GB2250323A

GB2250323A - Product dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2250323A
Application number: GB9025735A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Williamson
Original assignee: Appor Ltd
Current assignee: Appor Ltd
Priority date: 1990-11-27
Filing date: 1990-11-27
Publication date: 1992-06-03
Also published as: GB9025735D0

Abstract

In apparatus for dispensing a product from a container comprising means such as a head 10 with one-way valve means controlling product flow into a chamber 24, when pressure is applied to manually operable means 34 product is moved from the chamber 24 through a second one-way valve means 46 to an outlet 44 with the first valve closed; when pressure is released product is caused to pass from the container into the chamber through the first valve means with the second valve means closed, product thereby being available for dispensing when pressure is next applied. <IMAGE>

Description

Product Dispensing Apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing a product from a container and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with apparatus for dispensing gels and creams from flexible containers.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for dispensing a product from a container, the apparatus comprising means defining an outlet, first one-way valve means providing for a flow of product from the container into a chamber, second one-way valve means providing for flow of product from the chamber to the outlet, and manually operable means for moving product from the chamber through the second valve means to the outlet, with the first valve means closed, when pressure is applied to the manually operable means, and causing product to pass from the container into the chamber through the first valve means, with the second valve means closed, when pressure is released, product thereby being available for dispensing when pressure is next applied.

Preferably the outlet defining means comprises a nozzle, and the nozzle may be releasably connected to a dispensing head. The nozzle may be a push fit in the dispensing head.

Preferably also the second valve means comprises a planar member which is retained in the dispensing head by the nozzle. The second valve means may comprise a piece of material in which cuts are provided.

A through passage may be provided in the dispensing head to communicate between the chamber and externally of the head and the manually operable means may comprise a cover on the dispensing head to locate over the outer end of the through passage. The cover may be formed of a resiliently deformable material, whereby manual pressure on the cover deforms same and forces product from the chamber into the outlet, release of pressure enabling the cover to recover its shape and create a reduced pressure area in the chamber, whereby to draw product through the first valve means. The through passage may be formed in the dispensing head at a location opposite to the outlet. The first valve means may be planar member in the form of a material provided with cuts.

The dispensing head may be separately formed from the container, and may be provided with mounting means to enable the head to be mounted on the mouth of an existing container. The container may be formed from a flexible material, whereby the dispensing head enables C dispensing of substantially all the contents of the container whilst substantially preventing air entering same.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the front and above of an apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the rear and above of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and rig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, an apparatus for dispensing a product such as a gel or cream from a container such as a flexible tube (not shown), is in the form of a dispensing head 10 adapted to be fitted on to the mouth of the tube.

The head 10 is formed from a generally cylindrical body 12, preferably of a moulded plastics material, and is formed with a bore 14 which opens on to one end of the body 12. The bore 14 has a stepped configuration, being formed at the one end of the body 12 with a section 16 of truncated conical form narrowing inwardly to a smaller diameter cylindrical section 18. The latter in turn communicates with a smaller diameter cylindrical section 20, thereby defining a shoulder 22, and the section 20 communicates inwardly with a section defining a chamber 24, the latter having a cylindrical part 26 and a conical part 28. The section 18 is preferably threaded whereby a threaded neck of the tube can engage therewith to connect the tube to the dispensing head 10, with the section 16 mating with a shoulder of the tube.

The body 12 has a cut away part meeting its opposite end and defining a planar wall 30. A through passage 32 is formed in the body 12 to extend between the chamber 24 and the wall 30 for a purpose hereinafter described. A cover 34 is mounted on the wall 30 to locate over the outer end of the passage 32, the cover 34 having a dome shape and being secured to the wall 30 such that a generally semi-spherical part of the cover 34 projects beyond the wall 30. The cover 34 is formed of a resiliently deformable material, such as rubber, and is secured to the body 12 by any suitabie means, such as the free edge being a tight fit in a circular groove formed in the wall 30.

At a location substantially diametrically opposite the wall 30, another cut away part in the body 12 defines a planar wall 36. A substantially cylindrical recess 38 is formed in the body 12 to open at the wall 36 and a through passage 40 is formed in the body 12 to communicate between the chamber 28 and the recess 38. A nozzle 42 is profiled to be a push fit in the recess 38 and provides an outlet 44 for a purpose hereinafter described. The inner end of the nozzle 42 traps a valve member 46 in the recess 38 against a shoulder 48 defined between the recess 38 and the passage 40. The valve member 46 is preferably formed from a circular piece of flexible material formed with cuts or slits which interconnect to form inwardly facing flaps.

When the dispensing head 10 is mounted on a tube, a valve member 50, of similar form to the valve member 46, is trapped in the bore section 20 by the neck of the tube.

In use, the dispensing head is primed by manual pressure on the cover 34 deforming same and expelling air from the chamber 24 through the valve member 46 and out through the outlet 44. Release of the cover 34 enables same to recover its shape, thereby creating a reduced pressure area in the chamber 24 and drawing product from the tube through the valve member 50 into the chamber 24. Pressure subsequently applied to the cover 34 to deform same forces product from the chamber 24 through the valve member 46 into the nozzle 42 from where the product is dispensed through the outlet 44. The valve member 46 is so designed and so located in the dispensing head 12 as to prevent any passage of product back into the chamber 24 and also substantially prevents air entering the chamber 24. Release of the pressure on the cover 34 enables same to recover its shape, thereby again creating a reduced pressure area in the chamber 24 and again drawing product through the valve member 50 from the tube.

There is thus provided an extremely simple yet effective design of dispensing head with no moving parts which are likely to be subject to wear or contamination.

The dispensing head substantially prevents entry of air to the container and can thereby provide for dispense of substantially all the product in the container, without contamination.

The nozzle 42 is preferably removably mounted in the dispensing head 12 so that different designs of nozzle can be selected to be used in different applications. Further the dispensing head 12 may be adapted to be non-releasably locked on to the container, for example by a ratchet arrangement, so as to render the apparatus tamper-proof. It should be appreciated that dispensing heads with different sizes of chambers can enable selection in accordance with a required dosage of the product to be dispensed.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, in order principally to reduce the amount of material used, the dispensing head may have a much reduced thickness and be provided with a cap through which the product can be dispensed. Such a cap may be formed integrally with a hinged tab at the location of the cover, whereby pressure on the tab will deform the cover to operate the apparatus. The provision of a cap enables different shapes or different colours of caps to be used to identify different types of product. The shape and configuration of the dispensing head as described and shown may also of course be subject to variation and design.

Claims

1. Apparatus for dispensing a product from a container, the apparatus comprising means defining an outlet, first one-way valve means providing for a flow of product from the container into a chamber, second one-way valve means providing for flow of product from the chamber to the outlet, and manually operable means for moving product from the chamber through the second valve means to the outlet, with the first valve means closed, when pressure is applied to the manually operable means, and causing product to pass from the container into the chamber through the first valve means, with the second valve means closed, when pressure is released, product thereby being available for dispensing when pressure is next applied

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the outlet defining means comprises a nozzle.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the nozzle is releasably connected to a dispensing head.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the nozzle is a push fit in the dispensing head.

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the second valve means comprises a planar memeber which is retained in the dispensing head by the nozzle.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the second valve means comprises a piece of material in which cuts are provided.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein a through passage is provided in the dispensing head to communicate between the chamber and externally of the head.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein the manually operable means comprises a cover on the dispensing head to locate over the outer endsl2 of the through passage.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the cover is formed of a resiliently deformable material, whereby manual pressure on the cover deforms same and forces product from the chamber into the outlet, release of pressure enabling the cover to recover its shape and create a reduced pressure area in the chamber, whereby to draw product through the first valve means.

10. Apparatus according to any of Claims 7 to 9, wherein the through passage is formed in the dispensing head at a location opposite the outlet.

11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the first valve means is a planar member in the form of a material provided with cuts.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the dispensing head is separately formed from the container.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the dispensing head is provided with mounting means to enable the head to be mounted on the mouth of an existing container.

14. Apparatus according to Claim 13, wherein the container is formed from flexible material whereby the dispensing head enables dispensing of substantially all the contents of the container whilst substantially preventing air entering same.

15. Apparatus for dispensing a product from a container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed in the foregoing specification or claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.