Squeeze bottle dispenser with safety lock

Description

SCOPE OF APPLICATION AND STATE OF THE ART

[0001] The invention relates to a liquid dispenser with the features of the preamble of claim 1, in particular in the form of a squeeze bottle dispenser with an actuation safety device, especially a child safety lock. Such a squeeze bottle dispenser is a liquid dispenser, for example for dispensing pharmaceutical liquids, which has a dimensionally stable liquid reservoir whose walls are at least partially elastically compressible, so that the liquid in the liquid reservoir can be pressurized.

[0002] The reduction in volume of the liquid reservoir caused by activation, and the associated increase in pressure, cause liquid to be forced into a dispensing head of the squeeze bottle dispenser and to the dispensing opening provided therein. In most squeeze bottle dispensers of the generic type, as well as those based on the invention, an outlet valve is installed upstream of the dispensing opening, which opens when sufficient liquid pressure is reached.

[0003] Such squeeze bottle dispensers are widely used. They are particularly common for pharmaceutical liquids, such as eye drops. A squeeze bottle dispenser of the type described is known, for example, from document DE 10 2016 210 992 B3.

[0004] Especially with squeeze bottle dispensers containing pharmaceutical liquids, it is important that this liquid is not unintentionally spilled by playing children or otherwise.

[0005] Squeeze bottle dispensers with child safety locks are known from the subsequently published European patent application 21155900.0.

[0006] WO 2012 / 041614 A1 discloses a discharge device with an elastically deformable media container and a removable protective flap. A shell extension of the cap surrounds the container over at least 50% of its length to prevent unintentional compression. TASK AND SOLUTION

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a liquid dispenser which offers an advantageous way to guide an outer sleeve on a dispensing head of the liquid dispenser.

[0008] A liquid dispenser is proposed for this purpose, which can be designed in particular as a squeeze bottle dispenser, comprising a liquid reservoir in the form of a squeeze bottle and a dispensing head with a dispensing opening. Preferably, the dispensing head is manufactured as a separate assembly and coupled to the liquid reservoir, for example by a snap-fit ​​connection or a threaded connection. However, designs are also possible in which the dispensing head and the liquid reservoir, or at least their outer surfaces, are formed by a single component.

[0009] The liquid dispenser is preferably filled with a pharmaceutical liquid, for example, a liquid containing imidazoline for the relief of conjunctival irritation. The liquid reservoir preferably has an internal volume of less than 50 ml, particularly less than 20 ml.

[0010] The liquid reservoir is designed as a squeeze bottle. Preferably, the bottle body has a rigidity that allows the internal volume to be reduced by at least 5% when a pressure of 20 Newtons is applied to each side. The wall of the liquid reservoir is preferably made of a soft plastic, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), or a cycloolefin copolymer (COC).

[0011] Various liquid dispensing methods are possible. The dispenser can be designed to dispense a stream or a spray. Preferably, however, the squeeze bottle dispenser is designed as a droplet dispenser. For this purpose, the squeeze bottle dispenser preferably has droplet-forming elements in the area of ​​the dispensing opening, in particular in the form of a droplet-forming surface surrounding the dispensing opening, where dispensed liquid collects until the amount of liquid is sufficient for a droplet to form, which then detaches from the droplet-forming element and falls.

[0012] Such a squeeze bottle dispenser has a captive protective sleeve permanently attached to the liquid reservoir. This sleeve, relative to a main axis of the dispenser (defined by the dispenser's dispensing direction and / or the central axis of the liquid reservoir), can be repeatedly displaced axially between a protective position and a release position. This displacement can be purely translational. However, it is also possible for the protective sleeve to be displaceable both translationally and rotationally, for example, superimposed in a threaded motion or sequentially in a bayonet-like motion.

[0013] For the purposes of this invention, a captive attachment of the protective sleeve to the squeeze bottle dispenser means that, under normal use, the protective sleeve cannot detach from the squeeze bottle dispenser. The fact that separation is possible with brute force does not preclude captive attachment as defined by the invention.

[0014] In the protective position, the protective sleeve is positioned relative to the liquid reservoir in such a way that it either completely prevents the reservoir from being compressed or at least makes it extremely difficult by covering access to the reservoir's outer wall. This prevents the discharge of liquid.

[0015] In the release position, the protective sleeve allows the liquid reservoir to be compressed, thus enabling the discharge of liquid. For this purpose, the protective sleeve is positioned relative to the liquid reservoir to such an extent that it no longer presents any obstruction or at least allows for a simplified application of force to the liquid reservoir compared to the protective position.

[0016] For the described purpose, the protective sleeve is at least also transversely displaceable relative to the fluid reservoir. The degree of displaceability in the axial direction with respect to the main axis is preferably at least 20 mm, and more preferably at least 30 mm. This dimension describes the axial path that the protective sleeve can move between opposing end positions, i.e., between the end position associated with the release position and the end position associated with the protection position.

[0017] The protective sleeve is sufficiently rigid to prevent any significant reduction in the internal volume of the fluid reservoir when the sleeve is subjected to force. Preferably, the protective sleeve is made of a rigid plastic, in particular polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate / glycol-modified (PCTG), polypropylene (PP), a cycloolefin copolymer (COC), a cycloolefin polymer (COP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or high-density polyethylene (HDPE). To achieve its required stability, the protective sleeve does not necessarily need to be made of a stiffer material than the fluid reservoir. Alternatively, greater stability can also be achieved through a greater wall thickness.

[0018] To allow for guided movement of the protective sleeve, the squeeze bottle dispenser has at least one guide surface along which the protective sleeve can be moved. While it is generally possible to use the outer surface of the liquid reservoir directly as a guide surface, a design in which a component separate from the liquid reservoir provides the guide surface is preferred.

[0019] One possible design provides for at least one guide surface on the outer side of a guide ring. This guide ring is attached to the fluid reservoir, the discharge head, or in an intermediate section. The inner surface of the guide ring is designed such that the ring is not, or only minimally, axially displaceable relative to the fluid reservoir. On its outer surface, the guide ring has a sliding surface along which the protective sleeve can slide.

[0020] A particularly advantageous design involves attaching the guide ring to a tapered neck section of the liquid dispenser. In this case, its inner diameter is smaller than the diameter of the liquid reservoir and the dispensing head on either side of the tapered neck section. Such a ring can be installed by placing the guide ring in the neck section before attaching the dispensing head to the liquid reservoir.

[0021] However, it is considered advantageous, in terms of a more flexible assembly sequence, if the guide ring is designed in such a way that it can be mounted even when the discharge head is already attached to the bottle neck. This can be achieved, for example, by a guide ring interrupted by a slit, which is temporarily expanded axially or laterally for assembly. In particular, the guide ring can be designed as an interrupted guide ring with a break in a segment spanning a maximum of 120°, preferably a maximum of 10°. Such an interruption of the ring structure, or at least a slotted design, is advantageous for allowing the guide ring to be expanded during automated assembly.Preferably, a guide ring with an interruption or slot and the protective sleeve held by it are matched to each other in such a way that the guide sleeve prevents an expansion of the guide ring that would be sufficient to pull the guide ring over the liquid reservoir or the dispensing head and thus separate the protective sleeve from the squeeze bottle dispenser.

[0022] An alternative design for a guide ring provides that the guide ring is designed as a multi-part guide ring, in particular as a two-part guide ring. It has at least two guide ring segments which are connected to each other at at least one end, preferably at both ends, to form the assembled guide ring, particularly preferably by means of a snap-fit ​​connection. In such a design, the guide ring is only assembled from the several guide ring segments in the area of ​​the neck of the fluid reservoir.

[0023] To facilitate sliding the protective sleeve onto the guide ring during assembly, a chamfer is preferably provided on the protective sleeve and / or the guide ring. Preferably, the protective sleeve is slid onto the ring from the side facing away from the discharge opening. In this case, the chamfer is located at the upper edge of the protective sleeve or at the lower end of the guide ring.

[0024] The guide ring can have at least one guide structure extending in the direction of movement of the protective sleeve on its outer surface, for example, in the form of a short vertical groove. This allows a protective sleeve, equipped with a corresponding inwardly projecting guide structure, to be guided not only longitudinally by the guide ring, but also simultaneously secured against rotation relative to the guide ring. It has been shown that this results in greater guiding stability and a reduced tendency to tilt.

[0025] The guide ring preferably also forms a stop that limits the displacement of the protective sleeve in at least one direction of movement. The guide ring can also form a detent edge of a displacement protection device, which will be explained further below.

[0026] An alternative design of the guide surface provides for at least one guide surface on the inner side of a guide sleeve surrounding the protective sleeve. This guide sleeve can be held, in particular, by means of an intermediate ring on the liquid reservoir or on the discharge head, or between the liquid reservoir and the discharge head. The guide sleeve surrounds the liquid reservoir and is either fixed in position in the axial direction or only slightly axially movable relative to it. The guide sleeve has at least one recess through which the liquid reservoir can be compressed. Preferably, two opposing recesses are provided. The recesses preferably have an axial extension of at least 10 mm, preferably at least 15 mm.

[0027] In this design, the protective sleeve can be positioned between the guide sleeve, which is largely stationary axially relative to the liquid reservoir, and the outer wall of the liquid reservoir. When the protective sleeve is in its protective position, it is located within the area of ​​at least one recess, thus preventing any force from being applied to the liquid reservoir. When the protective sleeve is in its release position, it at least partially releases the recess, allowing the squeeze bottle reservoir to be compressed.

[0028] As previously explained, the guide sleeve is preferably attached to the squeeze bottle dispenser using an intermediate ring. As already described above regarding the guide ring, the intermediate ring can also be designed as a slotted ring or as a ring with a break to facilitate assembly. A guide ring composed of several ring segments, as described above, is also possible.

[0029] While the described guide ring serves to guide the protective sleeve in a sliding manner, the intermediate ring is preferably designed for axial fixation to the guide sleeve. Preferably, the intermediate ring and the guide sleeve are positively locked together, for this purpose in particular by a groove on one of the parts and a rib engaging therein on the other part.

[0030] In the simplest case, the guiding of the protective sleeve by the guide ring or the guide sleeve can be achieved by the fact that the outside of the guide ring and the inside of the protective sleeve or the outside of the protective sleeve and the inside of the guide sleeve have an essentially identical cylindrical shape.

[0031] However, it is preferred if interlocking guide structures are provided on the guide surface and on the opposite side of the protective sleeve, by which the protective sleeve is rotatably fixed relative to the guide surface or by which the protective sleeve is rotatably and translatively guided relative to the guide surface, for example in the manner of a threaded movement or a bayonet movement.

[0032] In particular, a recessed guide groove can be provided on one side, into which a guide rib or guide cam on the opposite side engages. Such a structure results in more reliable guidance, where tilting is largely avoided. If the guide groove has a helical shape, at least in part, the aforementioned threaded movement is achieved.

[0033] This makes it possible to move the protective sleeve between the release position and the protective position by applying a moment and thereby indirectly causing axial displacement.

[0034] The guide groove can have a section at one or both axially spaced ends that extends circumferentially to the main axis, so that it does not run in the axial direction of the main axis. These end sections allow the protective sleeve and the fluid reservoir to be held in the protected or released position.

[0035] Requiring the protective sleeve to be moved into the release position before using the liquid dispenser provides a high degree of safety against unintentional activation. To further enhance this level of safety, particularly in child-resistant designs, a locking mechanism can be incorporated to secure the protective sleeve in its protective position. To move the sleeve to the release position, the locking mechanism must first be disengaged using a separate handle.

[0036] In particular, the displacement protection device can have at least one elastically deflectable locking element, which is fixed either to the liquid reservoir and the guide sleeve or to the locking sleeve, and which, in the protected position, interacts with a locking edge provided on the opposite side in such a way that translational or rotational movement, and thus indirectly translational movement of the protective sleeve relative to the liquid reservoir, is prevented. To move the liquid dispenser into the release position, the user must first deflect the locking element by applying direct manual force so that it can be guided past the locking edge.

[0037] The elastically deflectable locking element can be attached, in particular, to the protective sleeve or the guide sleeve, especially as an integrally molded section connected to surrounding wall sections of the sleeve via an elastically deformable material bridge. It is particularly preferred if the deflectable locking element is provided on the protective sleeve itself. If the protective sleeve is displaceable within a guide sleeve, the corresponding locking edge is preferably provided on the guide sleeve, particularly as the edge of an opening through which the locking element can be pressed. This opening can be identical to the recess through which force is applied to the squeeze bottle in the release state. If the protective sleeve is mounted on an inner guide surface of a guide ring, the locking edge is preferably provided on this guide ring.

[0038] Particularly in designs with a guide ring, it can be advantageous to design the elastically deflectable locking element as a rocker element with two opposing arms on either side of a tilting axis. One of the arms can then serve to engage the locking edge, while the other arm is manually actuated to unlock it. The rocker element thus effects a reversal of direction for the purpose of unlocking.

[0039] In the protective position, the protective sleeve surrounds the liquid reservoir, at least in those areas where it would be accessible from the outside. In the release position, the protective sleeve is transversely displaced relative to the liquid reservoir. Designs are conceivable in which the transverse displacement of the protective sleeve occurs either towards the discharge opening or away from it.

[0040] In the first case, the protective sleeve is closer to the dispensing opening in the release position than in the protective position. This allows the upper edge of the protective sleeve to be used as a contact surface, which is placed against the skin where the liquid is to be applied. For example, in the case of eye drops, the contact surface can be placed near the eyebrow to ensure particularly reliable and reproducible dispensing.

[0041] It is advantageous for this purpose that the contact surface of the protective sleeve is arranged in the release position in such a way that it is positioned a maximum of 15 mm away from the discharge opening with respect to the main axis and preferably projects beyond the discharge opening.

[0042] Such a design is particularly advantageous when the protective sleeve is guided on an internal guide ring. Preferably, retaining means are provided, especially in the form of stops on the guide ring and on the protective sleeve, to prevent the protective sleeve from being pulled off the guide ring.

[0043] Another design, in which the protective sleeve is shifted away from the dispensing opening in the release position, is preferably implemented using the described guide sleeve. This guide sleeve is capable of securely holding the protective sleeve in its position away from the dispensing opening. The resulting lengthening of the dispenser as a whole, caused by the shifting of the protective sleeve, can offer a significant advantage in handling.

[0044] Even with such a design, retaining means are preferably provided to prevent the protective sleeve from being pulled off in the opposite direction to the discharge opening. These means can be stops on the protective sleeve and the guide sleeve. A particularly advantageous design provides that the stop on the guide sleeve side is formed by an edge that defines the actuation recess.

[0045] In order to move the protective sleeve located inside the guide sleeve into the release position in the case of a design with a guide sleeve, the user must be able to grasp the protective sleeve. This can be done through the opening. However, to facilitate handling, the protective sleeve can also be designed with a distal end section that extends beyond the guide sleeve at its lower end, even in the protective sleeve's release position. The additional length of the protective sleeve can be used, in the case of a design with a closed base, to accommodate electronic dispensing components such as a counter within the defined receiving space.

[0046] The protective sleeve covers the liquid reservoir, at least partially. To ensure that any markings on the reservoir remain legible, the protective sleeve can be made of transparent plastic. This allows any printing on the outside of the reservoir or on a label attached to the outside to be read through the protective sleeve. If a guide sleeve is used, it can also be made of transparent plastic.

[0047] It is also possible to use the protective sleeve or, if applicable, the guide sleeve to apply printing, possibly in the form of a printed label.

[0048] Furthermore, it is also possible to provide printing on the protective sleeve or the guide sleeve, as well as on the fluid reservoir. This can be used, for example, to affix instructions or similar information to the fluid reservoir, which is only accessible in the release position and is not yet needed when the protective sleeve is in its protective position.

[0049] Preferably, the squeeze bottle dispenser has a protective cap that, when in place, protects the dispensing opening and is removed for use and then replaced. Such a protective cap can, in particular, be a cap with at least one ventilation opening, which is preferably closed in the delivery state.

[0050] The protective cap can provide an additional safeguard by interacting with the protective sleeve in such a way that, when the protective cap is in place or at least when the protective cap has not yet been opened for the first time, the displacement of the protective sleeve is prevented, in particular by positioning the protective cap where the protective sleeve must be moved to in order to be moved into the release position.

[0051] According to the invention, a liquid dispenser is proposed which does not necessarily have to be designed as a squeeze bottle dispenser of the type described. This liquid dispenser has a liquid reservoir in the form of a bottle body and a dispensing head with a dispensing opening.

[0052] Furthermore, the liquid dispenser according to the invention has an outer sleeve that at least temporarily surrounds the bottle body. This can be, in particular, the protective sleeve or the guide sleeve described above. A ring element is provided for attaching or guiding the outer sleeve to the bottle body, to which the outer sleeve is fixedly or slidably attached on the outside.

[0053] According to the invention, the ring element is designed as a component separate from the housing of the discharge head. It can preferably be designed as a slotted or interrupted ring element, which has an interruption in a segment spanning a maximum of 120° and preferably a maximum of 10°. This allows the ring element to be mounted by temporary expansion. Once the ring element is in position, the outer sleeve can be slid onto it.

[0054] The outer sleeve is preferably designed for captive attachment to the dispensing head by means of the ring element. It is therefore not intended that the user completely separates the dispensing head and the liquid reservoir on the one hand from the outer sleeve on the other. Preferably, for this purpose, a stop for the ring element and a stop for the outer sleeve are provided, which together define an end position beyond which the outer sleeve cannot be displaced relative to the ring element.

[0055] The outer sleeve secures the ring element against expansion in such a way that it cannot be pulled over the bottle body or the dispensing head and thus separated from the liquid reservoir. If the ring element is pulled over the outer sleeve towards the dispensing head or the bottom of the liquid reservoir, it enters a larger-diameter area of ​​the dispensing head or liquid reservoir and expands until it abuts the inside of the outer sleeve, preventing further movement.

[0056] A liquid dispenser according to this separate aspect of the invention can further fulfill one or all of the features additionally mentioned above for the squeeze bottle dispenser. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] Further advantages and aspects of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are explained below with reference to the figures. Figs. 1 and 2 They show a generic dropper dispenser, which serves to explain the construction of a generic squeeze bottle dispenser. Figs. 3 to 6B show a first embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention. Figs. 7A and 7B show a variant of the first embodiment. Figs. 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention. Figs. 10 to 13B show a third embodiment of a liquid dispenser according to the invention. Fig. 14 shows an alternative design of a guide ring for the liquid dispenser according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXECUTION EXAMPLES

[0058] The Fig. 1Figures 2 and 2 initially show a squeeze bottle dispenser 10 without an actuation safety device, which is further developed by additions to a liquid dispenser according to the invention with an actuation safety device.

[0059] The squeeze bottle dispenser 10 has a dispensing head 12 with an outer housing 14, which is perforated at the distal end by a dispensing opening 16.

[0060] The squeeze bottle dispenser 10 also has a liquid reservoir 20, which is designed as a squeeze bottle and whose walls can therefore be compressed to reduce the internal volume of the liquid reservoir 20 and correspondingly increase the pressure. The dispensing head is attached to the open end of the liquid reservoir 20.

[0061] As in Fig. 2As shown, the pressure during the compression of the liquid reservoir 20 forces the contained liquid towards the discharge head when the discharge opening is oriented downwards, and after pressure-induced opening of a discharge valve 18, the liquid reaches the discharge opening 16.

[0062] The squeeze bottle dispenser 10 can, for example, be a drop dispenser, especially for ophthalmic use, the dispensing opening of which is designed to dispense drops, in particular by a drop formation surface surrounding the dispensing opening 16 on the outside, in particular with a surrounding sharp-edged tear-off edge.

[0063] To protect this dispensing opening 16, the dispenser 10 can include a protective cap 22. To allow the droplet-forming surface to dry quickly after use, the protective cap is provided with ventilation openings.

[0064] The Figs. 3 to 6BShow a first embodiment of a dispenser according to the invention. This is based on the dropper dispenser of the Fig. 1 , which is through the in Fig. 5 The components 70, 50, and 30, which are clearly identifiable, have been added. Figs. 3 and 4 show the liquid dispenser 10 in its assembled state before and after removal of the protective cap 22.

[0065] The additional components 30, 50, and 70 represent parts of a safety device designed to prevent the unintentional release of liquid. In particular, these components together form a child safety lock that is difficult for small children to overcome.

[0066] The child safety device comprises a protective sleeve 30, which is inserted into a guide sleeve 50. The guide sleeve 50 has a recess 54 on opposite sides of its outer surface, through which the force is applied to the liquid reservoir 20. However, this force is prevented when the protective sleeve 30 is fully inserted into the guide sleeve 50 and thus in the position indicated by Figs. 3 and 4 The recesses 54 are blocked in the manner shown.

[0067] The guide sleeve 50 is provided on its inner side with opposing guide surfaces 52 in the form of two guide grooves 53 extending in the direction of the main axis 2. Correspondingly, guide ribs 33 are provided on the outer side of the protective sleeve 30. Thus, when inserted, the protective sleeve 30 can only be moved translationally into the guide sleeve 50. The protective sleeve 30 has outwardly projecting stop ribs 37 on both sides at its upper edge, which prevent the protective sleeve 30 from being completely pulled out of the guide sleeve 50. As soon as the stop 37 abuts the lower edge of the window recesses 54, which forms a further stop, further removal of the protective sleeve 30 is no longer possible.

[0068] The guide sleeve 50 has a detent opening 59, the lower end edge of which forms a detent edge 64. Correspondingly, an inwardly deflectable detent element 62 is provided, which, in the form of a U-shaped tongue, is an integral part of the protective sleeve 30.

[0069] The assembly consisting of the guide sleeve 50 and the protective sleeve 30 inserted therein is attached to the liquid reservoir 20 of the liquid dispenser 10 by means of an intermediate ring 70. The intermediate ring 70 is located in the Fig. 5The intermediate ring is not designed to be completely closed, but is provided with an opening 74. This opening 74 allows the intermediate ring to be slid onto a tapered area 20B of the liquid reservoir 20 from above or below, but especially also from the side. It can then be compressed sufficiently so that the assembly of guide sleeve 50 and protective sleeve 30 can be slid onto it from below.

[0070] Fig. 6A The child safety device mounted in this manner is shown in a cutaway view. It can be seen that a groove 78 on the outside of the intermediate ring 70 is used to attach an inwardly facing retaining lug 58 of the guide sleeve 50.

[0071] Fig. 6AFigure 1 shows the protective position of the protective sleeve 30. As explained above, in this position the protective sleeve 30 blocks its recesses 54, so that it is not possible for the user to compress the liquid reservoir 20.

[0072] To make the dispenser ready for operation, the user must first elastically depress the locking element 62. Once this has been done, the user can pull the protective sleeve downwards by applying force to it against the guide sleeve 50 or the dispensing head 12, thus restoring the condition of the Fig. 6B adjusts. The downward shift is limited by stops 37 and 57. In the position of the Fig. 6BThe dispenser as a whole is now significantly longer, allowing for more comfortable handling and safer placement of the dispenser, for example, above the eye being treated. When force is applied to the fluid reservoir on both sides through the openings 54, the pressure in the fluid reservoir increases, causing the dispensing valve 18 to open and fluid to be released through the discharge opening 16.

[0073] After use, the user pushes the protective sleeve 30 back upwards. A bevel on the locking element 62 causes it to be deflected elastically inwards until it springs back into the opening 59 and restores the protective state.

[0074] The design of the Figs. 7A and 7B differs from the Figs. 3 to 6B by extending the protective sleeve at its lower end, so that it also functions in the protective position of the Fig. 7Aprotrudes downwards beyond the guide sleeve 50. This can facilitate the transition into the release position of the Fig. 7B facilitate.

[0075] The design of the Figs. 8 and 9 is the one of the preceding ones Figs. 3 to 7B quite similar. A key difference is that here, the protective sleeve 30 does not have a purely translational movement, but rather a superimposed translational and rotational movement. For this purpose, a predominantly helical guide groove 35 is provided on the outer side of the protective sleeve 30, which transitions into horizontal sections only at its ends. A guide cam 55 is arranged within the groove, which is provided on the inner side of the guide sleeve 50.

[0076] The helical guide groove 35 ensures that the transition from the protective position of the Fig. 8 into the release position of the Fig. 9First, the locking element 62 must be pressed in as already described, but then the protective sleeve 30 is not pulled out immediately, but is unscrewed as it were by a rotational movement and a translational movement indirectly caused by this.

[0077] The design of the Figs. 10 to 13B This exhibits fundamental differences from the preceding examples. As can be seen from Fig. 12As can be seen, only two additional components are provided here to achieve an actuation lock: a guide ring 40, which, similar to the intermediate ring 70, is pushed onto a tapered area 20B of the fluid reservoir 20 from above or below, but especially from the side, and a protective sleeve 30, which is pushed onto the fluid reservoir 20 surrounding the guide ring 40. Lead-in ramps 38 are provided at the upper edge of the guide sleeve 30, which, during the assembly of the protective sleeve 30, ensure that the guide ring 40 is temporarily compressed so that it can expand again below the lead-in ramps 38.

[0078] Based on the Figs. 13A and 13B It is evident that the guide ring 40 fulfills a number of functions. From the protective position of the Fig. 13AIt is not possible to pull the protective sleeve 30 downwards, as the chamfers used during assembly only act in the opposite direction. Furthermore, it is initially not possible to move the protective sleeve 30 upwards, as a locking element 62, designed as a rocker element, rests with its upper edge against the locking edge 64 of the guide ring 40. Only when the lower half of the locking element 62 is pressed down is the upper half tilted outwards, allowing the protective sleeve to then be moved upwards. The final position is in the Fig. 13B visible position reached in which a stop 64 of the guide ring 40 comes to rest against an inwardly pointing stop 31 of the protective sleeve 30.

[0079] Fig. 13B This shows the release position, in which force can now be applied to the fluid reservoir 20. In contrast to Fig. 13BThis force is applied when the dispenser is in an angled position with the dispensing opening 16 pointing downwards. In this release position, the upper edge of the protective sleeve 30 can be used by placing the contact surface 34 against the user's skin to allow for the most precise droplet dispensing possible. In particular, the contact surface 34 can, for example, be placed against the user's eyebrow.

[0080] Fig. 14 Figure 1 shows an alternative design of a guide ring 40. This guide ring does not have a break 44 that allows for expansion, but instead is formed from two ring segments 40A and 40B, which can be connected to each other via cooperating coupling means 41. This allows the guide ring to be Fig. 14to be attached after the liquid reservoir 20 and the discharge head 12 have already been connected, by feeding the two ring segments in the tapered area 20B from opposite sides and snapping them around the bottle neck.

[0081] The guide ring 40 of the Fig. 14 The outer surface of the protective sleeve 30 features a guide structure 48 consisting of short vertical grooves. These grooves interact with corresponding ribs on the inner surface of the protective sleeve 30, preventing the protective sleeve 30 from rotating about the main axis 2 relative to the guide ring. This ensures reliable guidance and a low tendency to tilt.

Claims

1. Liquid dispenser (10) having the following features: a. the liquid dispenser (10) comprises a liquid reservoir (20) in the form of a bottle body (20), and b. the liquid dispenser (10) comprises a discharge head (12) with a discharge opening (16), and c. the liquid dispenser comprises an outer sleeve (30, 50) which at least temporarily surrounds the bottle body (20), and d. an annular element (40, 70), to the outside of which the outer sleeve (30, 50) is fixedly or displaceably fastened, is provided for fastening the outer sleeve (30, 50) to or guiding the latter on the bottle body, characterized by the following additional feature: e. the annular element (40, 70) is in the form of a component which is separate from a housing (14) of the discharge head (12).

2. Liquid dispenser (10) according to Claim 1, having the following further features: a. the outer sleeve (30, 50) is intended for captive attachment to the discharge head (12) by means of the annular element (40, 70), and b. an end stop (64) of the annular element (40) and an end stop (31) of the outer sleeve (30) together define an end position beyond which the outer sleeve (30, 50) cannot be displaced in relation to the annular element (40, 70).

3. Liquid dispenser (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following further feature: a. the annular element (40, 70) is in the form of an interrupted annular element (40, 70) which has an interruption (44, 74) in a segment which spans at most 120° and which preferably spans at most 10°.

4. Liquid dispenser (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following further feature: a. the liquid reservoir has a tapered neck region (20B), wherein the annular element (40, 70) is provided in the region of this tapered neck region (20B).

5. Liquid dispenser (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following further feature: a. the outer sleeve (30, 50) secures the annular element (40, 70) against expansion in such a way that the annular element cannot be drawn over the bottle body or over the discharge head.

6. Liquid dispenser (10) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following further features: a. the liquid dispenser (10) is in the form of a squeeze bottle dispenser (10) which has actuation prevention means, and b. the squeeze bottle dispenser (10) has, as outer sleeve (30), a protective sleeve (30) which is connected captively to the liquid reservoir (20) and can be displaced in a translational movement or a superposed or sequential translational and rotational movement with respect to a main axis (2) between a protective position and a release position in relation to the liquid reservoir (20), and c. in the protective position, the protective sleeve (30) prevents or makes more difficult a manual application of force to the liquid reservoir (20) and thus the discharge of liquid, and d. in the release position, the protective sleeve (30) does not prevent or make more difficult a manual application of force to the liquid reservoir (20) and thus allows the discharge of liquid.