Abstract:
A device (G) for dispensing liquids ( 1 ), especially medicinal liquids, from a mouthpiece aperture ( 2 ), the latter being connected to a supply of liquid, by manual actuation of a piston-cylinder device ( 4 ) which allows the manual actuation only after an overload threshold (Ü) has been exceeded. The device achieves a design which is advantageous for use, and provides a powerful jet of liquid, by a smaller restoring spring force, assigned to the overload threshold (Ü), of the piston-cylinder device ( 4 ) designed as a pump (P).

Description:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for dispensing liquids, especially medicinal liquids, from a mouthpiece aperture, the latter being connected to a supply of liquid, by manual actuation of a piston-cylinder device which allows the manual actuation only after an overload threshold has been exceeded. 
     A device of this kind is known from GB-2 262 138 A. It serves for the nasal application of a pharmaceutical liquid substance. The manual actuation system provides for the displacement of a liquid-containing cylinder of a piston-cylinder device in the direction of the mouthpiece aperture. During this process, the piston strikes against a counter abutment and is pierced by a cannula projecting freely from the counter abutment in the opposite direction to the actuating stroke. The cannula functions as a conduit leading to the mouthpiece aperture, which is designed as a single-hole nozzle. The cylinder is in the form of a cartridge containing a single portion. It can be inserted into the piston-cylinder device. A sleeve closed at the end is the support for the cartridge. This sleeve is united to the housing of the device and is held engaged in a defined stand-by position. Only after an overload threshold formed in this way has been exceeded is manual actuation allowed. The overload threshold is obtained by means of knobs on the outer wall which engage in a corresponding latching groove on spring fingers of the housing. A safeguard against unintentional actuation is thereby achieved, and this effect is completed by spacing feet of this device on the housing which extend like a protective palisade around the actuation end of the sleeve, which is configured as a slider. The catch overcome in both directions: on the one hand to bring about the dispensing piston stroke; on the other hand for the charging of the device, i.e. insertion of the disposable cartridge. 
     A manually actuated pump-type atomizer is revealed, for example, by GB-2 014 233 A. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the invention to design a device of the generic type in a way which is advantageous for handling and use while providing a powerful jet of liquid. 
     Such a configuration provides a device of the introductory-mentioned type of increased utility. The jet is more stable and is dispensed with greater power, thus reaching the target location, e.g. the nasal cavity, even in the more remote areas. This is achieved by a smaller restoring spring force, assigned to the overload threshold, of the piston-cylinder device designed as a pump. The corresponding release interlock can be overcome only in an abrupt manner. The liquid is not simply expelled. Rather, an effect which goes beyond the action of the safeguard against unintentional actuation is achieved. Only when a certain actuating pressure has been built up by the user does the catch effect break down. The significantly lower restoring-spring spring force has virtually no impeding effect. It does not part the device but brings about the return of the pump into its initial position, at the same time drawing in and preparing the next portion. This automatic reloading creates the basis for the repeated dispensing of individual portions from the supply of liquid. 
     An advantageous feature of the invention is obtained if the pump piston, which is connected by means of a riser to a liquid reservoir and is configured as an intake passage, is configured as a component which is fixed relative to the liquid reservoir, the pump cylinder, which is spring-loaded in the restoring direction, has at its free end the mouthpiece aperture, on the rear side of which an insert which deflects the jet of liquid several times by means of transverse channels on the top side is arranged. It is thus possible to manage with a small number of components, the insert being allocated the function of the distributor, via the transverse channels of which, which are situated on the top side, the flow leaves the hole-type nozzle of the mouthpiece aperture in concentrated form. The likewise abrupt emergence which occurs there leads to atomization of the liquid into a very fine droplet structure and accordingly to the achievement of the spray cone desired. Such an insert occupies the volume behind the mouthpiece. This prevents or considerably reduces by simple means the collection of partial quantities of the liquid separated from the supply. The insert also fulfils a further advantageous function in that, together with a foot plate, it forms a valve element, here that of an outlet valve. It suffices if the foot plate can be bent up elastically in the edge region out of its flat extension. It is expedient if this region ends in a lip, allowing the main body or core of the insert to be used as a supporting part which is still sufficiently solid in itself. It furthermore proves to be advantageous that the transverse channels are arranged open on the top side of the cylindrical insert, around which liquid can flow, and are aligned slightly eccentrically, forming a central swirl chamber underneath the mouthpiece aperture. These measures too have a favorable effect in terms of production and also have a positive effect on the formation of the jet. The part having the mouthpiece aperture can serve as a channel cover. Furthermore, it is proposed that the insert is held by a cantilever from the wall of the pump cylinder, said wall being extended in the direction of the mouthpiece aperture. This measure ensures an additional reduction in the number of device components. In addition, an advantageous configuration is achieved by means of a pressure balance path between the supply and the pump. The falling proportion of liquid in the supply chamber is thus balanced with respect to the atmosphere. It is favorable here for the pressure balance path to be controlled by a lip which rises under negative pressure. Said lip only rises if the negative pressure is sufficiently pronounced. In contrast, when the handle of the device is located in the initial position, the pressure balance path remains closed. This avoids leakages. Another, likewise advantageous possibility is then provided in that the pressure balance path is controlled via a relative movement of the piston-cylinder device. This is achieved, by structurally straightforward means, in that the pump piston is assigned a second piston which, via a cylinder-side annular space, connects the pressure balance path, by way of a shaft and a radial passage, to the annular space, which can be manually displaced into the region of an air-passage opening. It has also proved advantageous here for the second piston to have a hole which connects an annular space and radial passage. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the present invention will become more clearly understood in connection with the detailed description of preferred embodiments, when considered with the accompanying drawings of which 
     FIG. 1 shows the device according to the first exemplary embodiment in vertical section and provided with a protective cap, 
     FIG. 2 shows the device in the same sectional view in the actuated state, 
     FIG. 3 shows an exert from FIG. 2 at the end where the mouthpiece aperture is located, the exert being further enlarged relative to the said figure and illustrating in chain-dotted lines, the valve function of the insert, 
     FIG. 4 shows the insert in isolated perspective representation, illustrating the top-side transverse-channel system, in further enlarged representation relative to FIG. 3, 
     FIG. 5 shows the device in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment, again provided with a protective cap, i.e. in the initial position, also in vertical section, 
     FIG. 6 shows this device in the actuated state, likewise in section, 
     FIG. 7 shows an enlargement at the end where the mouthpiece aperture is located, as an exert from FIG. 6, 
     FIG. 8 shows the insert connected to the wall of the pump cylinder by way of a cantilever, likewise in perspective representation and considerably enlarged, 
     FIG. 9 shows a variant of the device according to the first exemplary embodiment in vertical section and provided with a protective cap, to be precise as a section through the narrow side of the device, which is configured to be flat in cross-section, and 
     FIG. 10 shows a half-section through this device in the actuated position, as in FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The region I containing the dispenser mechanism begins, at the application end, with a mouthpiece aperture  2 , directly or indirectly formed on a cylinder  3 . 
     The cylinder  3  is part of a piston-cylinder device  4  forming the heart of a pump P. The pump chamber of this pump bears the reference  5 . A piston  6  runs therein. 
     The end section of the pump chamber  5  facing the mouthpiece aperture  2  forms a transverse wall  7 . There is a central opening in the latter. The corresponding hole is denoted  8 . The latter continues on the top side of the transverse wall  7  into an intermediate chamber  9 . The inside diameter of the latter corresponds essentially to that of the pump chamber  5 . The upper rim of the chamber forms a valve-seating surface  10  for an outlet valve V 1  of the pump P, said outlet valve interacting with it. 
     According to the first exemplary embodiment, the valve body  11  of the outlet valve V 1  is in the form of a separate component. It extends in the axial direction from the top side of the transverse wall  7  or valve-seating surface  10  to the underside of a top  12  which has the mouthpiece aperture  2 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown, the top  12  is part of a handle of the device G, said handle forming a counter support  13 . Starting from the top  12 , the handle, which is developed to form a plug or spout, merges into a tubular stepped section  14 . The upper end of the cylinder  3  is inserted and latched securely into that part of the said section which has a smaller inside diameter. The lower end of the said cylinder  3  projects freely into that part of the section  14  which has a somewhat larger inside diameter. At the lower end of the cylinder  3 , the latter has an axial length which corresponds at least to the travel y for the pump actuation. 
     There is in addition a length section which encompasses the upper end region of a valve housing  15  of a second valve, functioning as inlet valve V 2 . Approximately at the level of the valve housing  15  inserted in section  14 , the tubular section  14  or counter support  13  merges into a significantly widened portion. This creates essentially horizontally aligned shoulders  16 . The index and middle fingers, for example, of an operating hand can be laid on these, while the thumb is placed against the underside of a bottom  17  of a docked liquid reservoir  18  in order to execute the relative motion between the cylinder  3  and the piston  6  of the pump P. 
     This pumping, which effects the dispensing of the liquid  1 , takes place counter to the restoring force of a spring  19 . Accordingly, the piston  6  and the cylinder  3  are spring-loaded in the direction of an enlargement in the volume of the pump chamber  5 . The spring concerned is a helical compression spring. It has an essentially cylindrical winding and, according to the first exemplary embodiment, is placed on the freely projecting section of the cylinder  3 . To this extent, the interior of the tubular section  14  forms a spring chamber  20 . The upper winding at the end of the spring  19  is supported against the upper cross-sectional jump of section  14 ; the lower winding at the end of the spring  19  receives its support on the top side of the inserted section of the valve housing  15 . 
     The piston stem  21  emanates from the upper section of the valve housing  15 . The said piston stem is formed integrally and, by virtue of a cutout which passes all the way through it axially, is configured as an intake passage  22 . This passage connects the pump chamber  5  on the reservoir side to a valve chamber  23 . The latter accommodates, at the lower end of the pump P, the second valve, i.e. that forming what is referred to as inlet valve V 1 . This comprises a ball. Its funnel-shaped valve-seating surface, which is situated on the bottom side, bears the reference  24 . It is part of a support  25 , inserted from below into the valve housing  15 , for a riser  26  associated with it by being plugged in. This riser extends as far as the bottom  17  of the liquid reservoir  18 . The upper end of the said riser  26  is seated in a matching socket in the support  25 , the insertion of the riser being limited by a stop. A central hole  27  corresponding to the internal cross-section of the riser starts above the corresponding internal stop. This hole establishes the flow connection with the valve chamber  23 . 
     The valve housing  15  and the support  25  inserted into it from below are situated in an essentially cylindrical insertion cavity  28  in a central connecting stub  29 . 
     The central connecting stub  29  serves as the pump&#39;s docking means for a threaded neck  30 —representing the reservoir&#39;s docking means—of the liquid reservoir  18 , which is of flask-shaped configuration. The reservoir-side end region of the connecting stub  29  can thus be compared with a screw cap; it has an appropriate internal thread and can carry a sealing ring on the top side. A snap-in catch which overlaps the joint, as drawn, can serve to prevent rotation. 
     A projection  31  projects into the upper end section of the threaded neck  30  and makes sealing contact at the periphery. This projection is hollowed out axially and leaves an annular gap  32  with respect to the outer wall of the riser  26 , which is formed by a hose or the like. 
     The annular gap  32  continues in the direction of the mouthpiece aperture  2  into a cylindrical cutout  33 . This adjoins coaxially and receives the lower end of the support  25 , which there has a stepped cavity. 
     The lower end of the support  25  ends in a rotationally symmetrical tip on the reservoir side. The lip  34  created in this way is supported in a sealing manner on the surrounding wall of the cylindrical recess  33 . 
     The said lip  34  is at an axial distance from the step between the annular gap  32  and cutout  33 . A pressure balance path  35  starts above the lip  34 . This path leads to the outside, i.e. is connected to atmosphere. This is achieved by means of a vertical passage  36  at the outer-wall end in the cylindrical section of the valve housing  15  and a radial passage  37  at the level of inlet valve V 2 . This radial passage opens below the inserted section of the valve housing  15 , the opening being created either by clearance or a chamfer. 
     Here, section  14  merges into a third cross-section with a larger inside diameter formed on a cup-shaped part  38  with an appropriate wall offset acting as a guide on the outer wall of the connecting stub  29 , ( 38 ) beginning just below the shoulders  16 . 
     As can be seen from FIG. 2, the lower front edge of the cup-shaped part  38  forms a limiting stop with a counter stop  39  formed by the corresponding section of a continuation  40  of the connecting stub  29  in the form of the rim of a hat, It is the upper side which serves as the stop-forming element. 
     To receive the section  14  having a medium inside cross-sectional dimension, the upper end, which projects into the spring chamber  20 , is continued with an appropriate cross-section, so that the section of smaller cross-section can run over the connecting stub  29 . The corresponding reduction in cross-section on  29  is denoted by  41 . 
     The continuation  40  in the form of the rim of a hat merges into an upward-pointing annular wall  42 . Guided in this is an internal wall  43 . This is connected to a cover-like portion  44  in the region below the shoulders  16  of the counter support  13  and expediently forms a continuous encircling wall. 
     The annular wall  42  and the wall  43  are used to form an overload threshold U. The latter comprises a retaining flank  45  formed by the continuation-side flank of a horizontally oriented groove on the inside of the annular wall  42 . Supported in the region of the inner edge of this retaining flank  45  is a section of a rib  46  which is chamfered or has a transversely convex rounded shape. The rib  46  is formed on the outside of the wall  43  so as to be suitable for partial entry into the horizontal groove. 
     When the device G is actuated by the exertion of a force in the direction of arrow z, the resistance presented by the overload threshold Ü is overcome only above a certain exerted pressure load. This force is counter to the significantly lower restoring spring force of the spring  19  which always moves the pump P back into its initial position and holds it there when the pressure load is removed. Triggering is therefore possible only by deliberate effort. As soon as the chamfered or slightly rounded edge loses its grip at the retaining flank  45 , the entire stored force is available for the corresponding pump actuation. 
     The mating flanks of the rib  46  and the groove are both perpendicular to the direction of actuation of the pump and have an irreversible locking effect. The spring force at least cannot break the components apart. The device G is held together after assembly by the mating flanks and they also provide a limiting stop for the opening stroke of the pump P. 
     The precisely apportioned quantity present in the pump chamber  5  from a preceding actuating stroke, as an initially solid jet of liquid, is atomized via the mouthpiece aperture  2  into a spray cone. The ultrafine particles are dispensed in a well-distributed manner at the target location. 
     Furthermore, the special configuration of the insert  11 , which also fulfils another function, contributes to the production of the desired powerful jet which emerges. To this end, the method adopted is that the insert  11  or outlet valve V 1 , said insert being connected directly to or resting directly against the rear of the top  12  and being on the rear side of the mouthpiece aperture  2 , the jet of liquid is deflected several times on this insert  11  in the region where it is formed, as a result of transverse channels  47  on the top side. A total of three such transverse channels  47  are formed. They are distributed at uniform angles and meet at the center, combining there. However, they do not meet centrically there but slightly eccentrically, forming a central swirl chamber  48  immediately underneath the mouthpiece aperture  2 . The inside diameter of the swirl chamber  48  is somewhat larger than the hole cross-section of the mouthpiece aperture. As can be seen, the outer flanks of the shaft-like transverse channels  47 , said flanks being set further out from the center, run tangentially into the circular wall sections of the swirl chamber  48 , said wall sections being of essentially cylindrical design. What occurs there is virtually swirling in the form of a rod comparable with a wind spout, and hence swirling emergence of the liquid jet. 
     The transverse channels  47  and the swirl chamber  48  take the form of depressions in the end  11 ′ of the insert  11 . The inside of the top  12  closes this flow system, thus acting like a channel cover. 
     The entire surrounding area is used for the peripheral feeding of the apertures or ports of the transverse channels  47  emerging in the outer wall of the cylindrical section of the insert  11 , in that the cylindrical section of the said insert  11  leaves a passage  49  in the form of an annular gap relative to the corresponding cylindrical inner wall  50  of the valve chamber  51  at that location. This results in an encircling catchment area which is of uniform priority all the way round in a symmetrical fashion. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, in accordance with FIG. 3, the inner wall  50  mentioned is achieved by means of a sleeve  52  which starts from the top  12  and is formed on directly. This sleeve extends over the entire axial length of the cylindrical section of the insert  11 . The freely projecting form of the sleeve  52  produces an annular well  53  in the mouth-side end region of the tubular section  14 , the free end of which in practice forms the dispensing spout. 
     As can be seen especially from FIGS. 2 and 4, the insert  11  has there a shape corresponding to a drinking glass with a foot. Thus, there is a stem  54  corresponding to a necked portion in the form of a wasp waist. A foot plate  55  starts from this stem  54 . The said foot plate here forms the valve body. The foot plate  55  can be bent up elastically in the edge region, namely out of its otherwise flat extension. This valve open position is represented in chain-dotted lines in FIG.  3 . There, the said edge region, which tapers peripherally to form a lip, rises from the corresponding valve-seating surface  10  if an excess pressure arises in the pump chamber  5 . The medium can flow. It swirls in the region left free. However, the valve chamber  51  at that location could also be further enclosed by wall material, thus preventing virtually any undispensed residual liquid from collecting there. 
     The device G in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment (FIG. 5) is modified as regards the insert  11  such that this insert  11  now no longer occurs as a separate component but is formed integrally with a component which forms the device. Nevertheless, here too it functions as a filling piece which prevents the formation of significant residual quantities in the dispensing region. In concrete terms, this means that the insert  11  is here held by means of a cantilever  56 . The arm-like cantilever is the bridging piece to a wall  57  of the pump cylinder  3 , said wall being extended in the direction of the mouthpiece aperture  2 . The cantilever extends radially. 
     Moreover, the top  12  and outlet aperture  2  are formed on a cup-shaped plug which is introduced upside down into an axially oriented insertion socket  58  in the wall  57 . Here too, however, the insert  11  which deflects the jet of liquid several times by means of transverse channels  47  on the top side is present on the rear side of the top  12  containing the mouthpiece aperture  2 . The reference numerals are used analogously. The individual deflection points are denoted by a, b and c. Deflection point a forms the inlet opening of the medium, b is the deflection point, provided by eccentric curved connections, of the channel flank at that point and, finally, c is the base region of the swirl chamber  48 , said base region directing the flow into the axial dispensing direction. 
     Another modification is the manner of arrangement of the spring  19 . This spring is now directly within the pump chamber  5 . The inlet valve V 2  explained above and formed by a ball is situated at the top of the riser  26 , while the outlet valve V 1  arranged downstream of the upper end winding of the spring  19  is designed as a traditional flutter valve with a corresponding deflection space underneath the fixed insert  11  at that point provided by the valve chamber  51  at that location. 
     In order to prevent the ball from emerging into the pump chamber  5 , the free end of the lower end spring winding is bent radially inwards in the manner of a web, with the result that there is no passage corresponding to the diameter of the ball. 
     The docking means are similar and will not be described in detail again here. The other reference numerals which may be required for comprehension are also used analogously, in the majority of cases without repeated mention in the text. 
     In order to safeguard against unwanted dispensing by means of other means in addition, both devices G can have a protective cap  59  which fits over at least the dispensing mechanism, i.e. covers the region I. In the second exemplary embodiment, this protective cap is provided with a clip  60 , allowing the device G there to be carried like a ballpoint pen etc. The other device G too does not go beyond the favored pocket-sized format. 
     The protective cap in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment is furthermore used to cover the outlet edge of the mouthpiece aperture  2 . 
     As far as material is concerned, plastic is chosen, taking into account the existence of an elasticity/flexibility matched to the required function, in order to ensure, for example, that the lip  34  can operate like an inner-tube or collar-type valve. 
     The variant shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 differs in the design of the pressure balancing means. It can be seen that the use of the lip  34 , described in the introduction, as the element which releases or controls the pressure balance path  35  has been dispensed with. It is replaced by a configuration which provides for the pressure balance path  35  to be controlled via a relative movement of the piston-cylinder device  4 . For this purpose, the supply end of the piston stem  21  has a second piston  62  fixed on it. 
     The second piston  62  is guided on a cylindrical section of the inner wall of the spring chamber  20  of the handle of the device G, said inner wall functioning as cylinder  63 . 
     The second piston  62  is of an axial length which corresponds approximately to its radius. The outer wall of the second piston  62  has a rotationally symmetrical annular depression between its two ends. This annular depression leaves an annular space  64  which extends towards the cylinder  63  and is closed at the ends. Sealing lips  65  which bear with a certain amount of prestressing are thus produced at the piston ends. 
     The pressure balance path  35  begins in the region of the captive end of the riser  26 . In this variant, the initial section of the pressure balance path, said initial section being provided in this case by a radial-rib rim, likewise continues into the longitudinally running shaft  36 . In the interior of the second piston, an air-flow connection to a radially directed hole  66  in the outer wall of the piston is then produced via the radial passage  37 . This is the connection to the annular space  64 . 
     In the initial position (FIG.  9 ), an air-passage opening  67  is located in the wall of the cylinder  63 , above the second piston  62 . This opening forms the connection to the atmosphere. 
     As is illustrated by comparing FIGS. 9 and 10, the hole  66  and air-passage opening  67  are offset at an angle. The air-passage opening  67 , which provides a breathing opening as it were, is preferably located on the broad side of the device, that is to say remote from the shoulders  16  of the actuating part, these shoulders functioning as counter-support  13 . It is thus not possible, in practice, for the air-passage opening  67  to be held closed. 
     On the transverse plane of the hole  66 , the radial passage  37  may be surrounded on both sides by an annular chamber. The same applies as regards the foot of the holding device for the riser, this foot bearing on radial ribs. Said foot ends on the inner side of the shaft  36 , that is to say on the shaft base. 
     In principle, the air balancing functions in the same way as has been described in relation to the basic version (FIG.  1 ). It should also be added that the quantity of composition located in the pump chamber  5  is dispensed with actuation of the handle counter to the restoring force of the spring  19 , the air-passage opening  67  of the cylinder  63  being displaced into the surroundings of the outer surface of the second piston  62 . The negative pressure, which is initiated as the quantity which has been separated off is dispensed, is thus dissipated by the hole  66 , the shaft  36  and the initial section of the pressure balancing path  35 . Prior to the corresponding lifting movement, the air located in the spring chamber  20  can escape via the air-passage opening  67  without excess pressure being produced. Excess pressure is thus not produced in the rear of the pump piston  6  either. 
     The references of the basis version are used analogously, in some cases without the text being repeated. 
     All the features disclosed are essential to the invention. The contents of the disclosure of the associated/attached priority documents (copy of the prior application) are herewith also incorporated in full into the disclosure of the application, with the purpose also of incorporating features of these documents into claims of the present invention.