Dispenser head for a container and method for fastening a dispenser head to a container

A dispenser head for dispensing a liquid or pasty medium, which dispenser head is fastenable to a container storing the medium, including an intermediate element with a receiving opening for the container and an actuating handle which is coupled displaceably in an actuating direction to the intermediate element, wherein the intermediate element and/or the actuating handle have/has at least one releasable connecting element providing a retaining force between the intermediate element and the actuating handle, which retaining force is opposed to a relative movement between the intermediate element and the actuating handle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from European Patent Application No. 13165629.0 filed on Apr. 26, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a dispenser head for dispensing a liquid or pasty medium which is fastenable to a container storing the medium, comprising an intermediate element with a receiving opening for the container and an actuating handle which is coupled displaceably in the axial direction of the intermediate element to the intermediate element. The invention furthermore relates to a dispenser comprising a dispenser head and a container, and to a method for fastening a dispenser head to a container.

The intermediate element is connected to the container. The actuating handle is moveable relative to the intermediate element and therefore relative to the container in order to discharge a medium.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dispenser heads of this type are useable both for cosmetic products and for medicaments. The dispenser head is customarily attached to the container by a filler after the container has been filled. Various fastening methods, such as screwing, adhesive bonding or the like, are known therefor.

If the container stores a medicament, it is desirable that a connection between the container and the dispenser head is possible only by application of high forces and/or, for example for child protection, only by complex movement patterns. It is therefore known to provide a latching geometry on the container and/or the dispenser head, wherein the dispenser head is snapped and/or pushed onto the container. In conjunction with the application, production of a latching connection by forces applied in a pulsed manner is referred to here as pushing. In contrast thereto, snapping-on takes place by a relative movement of the components to be connected, wherein assembly forces act over a prolonged period which is dependent on the particular assembly operation.

It is known from EP 2 388 075 A1 to push a spray head onto a container. A protective cap is arranged here over the spray head, wherein forces are applied for pushing the protective cap on and are transmitted to the fastening geometry by means of the protective cap. By means of a such a protective cap, it is intended to be possible to push the spray head onto the container without otherwise loading the pump.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide a dispenser head which is fastenable securely and simply to a container. It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for the secure and simple fastening of a dispenser head to a container.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a dispenser head for dispensing a liquid or pasty medium is provided, which dispenser head is fastenable to a container storing the medium and which comprises an intermediate element with a receiving opening for the container and an actuating handle coupled displaceably to the intermediate element, wherein the intermediate element and/or the actuating handle have/has at least one releasable connecting element providing a retaining force between the intermediate element and the actuating handle, which retaining force is opposed to a relative movement between the intermediate element and the actuating handle in the actuating direction.

The intermediate element is connected to the container during the assembly. In one refinement, the “intermediate element” is a substantially tubular component which is also referred to as a sleeve. However, in conjunction with the application, the design of the intermediate element is not limited to the design as a sleeve. The intermediate element can have a geometry which is suitably selectable by a person skilled in the art and permits a displaceable coupling to the actuating handle.

Filling of the container and attaching of the dispenser head to the container customarily take place at a filler. By means of the connecting element, fixing of the actuating handle, which is coupled displaceably to the intermediate element during use, is possible in a delivery state at the filler. As a result, an undefined position between the actuating handle and the intermediate element, which position makes assembly of the dispenser head difficult, is avoided. The connecting element is releasable during or after assembly.

After the dispenser head is assembled to the container, a relative movability between the intermediate element and the actuating handle, which is coupled displaceably to the intermediate element, and consequently also between the actuating handle and the container, to which the intermediate element is fastened, is useable in order to bring about a discharge of the medium stored in the container. For this purpose, in one refinement, the actuating handle has suitable engagement surfaces, such as finger rests or the like. In other refinements, for a discharge of the medium, a force is applied to the container, said force being used to bring about a relative movement between the container and the actuating handle.

In one refinement, the medium is stored under pressure in the container, wherein the relative movement opens a valve for a discharge. In another refinement, a pump device is provided, said pump device being actuated by the relative movement between the actuating handle and the container. In one refinement, the pump device is prefitted here to the container before an assembly of the dispenser head.

In one refinement, the actuating handle also serves as a housing for the dispenser head which, after the assembly, for example, houses pump device elements protruding from the container. Alternatively or in addition, in other refinements, the elements of the pump device are housed in the intermediate element.

In advantageous refinements, the actuating handle has a discharge opening which is connected by means of a discharge channel to an outlet opening of the container and/or to a pump device arranged in the container. In other refinements, a discharge opening is provided on the intermediate element.

In one refinement, the at least one connecting element is designed in such a manner that said connecting element is destroyed during assembly and, after assembly, is thereby not opposed to a relative movement between the intermediate element and the actuating handle.

In other refinements, the at least one connecting element is unlocked or released, wherein, after release of the at least one connecting element, the intermediate element and the actuating handle are coupled displaceably to each other within a displacement distance. In order to prevent the released connecting element from interfering with a relative movement for discharge purposes, in advantageous refinements, the connecting element is arranged outside the displacement distance. In conjunction with the application, the reversing points are referred to as upper and lower dead centre, wherein, in order to reach the upper dead centre, the components are at a maximum distance apart and, when the lower dead centre is reached, the components are pushed one inside the other to the maximum extent. The connecting element is preferably located in a region behind the upper dead centre, and therefore, during the assembly, the components are arranged away from each other via the region of the displacement distance.

The dispenser head is fastened to the container. In one refinement, fastening takes place by means of a frictional connection. The dispenser head, or more precisely a receiving opening of the intermediate element, and the container have a suitable geometry, depending on requirements, for the screwing, adhesive bonding or the like of the components. In advantageous refinements, fastening takes place in a substantially axially fixed manner, wherein, depending on requirements, play remains between the intermediate element and the container.

In an advantageous refinement, it is provided that the receiving opening has a latching geometry for the fastening to the container. In one refinement, the latching geometry comprises a latching hook which engages behind a latching projection, a latching groove, a latching undercut or the like on a counterpart. In advantageous configurations, the receiving opening has a latching hook. However, configurations are also conceivable in which a latching hook is provided on the container. In advantageous refinements, the latching geometry is designed in such a manner that the intermediate element is snappable and/or pushable onto the container by movement in the actuating direction. In one refinement, for the snapping-on and/or pushing-on operation, a force is applied to the intermediate element. In advantageous refinements, it is provided that a force to be applied for snapping and/or pushing the intermediate element onto the container is smaller in the actuating direction than the retaining force, which is applied by the at least one connecting element, between the intermediate element and the actuating handle in the actuating direction. The intermediate element and the actuating handle are fixable here in the fixed state to the container, wherein a force is introduced via the actuating handle. As described above, the connecting element is preferably located in a region behind the upper dead centre, and therefore the components are arranged away from each other over the region of the displacement distance during the assembly. As a result, a collision of the actuating handle with elements of a pump unit at the beginning of assembly is prevented.

In a further refinement, a stop is provided on the receiving opening, said stop being used to limit a movement of the intermediate element relative to the container during the snapping-on and/or pushing-on operation. A distance between the at least one stop and a contact surface of the latching geometry therefore determines a fastening region for the container. After the snapping-on and/or pushing-on operation, the intermediate element is connected to the container with play and/or in a clamping manner, depending on the height of the fastening region.

According to a second aspect, a dispenser for a liquid or pasty medium is provided, with a container storing the medium and a dispenser head, which is fastened to the container, comprising an intermediate element with a receiving opening for the container and an actuating handle which is coupled displaceably in an actuating direction to the intermediate element, wherein the intermediate element and/or the actuating handle have/has at least one releasable connecting element providing a retaining force between the intermediate element and the actuating handle, which retaining force is opposed to a relative movement between the intermediate element and the actuating handle in the actuating direction.

The container has a fastening geometry which is complementary to the receiving opening. In one refinement, a crimped sleeve is arranged on an opening of the container. The container is securely closed by means of the crimped sleeve. In advantageous refinements, the crimped sleeve also supports a valve and/or a pump unit for the discharge of the medium. In advantageous refinements, the crimped sleeve is designed in such a manner that it has at least two planar surfaces, on which a latching geometry and a stop of the receiving opening engage.

According to a third aspect, a method for fastening a dispenser head, for the discharge of a liquid and pasty medium, to a container storing the medium is provided, wherein the dispenser head comprises an intermediate element with a receiving opening for the container and an actuating handle which is coupled displaceably in an actuating direction to the intermediate element, characterized in that, during the fastening of the intermediate element to the container, a relative movement between the intermediate element and the actuating handle in the actuating direction is blocked by at least one connecting element providing a retaining force in the actuating direction, and, after the intermediate element is fastened to the container, the at least one connecting element is released.

Owing to the fixing, an undefined position between the intermediate element and the actuating device is prevented. The fixing here preferably takes place in such a manner that the intermediate element and the actuating device are not arranged in a lower dead centre of the displacement distance. The intermediate element and the actuating device are preferably displaced relative to each other beyond an upper dead centre of a displacement distance, which is provided during use, and fixed. In one refinement, it is provided that the intermediate element is snappable and/or pushable onto the container by movement in the actuating direction. For this purpose, the receiving opening and/or the container have a latching geometry. By suitable design of the latching geometry and the at least one connecting element, provision is made here for the intermediate element to be snapped and/or pushed onto the container before a force acts on the at least one connecting element, which force exceeds the retaining force, which is applied by the at least one connecting element, between the intermediate element and the actuating handle in the actuating direction. As a result, it is ensured that, during the assembly, the actuating handle remains fixed to the intermediate element by movement in the actuating direction.

In a further refinement, it is provided that a movement of the intermediate element relative to the container during the snapping-on and/or pushing-on operation is limited by at least one stop arranged on the receiving opening, wherein, by a further movement of the actuating handle in the actuating direction, a force exceeding the retaining force is applied to the at least one connecting element in the actuating direction, and therefore the at least one connecting element releases. As described above, the intermediate element and the actuating device are preferably displaced relative to each other beyond an upper dead centre of a displacement distance, which is provided during use, and fixed. The stop is preferably positioned in such a manner that, when the stop is reached, with the exception of the fastening geometry there is still no contact between the components of the dispenser head and the components of the container. After the dispenser head is fixed to the container, an inadvertent discharge of the medium is therefore still prevented. Only by application of a further assembly force is a release of the connecting element brought about, wherein the components of the dispenser head, such as a discharge channel, and of the container, in particular a pump unit, are also connected to each other.

In a further refinement, it is provided that a valve unit and/or a pump unit is prefitted on an opening of the container by means of a crimped sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1shows schematically a dispenser head1for a dispenser for dispensing liquid or pasty media. The dispenser head is fastenable, for example, to a container2, as illustrated inFIG. 2.

The container2which is illustrated inFIG. 2comprises a main body20for storing a medium, with an opening22which is closed by a crimped sleeve3. A pump unit4is supported by means of the crimped sleeve3. The pump unit4comprises a piston40which is displaceable in an actuating direction I counter to the force of a restoring spring (not visible) in order to discharge the stored medium. The piston40illustrated protrudes from the main body20. The design of the pump unit4is merely by way of example.

A sealing element5is arranged between the main body20and the crimped sleeve3. The container2forms a prefitted constructional unit. A suitable dispenser head1is fittable on the container2, more precisely on the crimped sleeve3of the container2. For this purpose, the crimped sleeve3has two substantially planar supporting surfaces30,31arranged perpendicularly to the actuating direction I.

For the assembly of the dispenser head1, which is illustrated inFIG. 1, on the container2according toFIG. 2, the dispenser head1comprises an intermediate element10with a receiving opening11for the container2.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, a latching geometry is provided on the receiving opening11, said latching geometry permitting the dispenser head1to be snapped onto the crimped sleeve3of the container2. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the latching geometry comprises more than one, in particular four, latching hooks12or latching projections, wherein only two latching hooks12are visible inFIG. 1. The latching hooks12each have a shaped slope120, the shaped slopes permitting or at least facilitating an introduction of the container2along the actuation direction I into the intermediate element10. In one refinement, latching projections are provided, the latching projections having hook stops which are substantially perpendicular to the actuating direction I. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the latching hooks12are designed as spring arms which engage around the inserted crimped sleeve3and, after latching, prevent a relative movement of the container2and the intermediate element10for removing the container2from the intermediate element10. The latching hooks12are suitably dimensioned for secure latching.

The intermediate element10is furthermore provided with stops13which project into the interior of the intermediate element10, likewise interact with the crimped sleeve3and limit an insertion movement of the container2into the intermediate element10. After the container2has been inserted into the intermediate element10, the crimped sleeve3is therefore arranged between the latching hooks12and the stops13of the intermediate element10and is thus connected to the intermediate element10. In the exemplary embodiments illustrated, a distance between the latching hooks12and the stops13is greater than a height H of the crimped sleeve3, and therefore the crimped sleeve3is latched to the intermediate element10with play.

The dispenser head1illustrated inFIG. 1furthermore comprises an actuating handle14which is coupled to the intermediate element10and, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, is designed as a housing of the dispenser head1.

An applicator tip15with a discharge opening16for the medium is provided on the actuating handle14opposite the receiving opening11for the container2according toFIG. 2. The discharge opening16is connectable via a discharge channel17to an outlet of the pump unit4arranged in the container2. The applicator tip15is suitably designed for use, for example in the form of a nosepiece. The discharge opening16is closable as required by means of a cap (not illustrated). A pin7by which the pump unit4is actuable is provided in the discharge channel17.

The actuating handle14is displaceable relative to the intermediate element10in the actuating direction I for a discharge. A displacement here takes place along a displacement distance limited by stops. The reversing points of the displacement distance are referred to as upper and lower dead centre, wherein, when the upper dead centre is reached, the actuating handle14and the intermediate element10are pushed apart to the maximum extent and, when the lower dead centre is reached, the components are pushed one inside the other to the maximum extent.

In order to prevent an undefined position of the actuating handle14relative to the intermediate element10during assembly of the dispenser head1to the container2, connecting elements are provided, said connecting elements bringing about a retaining force between the intermediate element10and the actuating handle14, the retaining force being opposed to a relative movement between the intermediate element10and the actuating handle14in the actuating direction I.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the intermediate element10has, on an edge opposite the receiving opening11, a peripheral, radially outwardly projecting latching hook100which serves as a connecting element. The latching hook100engages in a groove which is formed on the actuating handle14by a radially inwardly projecting latching hook141and more than one, preferably four, projections142which are distributed over the circumference and project into the interior of the actuating handle14.

In other refinements, a plurality of latching hooks which are distributed in the circumferential direction are provided on the intermediate element10and/or the actuating handle14. A latching-hook size and/or a distance between the latching hooks is preferably selected here in such a manner that release of the connection by rotation is not possible. In other refinements, at least the latching hooks of the intermediate element10and the projections142are dimensioned in such a manner that the connection is releasable by rotation. Alternatively, in other refinements, apertures are provided on a circumferential surface of the actuating handle14, with corresponding latching hooks which are distributed over the circumference engaging in said apertures.

The latching hooks100,141and the projections142have mutually facing boundary surfaces by means of which they bear against each other in the state illustrated inFIG. 1, and therefore a retaining force is transmitted via the boundary surfaces. The intermediate element10and/or the actuating handle14are formed from an elastic material, and therefore, by application of an assembly force in the actuating direction I that exceeds the retaining force, the latching hook100moves over the projections142and therefore an axially fixed connection between the intermediate element10and the actuating handle14is released. For this purpose, the latching hook100has a shaped slope on a side facing the projection142. On that side of the latching hook100which faces the latching projection141, stop surfaces arranged substantially perpendicularly to the actuating direction I prevent the projections142from being moved over again by the latching hook100when a force is applied in the opposite direction.

After assembly, the projections142and the latching hooks100also serve to limit the displacement distance during a discharge. By means of the connecting elements, the actuating handle14is therefore fixed to the intermediate element10in a region behind the upper dead centre, and therefore, during the assembly, the components are pushed apart over the region of the displacement distance.

FIGS. 3 to 5show an assembly of the dispenser head according toFIG. 1on a container2according toFIG. 2.

As can be seen inFIG. 3, the dispenser head1and the container2are provided as preassembled constructional units. In particular, it is provided, for example, that a crimped sleeve3closing the main body20of the container2with a pump unit4held by said crimped sleeve is attached after the container2has been filled.

The dispenser head1and the container2are oriented coaxially to each other and are moved towards each other on the actuating handle14by application of an assembly force F acting in the actuating direction I. In the first assembly step illustrated inFIG. 3, the actuating handle14is fixed on the intermediate element10by means of the connecting elements100,141,142. A force engagement point of the assembly force F is illustrated merely by way of example and is suitably selectable by a person skilled in the art. For example, in one refinement, an assembly force for fastening the dispenser head1to the container2is applied to the intermediate element10.

During a movement of the dispenser head1relative to the container2, the intermediate element10is latched to the container2, more precisely to the crimped sleeve3, as illustrated schematically inFIG. 4. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the latching hooks12of the latching geometry are designed as spring arms, wherein a force by means of which the latching hooks12are elastically deformed is applied to the shaped slopes120by the inserted crimped sleeve3. The shaped slopes120on the latching hooks12also bring about a centring of the dispenser head1relative to the container2. When the force on the shaped slopes120ceases, the latching hooks12spring back into the original shape behind the inserted crimped sleeve3. After latching, the latching hooks12interacting with the crimped sleeve3prevent a relative movement of the container2and of the intermediate element10for removing the container2out of the intermediate element10. The latching geometry comprising the latching hooks12for fastening the intermediate element10to the crimped sleeve3, and the connecting elements100,141,142are coordinated with each other here in such a manner that a retaining force applied by the connecting elements100,141,142is greater than a force to be applied for the latching. When the assembly force F is applied, a snapping of the intermediate element10onto the crimped sleeve3therefore occurs first.

A movement of the intermediate element10relative to the crimped sleeve3on account of the acting assembly force F is limited by the stops13—as illustrated inFIG. 5. The stops13therefore stop a movement of the intermediate element10owing to the applied assembly force F. By application of a further assembly force acting in the actuating direction I, forces which exceed the retaining force of the connecting elements100,141,142then act on the connecting elements100,141,142. As illustrated inFIG. 5, this results in a connection between the intermediate element10and the actuating handle14being released and the latching hook100moving over the projections141.

FIGS. 6 and 7show schematically an actuation of the fitted dispenser head1according toFIG. 1for dispensing a medium. As illustrated inFIG. 6, for an actuation a force has to be applied to the actuating handle14in the actuating direction1, said force being used to displace the actuating handle14with the pin7relative to the container2. Owing to the movement, the piston40is displaced counter to the force of the restoring spring by means of the pin7. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, a displacement distance of the actuating handle14is limited by an adjustment distance of the piston40. In the state illustrated, the latching hooks100therefore do not strike against a boundary surface of the actuating handle14, which boundary surface faces away from the container2, but rather are spaced apart from said boundary surface, as illustrated.

When the actuating force B ceases, the actuating handle14and the intermediate element10are pushed apart by the force of the restoring spring of the pump unit4. A displacement distance is limited here by the connecting elements100,142, wherein the latching hook100strikes against a side of the projections142, which side faces away from the latching hook142at the edge of the actuating handle14, and, owing to the design of the latching hook100of the intermediate element10and of the projections142, the latching hook100is prevented from moving over the projections142.