WO2008009440A1

WO2008009440A1 - Dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2008009440A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/006390
Authority: WO
Inventors: Georg Röder
Original assignee: Schwan-Stabilo Cosmetics Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2006-07-18
Filing date: 2007-07-18
Publication date: 2008-01-24
Also published as: DE202006011103U1

Abstract

The invention concerns a dispenser for simultaneously dispensing at least two liquid, gel-like or pasty products (16,18), comprising a first plunger (20, 46, 74, 118) which is guided displaceably in a first cylinder (12, 42, 70, 106), and a second plunger (22, 48, 76, 120) which is guided displaceably in a second cylinder (14, 44, 72, 108). In accordance with the invention there is provided a rotary drive means, the actuation of which causes displacement of both plungers with respect to the respectively associated cylinder.

Description

DISPENSER

The invention concerns a dispenser for simultaneously dispensing at least two liquid, gel-like or pasty products, comprising a first plunger which is guided displaceably in a first cylinder and a second plunger which is guided displaceably in a second cylinder. Dispensers of the above-indicated kind are known. In the case of the known dispensers displacement of the two plungers is generally effected by pressing a knob or button which is coupled to the two plungers.

Pressing a knob or button for actuation of the dispenser or for displacing the two plungers is not so easily controllable, and for that reason it is difficult to convey precisely the right amount of the two products by displacement of the plungers. The known dispensers therefore frequently adopt measures for conveying a predetermined portion of the two products upon actuation of the press button or knob. If more than that portion is to be conveyed, then the press button or knob has to be actuated a second time. The object of the invention is to improve the dispenser of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification in such a way that portion- wise delivery is simplified.

In accordance with the invention the specified object is attained by a rotary drive means the actuation of which causes displacement of both plungers with respect to the respectively associated cylinder.

In that respect the invention is based on the surprisingly simple realisation that a rotary drive can be handled more precisely than a drive with a press button or knob. Therefore amounts of virtually any small magnitude of the two products can be delivered by actuation of the rotary drive without having to involve a restriction, as is required for portion-wise delivery, of the delivery amount per actuation.

Preferably in accordance with the invention the first plunger is an annular plunger which extends around the second plunger - as viewed in the direction of a displacement with respect to the first cylinder.

In other words, the two plungers, in projection, are disposed one within the other along their direction of displacement, thereby making the overall arrangement more compact. A particularly simple structure is afforded if an inside wall of the first cylinder coincides at least portion-wise with an outside wall of the second cylinder. In addition that design configuration leads to a reduction in the number of parts.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention the first and/or the second cylinder is/are divided into two, three or more chambers, in each of which a respective complementary part of the first or second plunger respectively is displaceably guided.

That affords the possibility of simultaneously conveying more than two products. Thus for example the first cylinder which surrounds the second cylinder in ring form can be divided into chambers in such a way that the chambers are arranged around the second cylinder on a circle, an ellipse or the like.

It is further preferably provided that the rotary drive comprises a first spindle drive having a first screwthread pairing for the first plunger and the first cylinder, and a second spindle drive which is not coincident with the first spindle drive and having a second screwthread pairing for the second plunger and the second cylinder.

That design configuration admittedly ensures simultaneous delivery of the at least two products, but nonetheless affords sufficient flexibility in terms of the design configuration of the coupling of the two plungers/cylinders within the rotary drive. Thus more specifically with that design configuration, in accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the two screwthread pairings have different pitches. That arrangement means that it is possible to adjust virtually any desired relationship in respect of the delivery volumes of the two products, which otherwise is possible only by suitable presetting of the respective plunger areas.

It is further preferably provided in accordance with the invention that the rotary axes of the two spindle drives coincide. That affords a particularly simple and compact structure.

For the same reason it is further preferably provided that the rotary axes of the two screwthread pairings coincide.

In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the spindle of the first spindle drive is a hollow spindle, in the interior of which the spindle of the second spindle drive is longitudinally displaceably guided. That feature also contributes to making the overall arrangement compact.

Finally in a preferred feature the spindle of the first spindle drive is held non-rotatably with respect to the spindle of the second spindle drive. That makes it possible to provide for coupling of the two spindle drives. The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter by means of preferred embodiments by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which :

Figure Ia shows a view in longitudinal section of a dispenser for a cosmetic product in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, Figure Ib shows a view in section taken along line B-B in Figure Ia,

Figure 2 shows the same view as in Figure Ia, but of a second embodiment,

Figure 3 shows the same view as in Figure Ia, but of a third embodiment, Figure 4a shows the same view as in Figure Ia, but of a fourth embodiment,

Figure 4b shows a view in section taken along line B-B in Figure 4a of a first version of the fourth embodiment, and Figure 4c shows the same view as in Figure 4b but of a second version of the fourth embodiment.

The dispenser shown in Figure 1 serves for simultaneously dispensing two pasty cosmetic products. For that purpose, provided in a housing 10 are two cylinders 12, 14 in which the two pasty products 16, 18 are contained. Plungers 20, 22 are guided displaceably in the cylinders 12, 14. A plunger holder 24 serves for displacement of the plungers 20, 22 within the cylinders 12, 14. The plunger holder 24 is of a U-shaped configuration overall, with the plungers 20, 22 being mounted to its two free ends. It has a female screwthread 26 meshing with a male screwthread 28 on a rotary spindle 30. The rotary spindle 30 is provided with a knurled wheel 32. When the knurled wheel 32 is turned with respect to the housing 10 the plunger holder 24 is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the spindle 30. In that way the plungers 20, 22 are also displaced within the cylinders 12, 14. When such a displacement occurs upwardly in Figure Ia the pressure in the cylinders 12, 14 increases. As a result valves 34, 36 which are elastically biased in the closing direction are open so that the two cosmetic products 16, 18 pass through the valves 34, 36 and can issue outwardly. Particularly when the screwthread pairing 26, 28 is of a particularly small pitch, rotating the knurled wheel 32 in the configuration according to the invention makes it possible to provide for very fine metering in regard to how much of the two cosmetic products 16, 18 is to be conveyed outwardly. If the housing 10 is transparent the position of the plungers 20 and 22 can be seen from the outside, which simplifies the metering action. A further simplification can be achieved by a scale being provided on the housing 10.

In the embodiment of Figure 2 the housing has two portions 38, 40 which can admittedly be rotated relative to each other but which are coupled together in the axial direction. There is provided a first cylinder 42 which annularly extends around a second cylinder 44. Two plungers 46, 48 are longitudinally displaceably guided in the two cylinders. An inside wall 50 of the first cylinder 42 coincides with the outside wall of the second cylinder 44. The two cylinders 42 and 44 are each provided with a respective valve 52, 54. The valves 52 and 54 correspond to the valves 34, 36. Although only one valve 52 is shown for the first cylinder 42, it is nonetheless possible to provide two, three or more valves at the first cylinder 42, which are arranged around the valve 54.

A plunger holder 56 which holds the two plungers 46, 48 bears a male screwthread 58 and is guided longitudinally displaceably in the portion 40 of the housing by means of longitudinal ribs 60, 62, but is coupled in respect of rotation to the portion 40. The housing portion 38 with the cylinders 42 and 44 provided therein is in comparison provided with a female screwthread 64 meshing with the screwthread 58. As indicated by the differing hatchings in Figure 2 the plunger holder 56 is composed of two portions 56a and 56b, wherein the portion 56a serves to hold the plunger 46 and the portion 56b serves to hold the plunger 48. In that arrangement the portion 56a bears against a corresponding shoulder of the portion 56b. The plunger 56 however may also be made in one piece.

When the two housing portions 38 and 40 are rotated relative to each other, longitudinal displacement of the plunger holder 56 takes place within the housing 38, 40, which involves a longitudinal displacement of the plungers 46, 48 within the cylinders 42, 44. If that longitudinal displacement occurs upwardly in Figure 2 the pressure within the cylinders 42, 44 rises and the cosmetic products contained therein are delivered outwardly by way of the valves 52, 54.

Once again particularly when the screwthread pairing 58, 64 involves a small pitch, rotation of the two housing portions 38 and 40 relative to each other makes it possible to provide for very fine metering as to the amount of the two products which is to be delivered outwardly.

As in the embodiment of Figure 2, the housing in the embodiment of Figure 3 also has two portions 66, 68 which are admittedly rotatable relative to each other but are not axially displaceable relative to each other. There is also provided a first cylinder 70 which annularly surrounds a second cylinder 72. The same applies to two plungers 74, 76. Once again there are also two valves 78, 80 which correspond to the valves 34, 36. The plungers 74, 76 are not held by a common plunger holder. Rather, a first plunger holder 82 holds the plunger 74 and a second plunger holder 84 holds the plunger 76. The first plunger holder 82 is held non- rotatably but longitudinally displaceably by means of ribs 86, 88 in the housing portion 68. It carries a male screwthread 90 meshing with a female screwthread 92 of the housing portion 66.

The second plunger holder 84 is guided non-rotatably but longitudinally displaceably by means of ribs 94, 96 within the first plunger holder 82. In other words, the first plunger holder 82 represents a hollow spindle. The second plunger holder 84 has a male screwthread 98 meshing with a female screwthread 100 on the housing portion 66.

In the embodiment of Figure 3 the first plunger holder 82 is of a two- part configuration, wherein one part 82a holds at its free end the plunger 74 while a part 82b represents the hollow spindle. The first plunger holder 82 can however also be made in one piece.

An axis D is the longitudinal axis of all the above-mentioned screwthreads 90, 92, 98, 100, the plunger holders 82, 84 which in that respect represent spindles, and the spindle drives formed thereby.

When the two housing portions 66, 68 are rotated relative to each other then the plunger holders 82 and 84 are displaced in the longitudinal direction of the housing 66, 68, which leads to a corresponding displacement of the plungers 74 and 76 within the cylinders 70, 72. If that displacement is directed upwardly in Figure 3 the pressure rises within the cylinders 70, 72, and for that reason cosmetic product contained therein is conveyed outwardly by way of the valves 78, 80.

Particularly when the pitches of the screwthread pairings 90, 92 and 98, 100 are small, delivery of the two cosmetic products can be particularly finely metered.

In the embodiment of Figure 4, provided in the housing 104 are a first cylinder 106 and a second cylinder 108 into each of which extends a respective spindle 110 having a screwthread 112 and a spindle 114 having a screwthread 116. A respective plunger 118, 120 is guided on the spindles 110, 114, with a female screwthread corresponding to the screwthreads 112 and 116 respectively.

The spindles 110, 114 are each provided with a gear 122, 124. Meshing with the gears 122, 124 is a drive gear 126 which is coupled to a knurled wheel 128.

Valves corresponding to the valves 34, 36 in Figure 1 are denoted by references 130, 132.

The version of Figure 4c differs from that shown in Figure 4b in that, in addition to the two gears 122 and 124, there are also two further gears 134, 136 meshing with the drive gear 126. It will be appreciated that, in this version, the gears 134 and 136 are also coupled to corresponding spindles and plungers guided thereon.

If in the embodiment of Figure 4 the knurled wheel 128 is rotated then the two plungers 118, 120 shown in Figure 4a or the four plungers coupled to the four gears shown in Figure 4c are moved in the respective cylinders for delivery of cosmetic product.

In all the configurations described hereinbefore the ratio of the delivery amount of the two cosmetic products upon actuation can be determined by suitable selection of the respectively operative plunger areas. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 that ratio can also be influenced by the pitches of the screwthread pairings 90, 92 on the one hand and 98, 100 on the other hand being suitably selected. The same applies in a corresponding manner to the embodiment of Figure 4. Furthermore, the embodiment of Figure 4 also has the option of influencing the ratio of the delivery amounts of the two cosmetic products by altering the sizes of the gears 122 and 124 and therewith the corresponding transmission ratios.

As in the embodiment of Figure 2, it can also be provided in the embodiment of Figure 3 that there is not just one valve 78 on the cylinder 70. Rather, the arrangement may have two, three or more such valves which for example annularly surround the valve 80. The same applies to the design configuration of Figure 4. It is also to be particularly emphasised that, in the embodiment of Figure 3, an inside wall 102 of the cylinder 70 at the same time forms an outside wall of the cylinder 72.

Although this is not shown in the drawing, all embodiments may have respective caps which - besides the valves 34, 36, 52, 54, 78, 80, 130 and 132 - prevent the dispenser from drying out in times when it is not in use.

In all the above-described embodiments the respective housing can be made of plastic material (ABS, PP, PE, PVC, PCTG, PCT, CA, PS, PA, PET and so forth) and coloured and/or transparent, wherein, in the case of the transparent housing, except for a viewing window, it can be decorated (screen printing, film embossing) or labelled and the filling condition or the volume to be delivered can be read off by way of a scale and by way of the plunger position. The features of the invention disclosed in the foregoing description, the claims and the drawing can be essential both individually and also in any combinations for implementing the invention in its various configurations.

Claims

1. A dispenser for simultaneously dispensing at least two liquid, gel- like or pasty products (16, 18), comprising a first plunger (20, 46, 74, 118) which is guided displaceably in a first cylinder (12, 42, 70, 106), and a second plunger (22, 48, 76, 120) which is guided displaceably in a second cylinder (14, 44, 72, 108), characterised by a rotary drive means (24, 30; 38, 56; 66, 82, 84; 110, 114, 122, 124, 126), the actuation of which causes displacement of both plungers with respect to the respectively associated cylinder.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1 characterised in that the first plunger (46, 74) is an annular plunger which extends around the second plunger (48, 76) - as viewed in the direction of a displacement with respect to the first cylinder (42, 70).

3. A dispenser according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that an inside wall (50, 102) of the first cylinder (42, 70) coincides at least portion-wise with an outside wall of the second cylinder (44, 72).

4. A dispenser according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the first and/or the second cylinder (12, 42, 70, 106; 14, 44, 72, 108) is/are divided into two, three or more chambers, in each of which a respective complementary part of the first or second plunger (20, 46, 74, 118; 22, 48, 76, 120) respectively is displaceably guided.

5. A dispenser according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the rotary drive means (66, 82, 64) comprises a first spindle drive having a first screwthread pairing (90, 92) for the first plunger (74) and the first cylinder (70), and a second spindle drive which is not coincident with the first spindle drive and having a second screwthread pairing (98, 100) for the second plunger (76) and the second cylinder (72).

6. A dispenser according to claim 5 characterised in that the two screwthread pairings (90, 92; 98, 100) have different pitches.

7. A dispenser according to claim 5 or claim 6 characterised in that the rotary axes (D) of the two spindle drives coincide.

8. A dispenser according to one of claims 5 to 7 characterised in that the rotary axes (D) of the two screwthread pairings (90, 92; 98, 100) coincide.

9. A dispenser according to one of claims 5 to 8 characterised in that the spindle (82) of the first spindle drive is a hollow spindle, in the interior of which the spindle (84) of the second spindle drive is longitudinally displaceably guided.

10. A dispenser according to one of claims 5 to 9 characterised in that the spindle (82) of the first spindle drive is held non-rotatably with respect to the spindle (84) of the second spindle drive.