DISPENSING DEVICE FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS OR FLUIDS IN GENERAL
The present invention concerns a dispensing device ( 100 ) for dispensing a liquid or fluid held in a container (C). The device ( 100 ) comprises: an engagement portion ( 101 ) for mutually engaging the device ( 100 ) and the container; drawing and dispensing means ( 102 ) suited to draw the fluid or liquid from the container (C) and then dispense it; a hollow operating cap ( 103 ) for operating the drawing and dispensing means ( 102 ); a dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) provided with a dispensing duct ( 105 ) fixed to the operating cap ( 103 ). The dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) can be switched through a rotary movement between a first dispensing position and a second non-dispensing position. The operating cap ( 103 ) and the dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) are shaped in such a way as to respectively define a first stop surface ( 107 ) and a second stop surface ( 108 ); in the dispensing position the first and the second stop surfaces ( 107, 108 ) are arranged against each other.
1 . Dispensing device ( 100 ) for dispensing a liquid or a fluid held in a container (C), said device ( 100 ) comprising an engagement portion ( 101 ) for the mutual engagement of said device ( 100 ) and said container, drawing and dispensing means ( 102 ) suited to draw said fluid or liquid from said container (C) and then dispense it, a hollow operating cap ( 103 ) suited to operate said drawing and dispensing means ( 102 ) by exerting a pressure thereon, and a dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) provided with a dispensing duct ( 105 ) for dispensing said fluid or liquid and fixed to said operating cap ( 103 ), wherein said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) can be switched through a rotary movement between a first dispensing position, in which said dispensing duct ( 105 ) is in communication with the inside ( 106 ) of said operating cap ( 103 ), and a second non-dispensing position, characterized in that said operating cap ( 103 ) and said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) are shaped in such a way as to respectively define a first stop surface ( 107 ) and a second stop surface ( 108 ), and in that in said dispensing position said first stop surface and said second stop surface ( 107 , 108 ) are arranged against each other.
2 . Device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said second stop surface ( 108 ) of said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) lies on a plane that is crossed by a line coinciding with the longitudinal extension direction of said dispensing duct.
3 . Device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said second stop surface ( 108 ) of said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) lies on a plane that is not crossed by a line coinciding with the longitudinal extension direction of said dispensing duct.
4 . Device according to claim 2 , characterized in that said operating cap ( 103 ) and said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) are shaped in such a way as to furthermore define a third stop surface ( 109 ) and a fourth stop surface ( 110 ), respectively, and in that in said first dispensing position even said third and said fourth stop surfaces ( 109 / 110 ) are arranged against each other.
5 . Device according to claim 4 , characterized in that said third stop surface ( 109 ) is substantially perpendicular to said first stop surface ( 107 ), and in that said fourth stop surface ( 110 ) is substantially perpendicular to said second stop surface ( 108 ).
6 . Device according to claim 5 , characterized in that said third stop surface ( 109 ) extends from said first stop surface ( 107 ) in such a way as to define a first stop projection ( 111 ) of said operating cap ( 103 ), in that said fourth stop surface ( 110 ) extends from said second stop surface ( 108 ) in such a way as to define a stop seat ( 112 ) of said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 103 ), and in that with said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 103 ) in said first dispensing position said stop projection ( 111 ) is housed in said stop seat ( 112 ).
7 . Device according to any of the claims from 1 to 6 , wherein said operating cap ( 103 ) comprises an upper operating surface ( 113 ) suited to be pressed when pressure is exerted on said cap ( 103 ) in order to operate said drawing and dispensing means ( 102 ), characterized in that with said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) in said first dispensing position said upper surface ( 113 ) and said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) define a substantially continuous surface.
8 . Device according to any of the claims from 1 to 7 , characterized in that said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) comprises a constraining portion ( 114 ) in a predetermined shape, housed in a constraining seat ( 115 ) in a matching shape provided in said operating cap ( 103 ), and in that the external surface ( 116 ) and the internal surface ( 117 ) respectively of said constraining portion ( 114 ) and of said constraining seat ( 115 ) are in mutual contact and can be translated with respect to each other.
9 . Device according to claim 8 , characterized in that said constraining portion ( 114 ) of said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) is substantially spherical in shape.
10 . Device according to claim 8 , characterized in that said constraining portion ( 114 ) of said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) is substantially cylindrical in shape.
11 . Device according to any of the claims from 8 to 10 , characterized in that said constraining portion ( 114 ) comprises at least one first switching tab or tooth ( 118 ) extending from the external surface ( 116 ) of said constraining portion ( 114 ), in that said internal surface ( 117 ) of said constraining seat defines at least one first switching seat or lowered part ( 119 ), and in that with said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) in said dispensing position said first switching tab or tooth ( 118 ) and said first switching seat or lowered part ( 119 ) are mutually coupled in such a way as to prevent or at least hinder the spontaneous switching of said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) from said first dispensing position to said second non-dispensing position.
12 . Device according to any of the claims from 8 to 10 , characterized in that said constraining portion ( 114 ) comprises at least one second switching tab or tooth ( 120 ) extending from the external surface ( 116 ) of said constraining portion ( 114 ), in that said internal surface ( 117 ) of said constraining seat ( 114 ) defines at least one second switching seat or lowered part ( 121 ), and in that with said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) in said second non-dispensing position said second switching tab or tooth ( 120 ) and said second switching seat or lowered part ( 121 ) are mutually coupled in such a way as to prevent or at least hinder the spontaneous switching of said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) from said second non-dispensing position to said first dispensing position.
13 . Device according to any of the claims from 8 to 10 , characterized in that said device comprises at least one constraining pin whose longitudinal extension axis coincides with the rotation axis ( 122 ) of said dispensing nozzle or spout and whose opposite ends are inserted in corresponding constraining housings provided in either said constraining portion ( 114 ) or said constraining seat ( 115 ).
14 . Device according to claim 13 , characterized in that the opposite ends ( 123 , 124 ) of said constraining pin extend from the external surface of said constraining portion ( 114 ) and are inserted in corresponding constraining housings ( 125 , 126 ) defined by the internal surface of said constraining seat ( 115 ).
15 . Device according to claim 13 , characterized in that the opposite ends ( 123 , 124 ) of said constraining pin extend from the internal surface of said constraining seat ( 115 ) and are inserted in corresponding constraining housings ( 125 , 126 ) defined by the external surface of said constraining portion ( 115 ).
16 . Device according to any of the claims from 1 to 15 , characterized in that in said second non-dispensing position said dispensing nozzle or spout ( 104 ) is housed in the space defined by the longitudinal projection of said engagement portion ( 101 ).
17 . System for dispensing a fluid or a liquid, said system comprising a container (C) suited to hold said fluid or liquid, characterized in that said system comprises also a device ( 100 ) according to any of the claims from 1 to 16 .