EP2181051A1

EP2181051A1 - Dispensing device

Info

Publication number: EP2181051A1
Application number: EP08801688A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jasper Bernhard
Original assignee: Seaquist Perfect Dispensing GmbH
Current assignee: Aptar Dortmund GmbH
Priority date: 2007-08-29
Filing date: 2008-08-25
Publication date: 2010-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-25
Also published as: WO2009030393A1; DE102007051982A1; US20100206911A1; ES2397000T3; EP2181051B1

Abstract

A dispensing device (1) for a cosmetic product is proposed. A flexible inner container (4) is welded to a valve housing (3a) by ultrasonic welding. The valve housing (3a) is provided with a weld bead (10), which during welding is covered by the inner container (4). The valve housing (3a) has a plate-shaped connecting section (3c), which is welded to an outside of the inner container (4).

Description

dispenser

The present invention relates to a dispensing device for a preferably cosmetic product according to the preamble of one of the independent claims.

The dispenser preferably serves a non-spraying dispensing or dispensing of a preferably cosmetic product. However, a spraying output may also be provided.

In a narrower sense, the term "cosmetic product" includes cosmetics, hair spray, hair lacquer, a deodorant, a foam, in particular shaving cream, a gel, a paint spray, a sunscreen or skin care agent or the like or other cosmetic fluids, fluids, pastes , Lotions, emulsions or the like. But in a broader sense, other personal care products, cleaning products, o. The like., And also suspensions and fluids, possibly also with gas phases, preferably. Further, as other liquids and fluids, for example, air improvers, and in particular also technical fluids and fluids, such as rust remover o. The like., Are used. However, for simplification reasons and because of the focus of use, the following is often only spoken of cosmetic product. Particularly preferably, the proposed dispensing device for storage and dispensing of a gel, in particular shaving gel, or a paste, in particular toothpaste, o. The like. Used.

EP 0 320 510 B1 discloses a dispenser with a valve having a valve housing. The valve housing is provided with a tubular portion having radially extending side wings on opposite sides. On the side wings and the tubular section, a bag-like, flexible inner container is welded by heat welding. The valve is held by a plate, which is gas-tightly connected to an outer container. Gas in the outer container exerts pressure on the inner container in order to be able to dispense a cosmetic product contained in the inner beaker. In order to allow a good heat welding, the valve housing and the inner wall of the inner container are preferably made of polypropylene.

BESTÄT1GUNGSKOPIE provides. The problem is the diffusion behavior. In fact, polypropylene is not diffusion-tight, especially not oxygen. Accordingly, prolonged storage can be problematic because oxygen can diffuse through the valve housing in a valve chamber and, especially in the case of a cosmetic product in the inner container, can lead to undesired reactions. To counteract this undesirable effect, a very thick-walled construction of the valve housing is required. However, this is disadvantageous in terms of material costs and size.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved dispensing device that allows a comparison with the prior art simplified and / or cost-effective production and / or the universal - especially with other materials - can be used.

The above object is achieved by a dispenser according to one of the independent claims. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

A first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the valve housing has an at least substantially flat and / or thin and / or flange-like and / or plate-like connecting portion with which the inner container is preferably welded or connected exclusively. Alternatively or additionally, the inner container is only externally connected to the valve housing. This allows an optimized, in particular simplified and more cost-effective manufacture of the dispensing device, since the inner container can be compared to the prior art much easier or better and defined connect with the valve housing or its connecting portion, particularly preferably by ultrasonic welding.

In particular, the preferably at least substantially flat connecting portion is connected only with a flat side with an outer side of the inner container. This simplifies the production, since the inner container with only one wall and not with two walls as in the prior art must be connected to the valve body. According to a second, independently realizable aspect of the present invention, at least one welding bead is arranged or formed on the valve housing prior to welding to the inner container, which is covered during welding by the inner container. This in turn is a simple and cost-effective production, in particular the welding of the inner container with the valve housing by ultrasound, conducive.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the inner container is ultrasonically welded to the valve housing. Furthermore, polyethylene or polyamide is preferably used for the valve housing and the inner layer of the inner container. Thus, a simplified and cost-effective production is made possible, in particular, the valve housing can be made thinner at least equally good or even better diffusion tightness.

Further advantages, features, characteristics and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawing. It shows:

1 shows a schematic section of a proposed dispensing device; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a valve of the dispenser.

In the partly not to scale, only schematic figures, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar parts, with corresponding or comparable properties and advantages are achieved, even if a repeated description is omitted.

1 shows in a schematic section a proposed dispensing device 1 for dispensing a preferably cosmetic product 2 in the sense explained above. In particular, the product 2 is shaving gel, toothpaste or the like. The dispensing device 1 has a valve 3, via which the product 2 can be dispensed. If necessary, the valve 3 can be designed as a metering valve or the like. It can be opened, for example, by depressing a dispensing head, not shown, connected thereto, or in any other suitable manner. In particular, the product 2 via the valve 3 and an attached dispensing head o. The like. In liquid form, pasty form, as a foam, as a gel o. The like. Deliverable.

The dispensing device 1 has a flexible inner container 4, as indicated schematically in Fig. 1, on. The inner container 4 is designed in particular as a bag. Preferably, it is a folded and welded container or bag. However, other constructive solutions are possible.

Particularly preferably, the wall of the inner container 4 is formed like a film and / or formed by a composite film. The wall is preferably formed at least substantially diffusion-tight. For example, the wall or foil may have an aluminum layer, aluminum vaporization or the like, as well as other layers, in particular consisting of a polyolefin.

The dispensing device 1 further preferably has an outer container 5, which is only indicated by dashed lines in Fig. 1. The inner container 4 is preferably received in the outer container 5 together with the valve 3. In the illustrated example, the valve 3 is provided with a plate 6 or held therefrom, which in turn is in particular gas-tightly connected to the outer container 5. Particularly preferably, the plate 6 forms a tight-closing lid or closure of the outer container 5.

The plate 6 is preferably made of metal. In principle, however, it can also consist of plastic or of any other suitable material, in particular a composite material.

The valve 3 has a valve housing 3 a, which is connected to the plate 6 and held by this. In the illustrated example, the plate 6 has a side facing the inner container 4 and the interior of the outer container 5 side 6a - Here, a bottom, inside, flat side or a ring area - on, which is provided with a preferably central, outwardly projecting recess 6b.

The valve 3 or valve housing 3 a is received or held with one end in the recess 6b, in particular clamping, non-positive or positive, for example by injection or injection, caulking, welding, gluing o. The like. The valve 3 and valve housing 3a preferably ends in the recess 6b on the outlet side.

Preferably, a particular annular seal 7 between the bottom of the recess 6 b and the end face of the valve housing 3 a arranged to seal the valve housing 3 a outside the plate 6 and so close the outer container 5 gas-tight. However, other constructive solutions are possible.

The inner container 4 is gas-tight with the valve housing 3 - in particular at the end facing away from the plate 6 and inlet end - connected. This end region or this inlet end projects in particular into the interior of the outer container 5 and in particular into the interior of the inner container 4.

The inner container 4 contains the preferably cosmetic product 2 to be dispensed. In order to facilitate the reception of the product 2 from the inner container 4, an optional riser 8, in particular a hose or the like, may be connected on the inlet side to the valve 3. The riser 8 is in particular in one or on one of the valve housing 3a formed, inlet side connecting piece o. The like. Plugged or connected in any other suitable manner with the valve housing 3a on the inlet side or connectable.

The outer container 5 is filled with a pressurized gas 9, which is indicated dotted in Fig. 1. The gas 9 is, in particular, air or another suitable compressed gas, if appropriate also liquefied petroleum gas o. The prevailing in the outer container 5 gas pressure acts on the outside of the flexible inner container 4, so that the product 2 with the valve open 3 via the valve 3 and a possibly subsequent dispensing head o. The like. Is outputted. When removing or dispensing the product 2, the inner container 4 collapses.

The inner container 4 is connected to the valve housing 3a - as already mentioned - preferably gas-tight, in particular welded. Particularly preferably, the inner container 4 is ultrasonically welded to the valve housing 3a. This allows a much more energy-efficient, faster and / or more cost-effective production of the dispensing device 1 over the heat seal provided in the prior art. However, in principle it is also possible to connect the inner container 4 to the valve housing 3 in any other suitable manner, for example by means of other welding, clamping, spraying, gluing or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, the valve housing 3a has a preferably at least substantially tubular portion 3b, which forms in particular the inlet end and / or a connecting piece for the riser 10.

The valve housing 3a has in particular at its tubular portion 3b on a connecting portion 3c, which is gas-tightly connected to the inner container 4, in particular welded, more preferably by ultrasonic welding.

In contrast to the prior art, the connecting portion 3c is preferably fastened or welded to the outside of the inner container 4.

The connecting portion 3c is preferably at least substantially planar. This is to be understood in the narrower sense, in particular, that the

Connecting portion 10 forms an at least substantially flat contact surface with which the inner container 4 is or is connected. It should be noted, however, that the V ^ hindungsabschnitt 3c can also form only one, for example, radially extending, in particular frontal or annular contact surface or connection surface for connection to the inner container 4. The connecting portion 3 c is preferably formed thin and / or flange-like and / or annular disc-like or annular. In particular, it protrudes radially from the valve housing 3a or rohrfbrmigen section 3b to the outside.

The connecting portion 3 c is preferably arranged at the inlet-side end of the valve housing 3 a or rohrfbrmigen portion 3 b.

The connecting section 3c preferably surrounds the inlet of the valve 3 or valve housing 3a and / or the riser 8 in an annular disk-like manner.

Preferably, the inner container 4 is applied in the representation of FIG. 1 from below to the connecting portion 3c and connected thereto. The connecting surface is thus preferably located on the side of the connecting portion 10 facing away from the valve 3 or plate 6. In this case, the inner container 4 is only connected on the outside to the valve housing 3a or connecting portion 3b.

Alternatively, however, it is also possible to connect the inner container 4 with the other - in the illustration of FIG. 1 upper - annular surface of the connecting portion 3c. In this case, the inner container 4 is connected to an inner side with the connecting portion 3c and its connecting surface.

In both cases, the connecting portion 3c is connected to only one wall of the inner container 4. In particular, it is not necessary to weld the valve housing 3 a in a weld between two wall sections of the inner container 4, as is required in the prior art. Accordingly, a simple production is made possible or minimizes the likelihood of leaks.

According to a further, independent aspect of the present invention, at least one welding bead 10 is arranged or formed, in particular integrally formed, on the valve housing 3a prior to welding to the inner container 4. The welding bead 10 is covered during welding by the inner container 4. The welding bead 10 is in particular web-like or rib-like and / or continuous. gig or continuously trained. The weld bead 10 is formed in cross section, for example, substantially triangular, square, rectangular, trapezoidal or convex or curved.

Particularly preferably, the inner container 4 is welded to the valve housing 3a along the welding bead 10, so that a defined, in particular at least substantially linear, connection between the valve housing 3a on the one hand and the inner container 4 on the other hand is made possible. Thus, a defined and sealed connection between the valve housing 3 a and the inner container 4 can be achieved with relatively little ultrasound energy. However, the weld bead 10 can be used not only in ultrasonic welding but also in other welding.

The welding bead 10 preferably has a height and / or width of at least 0.2 mm and / or of at most 0.8 mm, particularly preferably less than 0.5 mm. Most preferably, the height and / or width is substantially 0.3 mm.

Particularly preferably, the weld bead 10 terminates in a cross-section at least substantially rectangular edge or point. The weld bead 10 is formed in cross section in particular substantially triangular or trapezoidal or provided with an at least substantially triangular or trapezoidal tip to the free end.

Particularly preferably, the welding bead 10 extends at least substantially around a circumference of the valve housing 3a or a surface of the valve housing 3a to be connected to the inner container 4.

Particularly preferably, the welding bead 10 forms a closed loop. However, it may also be a fin, ie no closed loop, which forms a fin, rib, or the like.

Instead of a continuous welding bead 10, it is also possible to provide a plurality of sections which, for example, overlap one another and / or have only very small spacings. Particularly preferably, at least two welding beads 10 are provided which are spaced or parallel to each other. Thus, a kind of "double seal" or double line connection between the valve housing 3a on the one hand and the inner container 4 on the other hand can be achieved.

When the inner container 4 is welded to the valve housing 3a, the welding bead 10 or the welding beads 10 are melted and, accordingly, a flattening and bonding to the inner container 4 takes place.

In Fig. 1, the Schweißwülste 10 are shown only for illustrative reasons. In fact, the welding beads 10 are at least substantially no longer present or visible when the inner container 4 is welded.

Particularly preferably, the valve housing 3a and at least the inner and / or outer layer of the inner container 4 - in particular the to be welded to the valve housing 3a to be welded layer of the inner container 4 - made of the same material. This facilitates the joining, in particular welding. However, this is not essential. It is also possible that different materials are used, which are connectable to each other, in particular by welding or other suitable manner, as already described.

When the inner container 4 is made of a single-layered material, this material also forms the inner layer. The term "inner layer" is thus also understood to include a single-layered training.

In the illustrated embodiment, the valve housing 3a and / or the inner layer of the inner container 4 is preferably made of polyethylene. This material has a much higher diffusion-tightness than the polypropylene used in the prior art. Furthermore, this material can also be welded by ultrasound. Alternatively, for the valve housing 3 a and / or the inner layer of the inner container 4 in particular also polyamide can be used. This results in particular corresponding advantages as in the use of polyethylene.

It should be noted that the valve housing 3a does not have to be made entirely of said material. Rather, according to an embodiment not shown, the valve housing 3a may also be partially made of a different material. For example, according to an embodiment not shown, it is possible to produce the valve housing 3a in the region in which it is not connected to or covered by the inner container 4, from a different material and / or provided with a cover made of a different material, wherein the other material in particular has a higher diffusion-tightness or other advantageous properties. For example, it is possible to inject a diffusion-proof covering in these other areas, particularly preferably by so-called "bi-injection", ie spraying of the other material in the same injection mold against a first material.

Individual features and constructive solutions of the embodiments described variants can also be combined with each other arbitrarily and / or used in other dispensing devices.

Another aspect of the present invention is that the valve housing (3a), the tubular portion (3b) and the connecting portion (3c) are preferably integrally formed. Multi-part designs are also possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 dispenser

2 product 3 valve

3 a valve housing

3b tubular section

3 c connecting section

4 inner container 5 outer container

6 plates

6a side (bottom plate)

6b deepening

7 Seal 8 riser

9 gas

10 weld bead

Claims

claims:

A dispensing device (1) for dispensing a preferably cosmetic product (2), comprising a valve (3) having a valve housing (3a) and a flexible inner container (4) welded to the valve housing (3a) or is connected, characterized in that the valve housing (3a) has an at least substantially planar and / or thin and / or flange-like and / or plate-like connecting portion (3c), with which the inner container (4) is preferably welded or connected exclusively, and / or that the valve housing (3a) is welded or connected only to an outer side of the inner container (4).

2. Dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting portion (3 c) substantially transversely to the longitudinal extent of the valve tilgehäuses (3 a) and / or an outer container (5) of the dispensing device (1) and / or a Hauptausgaberichtung of Valve (3) extends.

3. Dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the valve housing (3a) has a tubular portion (3b), to which the connecting portion (3 c) is connected.

4. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting portion (3 c) an inlet or a riser (8) of the dispensing device (1) surrounds an annular disk and / or radially annular disc-like circumferential protrudes from the valve housing (3 a).

5. dispensing device (1) for dispensing a preferably cosmetic product (2), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with a valve (3) having a valve housing (3a), and with a flexible inner container (4; welded to the housing (3a) i & i, characterized in that in that the inner container (4) is ultrasonically welded to the valve housing (3a).

6. Dispensing device (1) for dispensing a preferably cosmetic product (2), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with a valve (3) having a valve housing (3a), and with a flexible inner container (4) is welded to the valve housing, characterized in that the valve housing (3a) at least one Schweißwulst (10) before welding to the inner container (4) is arranged or formed, which is covered during welding of the inner container (4).

7. Dispensing device according to claim 6, characterized in that the welding bead (10) extends at least substantially around a circumference of the valve housing (3 a) and / or to the valve housing (3 a) is integrally formed.

8. Dispensing device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that two Schweißwülste (10) are provided which are spaced and / or parallel.

9. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve housing (3 a) and / or an inner layer of the inner nenbehälters (4) consists of polyethylene.

10. Dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the valve housing (3a) and / or an inner layer of the inner container (4) consists of polyamide.

11. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner container (4) is designed as a bag.

12. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner container (4) collapses upon removal of the product (2).

13. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing device (1) has an outer container (5), with which the valve housing (3a) is connected in a gastight manner or in which the valve (3) is installed.

14. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner container (4) in the outer container (5) is arranged and is under external pressure or gas pressure.

15. Use of a dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims for storage and dispensing of a gel, in particular shaving gel, or a paste, in particular toothpaste.