EP3747550A1 - Device for storing and dispensing a liquid or pasty mass - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for storing a liquid or pasty mass which can be dispensed from a volume of an insert container (2) by means of a dispensing device (6, 7), the dispensing device (6, 7) being part of a first assembly which is connected to a second assembly, which is arranged vertically below the first assembly in an axial direction and has a lower housing part (1) receiving the insert container (2), first connecting elements (9, 20) assigned to the first assembly and second connection elements (10) assigned to the second assembly , 21) are brought into a holding connection. To simplify assembly, it is proposed that the connection with which the first connecting element carrier (4) is connected to the second connecting element carrier (13) can be released more easily than the form-fitting or latching connection produced in a joining step with which the first assembly is connected an axial force is connected in the vertical direction to the second assembly. It is also provided that the connecting elements (9, 20; 10, 21) have locking teeth that run axially in relation to the assembly direction in which the joining step takes place and that they interlock during joining.

Description

Field of technology

The invention relates to a device for storing a liquid or pasty mass that can be dispensed from a volume of an insert container by means of a dispensing device, the dispensing device being connectable to a lower housing part receiving the insert container, the first connecting elements assigned to the dispensing device being brought into a holding connection with the second connecting elements assigned to the lower housing part will.

State of the art

Devices of the type described above are used for storing liquid or pasty masses that are used as cosmetics. A generic device has a dispensing device, for example in the form of a pump head, in order to dispense the contents of an insert container. The insert container is located in a lower part of the housing. To fill the insert container with the liquid or the pasty mass, the device is provided as two parts that can be connected to one another. A lower part consists of the insert container which is arranged in the lower housing part and whose opening points upwards. The insert container can be filled with the mass in this position. In a subsequent production step, the insert container is closed. This takes place in that the dispensing device is placed on the insert container or the lower part of the housing that receives the insert container. There are locking means or form-fitting means or the like provided, which by means of a vertical displacement downwards connect the dispensing device to the lower part of the housing. When the two assemblies are connected, an axial force is applied, by means of which the locking means enter into a locking connection with one another.

Refilling of the insert container is not provided.

The DE 10023551 A1 describes a device for dispensing a liquid with a pump head and a container for receiving the liquid. The pump head has a union nut that can be screwed onto an external thread of an intermediate piece. The intermediate piece has an internal thread that can be screwed onto an external thread of a lower housing part.

Dispensers for dispensing liquid or pasty media are also known from the DE 10 2008 029004 A1 , DE 9211396 U1 , DE 4311141 A1 and EP 0899206 B1 .

Summary of the invention

The invention is based on the object of increasing the range of uses of a device of the generic type.

The invention is based, in particular, on the object of specifying measures with which the device can be refilled, the simple assembly described above, which preferably only contains a single joining step, being retained. The advantages of the prior art in this regard are to be retained.

The object is achieved by the invention specified in the claims, the subclaims not only representing advantageous developments of the device specified in the main claim, but also being their own solutions to the problem.

First and foremost, it is proposed that the first connecting elements are assigned to a first threaded element which is in releasable threaded engagement with a second threaded element. In particular, it is provided that the dispensing device is detachably connected to the first threaded element. The first threaded element has the first connecting elements, which can be brought into a locking or form-fitting connection with the second connecting elements. As an alternative to this, however, the lower housing part can also have the first threaded element and the second threaded element can be formed by the delivery device. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the threaded element is an annular body. The annular body can have the first or the second connecting elements on a first circumferential surface. The connecting element can have a thread on a second circumferential surface pointing away therefrom. In a preferred embodiment, the second threaded element is part of the delivery device. The first threaded element can have an external thread which is screwed into an internal thread of a flange section of a holding element, wherein the holding element can be part of the dispensing device. The delivery device can have a pump head. The pump head can be attached to the lower part of the housing with the retaining element. This can be done with the interposition of the threaded element. The threaded element is then connected to the lower housing part with the formation of a form-fit or latching connection. As an alternative to this, however, the threaded part can also be connected to the holding element by means of a form-fitting or locking connection. When filling the device for the first time and the subsequent connection of the two assemblies, the threaded element is firmly connected to one of the two assemblies. On the one hand, it forms the detachable connection that enables refilling and, on the other hand, the connecting elements that enable simple initial assembly. There can be a threaded connection between the lower housing part and the threaded element. This releasable threaded connection, which preferably exists between the threaded element and the holding element or dispensing device, can be released for the purpose of refilling the insert container. By rotating the holding element with respect to the lower housing part, the threaded connection can be released so that the dispensing device can be removed from the insert container or lower housing part. The insert container can then be removed from the lower part of the housing and exchanged for a new, filled insert container. At the same time, however, the pump head can also be exchanged for a new pump head. The lower housing part, which is preferably a thick-walled plastic part, can be reused. The retaining element, which has the function of a cover, can also be reused. In addition, an intermediate piece which is covered by the holding element and in which the pump head is inserted can also be reused. However, if the intermediate piece can come into contact with the material stored in the insert container, it is also provided that the intermediate piece is exchanged together with the insert container and the pump head. When refilling, all parts of the device that come into contact with the contents of the insert container during use are preferably replaced. All other components can be reused. When the threaded connection is loosened, the threaded element, which is preferably a ring part, remains in its position reached when the housing parts were first assembled. In a preferred embodiment, the upper part, that is to say the dispensing device, has a Cap that covers the pump head. This cap can sit on the pump head during the first joining step. It is also reused. In a variant of the invention, the insert container is a rigid body. In this, in particular tubular, insert container, a follow-up piston can be arranged, which moves from the bottom of the insert container to the head of the insert container as the insert container continues to be emptied. In a variant of the invention, the insert container is a tubular bag. The wall of the insert container is flexible. As the insert container continues to be emptied, the tubular bag collapses within the lower part of the housing. The vacuum, which supplies the force required to move the follower piston and the force required to collapse the tubular bag, is generated by the pump located in the pump head.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

eine Schnittdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung nach dem Befüllen eines Einsatzbehälters 2 und vor dem Aufsetzen einer von einem Pumpenkopf 7 und einem Halteelement 6 gebildeten Abgabeeinrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine Darstellung gemäß Figur 1 nach dem Zusammensetzen der beiden in Figur 1 dargestellten Bestandteile,

Fig. 3

einen Halbschnitt gemäß der Linie III-III in Figur 2,

Fig. 4

den Ausschnitt IV in Figur 3,

Fig. 5

eine Darstellung gemäß Figur 1 jedoch nach dem Abnehmen des Pumpenkopfes 7 nebst Halteelement 6 zwecks Wiederbefüllen des Einsatzbehälters 2,

Fig. 6

eine erste perspektivische Darstellung der Bestandteile des Ausführungsbeispiels,

Fig. 7

eine zweite perspektivische Darstellung des Ausführungsbeispiels der Erfindung.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a sectional view of a device according to the invention after an insert container 2 has been filled and before a dispensing device formed by a pump head 7 and a holding element 6 has been placed,

Fig. 2

a representation according to Figure 1 after putting the two together in Figure 1 illustrated components,

Fig. 3

a half section along the line III-III in Figure 2 ,

Fig. 4

section IV in Figure 3 ,

Fig. 5

a representation according to Figure 1 however, after removing the pump head 7 together with the holding element 6 for the purpose of refilling the insert container 2,

Fig. 6

a first perspective view of the components of the embodiment,

Fig. 7

a second perspective view of the embodiment of the invention.

Description of the embodiments

The device according to the invention has a lower housing part 1, which consists of a thick-walled plastic and has a cup-shaped shape. The lower housing part 1 has a cylindrical shape, a lower base and an opening pointing upwards. The opening is surrounded by an area 16 of reduced wall thickness. An outwardly pointing step 11 adjoins the area 16 of reduced wall thickness. The radially outwardly facing wall of the area 16 of reduced wall thickness has a toothing 10, the toothing 10 additionally having a circumferential latching groove 21 open to the outside. The toothing 10 and the locking groove 21 form connecting elements which interact with connecting elements 9, which are also toothed. Here, however, a rib 20 is additionally provided which engages in the groove 21 when the connecting elements 9, 10 are connected.

An insert container 2 is provided which, like the lower housing part 1, has a cup-shaped shape, but has a smaller wall thickness. The insert container 2 has an outer diameter such that it can be inserted into the cavity of the lower housing part.

An upper edge 19 of the insert container 2 projects beyond an upper edge of the lower housing part 1.

A follower piston 3 can be inserted in the insert container 2.

The reference number 4 denotes a ring part 4, which has the function of a threaded part and which has the connecting elements 9 which interact with the connecting elements 10. The ring part 4 has a threaded rib 12 on its outer surface pointing in the radially outward direction.

An intermediate piece 5 is provided which has a central opening into which a lower section of a pump head 7 is inserted. The intermediate piece 5 can be supported on the upper edge 19 of the insert container 2. For this purpose, the intermediate piece 5 can have a downwardly open annular groove into which an upwardly facing area of the insert container with reduced wall thickness can engage. As a result, the intermediate piece 5 can be placed on the insert container 2 in a sealing manner and seal the insert container 2 at the top.

The unit consisting of the intermediate piece 5 and the pump head 7 is connected to the lower housing part 1 with a holding element 6.

A cap 8 is provided which can be slipped over the pump head 7 and which can be supported on a peripheral flank of the holding element 6.

In the manufacture of a device of the type described above, the first in the Figure 1 shown assemblies formed. A first assembly contains the holding element 6, into which the pump head from below 7 and the intermediate piece 5 fixing the pump head 7 in the holding element 6 are inserted. In the flange section 13 of the holding element 6 there is a threaded element 4, the thread 12 of which is screwed into a mating thread 15.

The second assembly consists of the lower housing part 1 and the insert container 2 inserted into the lower housing part 1.

The flange section 13 of the holding element is an annular section with a radially inwardly facing wall which has a threaded rib 15. Instead of the thread rib, however, a thread groove can also be provided. It is a mating thread 15 to a thread rib 12, which arises from the radially outwardly facing wall of the ring part 4. During the pre-assembly, the ring part 4 is screwed into the flange section 13, the two threaded elements 12, 15 entering into a threaded engagement.

The pump head and the intermediate piece 5 are covered by a collar 18 of the holding element. Ring part 4, holding element 6, pump head 7 and intermediate piece 5 form a unit which is covered by cap 8. The device thus consists of two separate assemblies, which are connected to one another by a single joining step after the insert container 2 has been filled. In this joining step, the upper assembly, consisting of the pump head 7, holding element 6, intermediate piece 5 and ring part 4, is slipped vertically downward over the edge of the insert container 2 until the radially inward-facing locking rib 20 engages in the locking groove 21 of the lower housing part. The device is then in a ready-to-use, fully assembled state.

After the mass stored in the insert container 2 has been used up, the device can be refilled. In the simplest case, this can be done by pouring liquid or the like into the insert container 2, for which purpose the threaded connection of the threaded elements 12, 15 is released by turning the holding element 6 relative to the lower housing part 1. An upper assembly, which consists of holding element 6, pump head 7 and intermediate piece 5, can then be separated from a lower assembly, which consists of lower housing part 1, insert container 2 and threaded element 4. The threaded element 4 designed as a ring part remains on the lower housing part 1.

However, the refilling is preferably carried out by replacing the parts that can come into contact with the contents of the insert container 2 when the device is used as intended. These are in particular the insert container 2, the intermediate piece 5 and the pump head 7. The other components of the device, in particular the lower housing part, the cap 8 but also the holding element 6 together with the ring part 4 can be reused.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the reusable components of the device have a greater wall thickness than the components to be exchanged during refilling.

The connection of the ring part 4 and the area 16 of the lower housing part 1, which has reduced wall thickness, is preferably made by means of teeth 9 engaging in a tooth system 10.

It is considered advantageous that the first assembly has a connecting element carrier 4 which is connected to the assembly in an easily detachable manner. The connecting element carrier 4 can be formed by a flat strip bent into a ring. The strip can have a single threaded rib 12 on its radially outwardly facing side. On its radially inwardly directed side, the connecting element carrier 4 has teeth which extend in the radial direction and which, when the first assembly is joined to the second assembly, enter the interdental spaces of a toothing that is assigned to the second assembly. The interlocking teeth 9, 10 of the connecting element carrier on the one hand and of the lower housing part 2 on the other hand are brought into a latching connection with one another when they are joined.

The above explanations serve to explain the inventions covered by the application as a whole, which at least further develop the state of the art at least through the following combinations of features, whereby two, more or all of these combinations of features can also be combined, namely:

A device which is characterized in that the connection with which the first connecting element carrier 4 is connected to the second connecting element carrier 13 can be released more easily than the form-fitting or latching connection produced in a joining step, with which the first assembly is subjected to an axial force is connected in the vertical direction to the second assembly.

A device which is characterized in that the first connection element carrier 4 is an annular part screwed with an external thread 12 into an internal thread 15 of a flange section of the second connection element carrier 13.

A device which is characterized in that the connecting elements 9, 20; 10, 21 axially with respect to the assembly direction in which the joining step takes place, has locking teeth which run into one another during joining.

A device which is characterized in that the connecting elements 9, 20; 10, 21 have a locking rib 20 engaging in a locking groove 21.

A device which is characterized in that the threaded element 4 is an annular body which has locking teeth extending in the axial direction on a first peripheral surface and a thread on a second peripheral surface pointing away therefrom.

A device which is characterized in that the dispensing device 6, 7 has a pump head 7 and a holding element 6, the holding element 6 connecting the pump head 7 with the interposition of the first connecting element carrier 4 with the lower housing part 1 forming the form-fitting or latching connection.

A device which is characterized in that the lower housing part 1 has a cylindrical shape with an opening pointing upwards, the opening being surrounded by an area 16 of reduced wall thickness, which forms a toothing 10 which interact with the connecting elements 9 of the first connecting element carrier 4 , wherein the insert container 2 can be removed through the opening.

A device which is characterized in that the insert container 2 has an upper edge 19 on which the pump head 7 is supported.

A device, characterized by a cap 8 which, during the joining step, overlaps the dispensing device 6, 7 at least in certain areas.

All of the features disclosed are essential to the invention (individually, but also in combination with one another). The disclosure of the application hereby also fully includes the disclosure content of the associated / attached priority documents (copy of the previous application), also for the purpose of including features of these documents in the claims of the present application. The subclaims characterize, even without the features of a referenced claim, with their features independent inventive developments of the prior art, in particular in order to make divisional applications on the basis of these claims. The invention specified in each claim can additionally have one or more of the features provided in the above description, in particular provided with reference numbers and / or specified in the list of reference numbers. The invention also relates to design forms in which some of the features mentioned in the above description are not implemented, in particular if they are recognizable for the respective purpose or can be replaced by other technically equivalent means.

Claims (14)

Device for storing a liquid or pasty mass which can be dispensed from a volume of an insert container (2) by means of a dispensing device (6, 7), the dispensing device (6, 7) being part of a first assembly, which is combined with a second assembly, which is in an axial Direction is arranged vertically below the first assembly and has a housing lower part (1) receiving the insert container (2), can be connected, first connecting elements (9, 20) assigned to the first assembly with second connecting elements (10, 21) assigned to the second assembly in a holding connection are brought, the first connecting elements (9, 20) being assigned to a first connecting element carrier (4) which is releasably connected to a second connecting element carrier (13) of the first assembly, characterized in that the connection with which the first connecting element carrier (4) connected to the second connecting element carrier (13) i st, is easier to release than the form-fitting or latching connection produced in a joining step, with which the first assembly is connected to the second assembly with an axial force in the vertical direction. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first connecting element carrier (4) is an annular part screwed with an external thread (12) into an internal thread (15) of a flange section of the second connecting element carrier (13). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting elements (9, 20; 10, 21) are axially related have locking teeth running in the assembly direction in which the joining step takes place, which interlock during joining. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting elements (9, 20; 10, 21) have a locking rib (20) engaging in a locking groove (21). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the threaded element (4) is an annular body which has locking teeth extending in the axial direction on a first peripheral surface and a thread (12) on a second peripheral surface pointing away therefrom. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing device (6, 7) has a pump head (7) and a holding element (6), the holding element (6) holding the pump head (7) with the first connecting element carrier (4) in between connects to the lower housing part (1) forming the form-fitting or latching connection. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower housing part (1) has a cylindrical shape with an opening pointing upwards, the opening being surrounded by an area (16) of reduced wall thickness, which forms a toothing (10) which is connected with the connecting elements (9) of the first connecting element carrier (4) interact, the insert container (2) being removable through the opening. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert container (2) has an upper edge (19) on which the pump head (7) is supported. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a cap (8) which at least partially covers the dispensing device (6, 7) during the joining step. Method for manufacturing a device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a first assembly is generated which includes at least the delivery device (6, 7), the first connecting element carrier (4), the releasably connected second connecting element carrier (13) with first connecting elements (9, 20) that a second assembly is produced which has at least the insert container (2) and a lower housing part (1) receiving the insert container (2) with second connecting elements (10, 21) and that in a preferably single joining step the two assemblies are joined together with an axial force in a vertical direction. Method according to Claim 10, characterized in that, in a single joining step, locking teeth of the connecting element carrier (4) engage in locking teeth (10) of the lower housing part (1) and a locking rib (20) engages in a locking groove (21). Method according to Claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the first assembly has a cap (8) placed on the dispensing device (6, 7). Device according to one of the preceding claims 1-9, characterized in that the insert container (2) is a cup-shaped body (2) with rigid walls or a tubular bag with flexible walls. Device characterized by one or more of the characterizing features of one of the preceding claims.

Images