Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a liquid dispenser for watering animals, which comprises a stem which is arranged in a main duct of a main body and which comprises a head urged by an elastic ring against a main gasket in a seat of the main body to act as a plug for a valve which can be operated by the stem, when a front end thereof protruding from the main body is displaced by an animal for drinking. An auxiliary body is screwed to the main body and forms with this a chamber which houses the elastic ring, the head of the stem and the main gasket. This known dispenser also includes a diaphragm which is disposed around the stem to protect the main duct from foreign particles and to return the stem to position after it has been moved. However, when the auxiliary body of this known dispenser is screwed to the main body during assembly, some particles may detach from the threads and then contaminate the liquids flowing through the dispenser.

To avoid this problem, <CIT> discloses a liquid dispenser in which the auxiliary body is fixed to the main body by means of teeth which protrude radially from a front portion of the auxiliary body and are snapped into openings made in the inner surface of a housing of the main body for this front portion. This known dispenser also comprises a quick coupling screwed to the auxiliary body, a cylindrical helical spring which urges the stem head towards the main duct and a filter inserted into the auxiliary duct from the rear part of the dispenser. Said coupling allows the dispenser to be fixed to a complementary coupling of a system for watering animals contained in laboratory cages. However, the snap fastening mechanism of this known dispenser does not allow stable and precise fastening of the auxiliary body to the main body, with consequent problems of reliability and liquid tightness over time.

Another prior art animal liquid dispenser is known from <CIT>.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a dispenser free from said problems. Said object is achieved with a dispenser, the main characteristics of which are specified in the attached claims, to be considered an integral part of the present invention.

Thanks to the particular structures of the main body, of the auxiliary body and of the locking element, the dispenser according to the present invention can be assembled and also disassembled in a simple and rapid manner, without releasing particles which would contaminate the liquids, and in a more stable and resistant manner compared to the dispenser of <CIT>.

In particular, the extensions and protuberances, with the channels and notches arranged between them, allow the auxiliary body to be fixed to the main body by means of a snap fastening and/or by means of a fastening with reciprocal movements, first axial and then rotary, of the auxiliary body with respect to the main body, or vice versa, so that it is possible to minimize the dimensional tolerances and therefore relative movements, even minimal, of the components of the dispenser after their fastening. The particular structure of the dispenser also allows the auxiliary body to be made in one piece with a quick coupling that protrudes from the rear side of the dispenser, so as to reduce or even avoid the use of threaded fasteners, which may release material particles.

The dispenser preferably comprises a particular frustoconical helical spring which concentrates its thrust towards the center of the stem, so as to reduce the force which straightens the stem and therefore the effort required by the animal to counteract this force to drink, without worsening the liquid tightness of the dispenser. The stem is preferably inserted with interference and rigidly at the front end in the helical spring, so that the spring applies on the stem not only an axial force but also a torque which tends to align the stem with the longitudinal axis of the dispenser. This particular spring can advantageously be used also in other dispensers, for example in known dispensers.

The dispenser preferably comprises a particular membrane with openings, which makes it possible to reduce the force which straightens the stem and therefore the effort required by the animal to counteract this force in order to drink, without worsening the liquid tightness of the membrane. This particular membrane can advantageously be used also in other dispensers, for example in known dispensers.

The dispenser preferably comprises a particular main gasket with a plurality of recesses which reduce the contact surfaces between this gasket and the stem, and therefore the risk of blockage in the event of swelling due to chemical substances, without worsening the liquid tightness of the main gasket, so as to improve the reliability of the dispenser over time. This particular gasket can advantageously be used also in other dispensers, for example in known dispensers.

In an alternative embodiment of the dispenser, the main gasket has a particular structure which can be molded on the head of the stem, so as to optimize the liquid tightness of the dispenser and simplify its assembly. This particular gasket can advantageously be used also in other dispensers, for example in known dispensers.

Preferably, the dispenser components are substantially coaxial and/or substantially symmetrical or parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis of the dispenser, so as to simplify their manufacture, especially if molded in plastic material, and/or their assembly.

Thanks to the aforementioned structural characteristics, the dispenser also has a better liquid tightness compared to known dispensers, so as to minimize or even eliminate leaks of liquids from the dispenser.

Further advantages and characteristics of the dispenser according to the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of some embodiments, to be considered non-limiting examples of the claims, with reference to the attached drawings in which:.

As shown in <FIG>, a first embodiment of the liquid dispenser for watering animals comprises a main body <NUM> which includes a main duct <NUM> for allowing a flow of liquids towards a front side of the dispenser, from which front side an animal can be watered with the liquids dispensed through the main duct <NUM>. The main body <NUM> extends along a longitudinal axis A from a rear side to the front side of the dispenser. A stem <NUM> is arranged in the main duct <NUM> and comprises a head 3a, in particular having a substantially flat and/or annular shape, urged by elastic means <NUM> towards a mouth 2a of the main duct <NUM>, so that the head 3a acts as a plug of a valve, namely it prevents, limits or allows the flow of liquids in the main duct <NUM> according to the position of the stem <NUM>, which acts as the control member of this valve. For this purpose, a front end 3b of the stem <NUM> protrudes from the main duct <NUM>, so that the stem can be moved, for example by an animal, in axial and/or radial directions (shown by the arrows in <FIG>), thus to overcome the thrust of the elastic means <NUM> and allow or increase the flow of liquids in the main duct <NUM>. A main gasket <NUM> can be arranged between the head 3a of the stem <NUM> and the mouth 2a of the main duct <NUM>, so as to obtain a liquid tightness between the head 3a and the main body <NUM> when the head 3a is urged by the elastic means <NUM> towards the main duct <NUM>.

An auxiliary body <NUM> is fixed to the main body <NUM> and includes an auxiliary duct <NUM> connected to the main duct <NUM> to allow a flow of liquids between the auxiliary body <NUM> and the main body <NUM>. The head 3a of the stem <NUM> and/or the main gasket <NUM> and/or the elastic means <NUM> are arranged in a chamber <NUM> arranged in turn between the main duct <NUM> and the auxiliary duct <NUM> to connect these two ducts. The chamber <NUM> can be obtained partially or completely in the main body <NUM> and/or in the auxiliary body <NUM>.

The elastic means <NUM> preferably comprise a helical spring having a substantially frustoconical shape, wherein a rear end 3c, in particular having a substantially cylindrical and/or frustoconical shape, of the stem <NUM> is inserted into the smaller base of the conical frustum formed by the spring helical. The diameter of the major base of the spring <NUM> is substantially equal to the diameter of the chamber <NUM>, which has a substantially cylindrical shape. Preferably, the front end of the helical spring <NUM> arranged around the rear end 3c of the stem <NUM> has an extension with a substantially cylindrical shape and a diameter smaller than the diameter of the external profile of the rear end 3c of the stem <NUM>, so that the stem <NUM> is inserted with an interference and rigidly into the front end in the helical spring <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the chamber <NUM> is mainly made in the auxiliary body <NUM>. The main gasket <NUM> is arranged in a seat <NUM> which is open towards the chamber <NUM> and is made in the main body <NUM> beside the mouth 2a of the main duct <NUM>. A front end of the auxiliary body <NUM> can be arranged in a housing <NUM> made in the rear end of the main body <NUM>. In an alternative embodiment, a rear end of the main body <NUM> can be arranged in a housing made in the front end of the auxiliary body <NUM>.

The auxiliary body <NUM> is fixed to the main body <NUM> by means of extensions <NUM> engaged with protuberances <NUM> to prevent reciprocal axial movements between the main body <NUM> and the auxiliary body <NUM>. In particular, the auxiliary body <NUM> is fixed to the main body <NUM> by means of six pairs of extensions <NUM> and protuberances <NUM> engaged with each other. In the present embodiment, the main body <NUM> comprises the extensions <NUM> and the auxiliary body <NUM> comprises the protuberances <NUM>, or vice versa in an alternative embodiment, in which the main body <NUM> may comprise the protuberances <NUM> and the auxiliary body <NUM> may comprise the extensions <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the extensions <NUM> protrude longitudinally from the main body <NUM> and the protrusions <NUM> protrude radially from the auxiliary body <NUM>, or vice versa in an alternative embodiment, in which the extensions <NUM> may protrude longitudinally from the auxiliary body <NUM> and the protuberances <NUM> may project radially from the main body <NUM>. The extensions <NUM> are engaged with the protuberances <NUM> by means of a tooth <NUM> which protrudes from an extension <NUM> and engages with a surface of a protuberance <NUM>. The protuberances <NUM> are spaced apart from each other to form channels <NUM>, in particular wider than the teeth <NUM> (a tooth <NUM> is shown with dashed lines in <FIG>) of the extensions <NUM>, so that a tooth <NUM> can pass between two protuberances <NUM> during mutual axial sliding, i.e. along the longitudinal axis A, of the main body <NUM> with respect to the auxiliary body <NUM>, or vice versa, during the fixing of the main body <NUM> to the auxiliary body <NUM>. The extensions <NUM> are spaced apart from each other to form a notch <NUM> between two extensions <NUM>. Preferably, the channels <NUM> and the notches <NUM> have substantially the same width. Preferably, the protuberances <NUM> project radially less than the extensions <NUM>, so as to allow a reciprocal rotation around the longitudinal axis A, of the main body <NUM> with respect to the auxiliary body <NUM>, during the fixing of the main body <NUM> to the auxiliary body <NUM>. In particular, the distance D1 between the inner surface of the extensions <NUM> and the longitudinal axis A is substantially equal, in particular slightly greater, than the distance between the outer surface of the protuberances <NUM> and the longitudinal axis A. The distance D1 is preferably greater than the distance D2 between the internal surface of the teeth <NUM> and the longitudinal axis A.

As also shown in <FIG>, a locking element is fixed to the main body <NUM> and/or to the auxiliary body <NUM> to prevent reciprocal movements between the main body <NUM> and the auxiliary body <NUM>. In particular, the locking element comprises a collar <NUM> provided with a plurality of ribs <NUM> which project towards a central cavity <NUM> of the collar <NUM>. Portions of the main body <NUM> and/or of the auxiliary body <NUM> are arranged in the central cavity <NUM> and/or in a central opening <NUM> of the collar <NUM> of the locking element. Preferably, a portion of the auxiliary body <NUM> is arranged in the central opening <NUM> of the collar <NUM>, the ends of the extensions <NUM> with the teeth <NUM> are arranged in the central cavity <NUM> of the collar <NUM>, and/or the ribs <NUM> of the collar <NUM> are arranged in the channels <NUM> and/or in the notches <NUM> of the main body <NUM> and/or of the auxiliary body <NUM>, so that the blocking element, once inserted from the rear side of the dispenser around the auxiliary body <NUM>, prevents the reciprocal rotation of the body main body <NUM> with respect to the auxiliary body <NUM> around the longitudinal axis A. The ribs <NUM> may comprise pads <NUM> in contact with surfaces of the main body <NUM> and/or of the auxiliary body <NUM>, in particular with the outer surface of the auxiliary body <NUM>, so as to create friction which slows down the sliding of the locking element with respect to the main body <NUM> and/or the auxiliary body <NUM>. The collar <NUM> is partially or completely surrounded by a handle <NUM> having a substantially toroidal shape, for pulling or holding the dispenser with one hand. The collar <NUM> is in turn held in its final position by a retaining ring <NUM> inserted in a perimetric groove <NUM> obtained on the external surface of the auxiliary body <NUM>. The perimetric groove <NUM> is preferably connected to a longitudinal groove <NUM> obtained on the external surface of the auxiliary body <NUM> to facilitate the removal of the retaining ring <NUM> from the auxiliary body <NUM>, for example with the tip of a tool.

One or more auxiliary gaskets <NUM>, <NUM> can be arranged between the main body <NUM> and the auxiliary body <NUM> to obtain a liquid tightness. A sleeve <NUM> and/or a bellows <NUM> can be arranged around the main body <NUM> and/or around the auxiliary body <NUM>. The sleeve <NUM> can have a substantially cylindrical shape and is preferably made of metal. The bellows <NUM> can have a substantially frustoconical shape, with the major base facing the front side of the dispenser, and is preferably made of elastic material. The auxiliary body <NUM> is preferably made in one piece with a quick coupling <NUM>, in particular of the male type, which protrudes from the rear side of the dispenser and comprises an internal duct <NUM> which is connected to the auxiliary duct <NUM>, in particular it is aligned with the auxiliary duct <NUM> and has substantially the same diameter. A filter <NUM> suitable for filtering the liquids to be dispensed can be arranged in a recess <NUM> of the auxiliary body <NUM> and can comprise a tubular body closed by at least one filtering septum. The recess <NUM> is open towards the chamber <NUM>, so that the filter <NUM> can be inserted into the recess <NUM> from the chamber <NUM>. The filter <NUM> is preferably urged into the recess <NUM> by the elastic means <NUM>. The filter <NUM> is preferably made of an elastic material to absorb any roughness of the elastic means <NUM>.

An auxiliary gasket <NUM> may be disposed in the central cavity <NUM> of the collar <NUM> and presses against the sleeve <NUM> to hold the collar <NUM> and/or the sleeve <NUM> in their position, also when the sleeve <NUM> may expand during heating due to a sterilization of the dispenser. In particular, one end of the sleeve <NUM> is in contact with the auxiliary gasket <NUM> and the opposite end of the sleeve <NUM> abuts against a perimetric relief of the main body <NUM>. The minor base of the bellows <NUM> is in contact with the collar <NUM>, in so that the bellows <NUM> can be urged against the collar <NUM> during a compression of the bellows <NUM>, for example due to the insertion of the dispenser into an opening of a cage for laboratory animals (not shown in the figures) and to the contact of the major base of the bellows <NUM> against the wall of the cage in which this opening is made.

The stem <NUM> can be arranged in a central hole <NUM> of a diaphragm <NUM> adapted to be arranged between the head 3a and the front end 3b of the stem <NUM>. The diaphragm <NUM> is arranged in particular between the main body <NUM> and a cap <NUM>, preferably made of metal, so that the diaphragm <NUM> is held in position. One or more auxiliary gaskets <NUM>, <NUM> can be arranged between the main body <NUM> and the cap <NUM> to obtain a liquid tightness and to keep the cap <NUM> in its position, thanks to the friction with these gaskets.

As also shown in <FIG>, the diaphragm <NUM> has a substantially discoidal shape with a peripheral portion 52a which surrounds a central portion 52b comprising the central hole <NUM>. The peripheral portion 52a can have a substantially toroidal shape and the central portion 52b can have a substantially flat shape with a thickness that decreases towards the central hole <NUM>. Openings 52c, in particular four openings 52c, are arranged between the peripheral portion 52a and the central portion 52b, so as to form spokes 52d arranged between two openings 52c and between the peripheral portion 52a and the central portion 52b. The openings 52c preferably comprise an outer edge having a substantially circular arc profile, in particular substantially concentric with the central hole <NUM>, and an inner edge which has a curvilinear shape, wherein the distance between the inner edge and the outer edge of the openings 52c increases from one end of said arc to the other. In particular, the profile of the openings 52c has a substantially triangular shape with curved sides and rounded corners, as visible in <FIG>. When the diaphragm <NUM> is arranged between the main body <NUM> and the cap <NUM>, the openings 52c are closed by a surface of the main body <NUM> on one side of the diaphragm <NUM> and/or by a surface of the cap <NUM> on the opposite side of the diaphragm <NUM>.

As also shown in <FIG>, the main gasket <NUM> has a substantially toroidal shape with a central hole 4a in which the stem <NUM> is arranged (shown with a dashed line in <FIG>). The central hole 4a is provided with a plurality of recesses 4b, in particular six recesses 4b, which have a concave surface, in particular substantially cylindrical, facing the center of the central hole 4a, so that the stem <NUM> is in contact with the cusps 4c of the main gasket <NUM> which protrude between two recesses 4b towards the center of the central hole 4a.

As shown in <FIG>, a second embodiment of the dispenser is similar to the first embodiment but comprises a main gasket <NUM> which comprises a hollow portion which at least partially houses the head 3a of the stem <NUM>. The gasket <NUM> is preferably joined to the stem <NUM>, in particular it is printed directly on the head 3a. The main gasket <NUM> also comprises a substantially convex peripheral portion 60a, which faces the seat <NUM> in the main body <NUM>, and a substantially concave central portion 60b, which faces the mouth 2a of the main duct <NUM>. The main gasket <NUM> can furthermore comprise a plurality of longitudinal grooves 60c formed along the outer edge of the peripheral portion 60a.

Preferably, the main body <NUM>, the main duct <NUM>, the stem <NUM>, the main gasket <NUM> or <NUM>, the elastic means <NUM>, the auxiliary body <NUM>, the auxiliary duct <NUM>, the chamber <NUM>, the seat <NUM>, the housing <NUM>, the collar <NUM>, the handle <NUM>, the sleeve <NUM>, the bellows <NUM>, the coupling <NUM>, the internal duct <NUM>, the filter <NUM>, the recess <NUM>, the diaphragm <NUM> and/or the cap <NUM> are substantially coaxial and/or substantially symmetrical to the longitudinal axis A, while the extensions <NUM>, the protuberances <NUM>, the ribs <NUM>, the pads <NUM> and/or the longitudinal groove <NUM> are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A.

Variations or additions can be made by those skilled in the art to the embodiments described and illustrated herein while remaining within the scope of the following claims. In particular, further embodiments may comprise the technical features of one of the following claims with the addition of one or more technical features described in the specification or illustrated in the drawings, taken individually or in any reciprocal combination and including their equivalent features.

Claim 1:
A liquid dispenser for watering animals, which comprises a main body (<NUM>) including a main duct (<NUM>), wherein the main body (<NUM>) develops along a longitudinal axis (A) from a rear side to a front side of the dispenser, wherein an animal can drink from the front side of the dispenser liquids dispensed through the main duct (<NUM>), wherein a stem (<NUM>) is arranged in the main duct (<NUM>) and includes a head (3a) urged by elastic means (<NUM>) towards the main duct (<NUM>), wherein an auxiliary body (<NUM>) is fixed to the main body (<NUM>) and includes an auxiliary duct (<NUM>), wherein the head (3a) of the stem (<NUM>) and the elastic means (<NUM>) are arranged in a chamber (<NUM>) connecting the main duct (<NUM>) with the auxiliary duct (<NUM>), characterized in that the auxiliary body (<NUM>) is fixed to the main body (<NUM>) by means of extensions (<NUM>) engaged with protuberances (<NUM>) to prevent reciprocal axial movements between the main body (<NUM>) and the auxiliary body (<NUM>), wherein the protuberances (<NUM>) are spaced apart to form channels (<NUM>) and the extensions (<NUM>) are spaced apart to form notches (<NUM>), each notch (<NUM>) being comprised between two extensions (<NUM>), wherein a locking element (<NUM>) is fixed to the main body (<NUM>) and/or to the auxiliary body (<NUM>), wherein the locking element (<NUM>) comprises a collar (<NUM>) provided with a plurality of ribs (<NUM>) which are arranged in the channels (<NUM>) and/or in the notches (<NUM>) to prevent mutual rotations around the longitudinal axis (A) of the main body (<NUM>) with respect to the auxiliary body (<NUM>).