Patent Abstract:
The invention relates to an adapter ( 2 ) for a manually operated dispensing device ( 120 ) for a fluid that is/can be pressurized in a container. The dispensing device includes a housing ( 148 ) having a passage channel ( 30 ). A tubular adapter housing ( 34 ) connects the uptake tube ( 32 ) and the channel ( 30 ) of the housing ( 148 ) of the dispensing device ( 120 ). The adapter housing ( 34 ) has a connecting sleeve ( 42 ) for connection to the connecting nipple of the housing ( 148 ) and an uptake tube sleeve ( 44 ) for connection to the uptake tube ( 32 ). There are several inlets ( 46 ) for the fluid in the upside down position of the dispensing device. The adapter housing ( 34 ) defines at least one section of the inlets. An inlet valve ( 48 ) is defined within the adapter housing ( 34 ) for releasing the inlets substantially simultaneously when a pressure acts on the fluid in the container in the substantially upside down position of the container. A shut-off valve ( 50 ) is positioned inside a large diameter valve chamber ( 52 ) of the adapter housing ( 34 ), in such a way that the valve ( 50 ) can be freely displaced axially between two end positions.

Full Description:
This application is an application filed under 35 U.S.C. Sec. 371 as a national stage of international application PCT/EP01/06208, which was filed May 31, 2001. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The invention relates to an adapter for a hand-operated dispensing device for a fluid that is/can be placed under pressure in a container in the substantially upright position thereof and in the substantially reversed or upside-down position. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Dispensing devices in the form of hand-operated pumps for containers for fluids or dispensing valves for containers for fluids subjected to the pressure of propellant gas are known, which are assigned an auxiliary valve to let in fluid from a container which adopts an oblique or substantially reversed or upside-down position. In these conventional devices, the auxiliary valve consists of a ball valve which is assigned to the pump housing or valve housing of the dispensing device in question. The ball valve is mounted to be freely and reciprocally movable parallel to the axis between an open position and a closed position. It is exclusively subjected to gravity, so that the ball valve adopts its final position more or less quickly—or not at all—as a function of the oblique position of the container and of the viscosity of the liquid therein. This results, inter alia, in a nonuniform dispensing of the fluid in the container as a consequence of a differing admixing of air and is perceived by the consumer as disadvantageous. This disadvantage is particularly noticeable in the case of cosmetic or pharmaceutical products, where the consumer relies on dispensing a particular quantity of the product when actuating such dispenser packs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose an adapter which can be optionally used in conjunction with conventional hand-operated pumps or dispensing valves on containers subjected to the pressure of propellant gas and, furthermore, can also be used in any position of a container differing from the normal, upright position thereof, such as an upside-down or oblique position of the container, which guarantees a consistently uniform quantity of fluid. Any dispensing device designed exclusively for actuation and functioning in the upright position of the container will be capable of being employed, by use of the adapter according to the invention, for actuation and dispensing of the liquid from the container in the reversed or upside-down position of the container. 
   What is achieved by the adapter according to the invention is that any dispensing device created for dispensing fluid in the normal, upright position of a container can, by attachment of the adapter to the lower end of the housing of the dispensing device in question, be converted into and used as a universally usable dispensing device which, in any desired position of the container, always and reliably dispenses a consistently uniform quantity of discharged fluid. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is described in detail below with reference to the diagrammatic drawings of a plurality of examples of embodiment, in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of an adapter according to the invention in conjunction with a conventional, hand-operated pump in a central longitudinal section; 
       FIG. 2  shows a modified embodiment of an adapter in conjunction with the hand pump shown in  FIG. 1 , in a central longitudinal section; 
       FIG. 3  shows a modification of the adapter in  FIG. 2  on a larger scale, with the pump largely broken away; 
       FIG. 4  shows a further modification of the adapter in  FIG. 3 , in a central longitudinal section on a larger scale; 
       FIG. 5  shows a further modification of the adapter in  FIG. 3 , in a central longitudinal section on a larger scale; 
       FIG. 6  shows a further modification of the adapter in  FIG. 3 , in a central longitudinal section on a larger scale; 
       FIG. 7  shows a further embodiment of an adapter according to the invention, in a central longitudinal section; 
       FIG. 8  shows a further embodiment of an adapter according to the invention, which is integrally molded with a housing of the dispensing device, in a central longitudinal section; 
       FIG. 9  shows a modification of the adapter in  FIG. 8 , in a central longitudinal section; 
       FIG. 10  shows a non-return valve of the adapter in  FIG. 9 , in a view rotated through 90°, on a larger scale; 
       FIG. 11  shows a modification of the adapter in  FIG. 8 , in a central longitudinal section; 
       FIG. 12  shows a modification of the adapter in  FIG. 8 , in a central longitudinal section; and 
       FIG. 13  shows a modification of the adapter in  FIG. 8 , in a central longitudinal section. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1  shows an adapter  20  for a hand-operated pump  120  as a dispensing device for a fluid which is, or can be, subjected to pressure in a container (not shown) in the substantially upright position thereof and in the substantially reversed or upside-down position thereof. The dispensing device  22  comprises a housing  148 , which, as is known per se and therefore not shown is sealingly secured on an aperture at the upper end of the container. The housing  148  is provided with a base  26 , at whose lower end a connecting nipple  130  is disposed. A passage channel  348 , extends through the base  26  and connecting nipple  130  and, for the passage of the fluid in the substantially perpendicular position of the container, is in connection with an ascending pipe  32  extending into the fluid in the container. 
   A tubular, substantially cylindrical adapter housing  34  contains a linking channel  36  between the ascending pipe  32  and the passage channel  30  of the housing  148  of the dispensing device  22 . The adapter housing  34  has an upper end  38  and a lower end  40 , which respectively form a connecting pipe  42  for the connecting nipple  130  and an ascending pipe nipple  44  for the ascending pipe  32 . A plurality of inlets  46  for the fluid are provided in the wall of the adapter housing  34 , which are disposed at equal circumferential angular intervals at mid-height of the adapter housing  34 . These inlets  46  permit the passage of fluid from the container in the substantially reversed position of the container, as is explained in detail below. 
   In the embodiments of the adapter  20  according to the invention shown in  FIGS. 1  to  7 , an inlet valve  48  is inserted into the adapter housing  34  as an independent or separate component to be non-displaceable axially. 
   The inlet valve  48  is provided within the adapter housing  34  for the approximately simultaneous closure of the inlets  46  in the approximately upright position of the container, but for the approximately simultaneous clearance of the inlets  46  in the event of a pressure difference acting on the fluid in the container in the substantially reversed position of the container. 
   A non-return valve  50  is disposed within a valve chamber  52  of the adapter housing  34  to be freely movable axially between two end positions, the upper end position being defined by a non-return valve seat  54  extending transversely through the adapter housing  34  and the lower position by a supporting device  56  in the upright position of the container, on which supporting device  56  the non-return valve  50  adopts a throttle position for the fluid, leaving throttle ports  58  free. 
   The valve chamber  52  has a diameter which is greater in size than the diameter of the non-return valve  50 , in order to form bypass flow channels  60  for the fluid in the upright position of the container. 
   The inlet valve  48  is produced from a flexibly elastic material, such as silicone or polyethylene, and consists of a valve sleeve  62  with a sleeve base  64  and is supported within the adapter housing  34  at a distance below the inlets  46  by the supporting device  56 . The inlets  46  consist of a plurality of inlet ports  66  provided at the same height and at the same circumferential angular intervals in the cylindrical wall of the adapter housing  34 . The inlet ports  66  are sealed, in the upright position of the container, by the valve sleeve  62  but, in the event of a pressure in the adapter housing  34  lower than that prevailing in the container, are opened by a radially inward-directed bulging of the valve sleeve  62 . 
   The supporting device  56  consists of at least three supporting ribs  70 , which are disposed at equal circumferential angular intervals and extend radially inwards from the interior wall of the valve chamber  52  and upwards from the lower end  40  of the adapter housing  34  and end at a distance below the inlet ports  66 . The valve sleeve  62  is supported by its sleeve base  64  on the upper end faces of the supporting ribs  70 . The supporting ribs  70  simultaneously serve to guide the coaxially movable non-return valve  50  in the valve chamber  52 . Intervening spaces, which are disposed in the circumferential direction of the interior wall of the adapter housing  34  between the supporting ribs  70 , form the bypass flow channels  60  through which the fluid can flow past the non-return valve  50  toward the dispensing device  22 . 
   The lower end  40  of the adapter housing  34  forms a tapered longitudinal section  74 , whose lower end forms the ascending pipe nipple  44  of smaller diameter. The supporting ribs  70  extend into the tapered longitudinal section  74 , and project radially inward, in order to form the throttle seat for the non-return valve  50 . As a result, on the first pump stroke in the upright position of the container, the air contained in the housing  148  can be forced past the non-return valve  50  through the throttle seat thereof into the container. The support ribs  70  adopt a distance from one another, diametrally relative to the valve chamber  52 , which corresponds to the clear diameter of the ascending pipe nipple  44  and is smaller in size than the diameter of the non-return valve ( 50 ), in order to form bearing ribs  57  for the non-return valve  50 . 
   The ascending pipe  32  has an upper end  72  which is chamfered at an angle of 90° from its center to both sides in the manner of a gabled roof. This shape of the end  72  of the ascending pipe offers the possibility of dispensing with the support device  56  for the non-return valve  50  and, instead, supporting the spherical non-return valve  50  only on the gable-like end  72  of the ascending pipe  72 , because in this case also throttle ports for the discharge of product residues when the pump  120  is placed under pressure exist to the side of the two mutually opposite tips of the end  72  of the ascending pipe. 
   Although the adapter according to the invention, as stated initially, can be used with any desired pressure or pump system, the mode of operation of the adapter will be explained below with reference to the metering pump shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which is known per se. 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show a metering pump  120  as a dispensing device. The pump is fixed in a closure cap  122 , which comprises suitable means, for example a helical thread  124 , for fixing the cap together with the pump  120  disposed therein on the open top of a conventional container. 
   The container (not visible below the pump  120 ) is filled with a fluid product. The fluid product is aspirated into the pump  120  through the connecting nipple  130 , which is connected to the underside of the pump  120 . The adapter  20 , as already described above, is fixed by its upper, tubular end  38  to the connecting nipple  130  and receives in its lower ascending pipe nipple  44  the upper end of the ascending pipe  32 , which extends as far as the bottom of the container. The lower end of the ascending pipe  32  is therefore normally dipped into the fluid, when an associated container is in the general upright position. 
   The closure cap  122  has a generally cylindrical hollow wall  131 , an interior cylindrical aperture  132  being formed above and separate from the helical thread  124  by an annular flange  134  which projects inward. Within the aperture  132  is located a holder  138 , which comprises an exterior wall  140 , which at its lower end forms an outward-projecting annular flange  142 . The annular flange  142  is fixedly disposed and sealed relative to the top of the container aperture. The holder  138  serves to secure the pump  120  in the cap  122 . To this end, the pump housing  148  is provided with an upper flange  150 , which protrudes outward. The flange  150  has a radially inward-projecting shoulder on the exterior wall  140  of the holder  138 . The holder  138 , in order to secure the pump housing  148 , can easily be secured on the pump housing  148  by means of a snap seating and be connected thereto. 
   The pump housing  148  comprises a substantially cylindrical pump chamber  180 , which is open at the upper end and into which a cylindrical inner sleeve  172  of the holder  138  engages. The inner sleeve  172  is disposed coaxially with the exterior wall  140  of the holder  138  and connected to the latter at the upper end by an annular end wall  164 . The inner sleeve  172  ends in a tapered lower end  173  within the pump chamber  180 . 
   The flange  150  at the upper end of the pump housing  148  is provided with a vertical groove  162 , which is shown in the right-hand halves of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The groove  162  forms an air outlet slit between the pump housing  148  and the exterior wall  140  of the holder  138  and interacts with certain venting channels in the holder  138 . In particular, the upper, annular end wall  164  forms a circumferential groove  168  at the top of the container  138 . The groove  168  is linked to the top of the groove  162 , as is shown in the right-hand halves of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The groove  168  is linked, in a position offset by 180° relative to the groove  162 , to a radial groove  170  (FIG.  2 ), which is provided in the bottom of the upper end wall  164  of the holder  138 . The groove  170  extends inward beyond the wall of the pump housing  148 . 
   The cylindrical inner sleeve  172  of the holder  138  is connected to a plurality of ribs  174 , which are disposed to be distributed at a distance from one another over the circumference and project outward. The vertical exterior surfaces of the ribs  174  rest on the interior wall of the pump housing  148  and serve for the coaxial orientation of the holder  138  and of the pump housing  148 . 
   The entire circumference of the upper interior edge of the pump housing  148  is conically widened, in order to form an annular channel  171  around the holder  138  at the upper ends of the ribs  174 . The intervening spaces between the ribs  174  link an annular space  170  below the ribs  174  at the lower end of the cylindrical inner sleeve  172  of the holder  138  to the annular channel  171 , which extends around the upper ends of the ribs  174 . This provides a venting channel, which extends out from the interior of the pump housing  148  through the radial groove  170 , around the circumferential groove  168 , out through the groove  162  over the shoulder  156  and then downward between the cylindrical exterior wall  140  of the holder  138  and of the pump housing  148  into the inner head space of the container above the fluid. This venting channel, together with other components of the pump, permits atmospheric air to penetrate into the container, as is described below. 
   A pump piston  182  is so disposed that it can be sealingly and reciprocally moved within the pump chamber  180 . The pump piston  182  is provided with a hollow cylindrical shank  186 , which extends upward and projects outward from the pump chamber  180  through the holder  138  via the cap  122 . The cylindrical piston shank  186  is adapted to an actuating and dispensing head or button  190 , which is provided with a dispensing aperture  192 , which is linked to the upper end of the piston shank  186  via a radial outlet channel  194 . An axial outlet channel  198  extends upward through the pump piston  182  and the shank  186  thereof and links the outlet channels  194  within the actuating head  190  to the pump chamber  180 . 
   The outside of the piston shank  186  is tapered toward the upper end, so that its diameter increases with increasing height above the holder  138 . The lower end of the pump piston  182  forms a sealing surface, concave toward the base  26  (FIG.  2 ), for the lateral surfaces of the lower end of the inner sleeve  172  of the holder  138  in order to rest thereon and provide a seal when the pump piston  182  is disposed in the fully raised position of rest as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . If however, the pump piston  182  is partially or substantially fully depressed, the concave sealing surface  202  of the pump piston  182  moves away from the lower end of the interior wall  172  of the holder  138 . 
   As a consequence thereof, ambient air can penetrate into the container in order to top up the volume of the dispensed content and maintain the atmospheric air pressure within the container. When this occurs, ambient air flows into the cap aperture  132  and also under the actuating head  190 . 
   When the piston shank  186  is disposed in its lowered position, the air flows through an annular gap  123  ( FIG. 2 ) past the cylindrical inner sleeve  172  of the holder  138  and of the pump housing  148 . The air then flows through the radial groove  170  and the circumferential groove  168 . Here it is distributed in other directions, around the circumference of the holder  138  through approximately 180°, where it then flows through the groove  162  of the pump housing  148 . The air then flows between the holder  138  and the pump housing  148  and downward into the container. 
   Fluid is fed via the connecting nipple  130  and a suction channel  348  to the pump chamber  180  through a fixed feed line, which in the preferred embodiment shown consists of a cylindrical tubular feed part  220 , which projects from the base of the pump housing  148  into the pump chamber  180  and inside the latter and has an open upper end. 
   A second differential piston is made up of two parts, specifically a valve body  250  and a sealing sleeve  290  (FIG.  2 ). The valve body  250  is axially oriented above the stationary, tubular feed part  220  and also disposed in a manner such that it is movable with the pump piston  182  and relative thereto above the tubular feed part  220 . The pump piston  182  encloses an enlarged bore, the upper end of which leads into the outlet channel  198  of smaller diameter at a point which is formed by an annular valve seat  258 . The valve body  250  is molded onto the upper end of a valve cone, which rests firmly against the annular valve seat  258  in the pump piston  182 , in order to prevent fluid from flowing out from the pump chamber  180  through the outlet channel  198 . 
   The lower end of the valve body  250  is configured as a valve head  270 . The valve head  270  has an upper piston surface which is provided with four ribs  274 , which extend outward at equal circumferential angles and project from the upper piston surface. The piston surface of the valve head  270  is placed under the pressure of the fluid in the pump chamber  180 , as is described in detail below. 
   The underside of the valve head  270  is provided with an annular groove of trapezoidal cross section and represents an integral part of an inlet valve. To this end, the outer lateral wall of the annular groove forms a valve surface  280 , which is conically widened downward and outward to seal the upper conical contact surface  318  of a sealing sleeve  290 , which is linked to the valve body  250  in a manner such that it is capable of limited axial adjustment. The valve surface  280  and the conical contact surface  318  form an essentially identical acute-angled aperture with the central longitudinal axis  0 — 0  of the pump in the downward direction. The inner lateral wall of the annular groove is formed by a cylindrical guide pin  330 . 
   The sealing sleeve  290  is provided, on its side facing the container, with a substantially cylindrical piston shell  302 . The upper end of the sealing sleeve  290  has an inner annular flange  310 , whose underside forms a shoulder  311 , which rests on the upper end of a helical compression spring  340  when the pump piston  182  is disposed in its upper, inactive position. In this inactive position, the inlet valve (channel  154 ) is open. The annular flange  310  can be adjusted axially out of this inactive position into a working position in which the inlet valve is closed. The annular flange  310  extends with its shoulder  311  and its upper front side at right angles to the pump axis  0 — 0  and axially into an annular groove  279  of the valve head  270 . 
   As a result of the lower stop for the sealing sleeve  290 , formed by the upper end of the helical compression spring  340 , a free space is created, which permits a limited axial movement between the valve body  250  and the sealing sleeve  290 . This relative mobility of the sealing sleeve  290  is provided here in a manner such that the contact surface of the sealing sleeve  290  rests on the inner valve surface  280  of the outer edge of the valve head  270  in one end position of the range of relative movement of the sealing sleeve  290 , so that the inlet valve formed by said parts is closed. The circumstances in which this relative movement from one end position to the other end position takes place are described in detail below. 
   The piston shell  302  of the sealing sleeve  290  is provided with guide ribs  350  which project outward and are disposed at a distance apart over the circumference, and by means of which the sealing sleeve  290  is displaceable along the interior wall of-the pump chamber  180 , in order to maintain the axial orientation of the sealing sleeve  290  within the pump chamber  180  and relative to the tubular feed part  220 . 
   The lower end of the sealing sleeve  290  is so formed that it can be telescopically deformed downward in a sealing manner in firm contact along the outside of the stationary tubular feed part  220 . To this end, the lower end of the sealing sleeve  290  is provided with an annular beading  360 , which projects inward to rest on the outside of the tubular feed part  220  when the movable sealing sleeve  290  moves downward, as is explained below. 
   According to  FIG. 1 , the spring  340  is disposed with its lower end within the pump chamber  180  at the base and within the tubular feed part  220  and engages around a lower guide pin  346 , which is disposed coaxially with the main axis of the pump and protrudes upward from the base of the housing. The guide pin  346  is an integral part of the pump housing  148  and, with its inlet channel  348 , links the adapter  20  to the tubular feed part  220 . It is apparent that the spring  340  normally prestresses the valve body  250  together with the pump piston  182  resting thereon into a fully raised position, when the pump is in its inactive position of rest. 
   The valve head  270  is provided on the circumference outwardly and downwardly resembling a fruston with a plurality of ribs (not shown), which are disposed at a distance apart from one another over the circumference and extend downward along the interior wall of the pump housing  148  and assist the axial guidance of the valve body  250 . 
   The sealing sleeve  290  follows this movement for a short time, while the annular flange  310  is supported by its shoulder  311  on the restoring spring  340 . If, however, the lower free end of the sealing sleeve  290  encounters the tubular feed part  220 , the movement of the sealing sleeve  290  is briefly interrupted. However, the upper end of the sealing sleeve  290 , briefly halted at the tubular feed part  220 , is rapidly reached by the valve head  270 , so that both parts adopt the closed position. From this moment on, the valve head  270  carries the sealing sleeve  290  downward with it, so that the sealing sleeve  290  slides telescopically and sealingly over the tubular feed part  220 . The friction deriving therefrom contributes to a relative pressure of the inner flange  310  on the annular groove, so that the linking channel  154  between the contact surface  318  of the sealing sleeve  290  and the valve surface  280  of the valve head  270  is closed or sealed. From this moment onward, which additionally begins immediately after the start of operation of the pump, the pump chamber  180  is completely closed. The depression of the pump piston  182  now causes an increase of the pressure in the pump chamber  180 . 
   It must be emphasized, however, that this behavior is greatly dependent on the choice of that point at which the inner flange  310  is supported on the valve body  250 . Specifically, while the pressure P in the pump chamber continues to increase, an axial, outward-oriented force is added to the abovementioned friction between the sealing sleeve  290  and the guide pin  346 . If “s” is the cross-sectional region of the ribbed groove that extends from the inside of the pump shell  302  of the sealing sleeve  290  to the interior wall of the pump chamber  180 , the force obtained is the product of “s” and “P”. Even if “P” is enlarged only slightly, the force by far exceeds the friction of the sealing sleeve  290  on the tubular feed part  220  and is therefore critical for the firm closure of the linking channel  154 . If this linking channel  154  is located at a distance from the main axis  0 — 0  of the metering pump such that an angular range having the cross section “S” for the fluid under pressure “P” is accessible between the bearing surface of the sealing sleeve  290  on the valve body  150  and the interior wall of the pump cylinder  143 , an axial force “SP” develops which is oriented toward the container and which counteracts the force “sP” and tends to force back the sealing sleeve  290  and open the linking channel  154 . It is therefore necessary to ensure in all circumstances that “S” is less “s”. While the pump chamber  180  is placed under pressure, the closing of the linking channel  154  is better the smaller “S” is relative to “s”. The embodiment shown in the figure is an optimum where “S” equals 0. In this phase of the placing of the pump under pressure, therefore, all actions take place in a manner as if the sealing sleeve  290  and the valve body  250  were inseparably linked to one another. The fluid enclosed in the pump chamber  180  is then dispensed as with conventional pumps. 
   However, this analogy no longer applies to the subsequent working phases of the pump. As soon as the force “F” is no longer being applied, the restoring spring  340  forces back the valve body  250 . The valve body  250  moves away from the sealing sleeve  290 , which as a consequence of the friction on the tubular feed part  220  is held stationary. The sealing sleeve  290  therefore moves out of the closed position into the open position. The linking channel  154  between the valve head  270  and the annular flange  310  of the sealing sleeve  290  is open and therefore provides a link between the container and the pump chamber  180  via the intervening spaces or grooves which are disposed between the guide ribs  350 . The restoring spring  340 , on which the inner shoulder  311  of the annular flange  310  rests, now carries the valve body  250  with it at the same time as the sealing sleeve  290 . This results in an increase in volume in the pump chamber  180 . As the linking channel  154  is open, fluid is let into the pump chamber  180 . The linking channel  154  makes it possible to fill the pump chamber  180  to an extent whereby the volume of the pump chamber  180  increases. If, therefore, the metering pump  120  has completely returned to its initial position or position of rest and the link between the free lower end of the sealing sleeve  290  and the upper end of the tubular feed part  220  is restored, fluid is no longer aspirated through the tubular feed part  220 . Theoretically, therefore, the link would become superfluous. That, however, would mean that a gas-tight contact between the tubular feed part  220  and the end of the sealing sleeve  290  would have to be maintained constantly, and its quality would inevitably deteriorate to the detriment of the plastic flow of the plastic components. 
   When the metering pump is actuated, the linking channel  154  therefore closes approximately at the same time as the link  146  is interrupted. However, when the pump piston  182  moves upward, the linking channel  154  opens before the link is restored. A significantly lower vacuum therefore occurs in the pump chamber  180 . It follows that only a little air, if any at all, can penetrate, even when the seal of the pump piston  182  relative to the pump cylinder  143  should no longer be particularly tight. In particular, the pump piston  182  in this case needs only a single sealing lip  214 . This single sealing lip  214  is directed toward the container, so that, during dispensing of the fluid, the pressure prevailing in the pump chamber  180  continues to increase the sealing effect. Dispensing with one of the two sealing lips reduces the friction of the pump piston  182  of the pump cylinder  143  by half. The spring  340  need not therefore be as powerful as previously, in order to move the pump piston  182  and the valve body  250  back upward again. The operative who compresses the restoring spring  340  during the downward movement of the pump piston  182  therefore needs to apply a lesser force F, which is in a more favorable ratio to the force exerted by the finger of a child. All these advantages are achieved with one additional part, specifically the sealing sleeve  290 , which represents a special part. This improves the quality of spraying, which ensures the dispensing of a uniform metered volume independently of the age of the metering pump. The two fitted-together parts  250  and  290  of the differential piston therefore interact via the restoring spring  340  and permit the aspiration of the fluid during the actuation of the metering pump. The pump chamber  180  is then filled with air, which is generally the case when the metering pump is operated for the first time, the pressure in the pump chamber  180  not increasing to such an extent, as a result of the downward movement of the movable parts  182 ,  250 ,  290  within the pump housing  148 , that the outlet valve  258 ,  262  could be opened. During the output movement of conventional pistons, therefore, the vacuum in the pump chamber  180  necessary for the access of fluid is not present. This disadvantage is eliminated by the fact that the linking channel  154  between the pump chamber  180  and the container opens immediately on commencement of the upward movement of the pump piston  182 . As a consequence thereof, air can again be distributed, but on this occasion in the opposite direction. In this manner, air flows from the pump chamber  180  into the container. In the course of the further upward movement of the pump piston  182  a vacuum is simply produced by the increase in the volume in the pump chamber  180  which, as desired, aspirates fluid into the pump chamber  180  and fills the latter with fluid. 
   The procedure for placing under vacuum, then, is the same as in the case of the pump  120  described previously. On first operation of the pump  120 , air is forced out from the pump, while the product is aspirated on the return stroke. 
   In the approximately upright position of the pump  120 , with the adapter  20  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the product is aspirated through the ascending pipe  32  during the return stroke. The product flows around the non-return valve  50  and fills the pump chamber  180 . When this occurs, the inlet or sleeve valve  48  remains closed. During the pumping stroke, some of the product, which is not located in the pump chamber  180 , is forced downward through the adapter  20  past the non-return valve  50  through the ascending pipe  32 , because the non-return valve  50  is kept from reaching its closing position by the V-shape of the end of the ascending pipe or ribs on the adapter  20  and retained in what is referred to as its throttling position. 
   In the upside-down position of the pump  120  with the adapter  20 , not shown in the figures, the non-return valve  50  drops onto its throttling or ball seat and seals the non-return valve seat  54  during the return stroke. As a result of this sealing, a vacuum is produced in the pump chamber  180 , as a result of which the flexible inlet valve  48  bulges inward and, as a consequence thereof, is opened. As a result, the product is aspirated into the pump  120  through the inlets  46  in the adapter  20  and past the inlet valve  48 . When the filling operation has ended, the inlet valve  48  closes and the product can be dispensed, as usual, from the pump camber  180 . 
     FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of an adapter  20   a , which in turn is attached to the same pump  120  as in FIG.  1 . In the adapter  20   a , a sleeve-shaped inlet valve  48   a  is provided in the region of its sleeve base  64   a  with an annular sealing flange  66   a , which rests sealingly on a smoothly cylindrical longitudinal section  67   a  of the interior wall of the adapter housing  34   a  and is supported on the upper end faces of supporting ribs  70   a  at a distance below the lower end of the connecting nipple  130   a  of the housing  148   a  of the pump  120   a.    
   A valve sleeve  62   a  of thin wall thickness consists here, again, of elastically flexible material and engages with its upper end into the connecting nipple  130   a  of the pump housing  148   a . The valve sleeve  62   a  normally rests sealingly, over a short length, on an interior wall  76   a  of the lower end of the connecting nipple  130   a  of the adapter housing  34   a , in a manner such that, in the event of a reduced pressure within the adapter housing  34   a , the wall of the valve sleeve  62   a  is caused to bulge inward by the inflowing fluid under the effect of the pressure difference and permits the entry of the fluid into the adapter housing  34   a.    
   The inlet consists of at least one inlet slit, the inlet in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  consisting of three inlet slits  46   a , which are disposed at equal circumferential angles in the interior wall of a connecting pipe  42   a  and extend between the connecting nipple  130   a  of the pump housing  148   a  and the upper connecting pipe  42   a  of the adapter housing  34   a  beyond the lower end of the connecting nipple  130   a  into the interior of the adapter housing  34   a.    
   An upper edge of the connecting pipe  42   a  of the adapter housing  34   a , which is secured on the outside of the connecting nipple  130   a  of the housing  148   a  of the dispensing device  22   a , is cut out to form, in each case, an inlet port  47   a  for the respectively associated inlet slit  46   a.    
   The inlet slits  46   a  extend downward beyond a lower edge of the connecting nipple  130   a  of the housing  148   a  and end at a distance above the sealing flange  66   a  of the inlet valve  48   a , in order to form outlet ports  49   a  for each of the inlet slits  46   a . These outlet ports  49   a  lie at a distance from and opposite to the outside of the valve sleeve  62   a  of the inlet valve  48   a , protruding from the outside of the sleeve base  64   a  of the inlet valve  48   a.    
   Throttle ports  58   a  in the base of the adapter housing  34   a , on which the spherical non-return valve  50   a  lies in the upright position of the container, are provided with at least three bypass flow channels  60   a.    
   It can be seen that the adapter  20   a  in  FIG. 2  has a shorter overall length and a smaller dead volume in the adapter housing  34   a.    
     FIG. 3  shows an adapter  20   b  whose connecting pipe  42   b  is widened in diameter and provided with a greater wall thickness. A plurality of inlet slits  46   b , extending parallel to the axis and disposed at equal circumferential angular intervals, are limited in the circumferential direction by longitudinal ribs  47   b  on the interior wall of the connecting pipe  42   b . In addition, the longitudinal ribs  47   b  are each provided, at a distance below their lower ends of equal height, with a stop shoulder  43   b , on which stop shoulders  43   b  the lower end face of a connecting nipple  130   b  of a pump  120   b  forming the dispensing device rests. 
   In the embodiment of an adapter  20   c  in  FIG. 4 , a flexible valve sleeve  62   c  of the inlet or sleeve valve  48   c  extends over substantially its entire length into a connecting nipple  130   c  of a pump housing  148   c  and normally lies sealingly only with the outside of its upper free end  35   c  on an interior wall  36   c  of the connecting nipple  130   c.    
   Below this abovementioned sealing region between inlet valve  48   c  and connecting nipple  130   c , the interior wall of the connecting nipple  130   c  is widened at  45   c  in order to facilitate the installation of the inlet valve  48   c  and the lifting away of the upper end  35   c  of the inlet valve  48   c  from the interior wall of the connecting nipple  130   c . Inlet slits  46   c  extend between the connecting pipe  42   c  of the adapter housing  34   c  and the connecting nipple  130   c  of the housing  148   c  of the dispensing device  120   c.    
   The adapter housing  34   c  is provided above a valve chamber  52   c  with an inner annular shoulder  33   c  on which an annular flange  74   c  of the inlet valve  48   c  is supported. The clear diameter of the annular shoulder  33   c  approximately corresponds to the clear diameter of the connecting nipple  130   c  of the pump housing  148   c . At least three stops  38   c  are molded on the top of the annular shoulder  33   c , are disposed at equal circumferential angular intervals, rest on the lower end face of the connecting nipple  130   c  and form radially inward-extending passage channels  37   c  for the fluid product that are flush with the inlet slits  46   c  and make a transition into the annular space between connecting nipple  130   c  and valve sleeve  62   c.    
   In this arrangement, a longitudinal section of the adapter housing  34   c  extends below the annular shoulder  33   c  and forms a smoothly cylindrical interior wall of the valve chamber  52   c  for a non-return valve  50   c . Here again, the diameter of the valve chamber  52   c  is substantially greater than the diameter of the spherical non-return valve  50   c , so that good flow around the non-return valve  50   c  is achieved. 
   The longitudinal ribs  49   c  separate the inlet slits  46   c  in the circumferential direction of the interior wall of the upper end, forming the connecting pipe  42   c , of the adapter housing  34   c . The stops  38   c  are disposed at an equal axial height at a distance above the inner annular shoulder  33   c  of the adapter housing  34   c.    
   It is further apparent from  FIG. 4  that the upper end, protruding into the valve chamber  52   c , of an ascending pipe  32   c  projects with its gable-shaped tip  76   c  above the height of bearing webs  77   c  out into the valve chamber  52   c , so that the spherical non-return valve  50   c  exposes a relatively large through-flow cross section. It can also be seen that the overall height of the adapter  20   c  is exceptionally small, because of the connecting pipe  42   c  engages over approximately its full length over the connecting nipple  130   c  and, in addition, the inlet valve  48   c  engages almost completely over the connecting nipple  130   c . Because of this compact arrangement of said parts, stable mounting of the adapter housing  34   c  and of the ascending pipe  32   c  in an ascending pipe nipple  40   c  of the adapter  20   c  is guaranteed. 
     FIG. 5  shows a modified embodiment of an inlet valve  48   d , whose non-return valve seat  54   d  exhibits a 45° angle for optimum sealing by a spherical non-return valve  50   d . A sleeve base  64   d  is provided with a radially outward-projecting sealing flange  74   d , which is mounted sealingly on an inner annular shoulder  37   d  of an adapter housing  34   d . The top of the sealing flange  74   d  is provided with four ribs  75   d  disposed at equal circumferential angles, these extending as far as the outer circumference of the sealing flange  74   d  and serving as a stop for the lower end of a connecting nipple  130   d . The interior wall of a connecting pipe  42   d  of the adapter housing  34   d  is provided with three axial inlet slits  46   d  disposed at equal circumferential angular intervals and guided in a U-shape around the connecting nipple  130   d , as is apparent on the left-hand side of FIG.  5 . 
   In  FIG. 5 , as in  FIG. 4 , the inlet slits  46   d  of U-shaped cross section also ensure that the upper end of the valve sleeve  62   d , which exclusively rests sealingly on the interior wall of the connecting nipple  130   d , can easily be lifted off from the interior wall of the connecting nipple  130   d  and opened in the event of a pressure difference between the two sides of this sealing region. 
   Above the base of a valve chamber  52   d , four ribs  51   d  are provided at equal circumferential angular distances and ensure that, in the event of an ascending pipe  32   d  not being completely inserted into the ascending pipe nipple  40   d , the spherical non-return valve  50   d  does not block off the adapter housing  34   d  in the event of a pump stroke in the upright position of the pump  120   d.    
     FIG. 6  shows a modified embodiment of an adapter  20   e  according to the invention, wherein, at a distance above a passage aperture  80   e  in the base of a valve chamber  52   e  for a spherical non-return valve  50   e , a baffle plate  82   e  is disposed at an axial distance above the passage aperture  80   e . The free front end  83   e  of the baffle plate  82   e  extends from the interior wall of the valve chamber  52   e  at a distance above the passage aperture  80   e  and ends at a distance in front of the diametrally opposite side. The baffle plate  82   e  masks the passage aperture  80   e , in a manner such that the fluid flow from an ascending pipe  32   e  is deflected against the interior wall of the valve chamber  52   e  and the flow can pass around the spherical non-return valve  50   e , so that it remains open during the suction stroke of the pump  120   e  or when the dispensing valve of a pressure container is open. 
     FIG. 7  shows a modified embodiment of an adapter  20   f  and of an inlet valve  48   f , whose lower edge  67   f  is configured as an annular sealing flange  66   f  and comprises an increasingly small wall thickness toward its outer edge. The inlet valve  48   f  consists, as in all cases described, of elastically flexible material, such as silicone or PE, and is again configured above the sealing flange  66   f  as a valve sleeve  62   f  which is inserted by its upper end into a connecting nipple  130   f  of a pump house  148   f . The upper end of the valve sleeve  62   f  is provided on its circumference with ribs  45   f  that form passage channels  30   f , which provide a link between the pump housing  148   f  and the interior of the container. 
   The adapter  20   f  has an adapter housing  34   f , which contains a widened sealing flange chamber  90   f  and is therefore produced in two parts. The sleeve-shaped inlet valve  48   f  is provided at its lower end with the sealing flange  66   f , whose diameter is substantially greater than that of the upper valve sleeve  62   f , whose lower end is formed by the sealing flange  66   f . A base  92   f  of this sealing flange chamber  90   f  is provided with a plurality of inlet ports  97   f  for the fluid, disposed at equal circumferential intervals, which are normally sealed by the sealing flange  66   f , which is increasingly thin and therefore more flexible toward its outer edge, the flange in the sealing flange chamber  90   f  resting sealingly on the inlet ports  97   f . In the upside-down position of the device, the sealing flange  66   f  is lifted away from the inlet ports  72   f  during a suction stroke of the pump  120   f , so that the fluid product can be aspirated from the container into the pump housing  148   f . A baffle plate  82   f  is likewise disposed in a valve chamber  52   f  for a spherical non-return valve  50   f . By contrast with the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the baffle plate may also be round in shape and disposed coaxially with and at a distance above a passage aperture  80   f  in the base of the valve chamber  52   f , at least three thin webs linking the baffle plate to the base, of annular shoulder shape, of the valve chamber  52   f.    
   The embodiment of the adapter in  FIGS. 8  to  15  differs from that in  FIGS. 1  to  7  primarily in that the inlet valve and the adapter are produced in one piece. 
     FIG. 8  shows an adapter  20   g  which is formed in one piece with a sleeve-shaped inlet valve  48   g . A connecting pipe  42   g  of the adapter  20   g  surrounds a valve housing  62   g  at a distance, so that, in the cross section shown in  FIG. 8 , they form U-shaped legs of an annular space  63   g  for a connecting nipple  130   g  of a pump housing  148   g . In this embodiment, again, a plurality of inlet slits  46   g  are provided on the inside of the connecting pipe  42   g  and are separated by longitudinal ribs  65   g  on the interior wall of the connecting pipe  42   g . These longitudinal ribs end at their lower ends in stop shoulders  77   g  for the lower end face of the connecting nipple  130   g  of the pump housing  148   g , which are disposed at a radial distance from the exterior wall of the valve sleeve  62   g.    
   The connecting nipple  130   g  is provided over approximately three quarters of its length and on the inside with a widened portion  29   g , which forms an annular space  31   g  with the exterior wall of the valve sleeve  62   g , this annular space  31   g  forming, in the cross section shown in  FIG. 8 , the inner leg of the U-shaped inlet slit  46   g  and ending only immediately in front of the upper end of the valve sleeve  62   g  which seals the inlet slits  46   g  relative to the interior wall of the connecting nipple  130   g . The annular space  31   g  narrows toward the upper end, resting on the interior wall of the connecting nipple  130   g , of the valve sleeve  62   g  in a manner such that the sealing, upper end of the valve sleeve  62   g  can more easily be lifted away by the fluid product from the interior wall of the connecting nipple  130   g  in the opening direction. 
   The lower end of a conical longitudinal section  21   g  of the adapter housing  34   g  is formed by a non-return valve seat  54   g  for a spherical non-return valve  50   g  within a valve chamber  52   g . The substantially cylindrical valve chamber  52   g  is provided at equal circumferential intervals with longitudinal ribs  71   g , which guide the spherical non-return valve  50   g  axially at a radial distance from the interior wall of the valve chamber  52   g  and thus form bypass flow channels  60   g , through which the fluid product of the container can flow around the non-return valve  50   g.    
   The lower ends of the longitudinal ribs  71   g  are configured as radially inward-projecting bearing beadings  73   g  for the spherical non-return valve  50   g . Below the seat for the non-return valve  50   g  formed by the bearing beadings  73   g , the upper end, again pointed in the manner of a gabled roof, of an ascending pipe  32   g  is inserted and retained in an axially immovable manner by a constriction of the interior wall of an ascending pipe nipple  44   g.    
   The interior diameter of the valve chamber  52   g  and of the ascending pipe connector  44   g  are again of equal size, in the same way as the exterior diameter of the valve chamber  52   g  and of the ascending pipe connector  44   g.    
   The modification of an adapter  20   h  shown in  FIG. 9  relates solely to the support of a spherical non-return valve  50   h , which is supported solely by the two diametrally opposite tips  33   h  of an ascending pipe  32   h , throttle ports  58   h  being left free. Accordingly, longitudinal ribs  71   h  in a valve chamber  52   h  for the non-return valve  50   h  are provided over their entire length with the same cross section, so that the non-return valve  50   h  is axially guided by the longitudinal ribs  71   h  in the axial direction only at a radial distance from the interior wall of the valve chamber  52   h .  FIG. 10  clarifies, in a view rotated through 90°, the position of the spherical non-return valve  50   h  on the end, cut to the shape of a gabled roof, of the ascending pipe  32   h.    
     FIG. 11  shows an embodiment in which both a housing  148   i  of a pump  120   i  and an adapter  20   i  are modified. A base  360   i  of the pump housing  148   i  is provided with passage channels  25   i , a tubular guide pin  346   i  extending beyond the base  360   i  of the pump housing  148   i  freely downward through a valve sleeve  62   i  and engaging only with its lower end into a valve chamber  52   i  for a spherical non-return valve  50   i  and closing the valve chamber  52   i  in the direction of the pump  120   i . At the same time, the lower end of this tubular guide pin  346   i  forms a non-return valve seat  54   i  for the non-return valve  50   i.    
   In the lower end of the valve chamber  52   i , a supporting device  56   i  for the spherical non-return valve  50   i  is again provided, as has already been described above in connection with FIG.  1 . At a distance below this supporting device  56   i , again, the upper end  76   i , cut to the shape of a gabled roof, of an ascending pipe  32   i  inserted into an ascending pipe nipple  44   i  is identifiable. 
   The upper end of the valve sleeve  62   i  again forms a flexible seal relative to the interior wall of a connecting nipple  130   i  of the pump housing  148   i , inlet slits  46   i , as in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , being provided in connection with the upper end of the adapter  20   i.    
   In order that the upper, normally sealing end of the valve sleeve  62   i  can lift away from the cylindrical interior wall of the connecting nipple  130   i  in the event of a pressure difference, the cylindrical interior wall of the valve sleeve  62   i  is disposed at a radial distance from the cylindrical circumference of the tubular guide pin  346   i , through which a passage channel  347   i  extends. It can be seen that the cylindrical interior diameter of the smooth-walled valve chamber  52   i  is a smaller size than the interior diameter of the valve sleeve  62   i  and is exactly matched to the exterior diameter of the guide pin  346   i , in order to ensure a seal between the guide pin  346   i  and the interior wall of the valve chamber  52   i . In this region, the adapter housing  34   i  is again shaped to taper conically toward the valve chamber  52   i.    
     FIG. 12  shows a further embodiment of an adapter  20   k  with an adapter housing  34   k , which is of extremely compact design and combines with one another in a compact construction a sleeve-shaped inlet valve  48   k , a non-return valve seat  54   k  for a spherical non-return valve  50   k  and an ascending pipe nipple  44   k . In the present example of embodiment, a connecting nipple  130   k  of a pump housing  148   k  is extended to the point where it comprises not only a valve sleeve  62   k  but also a valve chamber  52   k  as far as the height of the open end position of the spherical non-return valve  50   k . The adapter housing  34   k  is there provided with an annular flange  35   k  whose outside is approximately flush with the outer circumference of the connecting nipple  130   k.    
   The interior wall of the connecting nipple  130   k  is widened upward as far as the vicinity of a sleeve base  64   k , to form inlet slits  46   k  which are disposed on the outside of the wall of the adapter housing  34   k  surrounding the valve chamber  52   k  and extend from the annular flange  35   k  to a height below the throttle valve seat  54   k  for the non-return valve  50   k.    
   The spherical non-return valve  50   k  is supported, in its lower, open end position, only by the tips  33   k  of an ascending pipe  32   k , as was described in detail in connection with FIG.  9 . In the reversed position of the device shown in  FIG. 12 , a pressure difference acting on the fluid, as described, will lift the upper end of the valve sleeve  62   k  inward away from the interior wall of a connecting nipple  130   k , so that the fluid product can penetrate through an aspiration channel  347   k  into the housing  148   k  of the pump  120   k.    
   Finally,  FIG. 13  shown an adapter  20   l , which engages with a connecting pipe  42   l  over a connecting nipple  130   l  of a housing  148   l  of a pump.  120   l  at a radial distance, forming a plurality of inlet slits  46   l . The inlet slits  46   l  are again disposed with a U-shaped cross section, so that they also extend between the exterior wall of a valve sleeve  62   l  until immediately in front of the upper end thereof, which is again flexibly configured and rests sealingly on the interior wall of the connecting nipple  130   l  in the upright position and in the inactive state of the device. The interior wall of the connecting nipple  130   l  is provided with longitudinal ribs  31   l , which separate the inlet slits  46   l  from one another in the circumferential direction. Preferably, three or four such inlet slits  46   l  are provided. 
   In the mounted position of the adapter  30   l , a non-return valve seat  54   l  is disposed within the connecting nipple  130   l . As the non-return valve seat  54   l  is formed by an annular wall  55   l  tapering conically toward the upper end of the adapter  20   l , the length of an adapter housing  34   l  can be economized on or the distance between the closed position and the lower, open position of a spherical non-return valve  50   l  can be increased. An ascending pipe nipple  44   l  for an ascending pipe  32   l  is provided on the outside with reinforcing ribs  69   l , which extend from the lower end of the ascending pipe nipple  44   l  to the lower end of the upper connecting pipe  42   l , which is set on a shoulder  41   l  which extends radially outward from the exterior wall of the adapter  20   l  at a distance below the non-return valve seat  54   l . The connecting pipe  42   l  in turn forms, together with the valve sleeve  62   l , an inlet valve  48   l , the connecting nipple  130   l  engaging into the connecting pipe  42   l , so that the valve sleeve  62   l  seals the connecting nipple on the interior wall. It can further be seen that a valve chamber  52   l  is of smoothly cylindrical design and has a much greater diameter than the spherical non-return valve  50   l , which is held in its lower, open position merely by tips  33   l  of the ascending pipe  32   l  and, consequently, a large free cross section is available between the spherical non-return valve  50   l  and the interior wall of the valve chamber  52   l  for the aspiration of the fluid product into the housing  148   l  of the pump  120   l  in its upright position. 
   The above description of numerous examples of embodiment of the invention gives an impression of the advantages achieved by means of the adapter according to the invention. These consist in the use of a positive contact seal for the upright dispensing position of the dispensing device in comparison with a ball valve in the case of conventional systems. In addition, all components, specifically the housing of the dispensing device, the adapter and the ascending tube are oriented coaxially with one another. Finally, the basic concept of the invention of using three parts for a large number of immersion pipe sizes can be applied to reduce costs and/or improve performance. Not least, the positive contact seal achieved by means of the sleeve-shaped inlet valve in every type of upside-down position of the device achieves a substantially uniform output performance of the dispensing device. Furthermore, immersion pipes and valve balls of different sizes can be used in connection with the adapter according to the invention. Moreover, there are a plurality of possibilities for retaining the ball valve in the adapter and securing it on the housing assigned to a pump or a valve. Finally, the invention can be embodied with a minimum number of parts.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1