DK2361850T3

DK2361850T3 - dosing device

Info

Publication number: DK2361850T3
Application number: DK11163211.3T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Tomas Mueller
Original assignee: Tomil S R O
Priority date: 2011-04-20
Filing date: 2011-04-20
Publication date: 2014-03-24
Also published as: EP2361850A1; RS53241B; SI2361850T1; PL2361850T3; EP2361850B1; RU2012115656A; RU2604485C2; HRP20140290T1

Description

The invention relates to a metering device for dispensing defined doses of a flowable material.

Such a material can e.g. have a sticky consistency, i.e. adhere to a surface by itself.

It is known to apply flowable materials, e.g. gels, to the inner side of a toilet bowl by use of a metering device so as to achieve a cleansing or disinfection of the toilet bowl. EP 1 901 972 B2 describes such a metering device by which a defined quantity of a flowable material can be applied onto inner side of a toilet bowl. In said publication, a cylindrical body for accommodating the flowable material is described. Into said body, a piston can be inserted for pressing the flow-able material out from the cylindrical body. The piston and the cylinder can be locked to each other in various positions so that the piston can be advanced into the body by a defined amount. Connected to the piston is an outer shell surrounding the cylindrical body. The locking elements are provided on the cylindrical body and on the piston or said outer shell.

The device described in said publication is well-suited for dispensing flow-able materials. It does, however, have a complex design because the cylindrical body as well as the piston and the outer shell are designed with considerable technical expenditure in order to guarantee that, in each operating step, the piston can be advanced into the cylindrical body only by a well-defined amount.

Further, a metering device according to the precharacterizing part of claim 1 is known from DE 202 17 554 Ul.

It is an object of the invention to provide a metering device for dispensing defined doses of a flowable material, wherein the metering device has a simplified design.

According to the invention, the above object is achieved by the features defined in claim 1.

The metering device according to the invention comprises a cylindrical body whose interior constitutes a cavity for accommodating the flowable material. This flowable material can be e.g. a gel according to the definition in colloquial language, or another flowable material of high or low viscosity. It is of essence that the flowable material is of such a nature that it cannot issue from out of the metering device by itself, and that the flowable material further has sticky consistency so that, when applied, it will by itself adhere to the inner side of the toilet bowl. Further, the material can have such a viscosity that, after application, it will maintain its shape, unless deformed by external influences.

According to the invention, the cylindrical body has a first, open end and, opposite thereto, a dispensing opening. The cylindrical body can e.g. have the shape of a circular cylinder, but alternatively can have various other cylindrical shapes.

The metering device further comprises a piston arranged to be axially advanced into the first, open end of the cylindrical body. The advancing movement is performed in such a manner that the flowable material will be displaced by the piston and be pressed out of the dispensing opening.

The metering device further comprises the component parts described hereunder so as to guarantee that, with each operating step, the piston can be advanced into the cylindrical body by a defined amount, causing a defined dose of the flowable material to be dispensed through the dispensing opening of the cylindrical body.

According to the invention, the piston comprises depressible abutment elements. These can be pressed in the radial direction of the piston and are arranged at an axial distance relative to each other. The term "axial" as used herein refers to the axial direction of the piston, which direction preferably coincides with the axial direction of the cylindrical body. The piston preferably has the same basic shape as the cylindrical body and further has a slightly reduced diameter so that, when inserted into the cylindrical body, it will touch the inner side of the latter. Thus, the outer diameter of the piston substantially corresponds to the inner diameter of the cylindrical body.

Thus, the depressible abutment elements are preferably arranged in the longitudinal direction of the piston.

According to the invention, an abutment element, when in its non-pressed-in state, extends in radial direction beyond the inner diameter of the cylindrical body and thus forms an abutment for the edge of the cylindrical body surrounding the open end of the cylindrical body. This has the effect that the piston cannot be advanced into the cylindrical body beyond said abutment.

When in the pressed-in state, an abutment element does not extend in the radial direction beyond the inner diameter of the cylindrical body so that the piston can be advanced into the cylindrical body beyond this abutment element. Thus, a pressed-in abutment element does not form an abutment.

The metering device according to the invention is of a particularly simple design. This is rendered possible because the cylindrical body does not need to comprise means serving for a well-defined advancement of the piston into the cylindrical body. Only the piston itself comprises such means in the form of said abutment elements. These abutment elements cooperate with the edge of the cylindrical body which surrounds the open end of the cylindrical body, so that, in each operating step, the piston can be advanced into the cylindrical body in a well defined manner.

According to a preferred embodiment, the abutment elements are arranged in two rows, each time behind each other in the axial direction. The two rows preferably extend in the axial direction, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the piston. Two abutment elements following each other in the axial direction are arranged at a mutual offset in the circumferential direction of the piston. Their mutual axial offset is half the axial offset of two abutment elements adjacent to each other within a row. In other words, two abutment elements adjacent to each other within a row have an axial offset twice as large as two abutment elements following each other in the axial direction which are arranged in different rows. Thus, if starting from an abutment element in the first row, the next abutment element in the axial direction is arranged in the second row, whereupon the third abutment element in the axial direction is arranged in the first row again.

This means that in each operating step, i.e. with each renewed dispensing of a defined dose of the flowable material, there will be actuated an abutment elements in a different row. If, for instance, in the first dispensing of a defined dose, the first abutment element of the first row is actuated, the second dispensing of a dose is performed with actuation of the first abutment element of the second row, whereupon the third dispensing of a dose is performed with actuation of the second abutment element of the first row, etc. Thus, there occurs an alternating actuation of the abutment elements in the two rows. This staggered arrangement of the abutment elements has the advantage that the abutment elements can have a sufficient size for being conveniently actuated by a user's fingers without simultaneously causing a too large advancement of the piston into the cylindrical body. By the above described design of the abutment elements, actuation of any one abutment element will cause the piston to be advanced into the cylindrical body by a distance which corresponds to half the axial offset of two abutment elements adjacent to each other in a row.

By way of alternative to the arrangement of the abutment elements in two rows, the abutment elements can also be arranged in three or more rows, wherein, in this case, the axial offset of two abutment elements following each other in the axial direction will be a third, a quarter etc. of the axial offset of two abutment elements adjacent to each other in one row.

The above described staggered arrangement of the abutment elements allows for the use of a piston and cylindrical body of a relatively large diameter so that, herein, a larger quantity of flowable material can be accommodated.

By way of alternative, the abutment elements can also be arranged in a single row so that, after actuation of any one abutment element, the piston will be advanced into the cylindrical body by the axial length of an abutment element. The quantity of the flowable material which in this instance will be pressed out from the cylindrical body, is about twice as large as in an arrangement of the abutment elements in two rows. In order to make it possible, in an arrangement of the abutment elements in merely one row, to press out the same smaller quantity of flowable material as in the arrangement of the abutment elements in two rows, the cylindrical body and the piston can be given a reduced diameter, for instance.

Preferably, one side of each abutment element is pivotally connected to the piston. The opposite side can be pivoted inward in the radial direction of the piston about the side connected to the piston. This is to say that said opposite side can be pressed into the piston. For instance, said opposite side can be releasably connected to the piston by one or two webs. A releasable connection in this context is to be understood in the sense that these webs will be severed at the time of the first depression of the abutment elements, so that the connection of the opposite side to the piston will be released.

Further, it is preferred that the abutment elements comprise an L-shaped projection extending radially outward from the abutment element. In this arrangement, one leg of the L-shaped projection in each row of the abutment elements is arranged in the direction of the other row of the abutment elements. Thus, in other words, each abutment element comprises a projection of which one leg is arranged in the direction of the other row of abutment elements. The second leg of the L-shaped projection is arranged in the direction of the cylindrical body. The L-shaped projection is functional to allow the user to press in the abutment elements more conveniently without the user's thumb sliding off from the abutment elements. At the same time, the L-shaped projection can serve as an abutment for the edge of the cylindrical body in the non-pressed-in state of the abutment element.

The L-shaped projection shall prevent that, as a result of the piston being pressed into the cylindrical body, an abutment element might become deformed by itself without being actuated by a user. The L-shaped projection is thus adapted to prevent a self-actuated press-in movement of an abutment element which may occur when the piston is being advanced into the cylindrical body. For preventing such an occurrence, the L-shaped projection is designed in such a manner that, at a site of the abutment element, e.g. substantially in the middle of the abutment element when viewed in the circumferential direction, the projection extends abruptly upward in the radial direction away from the abutment element.

By the first leg of the L-shaped projection which is arranged in the direction of the other row of the abutment elements, it can be prevented that a pressed-in abutment element could by itself again move radially outward and thus could hinder an advancement of the piston into the cylindrical body.

According to the invention, it is further provided that the cylindrical body is provided with at least three spacers extending in the axial direction away from the cylindrical body beyond the dispensing opening. Thereby, a cavity is formed in the axial direction between the distal end of said spacers, i.e. that end of the spacers which faces away from the cylindrical body, and the dispensing opening. These spacers are provided to make it possible to place the front end of the metering device onto the inner side of a toilet bowl, so that a distance can be maintained in the axial direction from the inner side of the toilet bowl to the dispensing opening. Into the cavity formed in this manner, the flowable material can be entered. It is thus guaranteed that, when applying the flowable material, the metering device will exert no pressure on the flowable material so that the material can be dispensed in an optically appealing manner. By the spacers, it can be further guaranteed that the metering device and particularly the dispensing opening will always be positioned in a defined distance to the inner side of the toilet bowl while the flowable material is being dispensed.

Further, it is preferred that the dispensing opening comprises, in its center, a round or polygonal - e.g. hexagonal - opening having a plurality of dropshaped openings connected thereto in radially outward directions. Expressed in a simplified manner, the dispensing opening substantially has the shape of a snowflake. By the above design of the dispensing opening, it can be achieved that the flowable material will be dispensed in an optically appealing manner. The flowable material can e.g. generate the impression of a flower blossom.

Further, it is preferred that said at least three spacers are arranged between the radial extension of respectively two drop-shaped recesses, particularly along the periphery of the cylindrical body. This means that said at least three spacers are respectively arranged at a site of the cylindrical body which is situated between the virtual radial extensions of respectively two drop-shaped recesses. Thereby, it can be guaranteed that a part of the flowable material, when applied, can flow between respectively two spacers radially to the outside, so that the diameter of the applied flowable material will not be limited by the spacers and thus not by the diameter of the cylindrical body. Nonetheless, it is preferred that the flowable material, when being dispensed, will not contact the spacers.

Hereunder, preferred embodiments will be explained with reference to the Figures.

In the Figures, the following is shown:

Figure 1 is a lateral view of an embodiment of the metering device of the invention,

Figure 2 is a view of the dispensing opening of a metering device of the invention,

Figure 3 is a frontal view of an embodiment of the piston of the metering device, and

Figure 4 is an exemplary illustration of the configuration in which the flow-able material can be dispensed by the metering device.

Figure 1 shows a lateral view of an embodiment of the metering device of the invention. The piston 20 will be advanced into the cylindrical body 14. Both the piston 20 and the cylindrical body 14 have the shape of a circular cylinder. At its lower end, the cylindrical body 14 comprises a slightly widened edge 24 which cooperates with the abutment elements 22a to 221 for limiting the advancement of the piston 20 into the cylindrical body 14.

Figure 2 is a detailed view of an embodiment of the dispensing opening 18 of the cylindrical body 14. In its center, the dispensing opening 18 comprises a substantially hexagonal opening 18a which, in radially outward directions, has connected to it six drop-shaped openings 18b to 18g. By means of such a dispensing opening 18, the flowable material can be dispensed e.g. in the configuration shown in Figure 4.

According to Figure 1, the cylindrical body 14 comprises three spacers 28a to 28c which, at its front end, extend in the axial direction away from the cylindrical body 14 beyond the dispensing opening 18. When the flowable material is applied, the material can extend radially outward between two adjacent spacers. Thus, during the application of the flowable material, the spacers 28a to 28c are arranged in the positions which in Figure 4 are indicated in interrupted lines.

In Figure 3, details of an embodiment of the piston 20 are shown. In this embodiment, the piston is provided with 12 abutment elements 22a to 221, wherein the first abutment element 22a of the left-hand row is slightly larger in the axial direction than the other abutment elements 22b to 221. The abutment elements are marked in accordance with the order in which they are to be actuated. For instance, the first abutment element 22a is provided with the inscription "Start" while the other abutment elements 22b to 221 are continuously numbered from 2 to 12.

For enhanced grip reliability, the surface of the abutment elements is formed with grooves 30. Thereby, it is preventing that the user's thumb slides out of place when operating the abutment elements.

The abutment elements further comprise a respective L-shaped projection 26 extending radially outward from the abutment elements. A first leg 26a of the L-shaped projection in each row of abutment elements is arranged in the direction of the other row of the abutment elements. The second leg 26b is arranged in the direction of the cylindrical body 12, i.e. upward in the Figures. At the end of said second leg 26b, a projection 32 is arranged which extends in the direction of cylindrical body 14. That part of the second leg 26b which extends from the L-shaped projection in the direction of the outer side 22b", can be designed in such a manner that it does not radially project relative to abutment element 22b. Thus, in the area of the projection 32, the first leg 26a of the L-shaped projection 26 creates an abrupt elevation on the abutment element in radial direction. Thereby, an unintended self-actuated depression of the abutment elements can be prevented. The same effect is achieved by the projection 32 which is the first site where the edge 24 of the cylindrical body comes to be supported during the advancing of piston 20.

The axial distance of two abutment elements 22c, 22e adjacent to each other in a same row is indicated by I.

The abutment elements 22a to 221 are arranged in two rows, wherein, on their outer side 22b', the abutment elements are articulated or pivoted to piston 20. On the opposite side 22b", the abutment elements 22a to 221 can be releasably connected to piston 20 via two webs 34a, 34b.

Between the two rows of the abutment elements 22a to 221, a central web 36 extends in the axial direction of piston 20.

Figure 4 shows an example of the configuration in which the flowable material 12 can be dispensed by the metering device 10 of the invention. In this example, the flowable material comprises six drop-shaped elevations 38a to 38f. When applying the flowable material 12 onto the inner side of a toilet bowl, the spacers 28a to 28c are supported in the positions which in Figure 4 are indicated in interrupted lines.

Claims

A dosing device for delivering defined doses of a liquid material (12), with a cylindrical body (14), the inside of which forms a cavity for receiving the liquid material (12), the cylindrical body (14) having a first an open end (16) and opposite it a delivery opening (18), the dosing device (10) further having: a piston (20) for axial insertion into the first open end (16) of the cylindrical body (14) in such a way the liquid material (12) being displaced by the plunger (20) and pressed out of the delivery opening (18), the dosing device (10) further having elements to ensure that at each operating step the plunger (20) can be pushed into the cylindrical body (14) having a defined target such that a defined dose of the liquid material (12) is delivered through the delivery opening (18) of the cylindrical body (14), the metering device for this on the piston (20) having abutment elements (22a to 221), d can be pressed into a radial direction and spaced apart axially, characterized in that a stop element (22a) extends radially beyond the inner diameter (i) of the cylindrical body (14) and thus forming a stop for the edge (24) of the cylindrical body (14) surrounding its open end (16) in such a way that the piston (20) cannot be inserted into the cylindrical body (14) beyond this stop. and a stop member (22a) in the pressed state in the radial direction does not extend beyond the inner diameter (i) of the cylindrical body (14) so that the piston (20) can be inserted into the cylindrical body (14) beyond this stop ( 22a) and further characterized in that the cylindrical body (14) has at least three spacers (28a to 28c) extending axially away from the cylindrical body (14) beyond the delivery opening (18) so as to form a cavity in the axial direction between the spacer the distal end (28a to 28c) and the delivery opening (18).

Dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the abutment elements (22a to 221) are arranged in two rows each in axial direction one after the other and two abutment elements (22b, 22c) arranged successively in the axial direction. in relation to each other in the circumferential direction (u) of the piston (20), and their axial displacement relative to each other constitutes half the axial displacement of two abutment elements (22b, 22d) which are adjacent in a row.

Dosing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one side (22a 'to 221') of each impact element (22a to 221) is pivotally connected to the piston (20) and the opposite side (22a "to 221") can be rotated inwardly in a radial direction about the side (22a 'to 221') connected to the piston (20), in particular the opposite side (22a "to 221") being releasably connected to the piston (20).

Dosing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the impact members (22a to 221) have an L-shaped projection (26) extending radially outwards from the impact elements (22a to 221), wherein a first leg (26a) of the L-shaped projection (26) in each row of the impact members is arranged in the direction of the second row of the impact elements, and a second leg (26b) of the L-shaped projection (26) is arranged in the direction of the cylindrical body (14). ).

Dosing device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the delivery opening (18) in the middle has a round or polygon-shaped opening (18a), with which several drop-shaped openings (18b to 18g) are connected in the radial outward direction.

Dosing device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the at least three spacers (28a to 28c) are arranged between the radial extension of each two drop-shaped recesses (18b to 18g), especially along the circumference of the cylindrical body (14).