Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Dispenser assemb~ for liquids
The present invention relates to a pump-less dispenser assembly for liquids,
comprising a carrier, which is to be fixed to a wall or the like and is
provided with --a
connection wall, a container, which on one side is connected to said carrier,
and a levering
mechanism, which engages on a side of said container located opposite said one
side of the
carrier and is hingeably joined to said carrier. A dispenser assembly of this
type is disclosed
in US 4 258 865 A.
In general a distinction must be made between dispenser assemblies which
function
with the aid of a small pump and those where such a pump is not present. It
will be
understood that the latter construction is simpler and less expensive.
Moreover, it has the
advantage that when the container is replaced all parts which come into
contact with the
liquid to be dispensed are also replaced. This is in contrast to constructions
in which a
pump is used and, apart from changing the container periodically, cleaning of
the pump is
required.
Pump-less dispenser assemblies according to the prior art consist of some sort
of
construction where a container or bottle is fixed to a carrier. The bottle
then has to be
squeezed from two sides using the hand. Because on the other hand the
container or bottle
bears against the carrier, the volume thereof decreases and the contents
thereof are forced
to flow out, as a result of which the dispensing operation is achieved.
With this construction it has been found that it is difficult to empty the
bottle
completely. In fact the constructor is faced with a dilemma. On the one hand,
it is possible
to produce the bottle from a relatively hard, resilient plastic material, as a
result of which it
springs back into shape after each dispensing operation. By this means when
the bottle is
next compressed sufficient air can be displaced to force the remainder of the
contents out
of the container. However, because the plastic used is relatively stiff in
order to guarantee
that it returns to shape, the effort needed to compress the bottle is
relatively substantial.
This problem can be overcome by producing the plastic container from a
relatively
soft plastic material that is easy to compress. However, it is then no longer
guaranteed that
the bottle will assume the original shape again after compression. The result
of this is that it
is difficult to empty the bottle corr~pletely.
A carrier consisting of two parts hingeably joined to one another is disclosed
in
US 4 258 865. One part is designed for connection to a wall or the like and
the other part,
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hingeably connected thereto, faces towards the user during use. A container is
accommodated in this other part. A lever is hingeably mounted in the first
part that faces
towards the wall. Only a lip of this lever protrudes from this first part. On
operation a
flexible part of the container is compressed and a liquid is dispensed. This
construction is
relatively complex.
The aim of the present invention is to avoid the disadvantages associated with
the
prior art, but still provide a dispenser assembly without a pump. _
This aim is achieved with the dispenser assembly described above in that said
container is connected to the carrier close to the connection wall thereof, in
that the carrier
surrounds a first part of said container and in that the remainder of said
container is
surrounded by the levering mechanism constructed as a protective cover.
According to the invention the levering mechanism is constructed as a
protective
cover. As a result the larger part of the container is out of sight.
Optionally there can be a
window in the protective cover, through which the contents of the container
can be
observed, if the container is made of transparent material.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a lever effect is
provided on compressing the container. As a result it is possible to produce
the container
from a relatively stiff, resilient plastic material, it nevertheless being
possible for the
operating forces to remain restricted, so that anyone can perform a dispensing
operation
without too much difficulty. According to the invention, the levering
mechanism engages
on the container close to the dispenser opening of the container. On the other
hand the
carrier engages on the container closer to the connection point between
carrier, and
container. As a result of the use of the levering mechanism, squeezing
together is no longer
necessary and operation with one hand is possible.
The container can optionally be provided with an elevation which fits in said
window. This elevation can provide the container with additional strength.
According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the point of
engagement of the carrier and the container is of convex construction. That is
to say there is
a convex surface on the carrier over which the container "rolls" on
compression.
The protective cover can be fixed to the carrier in any way known from the
prior art,
but this connection preferably comprises a hinge construction. More
particularly, the
protective cover is fitted such that it hinges about the carrier, the
container being located
between them. According to an advantageous embodiment, the container is
provided with
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protrusions close to the connection point. These protrusions fit in
corresponding
receptacles in either the carrier or the protective cover.
When using a protective cover/carrier combination, according to an
advantageous
embodiment locking means are present which prevent the protective cover being
moved
too far away from the carrier. These locking means determine the rest
position. Of course,
it is possible to unlock these locking means in order to replace the
container.
The invention also relates to a dispenser consisting of the combination of a
carrier
and levering mechanism as described above, possibly in combination with the
locking
means described above.
The invention also relates to a container, for dispensing liquids, provided
with the
features described above, as a result of which said container is suitable for
incorporation in
the dispenser described above.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the container is provided with an
elevation or other protrusion that increases the dimensional stability, as a
result of which
the container returns to its original position more rapidly following
compression.
The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an
illustrative
embodiment shown in the drawing. In the drawing:
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the dispenser assembly according to the
invention;
Fig: 2 shows a perspective view of the dispenser according to the invention in
the
position in which it has been hinged open;
Fig. 3 shows a side view of the hinged-open position of the dispenser assembly
according to the invention;
Fig. 4 shows a side view of the container according to the invention, in
perspectme
view;
Fig. 5 shows the container according to the invention viewed from the bottom;
Fig. 6 shows the locking position of the protective cover and carrier
according to the
invention; and
Fig. 7 shows the locking means according to the invention in detail.
The dispenser assembly according to the invention is indicated by 1 in Fig. 1.
This
dispenser assembly consists of a carrier 2 and a levering mechanism/protective
cover 3,
which together form the dispenser, and a container indicated by 13. This
container is
accommodated in the dispenser such that it can be replaced. Carrier 2 is fixed
in some way
to a solid component, such as a wall 6. Protective cover 3 is provided with a
window 4 into
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which a raised, reinforcing part 15 of the container 13 is received.
Protective cover 3 is
fitted with the aid of hinge 5 such that it hinges about the carrier 2.
It can be seen from Fig. 2 that the carrier 2 is provided with locking means 7
as well
as a point of engagement or support 11. Details of the locking means 7 can be
seen in Figs.
6 and 7. It can be seen from these figures that locking lips 8 are present
which are fixed to
carrier 2 and engage behind locking ridges 9 fixed to protective cover 3.
Locking lips 8 can
be brought into the unlocked position by grasping handle 10. The locked
position is shown
in more detail in Fig. 7.
Support 11 is of convex construction so that the container or bottle 13
''rolls'' over
I 0 this surface 11 in the direction of arrow I 8 (Fig. 1 ) when protective
cover 3 is compressed.
It can also be seen from Fig. 2 that receptacles 12 are present close to hinge
~ in the
interior of the protective cover 3. These function to receive protrusions 14
(Fig. 4) on
container 13. Fitting of container 13 in protective cover 3 is shown in Fig.
3. The point of
engagement for the operating force (arrow 18) on the protective cover is
indicated by 17.
The distance to hinge 5 is indicated by b. The distance between hinge 5 and
support I I is
indicated by a in Fig. 3 and it can clearly be seen that a is less than b, as
a result of which
the lever action described above is obtained on exerting force in accordance
with arrow 18.
As a result it is possible to make the container 13 of a relatively stiff,
resilient plastic
material without a disproportionate increase in the operating force. Moreover,
the dispenser
can be operated with one hand, the other hand being able, for example, to
collect the liquid
dispensed.
The dispenser opening of the container is indicated by 16. This can be any
construction known from the prior art by means of which a liquid, such as
shampoo, soap
and the like can be dispensed. It can be fitted on container 13 such that it
can be screwed.
but it is also possible that it can be removed from the container only by
damaging the neck
of the container, so that it is ensured that the bottle or container 13 can be
used only once.
Although the invention has been explained above with reference to a preferred
embodiment of the invention, it must be understood that numerous modifications
can be
made thereto which are immediately apparent to those skilled in the art on
reading the
above description and fall within the scope of the appended claims. For
instance, it is
possible to make the levering mechanism constructed as a protective cover of
different
construction, that is to say for this cover to cover all or a small portion of
the container 13.
