US-12623239-B2 - Liquid dispenser

US12623239B2US 12623239 B2US12623239 B2US 12623239B2US-12623239-B2

Abstract

A liquid dispenser has a liquid reservoir for storing liquid prior to discharge and a nozzle unit through which liquid is discharged in a discharge direction. The liquid dispenser also has an actuating handle actuable in a direction that deviates from the discharge direction in order to convey liquid from the liquid reservoir to the nozzle unit. The liquid dispenser has an inner housing to which the actuating handle is pivotably articulated, and an outer housing displaceable in a translational manner relative to the inner housing between a first end position and a second end position. The actuating handle and the outer housing have cooperating locking positions which prevent actuation of the actuating handle in the first end position and which allow actuation of the actuating handle in the second end position.

Inventors

Shuting FANG

Assignees

APTAR RADOLFZELL GMBH

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221013
Priority Date: 20211015

Claims (20)

1 . A liquid dispenser for discharging a pharmaceutical liquid or a liquid containing nicotine or cannabis, the liquid dispenser comprising: a liquid reservoir for storing the liquid prior to discharge; a nozzle unit through which liquid is dischargeable in a discharge direction; an actuating handle actuable in a direction that deviates from the discharge direction to convey liquid from the liquid reservoir to the nozzle unit; an inner housing, the actuating handle being pivotably articulated to the inner housing; and an outer housing displaceable in a translational manner relative to the inner housing between a first end position and a second end position, the actuating handle and the outer housing having cooperating locking portions, the locking portions preventing actuation of the actuating handle in the first end position and allowing an actuation of the actuating handle in the second end position.
2 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the outer housing and the inner housing, or sub-elements of the outer housing and the inner housing, are non-detachably connected to one another.
3 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a blocking device blocking displacement of the outer housing relative to the inner housing.
4 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the nozzle unit is arranged fixedly relative to the inner housing.
5 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the nozzle unit and/or a discharge nozzle surrounding the nozzle unit is arranged such that the nozzle unit and/or the discharge nozzle is arranged inside the outer housing in the first end position and is displaced outwardly through an opening of the outer housing in the second end position.
6 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the outer housing has at least one locking contour extending outwardly or inwardly, and the actuating handle has at least one locking edge facing in the direction of the at least one locking contour, a free region of the at least one locking edge being arranged adjacent to the at least one locking contour, such that in the first end position when the actuating handle is actuated, the locking edge collides with the locking contour, and in the second end position when the actuating handle is actuated, the locking contour passes into the free region.
7 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the outer housing has a through-passage, the actuating handle extending outwardly through the through-passage from an inner region of the outer housing, and the actuating handle is adapted to the through-passage such that in the first end position a distal end of the actuating handle strikes against an edge region of the through-passage when actuated, and in the second end position the distal end of the actuating handle is pivotable through the through-passage into the inner region of the outer housing.
8 . A liquid dispenser for discharging a pharmaceutical liquid or a liquid containing nicotine or cannabis, the liquid dispenser comprising: a liquid reservoir for storing the liquid prior to discharge; a nozzle unit through which liquid is dischargeable in a discharge direction; and an actuating handle actuable in a direction that deviates from the discharge direction to convey liquid from the liquid reservoir to the nozzle unit, wherein the nozzle unit has a nozzle plate including a plurality of nozzle openings configured to generate a spray jet without the influence of air (Rayleigh instability), and the actuating handle is configured as a pivotably movable actuating handle and has an actuating surface of at least 5 cm in length.
9 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising an inner housing, the actuating handle being pivotably articulated to the inner housing.
10 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the liquid dispenser has an inner housing, the actuating handle being pivotably articulated to the inner housing, and an outer housing displaceable in a translational manner relative to the inner housing between a first end position and a second end position, the actuating handle and the outer housing have cooperating locking portions, the locking portions preventing actuation of the actuating handle in the first end position and allowing actuation of the actuating handle in the second end position.
11 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a pump device operable by the actuating handle.
12 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the pump device is coupled to the actuating handle, and the nozzle unit and a fluid channel from the pump device to the nozzle unit are configured such that, starting from a pump chamber of the pump device completely filled with liquid and when the actuating handle is actuated with an actuating force of 20 Newtons, a discharge having a duration of at least one second occurs.
13 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising a discharge assembly comprising at least the liquid reservoir, the pump device or an outlet valve and a dispensing opening, and the inner housing has a receiving space for receiving the discharge assembly by coupling without the use of tools.
14 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid reservoir is configured as an unpressurized liquid reservoir.
15 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the liquid reservoir is configured as a liquid reservoir with variable internal volume and includes a trailing piston reservoir with a trailing piston or the liquid reservoir is configured as a bag reservoir with at least one deflectable flexible wall.
16 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising a refill opening separate from the nozzle unit, the refill opening being arranged directly in a wall of the liquid reservoir.
17 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the nozzle unit is configured for being replaced without the use of tools.
18 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid reservoir is filled with a pharmaceutical liquid or a liquid containing nicotine and/or cannabis.
19 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising one of the following: the liquid reservoir has an internal volume of 50 ml or less; and/or the liquid dispenser comprises a pump device, the pump device being configured for discharging a liquid quantity of at least 25 μl per actuation and less than 200 μl per actuation; and/or a distal end of the actuating handle is spaced apart from a pivot axis of the actuating handle by at least 5 cm.
20 . The liquid dispenser as claimed in claim 3 , the liquid dispenser further comprising at least one of the following: a resiliently deflectable blocking body disposed on the inner housing or on the outer housing, said blocking body being arranged in a position in which the blocking body is not deflected and located in a blocking recess of the outer housing or the inner housing, and thereby bringing about the blocking, and said blocking body being able to be deflected by at least one release button such that the blocking body is pushed out of the blocking recess; and/or a through-passage disposed in the outer housing, an indicator surface of the inner housing being viewable from the outside when the inner housing and the outer housing are in the first or the second end position, the through-passage of the outer housing comprising the blocking recess.

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION AND PRIOR ART The invention relates to liquid dispensers for discharging liquids. The invention primarily relates to liquid dispensers which are carried by the user in everyday life and which contain a maximum liquid volume of preferably 200 ml or less in a liquid reservoir. In particular, the invention relates to the field of liquid dispensers for use with a liquid containing nicotine or even cannabis. Such dispensers are used as a substitute for tobacco products and the like. A convenient and simple means of actuation is very important in liquid dispensers and, in particular, in the aforementioned dispensers for liquid containing nicotine or even cannabis. This makes it possible to remove such a liquid dispenser both casually, for example from a trouser pocket, and to take liquid orally by actuation. However, in such a liquid dispenser it is also naturally desirable that there is no inadvertent discharge, for example in the trouser pocket. SUMMARY It is one object of the invention to provide a liquid dispenser of the type in question which provides a convenient means of operation and security relative to the inadvertent discharge of liquid. A liquid dispenser is proposed according to a first aspect of the invention, said liquid dispenser having a liquid reservoir for storing the liquid prior to discharge and a nozzle unit through which liquid can be discharged. In order to discharge liquid, it is possible to provide a pump device which can be actuated by means of an actuating handle and by means of which liquid is conveyed from the unpressurized liquid reservoir. Alternatively, the actuating handle can also be operatively connected to an outlet valve so that, by actuating the actuating handle, the outlet valve is opened and liquid is conveyed to the nozzle unit from a liquid reservoir which is configured in this case as a pressure accumulator. In the simplest case, the nozzle unit is formed by a single discharge opening. Preferably, however, the nozzle is configured to generate a spray, for example through a discharge opening which is connected upstream of a swirl chamber or through a nozzle plate with a plurality of nozzle openings which generates parallel, diverging or converging individual jets. In particular, the nozzle openings generate individual jets which are sufficiently fine in order to break up into individual droplets independently of the influence of air, by means of Rayleigh instability. According to the first aspect of the invention, it is provided that the liquid dispenser has an inner housing. This inner housing is a housing part to which the actuating handle is attached in a pivotable manner, in particular by means of pivot pins on one of the parts, preferably on the actuating handle, and corresponding receiving holes on the other part, preferably the inner housing. Moreover, the inner housing preferably has a through-passage which serves for indirectly receiving the aforementioned nozzle and, in particular, the aforementioned nozzle plate. In a preferred embodiment, the inner housing is not able to be identified from the outside, or only to a small extent, since it is surrounded by other housing parts. As a result, advantageously it can have a shape which is designed purely from a technical point of view. An outer housing is provided in addition to the inner housing. This outer housing preferably forms together with the actuating handle an internal space which is surrounded over the periphery and in which the inner housing is arranged. Preferably, the actuating handle and the outer housing form the predominant part of an outer contour of the liquid dispenser. The outer housing can be displaced in a translational manner relative to the inner housing between a first end position and a second end position and thus also relative to the actuating handle attached thereto. A separation of the outer housing and the inner housing is not intended during operation by the end customer. At least the sub-elements which provide the guidance of the outer housing and inner housing are generally not dismantled by the user. In particular, preferably the outer housing and the inner housing or the sub-elements of the outer housing and the inner housing forming the guidance are undetachably connected to one another. The displaceability of the outer housing and inner housing is used in order to be able to achieve a locked state and a released state of the liquid dispenser. To this end, the actuating handle and the outer housing have cooperating locking portions. The locking portions prevent an actuation of the actuating handle in the first end position of the outer housing relative to the inner housing. However, the pivoting actuation of the actuating handle is allowed in the second end position. The locking portions are preferably structures which are configured in one piece with adjacent walls of the outer housing or the inner housing, in particular elevations or depressions which colli