for storing the medium; a discharge unit for forcing the medium through the end wall, the discharge unit being mounted on the base body; a handle for actuating the discharge unit and including a driver; an exit head including a medium exit; an actuating shaft connecting the discharge unit with the exit head and engageable with the driver, the actuating shaft being moveable relative to the base body, the actuating shaft being centered and displaceably guided between the end wall and the discharge unit relative to at least one of: the base body, and the handle; and a cover cap for releasably receiving the exit head, the base body including intermeshed jackets, wherein, when operationally covering the exit head, the cover cap projects between the intermeshed jackets and radially tensions the handle against being actuated.
  • 20. A dispenser for discharging media, comprising:a base body defining a central axis, the base body including base ends including an upstream base end and a downstream base end, the base body including a flask connector made in one part with the upstream base end; a reservoir for storing the medium, the reservoir including a neck and defining a central reservoir axis substantially parallel to the central axis, the flask connector axially positively interconnecting the base body and the neck; a discharge unit including a unit casing, a pressure chamber, a piston unit and an actuating shaft manually commonly axially displaceable with the piston unit relative to the base body and the unit casing in a stroke direction for pressurizing the medium within the pressure chamber and for forcing the medium from the pressure chamber through the unit casing, the base body, the piston unit and the actuating shaft in a downstream direction, the stroke direction being oriented opposite to the downstream direction and being substantially parallel to the central axis, wherein the unit casing includes a flange, an upstream casing section and a downstream casing section rigidly connecting to the upstream casing section, the downstream casing section being radially wider than the upstream casing section, the flange being provided in one part with the downstream casing section and radially outwardly projecting over the upstream casing section, the flask connector pressing the flange against the neck, a casing transition being defined between the upstream and downstream casing sections, the flange being located at the casing transition, wherein, inside the reservoir, the upstream casing section envelopes the pressure chamber and the piston unit, the pressure chamber being volumetrically constrictable by axially commonly displacing the actuating shaft and the piston unit relative to the base body and the unit casing from a rest position in the stroke direction up to an end position over a pump stroke, wherein the actuating shaft includes shaft sections having an upstream shaft end and a downstream shaft end, the upstream shaft end including a piston core, wherein the piston unit includes a piston sleeve spacedly enveloping the piston core and displaceably bounding the pressure chamber; a handle for manually displacing the actuating shaft and the piston unit in the stroke direction, the handle including a driver pressing directly against a counter member for displacing the piston unit in the stroke direction; an exit head connecting downstream to the actuating shaft and including a medium exit where the medium is environmentally expelled away from the dispenser, the exit head including an upstream head end and a downstream head end; an outlet duct for guiding the medium from the pressure chamber through the piston sleeve and the actuating shaft into the medium exit, the outlet duct longitudinally traversing the actuating shaft; at least one valve including an outlet valve for the outlet duct; an end wall provided downstream of a rib structure and traversed by the actuating shaft, wherein the end wall is in one part with the base body and located downstream of the downstream casing section, the end wall projecting radially inwardly over the rib structure; and rotation prevention means for operationally preventing a rotation of the actuating shaft relative to the base body, the rotation prevention means including a slide groove and a slide cam axially displaceably guided in the slide groove, the slide cam and the slide groove being located within the base body, the slide cam being located upstream of the end wall and axially spacedly directly opposing the end wall, wherein the piston sleeve and the piston core commonly provide the outlet valve, the medium flowing through between the piston sleeve and the piston core into the outlet duct and the downstream head end when the outlet valve is open, the exit head extending downstream beyond the base body, the downstream head end being freely exposed downstream of the base body and including a medium exit downstream of the base body, the flange connecting to the unit casing substantially at the casing transition.
  • 21. A dispenser for discharging media, comprising:a base body defining a central axis, the base body including base ends including an upstream base end and a downstream base end, the base body including a flask connector made in one part with the upstream base end; a reservoir for storing the medium, the reservoir including a neck and defining a central reservoir axis substantially parallel to the central axis, the flask connector axially positively interconnecting the base body and the neck; a discharge unit including a unit casing, a pressure chamber, a piston unit and an actuating shaft manually commonly axially displaceable with the piston unit relative to the base body and the unit casing in a stroke direction for pressurizing the medium within the pressure chamber and for forcing the medium from the pressure chamber through the unit casing, the base body, the piston unit and the actuating shaft in a downstream direction, the stroke direction being oriented opposite to the downstream direction and being substantially parallel to the central axis, wherein the unit casing includes a flange, an upstream casing section and a downstream casing section rigidly connecting to the upstream casing section, the downstream casing section being radially wider than the upstream casing section, the flange being provided in one part with the downstream casing section and radially outwardly projecting over the upstream casing section, the flask connector pressing the flange against the neck, a casing transition being defined between the upstream and downstream casing sections, the flange being located at the casing transition, wherein, inside the reservoir, the upstream casing section envelopes the pressure chamber and the piston unit, the pressure chamber being volumetrically constrictable by axially commonly displacing the actuating shaft and the piston unit relative to the base body and the unit casing from a rest position in the stroke direction up to an end position over a pump stroke, wherein, the actuating shaft includes shaft sections having an upstream shaft end and a downstream shaft end, the upstream shaft end including a piston core, wherein the piston unit includes a piston sleeve spacedly enveloping the piston core and displaceably bounding the pressure chamber; a handle for manually displacing the actuating shaft and the piston unit in the stroke direction, the handle including a driver pressing directly against a counter member for displacing the piston unit in the stroke direction; an exit head connecting downstream to the actuating shaft and including a medium exit where the medium is environmentally expelled away from the dispenser, the exit head including an upstream head end and a downstream head end; an outlet duct for guiding the medium from the pressure chamber through the piston sleeve and the actuating shaft into the medium exit, the outlet duct longitudinally traversing the actuating shaft; and at least one valve including an outlet valve for the outlet duct, wherein the piston sleeve and the piston core commonly provide the outlet valve, the medium flowing through between the piston sleeve and the piston core into the outlet duct and the downstream head end when the outlet valve is open, the exit head extending downstream beyond the base body, the downstream head end being freely exposed downstream of the base body and including the medium exit downstream of the base body, the flange connecting to the unit casing substantially at the casing transition, and wherein one of the base ends of the base body includes first and second intermeshed jackets that have an inner jacket and an outer jacket radially spacedly enveloping the inner jacket, the second intermeshed jacket axially freely protruding over the first intermeshed jacket, the intermeshed jackets including a female thread, the intermeshed jackets protruding away from the handle.
  • 22. A dispenser for discharging media, comprising:a base body defining a central axis, the base body including base ends including an upstream base end and a downstream base end, the base body including a flask connector made in one part with the upstream base end; a reservoir for storing the medium, the reservoir including a neck and defining a central reservoir axis substantially parallel to the central axis, the flask connector axially positively interconnecting the base body and the neck; a discharge unit including a unit casing, a pressure chamber, a piston unit and an actuating shaft manually commonly axially displaceable with the piston unit relative to the base body and the unit casing in a stroke direction for pressurizing the medium within the pressure chamber and for forcing the medium from the pressure chamber through the unit casing, the base body, the piston unit and the actuating shaft in a downstream direction, the stroke direction being oriented opposite to the downstream direction and being substantially parallel to the central axis, wherein the unit casing includes a flange, an upstream casing section and a downstream casing section rigidly connecting to the upstream casing section, the downstream casing section being radially wider than the upstream casing section, the flange being provided in one part with the downstream casing section and radially outwardly projecting over the upstream casing section, the flask connector pressing the flange against the neck, a casing transition being defined between the upstream and downstream casing sections, the flange being located at the casing transition, wherein, inside the reservoir, the upstream casing section envelopes the pressure chamber and the piston unit, the pressure chamber being volumetrically constrictable by axially commonly displacing the actuating shaft and the piston unit relative to the base body and the unit casing from a rest position in the stroke direction up to an end position over a pump stroke, wherein, the actuating shaft includes shaft sections having an upstream shaft end and a downstream shaft end, the upstream shaft end including a piston core, wherein the piston unit includes a piston sleeve spacedly enveloping the piston core and displaceably bounding the pressure chamber; a handle for manually displacing the actuating shaft and the piston unit in the stroke direction, the handle including a driver pressing directly against a counter member for displacing the piston unit in the stroke direction; an exit head connecting downstream to the actuating shaft and including a medium exit where the medium is environmentally expelled away from the dispenser, the exit head including an upstream head end and a downstream head end; an outlet duct for guiding the medium from the pressure chamber through the piston sleeve and the actuating shaft into the medium exit, the outlet duct longitudinally traversing the actuating shaft; at least one valve including an outlet valve for the outlet duct; and a ring interposed between the flange and the neck, wherein the ring includes an inner circumference, ribs being included and directly connecting to both the upstream casing section and the ring, the ribs protruding beyond the inner circumference, wherein the piston sleeve and the piston core commonly provide the outlet valve, the medium flowing through between the piston sleeve and the piston core into the outlet duct and the downstream head end when the outlet valve is open, the exit head extending downstream beyond the base body, the downstream head end being freely exposed downstream of the base body and including the medium exit downstream of the base body, the flange connecting to the unit casing substantially at the casing transition.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
197 56 442 Dec 1997 DE
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
3897006 Tada Jul 1975 A
4271990 Kutik et al. Jun 1981 A
4826052 Micallef May 1989 A
5249713 Reich et al. Oct 1993 A
5549249 Foster et al. Aug 1996 A
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Number Date Country
7901055 Apr 1979 DE
3736095 May 1989 DE
4008070 Sep 1991 DE
4030530 Apr 1992 DE
4035688 May 1992 DE
4332869 Apr 1995 DE
9610456 Sep 1997 DE
0487412 May 1992 EP
2528328 Dec 1983 FR
2042630 Sep 1980 GB