Abstract:
A discharging device for discharging liquids includes an outer housing encompassing an inner chamber, a liquid storage receptacle, a discharge orifice, a delivery device for delivering liquid from the storage receptacle to the discharge orifice, a cap that covers the discharge orifice when present on the outer housing in a safety position, and a manual actuator adapted to actuate the delivery device and which is movable relative to the outer housing between a neutral relative position and an actuated relative position. The cap and the manual actuator cooperate so that displacement of the manual actuator is mechanically blocked when the cap is in its safety position. A locking element that is movable in relation to the outer housing is constrainedly coupled with the movement of the manual actuator and extends in the actuated position through a hole in the outer housing to a region that the cap blocks when mounted in its safety position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a divisional of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 12/925,045, filed Oct. 12, 2010, which claims the priority of the German patent application No. 102009049903.2, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a discharging device for the discharge of liquids, more particularly pharmaceutical liquids, which discharging device comprises an outer housing encompassing an inner chamber, a liquid storage receptical, a discharge orifice, a delivery device for the delivery of liquid from the liquid storage receptical to the discharge orifice, a cap that covers the discharge orifice when placed on the outer housing in a safety position, and a manual actuator that is adapted to actuate the delivery device and can be moved from a neutral position to an actuated position and vice versa relatively to the outer housing. The cap and the manual actuator cooperate in such a way that displacement of the manual actuator is blocked mechanically as long as the cap is in its safety position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Generic discharging devices are known in the prior art. Their distinctive feature consists in that actuation is not possible when the cap is in place on the discharging device. Accidental actuation of the discharging device is thus effectively prevented. 
     An example of a generic discharging device is disclosed in EP 1 051 262 B1. The discharging device shown and described in this reference comprises two extensions on a cap that extend into the discharging device through holes provided on an outer housing of the discharging device and that block displacement of the manual actuator when the cap is placed on the discharging device at least to the extent that a full discharging operation is not possible. 
     Despite the actuation-proof action of the cap, the discharging device disclosed in EP 1 051 262 B1 is not suitable as an effective protection against improper actuation of the discharging device by children, since the extensions provided on the cap prevent the use of a more complex type of cap such as a child-proof screw cap. There is therefore a high risk of children successfully removing the cap from the outer housing or lifting the cap from its safety position by applying great force to the manual actuator and thus being able to gain access to the pharmaceutical liquid that will then be dischargeable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to develop a generic discharging device to the effect that it allows more secure protection against improper use by children and/or allows more flexibility in the use of different types of caps. 
     This object is achieved, according to the invention, in that at least one locking element is provided that is displaceable relatively to the outer housing and the movement of which in relation to the outer housing is constrainedly coupled to the movement of the manual actuator, this locking element extending, at least in the actuated position of the manual actuator, through a hole in the outer housing into a cap region, in which the cap is disposed in its safety position. 
     Thus in one design of the invention, the locking element that serves to create the constrained coupling between the cap and the manual actuator is not provided on the cap, but instead is attached to the manual actuator or is at least constrainedly coupled to the same. Thus, following the removal of the cap, the locking element remains on the discharging device, which is then ready for use, and is protected from damage at least partially by the outer housing of the discharging device. 
     The locking element and the hole in the outer housing, through which the locking element protrudes into the cap region when the manual actuator is actuated, are adapted to suit the cap in such a way that when the cap is disposed in its safety position the locking element collides with the cap when the manual actuator is actuated but before a full discharging operation can be effected. For the purposes of the present invention, the term “safety position” is regarded as being the end position of the cap when placed on the outer housing. The hole preferably has a size that is only slightly larger than the cross-section of the locking element, since the locking element is preferably only moved through the hole without having to be moved transversely to the direction of extension within the hole. 
     Due to the fact that the locking element is not provided on the cap, no special demands are made on the cap. The cap can thus assume all conventional forms known in the prior art and can also be adapted to be fitted on the outer housing and removed from the same by means of a movement other than a linear movement. The cap can thus be in the form of a screw-threaded cap, for example, comprising a male thread by means of which the cap can be screwed into a female thread provided on the outer housing of the discharging device. A screw-threaded cap of such type poses a considerable hurdle for small children and it also cannot be overridden by applying considerable force to the manual actuator particularly due to the self-locking action of the screw threads. 
     The delivery device of a discharging device of the invention is preferably in the form of a pump that comprises a pump chamber, the contents of which can be pressurized by applying force to the manual actuator. The displacement of the manual actuator as a result of the manual application of force preferably takes place against the force of a return spring. The delivery device and the return spring can be part of a pump-type disperser included in the discharging device. 
     It is particularly advantageous when the screw-threaded cap is in the form of a screw-threaded safety cap and, as such, comprises an internal portion comprising the screw thread and an external portion that is accessible from the exterior and that can be displaced axially relatively to the internal portion for being coupled to the internal portion for rotation therewith. As a result, a higher degree of safety is achieved which makes it difficult for children, and more particularly small children, to discharge the medium from the discharging device. 
     Furthermore, it is of particular advantage that the locking element is formed such that it is disposed, at least partly, in the hole in the outer housing both in the actuated position and in the neutral position of the manual actuator in relation to the outer housing. As a result, the hole is always closed so that dirt is prevented from entering the same. In particular, such an arrangement of the locking element being permanently in the hole makes it unnecessary to carry out additional operations for the purpose of inserting the locking element into the hole during operation of the discharging device once the locking element has been into the hole during the assembly operation and there is thus no fear of the locking element becoming wedged in the hole. 
     The locking element can be moved indirectly by the manual actuator, for example, in order to have a speed or direction of movement that differs from that of the manual actuator. However, it is regarded as being particularly advantageous when the locking element is attached to the manual actuator so as to be immovable relatively thereto or when the locking element is integrally molded on a main portion of the manual actuator, since this enables the cap in its safety position to have a particularly direct effect on the mobility of the manual actuator. In such designs, the locking element always directly follows the movement of the manual actuator. When the locking element cannot be moved any further due to the cap being in position on the discharging device, it is also not possible to move the manual actuator any further so that a discharging operation cannot take place. 
     Furthermore, it is of particular advantage when two locking elements are provided such that each extends through opposite holes in the outer housing one on each side of the discharge orifice at least in the actuated position of the manual actuator. A higher degree of safety is achieved as a result of this design comprising two locking elements. Of particular advantage is a design, in which two finger rests are provided on the outer housing at positions opposite to each other one on each side of the discharge orifice and that are disposed such that they are offset, preferably by 90°, in the circumferential direction in relation to the holes. 
     Furthermore, the invention relates to a generic discharging device in which at least one locking extension extending in a pull-off direction of the cap is provided on the cap, which locking extension extends through a hole in the outer housing in the safety position of the cap for the purpose of causing the mechanical actuator to be blocked in the inner chamber. The locking extension is adapted to match the hole such that total separation of the cap from the outer housing in the pull-off direction starting from the safety position is possible only when the cap has been displaced beforehand relatively to the outer housing in an orthogonal plane oriented orthogonally to the pull-off direction so as to move from a locked state, corresponding to the safety position, to the released state. 
     This design of the invention can thus resemble the design disclosed in the aforementioned EP 1 051 262 B1. Particularly, in order to make it difficult for children to remove the cap and thus actuate the manual actuator, the cap cannot be removed by pulling it off in the pull-off direction preferably corresponding to the main direction of extension of the discharging device without also displacing the cap transversely to the pull-off direction as it is being removed. For example, provision can be made for having to initially displace the cap and, with it, the locking extension translatively in a direction parallel to the orthogonal plane in order only then to allow the removal of the cap in the pull-off direction. The term “displacement of the cap parallel to the orthogonal plane” is understood to mean a displacement, in which at least all components of the cap that are accessible from the exterior when the cap is in position on the discharging device are jointly non-destructively displaced to the same extent and as a whole. However, provision can also be made for those parts of the cap that extend into the outer housing of the discharging device to be displaced to a lesser degree by deflection. This is explained below in greater detail. 
     The locking extension formed in accordance with this design performs a dual function as proposed by the invention. Firstly, it serves to block the manual actuator as disclosed in EP 1 151 262 B1. Secondly, it is adapted to match the hole such that the removal of the cap from the outer housing requires a complex sequence of movements that are for children difficult to comprehend. 
     A design, in which the locking extension comprises a main portion which, in the locked position of the cap, is aligned with the hole in the pull-off direction, and an undercut portion that is attached to, preferably molded on, the locking extension and that is not aligned with the hole in the pull-off direction in the locked position of the cap, is particularly advantageous. Thus an undercut portion is provided on the locking extension, which undercut portion together with the outer housing or portions of the outer housing that are immovable relatively thereto forms an undercut that impedes the cap from being merely pulled off in the pull-off direction without a movement of the cap in the orthogonal plane. Only when the undercut shoulder is aligned with the hole is it possible to remove the cap. 
     Of particular advantage is a design, in which a force-applying member, particularly a resilient force-applying member, is provided that applies a counteracting force to the cap, which force counteracts the displacement of the cap from the locked state to the released state. This particularly prevents the cap from being automatically moved to its released state, for example, by means of forces acting on the entire discharging device during movement thereof, in which case it could easily be opened even by a child. Such a counteracting force poses a serious obstacle to a small child attempting to remove the cap from the outer housing. 
     Particular preference is given to a force-applying member that is provided in the form of a resiliently deflectable fin that is attached either to the outer housing or is immovable relatively thereto or is attached to the cap. It is particularly advantageous when the force-applying member is provided in the form of a resiliently deflectable fin on the locking extension of the cap. This deflectable fin is resiliently deflected, particularly by means of a counterpart that is immovable relatively to the outer housing during a displacement of the cap from the locked state to the released state. It is likewise feasible for the counterpart that is immovable relatively to the outer housing also to be resiliently deflectable. Such a design comprising a resiliently deflectable fin is very easy to produce, since no separate components are required for this purpose. 
     Of particular advantage is a design in which the cap and the outer housing are mutually configured such that the displacement of the cap from its locked state to its released state is possible only when the cap has first been displaced in the pull-off direction starting from the safety position. This can be achieved, for example, by means of the shape of the locking extension or alternatively by any other elements provided on the cap, or on the outer housing, for positively counteracting such a displacement. The advantage of this design is that it is very difficult for a child, more particularly for a small child, to comprehend that the cap has to be moved in three different phases beginning with a movement in the pull-off direction while retaining its locked state and continuing with a movement in the orthogonal plane until the released state is achieved before it is possible to continue displacement of the cap in the pull-off direction. Preferably, the cap must be moved by at least 2 mm, more preferably by at least 4 mm, relatively to the outer housing while retaining the locked state before it can be moved in the orthogonal plane to achieve the released state. Since lifting the cap through the aforementioned 2 mm or 4 mm restricts the mobility of the manual actuator in relation to the outer housing, it is regarded as being preferable to limit this displacement distance to such effect that the displacement of the manual actuator from its neutral state through this distance does not cause any discharging operation to take place. 
     In a particularly preferred design of the invention, a plurality of locking extensions is provided on the cap, to each of which a hole in the outer housing is assigned. In this case it is preferred that each of the locking extensions and the assigned holes be mutually configured such that all of the locking extensions can be displaced relatively to the respective holes from the locked state to the released state by rotating the cap about a rotation axis extending parallel to the pull-off direction. Such a design can be achieved, for example, in that undercut portions provided on two opposing locking extensions disposed on the cap one on each side of the discharge orifice, extend in opposite directions. Thus a rotational movement for transferring the cap from its locked position to its released state causes all the undercut portions to be simultaneously aligned with the respective holes so that it is then possible to remove the cap. A rotational movement is primarily advantageous since it can take place in the same direction, preferably in the clockwise direction as viewed from above the cap, irrespective of the manner in which the discharging device is being held by the patient. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Additional aspects and advantages of the invention are revealed by the claims and the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the drawings. Individual features of different described embodiments can be combined with each other in any manner without surpassing the frame and scope of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a discharging device of the invention. 
         FIG. 2 a    shows sectional views of the discharging device of  FIG. 1  in a locked state. 
         FIG. 2 b    shows sectional views of the discharging device of  FIG. 1  in an unlocked neutral state. 
         FIG. 2 c    shows sectional views of the discharging device of  FIG. 1  in an actuated state. 
         FIG. 3  shows a second embodiment of a discharging device of the invention. 
         FIG. 4 a    shows sectional views of the discharging device of  FIG. 3  in a locked state. 
         FIG. 4 b    shows sectional views of the discharging device of  FIG. 3  with force applied for rotation of a cap. 
         FIG. 4 c    shows sectional views of the discharging device of  FIG. 3  wherein the cap is unlocked from the housing. 
         FIG. 4 d    shows sectional views of the discharging device of  FIG. 3  with the cap removed from the housing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 2 a -2 c    show a first embodiment of a discharging device of the invention. 
     The subcomponents of this first embodiment are explained below with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2   a . The discharging device of the invention comprises a housing  10  that is composed of two permanently interconnected sections  12 ,  14 . A manual actuator  30  comprising two sections  30   a ,  30   b , which are immovable relatively to each other during operation, is disposed in this housing so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow  2 . The manual actuator  30  is approximately cup-shaped and it accommodates a pump-type dispenser  50  that comprises (in a manner not illustrated) a liquid storage receptacle  52 , a pumping device  54  and an outlet connector  56  that is displaceable relatively to the liquid storage receptacle  52 . The pumping device  54  is adapted to be actuated by means of a relative displacement of the outlet connector  56  in the direction of the liquid storage receptacle  52  against the force of a return spring provided in the pump-type dispenser. The outlet connector  56  is inserted in an attachment  16  molded on the housing  10 . A liquid passageway  18  leading to the discharge orifice  20  extends through the attachment  16 . 
     The discharging device is adapted to bring about a discharging operation by means of a manually forced displacement of the manual actuator  30  and thus of the liquid storage receptacle  52  of the pump-type dispenser  50  relatively to the housing  10  and thus relatively to the outlet connector  56  permanently fixed in the housing  10 . As a result of the progressive displacement of the manual actuator, a pump chamber in the pump-type dispenser  50  is continuously compressed so that liquid is pressed out of the pump chamber in the direction of the outlet connector  56 . The liquid discharged by the outlet connector  56  flows into the passageway  18  and is thus caused to pass to the discharge orifice  20 . 
     As particularly shown in the illustration in  FIG. 1  and the left-hand part of  FIG. 2 a   , two locking elements or extensions  32  extending in the direction of holes  22  in the housing  10  are integrally formed on the manual actuator  30 . In the locked state shown in  FIG. 2 a    and in the unlocked and neutral states shown in  FIG. 2 b   , these extensions  32  do not project beyond the holes  22 . 
     A safety cap  70  is provided for locking the discharging device shown in  FIG. 1  and in  FIGS. 2 a  to 2 c   . The safety cap is in the form of a screw cap and comprises, for this purpose, a female thread  72  that is adapted to cooperate with a male thread  24  provided on the housing  10 . 
     The female thread  72  is provided on an internal component  74  of the cap  70 . The internal component  74  is not directly accessible from the exterior but is instead shielded by an external component  76 . This external component  76  is displaceable relatively to the internal component  74  in the direction of the arrow  4 . Lugs and holes that cooperate positively are provided on the end surface  75  of the internal component  74  and on the complementary internal surface  78  of the external component  76 , which lugs and holes create a positive fit between the external and internal components when force is applied to the external component  76  in the direction of the internal component  74 . As a result of this positive fit, the two components  74 ,  76  are interconnected for co-rotation so that rotation of the external component  76  about the axis defined by the arrow  4  causes the internal component  74  to be rotated and thus the cap  70  to be totally unscrewed from the male thread  24  of the housing  10 . 
     The surface of the internal component  74  that is oriented toward the housing  10  comprises a circumferential safety flange  77 . In the locked state shown in  FIG. 2 a   , the safety flange  77  rests against the surface of the housing  10 . The flange  77  is formed such that it is disposed directly above the holes  22  in the locked position of the cap  70  shown in  FIG. 2   a.    
     This arrangement blocks any movement of the manual actuator  30  in relation to the housing  10  in the direction of the arrow  2   a  when the cap  70  is in the locked position as shown in  FIG. 2 a   . Displacement of the manual actuator  30  is prevented in that during an attempt to do so, the extensions  32  collide with the cap  70 , more precisely with the locking flange  77 , as the manual actuator is displaced. A discharging operation can thus not be effected when the cap  70  is in position on the discharging device. 
     Only when the cap  70  has been unscrewed, and thus the state shown in  FIG. 2 b    has been achieved, is it possible to displace the manual actuator  30  relatively to the housing  10  in the direction of the arrow  2   a  by means of a force applied to the manual actuator  30  such that a discharging operation of the type described above is achieved, that is to say, that a spray jet  8  is discharged through the discharge orifice  20 . As shown in the illustration on the left-hand side of  FIG. 2 c   , the extensions  32  are pushed upwardly out of the holes  22  during the discharging operation, this being possible without any obstruction because the cap  70  has been removed. 
       FIG. 3  and  FIGS. 4 a -4 d    show a second embodiment of a discharging device of the invention. In this regard, the basic construction of the second embodiment of the discharging device will first be explained with reference to the illustrations in  FIGS. 3 and 4   a.    
     As in the first embodiment described above, this second embodiment of the discharging device likewise comprises a housing  110 , in which a manual actuator  130  is mounted so as to be displaceable in the direction of the arrow  102   a . Furthermore, the housing  110  likewise comprises a discharge orifice  120  that can communicate with a fluid storage receptacle  152  by way of a connecting passageway  118 . However, unlike the design shown in  FIG. 1 , the liquid is not caused to flow by means of a piston pump, but instead the liquid storage receptacle  152  is displaced upwardly in the direction of the arrow  102   a  by the manual actuator  130  via an intermediate member  160 , thus causing a hollow needle, which is immovable in relation to the discharge orifice  120 , to pierce through a stopper  158  of the liquid storage receptacle  152 . The stopper  158  reduces the volume of the liquid storage receptacle  152  as displacement of the latter is continued, and thus causes a discharging operation to take place through the discharge orifice  120 . 
     As is also the case in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2   a - 2   c , the discharging device shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIGS. 4 a -4 d    comprises a cap  170  that is adapted to cooperate with the manual actuator  130  in such a way that a discharging operation cannot be effected when the safety cap  170  is in position on the discharging device in its locked state. To achieve this, the cap  170  is provided with two locking extensions  172 , for each of which complementary holes  122  are provided in the housing  110 . Those portions of the housing in the illustration shown in the left-hand part of  FIG. 4 a    that define the holes are emphasized by thicker lines in the drawing. The lower ends of these locking extensions reach down to the manual actuator  130  and thus impede displacement of the manual actuator in the state shown in  FIG. 4 a   , in which the cap is in its locked position. 
     As is evident particularly from  FIG. 3 , the locking extensions  172  comprise a main portion  174 , the width of which is not greater than the width of the hole  122  and which is attached to the cap  170  so as to be aligned with the respective associated hole  122  in the housing  110  in the safety position of the cap. A hole  174   a  is provided at the side of the main portion  174 . As a result of the eccentric arrangement of this hole  174   a , the latter divides the main portion  174  into a main fin  174   b  that is difficult to deform due to its width, and a narrow resilient fin  174   c . On the side of the main fin  174   b , an undercut portion  176  is molded that is not aligned with the corresponding hole  122  in the safety position of the cap  170  on the housing  110 , as explained below. 
     As is evident from  FIG. 3 , both of the locking extensions  172  are formed in accordance with the above description. However, they are each oriented in such a way relative to a main axis  101  that the undercut portions  176  each extend from the main portions in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed from the front. 
     An additional safeguard against the removal of the cap  170  is provided by lateral depressions  124  provided in a mirror-inverted manner on the housing  110 , into which depressions inwardly oriented catches  178  that are attached to the cap  170  extend when the cap  170  is placed on the discharging device. The catches  178  can be removed from the depressions  124  in that the short sides  170   a  of the cap  170  are pressed toward each other so that the long sides  170   b  bulge out, and thus the catches  178  move outwardly. 
       FIGS. 4 a  to 4 d    show the hindrance posed by the locking extensions  172  to the removal of the cap  170 , which hindrance prevents children, more particularly small children, from being able to successfully pull off the cap. 
       FIG. 4 a    shows an initial position in which the cap  170  is placed on the housing  110  in a safety position. It is not possible to directly pull off the cap  170  from this initial position in the direction of the arrow  102   a  since the undercut portion  176  rests in this state against a portion  122   a  that is fixed to the housing and is located at the edge of the hole  122 . 
     A removal of the cap  170  is possible only when the undercut portions  176  have been displaced in the direction of the arrow  106   a  extending transversely to the pull-off direction  102   a  relatively to the portion  122   a  fixed to the housing. For this purpose, the cap  170  is substantially rotated as a whole unit about the main axis  101  in the clockwise direction. During rotation of the cap, the catches  178  on the cap  170  move within the recesses  124  of the housing, but do not leave the recesses  124 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 4 b   , the rotation of the cap  170  about the axis  101  is only possible by pressing against a counteracting force. This is achieved by the resilient deformation of the fin  174   c  when the latter is pressed against a portion  122   b  that delimits the accommodating opening on the right side thereof as shown in  FIGS. 4 a    to  4   d.    
     When this rotated state of the cap shown in  FIG. 4 b    is achieved, the undercut portion  176  can be guided past the left-side portion  122   a  of the hole  122  with the simultaneous application of force to the short sides  170   a  that causes the catches  178  to be lifted out of the recesses  124 , and the cap  170  can thus be removed substantially in the pull-off direction  102   a  while being simultaneously rotated in the reverse direction relatively to the housing  110 . This arrangement is shown in  FIGS. 4 c  and 4 d   . After the removal of the cap  170 , the discharging operation can take place in the manner described at the outset.