Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PUMP ACTUATION MEANS
Back~round of the Invention
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a pump actuation means for hand-operated
5 metering pumps on containers having a pump base body of the type
provided, for example, on drip bottles which are intended, preferably, for
metered delivery of quantities of liquid drugs and lotions.
Description of Related Art
In drip bottles with metering pumps, it has been shown that operating
10 difficulties can occur in pump actuation, especially in older individuals or
the handicapped who are not able, for example, due to handicap or illness,
to activate an actuation means for the metering pump having a relatively
small actuation surface if, for example, an equivalent amount of preferably
liquid medication is to be removed from the bottle and ~lmini~tered, for
15 example, per metering stroke of the metering pump. But, on the other
hand, it is also important that the delivered amount which is metered by the
metering pump can be easily collected and the metering pump can perform
its intended function without limitation.
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Summarv of the Invention
Accordingly, the invention is directed, while overcoming the above
described difficulties, to providing a pump actuation means, especially for
metering pumps of the initially mentioned type, which allows simple
5 activation with as little effort as possible, while m~int~ining reliable
operation of the metering pump.
In particular, is a specific object to provide an actuating means which
is designed such that the metering pump can be activated and handled by
those individuals who are limited with respect to their hand and finger
10 mobility.
According to the invention, a pump actuation means for metering
pumps on containers with a pump base body is provided which, on the pump
head side, has a pump actuation surface that is greatly enlarged relative to
the pump base body. Preferably, the pump actuating surface has a diameter
15 which is, for example, two to six times, preferably roughly four times, the
diameter of the pump base body.
In the design of the pump actuation means of the invention, thus, on
the pump head side or facing the user, an actuation surface which is as large
as possible is provided facilitating or aiding operation, especially for those
20 applications in which the user, due to illness or handicap, cannot actuate the
relatively small surface available in a conventional pump head of a metering
pump without great effort and difficulty. Thus, the invention allows reliable
actuation of a metering pump even by older users and by those with limited
finger and hand mobility. At the same time, the design of the pump
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actuation means of the invention makes it possible to maintain the basic
structure of the metering pump unchanged.
To prevent tilting or bending of the metering pump in its guides, it
has been proven feasible that the pump actuation surface has roughly a
5 diameter which is, for example, two to six times, preferably roughly four
times, the diameter of the pump base body. For these dimensional ratios,
it is ensured that the danger of a lever action of the actuation surface, which
arises due to the enlarged actuation surface does not lead to an adverse
effect on the manner of operation of the metering pump. For these
10 dimensional ratios, tilting or bending of the metering pump in its guides can be prevented. Thus, reliable serviceability of the metering pump is not
adversely affected by enlarging the pump actuation surface.
In particular, the pump actuation surface is made ergonomic, and
furthermore, its layout is preferably such that there are no sharp edges or
15 corners so as to prevent injuries which may be caused thereby during pump
activation. Additional simplification of operation is achieved by the
ergonomic design.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the pump
actuation surface is made umbrella-shaped and has a slightly arched surface.
20 In this configuration, a user can, for example, actuate the metering pump
with a flat hand and arm.
According to one alternative preferred embodiment, the pump
actuation surface surrounds a pump head which may be provided while
leaving open a pump outlet in its full scope. This configuration with an
25 enclosure arrangement results in a user, for exarnple, being able to place the
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entire hand around the pump actuation means and activate the metering
pump by an up and down motion.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the
actuation means is made as an add-on part which can be detachably located
5 on the pump head of the metering pump. In this version, thus the actuation
means of the invention can additionally be offered to the users by itself, if
necessary as a metering aid, without the basic structure of the metering
pump needing to be changed with respect to its head design. Also, in this
way commercially available containers with metering pumps can be easily
10 retrofitted if necessary.
Alternatively, the actuation means can be made integral with the
pllmp head. In this embodirnent, the pump actuation means of the invention
with the enlarged pump actuation surface is integrated into the pump design
so that, for example, a pump head designed according to the invention is
15 produced which then is mounted, for example, entirely on a container.
Preferably, the pump actuation means is located on a drip bottle for
metered dispensing of liquid medications or lotions. In this way, operation
is facilitated and simplified for older and handicapped patients to whom a
liquid medication is to be ~lmini.ctered in metered amounts or who have
20 need of, for example, a skin lotion. Especially in this way, can attendant
personnel be relieved and patients can undertake ~(lmini~tration
independently.
Quite generally, the pump actuation means of the invention can also
be used as a operating aid for dispensers, for example, for soap, disinfectant
25 or the like.
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The actuation means of the invention can be made from plastic,
metallic materials, preferably lightweight metallic materials, composites
thereof, and the like. Preferably, the choice of materials for the actuation
means is matched to the application of the actuation means and to the
5 materials comprising the metering pump. In particular, the actuating means
can be made as a casting, injection molding, or a drawn part from the
corresponding materials. The corresponding manner of production is, on
the one hand matched to the material used, and on the other hand, a
production process that is as economical as possible is obtained.
In the design of the pump actuation means of the invention, of
course, other modifications and versions are possible; however, in all
designs, it is important that there is an easily manageable and durable
actuation surface which is easily accessible and as large as possible.
The invention is detailed below using preferred embodirnents as
15 examples. In the figures the same or sirnilar parts are provided with the
same reference numbers.
Brief Description of the Drawin~s
Figs. la through lc show a first preferred embodiment of the pump
actuation means of the invention in side and front partial cross sections and
20 a plan view, respectively, on a standard dispensing bottle; and
Figs. 2a though 2c each show a second preferred embodiment of the
actuation means of the invention in side and front partial cross sections and
a plan view, respectively.
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
In the figures, as an application example, a drip bottle 1 is shown of
the type which, for example, is intended for metered delivery (equivalent
to a certain number of drops) of liquid medication. In the figures of the
drawings, only the upper head area of such a drip bottle 1 is shown.
In the area of the upper opening of drip bottle 1, there is a metering
pump labeled 2 as a whole. By means of this metering pump, an amount
of, for example, a liquid medication can be delivered per metering stroke
from drip bottle 1 without the user having to count the drops to be
delivered. Metering pump 2 has a pump head 3, and in the area of its
pump neck 4, a pump outlet 5 via which the amount of liquid delivered per
metering stroke of metering pump 2 is discharged, for example, for later
collection in a spoon or other containers. For the configuration of pump
outlet 5, there are several possibilities and the invention is, of course, not
limited to the embodiment of the pump outlet shown in the drawing.
Metering pump 2 has a pump actuation means, which in the embodi-
ment shown in Figs. Ia-lc, is labeled 10 as a whole and in the embodiment
shown in Figs. 2a-2c, it is designated as 10'.
Pump actuation means 10, as shown in Figures la through
Ic, is umbrella-shaped and has a slightly arched actuating sur-
face 11 which is much larger than the dimensions of the pump base body
12 of metering pump 2. Preferably, the diameter of the pump actuation
surface 11 is such that it is roughly two to six times, and pre-
ferably four times the diameter of the base body 12 of metering pump 2.
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These size relationships have proven feasible, on the one hand, to achieve
simple operation by the handicapped or sick, and on the other hand, to
prevent adversely affecting the functioning of metering pump 2, for
example, by tilting or bending thereof.
S As is shown in the figures of the drawings, the surface of actuating
pump 11 is made ergonomic and is, for example, slightly arched to prevent
slippage during actuation. In particular, the configuration of actuating
surface 11 is selected to prevent the danger of injury during actuation by the
avoidance of projecting sharp edges or corners. This, in particular, prevents
the danger of injury when metering pump 2 is actuated.
In the second preferred embodiment, illustrated in Figures 2a to 2c,
like the above described first preferred embodiment of the invention, there
is an actuation surface 11 which is much enlarged as compared to pump base
body 12 but, in contrast, the actuation means 10' is made such that it fully
encompasses metering pump 2 and pump head 3, with only pump neck 4
and its pump outlet 5 being exposed. In this embodiment, illustrated using
Figures 2a to 2c, a user or operator can, for example, place his or her hand
around the actuation means 10' and then actuate metering pump 2 by
moving the hand up and down.
The above explained preferred embodiments shown are made
preferably such that the actuation means 10, 10' with the enlarged actuation
surface 11 is made as an add-on part which can be pushed onto the pump
head 3 if needed. However, alternatively, pump actuation means 10, 10'
with much enlarged actuation surface 11 can be incorporated directly into
the configuration of pump head 3, e.g., as a unitar,v ~nn~ r extension flange
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thereof, so that the pump actuation means with much enlarged actuation
surface 11 forms an integral, one-piece part with pump head 4. Depending
on the desired applications, one or the other design of the pump actuation
means 10, 10' can be used as necessary.
The pump actuation means can be made of plastic, a metallic material
or also a composite. In particular, in metallic materials, lightweight metals
are preferred. Depending on the material choice for the actuation means,
they can be produced by molding, preferably injection molding, or they can
be drawn from a base material. The corresponding method of production
is selected with consideration of material composition and optionally
economical production.
Although the invention has been explained using the attached
drawings of preferred embodirnents, the invention is of course not limited
thereto, but numerous variations and modif1cations are possible which will
be apparent to one skilled in the art. In particular, the invention is not
limited to the specific embodirnents or specif1cally to use for drip bottles,
and instead, the actuation means of the invention can also be used on other
containers to be actuated, for example, by metering pumps, for example,
dispensers in general for liquids or fluids, especially soaps, disinfectants or
the like.
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List of Reference Signs
drip bottle in general
2 metering pump in general
3 pump head
4 pump neck
pump outlet
pump actuation means in general
10' pump actuation means in general
shown in Figs. 2a to 2c
11 pump actuating surface
12 pump base body
