Dosing dispenser

Abstract

Dosing dispenser for providing and dispensing liquids, in particular detergent substances and personal care products, comprising an exchangeable container (8) for storing and providing a liquid and a dispensing device (3) for dispensing liquid from the container (8), wherein the container (8) is a pressurized container with an internal pressure that is higher than the ambient pressure and has a container valve (46) that can be actuated by the dispensing device (3), characterized in that the dispensing device (3) has a dosing mechanism (37, 17, 26, 12) for dispensing liquid in a metered manner from the container (8), and in that the dosing mechanism is coupled to an externally readable fill level indicator (7, 14, 16), wherein the fill level indicator has a movable display element (14) that is mechanically coupled to the dosing mechanism.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a dosing dispenser for providing and dispensing liquids, in particular detergent substances and care products for body care according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Dosing dispensers with a replaceable container for storing and dispensing a liquid, as well as a dispensing device for dispensing liquid from the container, are widely used in publicly accessible restrooms or similar areas in restaurants to provide liquid soap. Such dosing dispensers are also often used in hotels to dispense liquid soap, hair shampoo, and other care products such as lotions or similar at sinks, in the bathtub area, or in a shower cubicle. Such dosing dispensers are characterized by the fact that the liquid products contained within them can be dosed and hygienically dispensed, while still maintaining a certain volume of liquid products, allowing the container to be refilled or replaced at longer intervals, typically several days.

[0003] Conventional dosing dispensers are generally designed so that the container is inserted upside down into the wall mount, i.e., with the dispensing opening facing downwards. The liquid is then dispensed using gravity; a user holds their hand under the dispensing device, from which the liquid falls downwards. This requires that the dispensing device be equipped with a valve that closes the container and is only opened by the user to dispense the liquid. The valve can be opened using an actuating mechanism, for example, an actuating lever. However, since a dosing dispenser of this type usually contains liquids with a relatively high viscosity, gravity is often insufficient to dispense the liquid within an acceptable time when a dispensing valve is opened.It has therefore become increasingly common to equip the dispensing device with a dispensing valve that opens when pressure is applied to the container, which is designed to be flexible at least in certain areas for this purpose. In some cases, this allows the user to exert pressure indirectly on the container, as described in DE 296 01 918 U1, or to act directly on the container, as is provided for, for example, in DE 10 2009 024 769 B3 or DE 10 2010 024 081 A1.

[0004] However, the need to exert pressure on the dispenser's container to dispense the desired amount of liquid is not optimal in all situations. This is because the user must always exert a certain amount of force to dispense liquid. This sometimes makes precise dosing difficult, so that much more liquid is often dispensed than intended. The need to always mount the container upside down can also be disadvantageous, as this is not always desirable and also requires that there is sufficient space below the dispenser to allow the metered amount of liquid to be removed.

[0005] It is therefore desirable to use dosing dispensers with containers designed as pressurized vessels with an internal pressure higher than the ambient pressure. If the pressurized vessels have a container valve, they can be easily inserted into and removed from a wall mount. Such pressurized containers are known as spray cans or foam dispensers, as well as refill containers for gas lighters and much more. When inserted into a dosing dispenser with a dispensing device, they allow the liquid to be dispensed in measured doses at the touch of a button, i.e., without having to pressurize the container. Dispensing can be done upside down in a wall mount as before, but with a pressurized container, other orientations and handling are also possible. This is because the liquid can be dispensed not only downwards, but also upwards or to the side.Finally, foamed care products can also be dispensed from pressurized containers, which is desirable in many cases.

[0006] However, the use of pressurized containers as containers in a dosing dispenser of this type is problematic in that the pressure container itself doesn't indicate the remaining liquid content. This is only apparent from the outside when the container is empty.

[0007] However, especially in those areas where dispensers of this type are preferred, such as public spaces, restaurants, and hotels, it is important to avoid users or guests being confronted with a dispenser that doesn't work because it's empty. This is one of the main reasons why conventional dispensers, i.e., without pressurized containers, are still generally used. The containers of conventional dispensers are made of translucent material or can be provided with a translucent strip, making the fill level easily visible from the outside. The containers can then be replaced in a timely manner to prevent them from becoming empty prematurely.

[0008] The present invention is therefore based on the object of improving a dosing dispenser of the present type, the container of which is designed as a pressure container, in such a way that its fill level can be easily recognized from the outside, at least to the extent that it indicates that the container should be replaced.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by a dosing dispenser having the features of patent claim 1. Preferred embodiments and further developments of the dosing dispenser according to the invention are set out in patent claims 2 to 13.

[0010] A dosing dispenser according to the present invention accordingly comprises a replaceable container for storing and providing a liquid and a withdrawal device for withdrawing liquid from the container. The container is a pressurized container with an internal pressure higher than the ambient pressure and has a container valve that can be actuated by the withdrawal device. The withdrawal device has a dosing mechanism for the metered withdrawal of liquid from the container, and the dosing mechanism is coupled to an externally readable fill level indicator.

[0011] This inventive design of a dosing dispenser ensures that only a specific dose of liquid can be dispensed at a time via the dosing mechanism of the dispensing device. Since this dosing mechanism is coupled to the fill level indicator, the fill level indicator can signal how often the specific dose of liquid has been dispensed, for example, by a countdown display or a gradually changing color marking. Particularly preferably, the fill level indicator changes to a visually perceptible state as soon as a predetermined number of liquid doses have been dispensed, at which point, experience shows, the container is almost empty and should be replaced.

[0012] By coupling the fill level indicator with a dosing mechanism, which provides the fill level indicator with countable and thus quasi-digital information about the dispensed quantity of individual doses, it is no longer necessary to make the conditions inside the container visible from the outside, for example, via a viewing window or by means of sensors to detect the fill level of the pressurized container from the outside. This is a huge advantage when using pressurized containers, since their interior is normally not accessible from the outside.

[0013] According to the invention, the fill level indicator has a movable display element that is mechanically coupled to the dosing mechanism. This ensures that the operator inevitably moves the display element when dispensing liquid from the dispenser. This eliminates the need for powering the fill level indicator, such as an electric battery, which would have to be replaced from time to time or, if not replaced in a timely manner, would lead to malfunctions.

[0014] A movable display element which is mechanically coupled to the dosing mechanism can be ring-shaped or disc-shaped, wherein it is expediently coupled to the dosing mechanism via a reduction gear so that the movement strokes of the dosing mechanism are converted into relatively small movements of the display element.

[0015] The movable display element is preferably arranged behind a viewing window provided in the removal device, so that the display element can be integrated into the removal device, but can nevertheless be easily read from the outside.

[0016] The dispensing device of the dosing dispenser according to the invention is preferably equipped with a spring-loaded push button. This corresponds to the requirement that a specific, defined dose of liquid is dispensed from the container each time the dispensing device is actuated. After the liquid dose has been dispensed, the push button returns to its original position due to the spring load and can be pressed again to dispense another dose of liquid.

[0017] This spring-loaded push button is preferably coupled to a metering roller by means of at least one thrust element in order to convert a linear movement of the push button into a rotational movement of the metering roller. This can be achieved by means of a connecting rod. However, it is preferred to design the thrust element as a longitudinally pressure-stable, yet laterally elastically deformable spring fork or a corresponding spring clip. With such thrust elements, it is particularly possible to transmit only the thrust movement generated by the actuation of the push button to the metering roller, while the spring fork or spring clip deflects laterally like a pawl during the return movement of the push button, leaving the metering roller stationary.For this purpose, it is advantageous if the metering roller is provided with a corresponding helical gearing, into which the spring fork or spring clip engages during a pushing movement and over which the spring fork or spring clip jumps during a return movement. Preferably, the metering roller is provided with a reverse rotation lock, which can be implemented using a spring-loaded latch or the like, which allows rotation of the metering roller during a pushing movement of the push button, but prevents reverse rotation of the metering roller.

[0018] A metering roller, which is preferably provided within the scope of the present invention and is preferably actuated by the spring-loaded push button via the push element, but can also be rotated by other actuating elements, is simultaneously mechanically coupled to the indicator element and to the container valve. Rotation of the metering roller, which leads to the opening of the container valve, then preferably simultaneously leads to the movement of the indicator element.

[0019] Within the scope of the present invention, it is particularly preferred if a dosing roller is provided which is actuated by a spring-loaded push button via a pushing element, if, in addition, the container valve can be opened from the outside by being pushed in, if, in addition, the removal device contains a tubular extension for the container valve, so that when liquid is removed from the container, this liquid is guided through the removal device, if, in addition, this tubular extension is provided with a projection or collar for actuating the container valve, and if, finally, the dosing roller has at least one cam which, when the push button is moved and the dosing roller is rotated as a result, runs onto the projection or collar of the tubular extension in order to actuate the container valve.

[0020] With such a design of the dispensing device, the dose of liquid withdrawn from the container when the push button is pressed can be determined via the shape of the cam on the dosing roller. The shape of the cam can, for example, have a steep flank, so that the operator must overcome a corresponding resistance when moving the push button until the container valve is opened. After this time, this resistance drops, so that the outer contour of the cam is involuntarily traversed quickly and essentially always at the same speed, so that the container valve is essentially always closed again after a constant period of time. The dose of liquid withdrawn from the container then remains essentially the same, regardless of whether an operator presses the push button more carefully or more forcefully.

[0021] If a movable indicator element is present, it is preferred to design it as an indicator ring that is correctly positioned on a valve head that is to be placed on the container by means of detents or predetermined breaking points. After releasing the detents or breaking the predetermined breaking points upon first pressing the push button after inserting the container, the indicator ring is rotatable on the valve head and can be moved successively according to the number of liquid doses dispensed via the push button. The valve head has an orientation element that ensures the correct insertion of the valve head. The indicator ring is then inserted in a position in which it indicates a completely full container.

[0022] A dosing dispenser designed according to the invention can, as is known per se for other dosing dispensers, comprise a wall mount for receiving the container and the dispensing device, wherein the wall mount has a form-fitting upper mount for the container and a movable lower mount for the dispensing device. The mobility of the lower mount ensures that the container can be removed from the wall mount or detached from the upper mount and replaced. For use in publicly accessible locations, it is advisable to provide an anti-theft device that limits the mobility of the lower mount so that the container cannot be removed without authorization.

[0023] An embodiment of a dosing dispenser designed according to the invention and a variant thereof are described and explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a dosing dispenser designed according to the invention; Fig. 2 an exploded view of the dosing dispenser from Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a partially sectioned view of a part of the dosing dispenser from Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a partially sectioned view of a part of the dosing dispenser from Fig. 1; Fig. 5 a perspective view of a dosing roller with actuating mechanism; Fig. 6 a perspective view of the container as it is inserted into the dispenser of Fig. 1 can be used; Fig. 7 a partially sectioned representation as Fig. 4, but a variant of the dosing dispenser from Fig. 1; Fig. 8 a representation like Fig. 1, but when replacing the container.

[0024] Fig. 1 shows a dosing dispenser consisting of a container 8, a dispensing device with push button 37 and a viewing window 7, wherein the dispensing device is concealed by a lower holder 2, as well as a wall holder 6 with an upper holder 44 for the container 8.

[0025] In Fig. 1 shows the dispenser in a ready-to-use state. It is attached to a wall element (not shown) by means of the wall bracket 6, and a user simply presses the push button 37 to dispense a foamed liquid stored in the pressurized container 8 from the underside of the dispenser. Overall, it is a foam dispenser that dispenses a defined foam dose from its underside into the user's hand when the user presses the push button 37.

[0026] Fig. 2 shows the dosing dispenser Fig. 1 in an exploded view. A first assembly A consists of the wall bracket 6 with a molded upper bracket 44 for the container 8 and a mounting plate 1 for mounting the wall bracket 6 to a wall element (not shown).

[0027] A second assembly B comprises a removal device 3 for insertion into the lower holder 2 and for attachment to a valve plate 9 of the container 8. The removal device 3 contains a metering roller 17, the push button 37, a spring fork 35, a coil spring 38 with spring seat 45, a gear 33, a valve head 10 for attachment to a valve plate 9 with removal valve 46 of the container 8, an indicator element 14 arranged on the valve head 10 and designed as an indicator ring with an empty mark 16, a tubular extension 47 for the container valve 46 and an orientation tongue 4.

[0028] Based on the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, which shows partially sectioned views of the dispenser in the assembled state, illustrates the functional relationships of the described parts.

[0029] Fig. Figure 3 shows in particular the interaction of the push button 37 with the metering roller 17 in the installed state, whereby for better comprehensibility the detailed representation of these two elements from Fig. 5 can be used to aid this. The push button 37 is operatively connected to the dosing roller 17 by means of the spring fork 35. The spring fork 35 is made of a material that is longitudinally pressure-stable, but can be elastically deformed laterally. The spring fork 35 engages around two disc-shaped bodies 18 of the dosing roller, each of which is provided with helical teeth 28 on its outward-facing side. The spring fork 35 engages in this helical toothing 28 by means of a pin 36, which means that when the push button 37 is pressed in, this pushing movement is converted into a rotational movement of the dosing roller 17 and its disc-shaped bodies 18 due to the longitudinal stability of the spring fork 35.

[0030] The helical spring 38 ensures that the push button 37 slides back to its original position after being released, thereby retracting the spring fork 35. However, since the latter is laterally elastically deformable, it slides along the helical gearing 28 upon retraction and jumps over it without moving the metering roller 17 back. To prevent the metering roller 17 from moving backward at all costs, the removal device 3 also features a reverse rotation lock 24. This lock is designed as a spring tongue and slides along a ribbing 23 of a circumferential surface 22 in the desired direction of rotation of the metering roller 17 like a pawl, while blocking an undesired direction of rotation by engaging this ribbing 23.

[0031] The metering roller 17 is mounted within the removal device 3 on axle journals 20 of an axle 19, wherein one of the two axle journals 20 is extended and is provided at its end with a toothed formation 32. This toothed formation 32 engages with the gear 33, so that the latter rotates when the metering roller 17 rotates. The gear 33 ensures the mechanical coupling of the push button 37 and the metering roller 17 with the display element 14, since it is Fig. 4, which is integrally formed on the display element 14. By means of this toothing 15, the display element 14 rotates with the metering roller 17 via the gear 33 as soon as the push button 37 is pressed. The toothed recess 32 on the axle journal 20 of the metering roller 17 and the gear 33 ensure a reduction in the corresponding movement paths. The display element 14 can be viewed from the outside through the viewing window 7.

[0032] As shown by Fig. 4 and supplemented by Fig. 6, the display element 14 is basically rotatably mounted on the valve head 10. The valve head 10, in turn, is held in the correct position in the removal device 3 by means of a recess 13 into which the orientation tongue 4 engages, and can only be inserted into the latter in this way.

[0033] In the initial state with a newly inserted container 8, the indicator element 14, including its toothing 15, is fixed to the valve head 10 via predetermined breaking points 11, so that a defined initial state of orientation of the indicator element 14 is assumed by means of the recess 13 and the orientation tongue 4. Only with the first movement of the gear 33, which rotates the indicator element 14 via the toothing 15, are the predetermined breaking points 11 broken open, so that the indicator element 14 is ultimately freely rotatable about the valve head 10. After a certain number of strokes of the push button 37, after which it can be assumed that the container 8 will soon be empty, the indicator element 14 has rotated until the empty mark 16 appears in the viewing window 7.

[0034] The metering roller 17 is not only mechanically connected to the display element 14 in order to rotate it a little further with each stroke of the push button 37, but it also actuates the container valve 46. For this purpose, the valve head 10 has a tubular extension 47 which is placed on the container valve 46 and, as Fig. 4, ensures that the contents of the container 8 to be removed are dispensed at the bottom of the removal device 3, and not into it. The tubular extension 47 is provided with a collar 12 ( Fig. 6), with which the valve head 10 can be pressed towards the container 8 in order to open the container valve 46.

[0035] How again Fig. 4 is best illustrated - with the addition of the Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 - the inward-facing end faces 27 of the disc-shaped bodies 18 on the dosing roller 17 are each provided with four cams 26. During a rotational movement of the dosing roller 17, these cams 26 run onto the collar 12 of the valve head 10 and press the collar against the container 8 in accordance with the outer contour of the cam in order to open the container valve 46 and dispense a dose of the contents of the container 8 through the tubular extension 47. These cams 26 are provided with relatively steep flanks, so that when the push button 37 is pressed in, a relatively great resistance must be overcome in order to press the collar 12 against the container 8 and thus open the container valve 46. Due to a small radius between the flank and an upper outer contour of the cams 26, the outer contour then runs quickly and unbraked along the collar 12 until the collar returns to its original position.The time during which the container valve is open remains essentially constant each time the push button 37 is pressed.

[0036] The conversion of a linear movement of the push button 37 into a rotational movement of the dosing roller 17, the mounting of the dosing roller 17 within the removal device 3, which is accommodated in the lower holder 2, and the dual function of the dosing roller 17, which simultaneously drives the cams 26 for actuating the container valve 46 and the gear 33 for moving the display element 14 forward, enables an energy source-independent, reliable and compact design of a dosing dispenser with a pressure container, wherein the installation situation, in particular the spatial orientation of the container 8 during removal, can be arbitrary.

[0037] For use in publicly accessible spaces, the present embodiment is equipped with an anti-theft device. This comprises a locking tongue 5, which is attached to the lower bracket 2 and, by engaging with the wall bracket 6, prevents the lower bracket 2 from being moved downwards, as is the case with Fig. 8. However, without moving the lower holder 2 away from the container 8, the container 8 cannot be removed from the upper holder 44, and it is also not possible to access the removal device 3 located in the lower holder 2. Unlocking the engagement of the locking tongue 5 in the wall holder 6 is carried out, as is known per se, via a key (not shown in detail), with which locking elements 21, which lock the locking tongue 5 in the wall holder 6, can be released.

[0038] In Fig. Figure 7 shows a variant of the design of the removal device 3. Instead of a spring fork 35, the metering roller 17 is actuated here via a spring clip 39. This consists of a push rod 40 with drive teeth 41 and a spring spoke 43 with a pawl element 34.

[0039] To adapt to the spring clip 39, the metering roller 17 is modified on its disc-shaped bodies 18: These are not provided with helical teeth 28 on their outwardly facing sides, but with a helical gear element 42 which engages in the drive teeth 41 of the push rod 40 and which further cooperates with the pawl element 34.

[0040] During a forward stroke via the push button 37, the spring clip 39, which is longitudinally pressure-stable due to the push rod 40, is pushed forward, causing the metering roller 17 to rotate due to the interaction of the drive toothing 41 with the gear element 42. When the push button 37 is released and reset by the helical spring 38, the spring clip 39 is retracted. At the transition between the push button 37 and the push rod 40, the spring clip 39 is relatively thin, so that the push rod 40 is laterally elastically deformable and can deflect upwards. As a result, the drive toothing 41 and the gear element 42 can slide past each other due to the respective flanks of the toothings without causing the metering roller 17 to rotate.The spring spoke 43 ensures that the push rod 40 returns to its starting position under spring load each time the gear teeth have slid past each other, that the spring clip 39 is guided and that the pawl element 34, in cooperation with the anti-rotation lock 24, prevents the metering roller 17 from rotating backwards.

[0041] How Fig. 8 together with Fig. 1, in the present embodiment, when the empty mark 16 appears behind the viewing window 7, the container 8 can be easily replaced by unlocking the lower holder 2 and moving it downwards, after which the container 8 can be removed from the upper holder 44. To insert a new container 8, a new valve head 10 with intact predetermined breaking points 11 is first placed on its valve plate 9. This results in the Fig.The situation is shown in Figure 6. Due to the still intact predetermined breaking points 11, the position of the display element 14 is fixed relative to the recess 13.

[0042] Thereafter, the container 8 provided with the valve head 10 and its tubular extension 47 is inserted into the lower holder 2, wherein the recess 13 receives the orientation tongue 4 and thereby ensures that the empty mark 16 on the display element 14 is in a starting position and only appears in the viewing window 7 after an almost complete rotation around the longitudinal axis of the container 8.

[0043] By moving the lower holder 2 upwards, the dosing dispenser is then returned to a state in which it can be used. A first actuation of the push button 37, which not only leads to the withdrawal of liquid from the container 8 via the dosing roller 17, but also to a forced engagement of the toothing 15 on the display element 14, breaks open the predetermined breaking points 11, and the display element 14 can then rotate a short distance each time the push button 37 is actuated, until after a certain number of liquid withdrawals or actuations of the push button 37, the empty mark 16 appears behind the viewing window 7, thereby indicating that the container 8 should be replaced.

Claims

[1] Dosing dispenser for providing and dispensing liquids, in particular detergent substances and personal care products, comprising an exchangeable container (8) for storing and providing a liquid and a dispensing device (3) for dispensing liquid from the container (8), wherein the container (8) is a pressure container with an internal pressure increased compared to the ambient pressure and has a container valve (46) which can be actuated by the dispensing device (3), characterized by that the removal device (3) has a dosing mechanism (37, 17, 26, 12) for the dosed removal of liquid from the container (8), and that the dosing mechanism is coupled to an externally readable fill level indicator (7, 14, 16), wherein the fill level indicator has a movable display element (14) which is mechanically coupled to the dosing mechanism. [2] Dosing dispenser according to claim 1, characterized bythat the movable display element (14) is ring-shaped or disc-shaped and is coupled to the dosing mechanism via a reduction gear (32, 33, 15). [3] Dosing dispenser according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the movable display element (14) is arranged behind a viewing window (7) provided in the removal device (3). [4] Dosing dispenser according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the dosing mechanism has a dosing roller (17) which is simultaneously mechanically coupled to the display element (14) and to the container valve (46). [5] Dosing dispenser according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the removal device (3) is provided with a spring-loaded push button (37). [6] Dosing dispenser according to claims 4 and 5, characterized bythat the push button (37) is coupled to the dosing roller (17) via at least one thrust element (35, 39) in order to convert a linear movement of the push button into a rotational movement of the dosing roller (17). [7] Dosing dispenser according to claim 6, characterized by that the thrust element is a connecting rod or a longitudinally pressure-stable, laterally elastically deformable spring fork (35) or a longitudinally pressure-stable, laterally elastically deformable spring clip (39). [8] Dosing dispenser according to claim 7, characterized by that the spring fork (35) or the spring clip (39) interacts in the manner of a pawl with a helical toothing (28, 42) attached to the metering roller (17). [9] Dosing dispenser according to at least one of claims 6 to 8, characterized by that the dosing roller (17) is provided with a reverse rotation lock (24). [10] Dosing dispenser according to at least one of claims 6 to 9, characterized bythat the container valve (46) can be opened from the outside by being pushed in, that the removal device (3) contains a tubular extension (47) for the container valve (46), which is provided with a projection or collar (12) for actuating the container valve (46), and that the metering roller (17) has at least one cam (26) which, when the push button (37) is moved, runs onto the projection or collar (12) in order to actuate the container valve (46). [11] Dosing dispenser according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the indicator element (14) is an indicator ring which is fastened in the correct position to a valve head (10) to be placed on the container (8) by means of detents or by means of predetermined breaking points (11) and which is rotatable on the valve head (10) after the detents have been released or the predetermined breaking points (11) have been broken open, wherein the valve head (10) has an orientation element which ensures the correct insertion of the valve head (10). [12] Dosing dispenser according to at least one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that a wall bracket (6) is provided for receiving the container (8) and the removal device (3), wherein the wall bracket (6) has a positive-locking upper bracket (44) for the container (8) and a movable lower bracket (2) for the removal device (3). [13] Dosing dispenser according to claim 12, characterized by that the lower bracket (2) is provided with an anti-theft device that limits mobility.

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