Dispensing device for dispensing a liquid substance.

The invention relates to a dispenser device for dispensing a liquid substance, according to the preamble of the main claim, such as described in US 6.983.864. This dispenser is clamped with a clip to the belt of the carrier. There it hangs unprotected and can easily be damaged or loosened, whereas the ease of operation is determined by the location on the belt.

An object of the dispenser according to the invention is providing a dispenser having a great ease of operation. It is also an object to provide a dispenser with which during use there is less made a mess with the substance and is wasted. A further object is providing a dispenser which can be used for many applications, such as for medical and sport applications. In this respect the dispenser according to the invention has the object of reducing the risk of cross infection.

This object is reached by the dispenser according to the invention by the means according to the characterizing part of the main claim.

This has for an effect, that for operating the dispenser the user must place his operating hand in a specific position around the nozzle. By this specific positioning the nozzle is turned to the hollow of the hand, such that the hand catches the substance dispensed by the dispenser in the palm and/or fingers. As the distance between the receiving hand of the user and the nozzle is known beforehand, the dispensing by the dispenser, such as the degree of pressure atomizing, the exit angle have been set onto this. This has as a result, that during the use of the dispenser there is less substance spoiled and therefore less wasted. Also because of this , the dispenser according to the invention has a great ease of operation and can be used for many applications, such as in the health services or when doing sport. As the seizing part is connected with the mounting member the chances are small that during use a part of the dispenser is covered by the piece of clothing, where there is the nozzle and the seizing part are (unobstructed) accessible for the user. The piece of clothing has therefore a protective function for the dispenser. Furthermore the connection of the seizing part with the mounting member has the advantage, that the dispenser can be operated independently from the piece of clothing.

With the term "liquid substance" a liquid is meant, a paste or cream or a foam. The substance can be a disinfectant or a skin care product, such as sun cream.

An embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention will be elucidated as an example furthermore in detail referring to the enclosed schematic drawings, in which:

Fig. IA shows a side view of an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention,

Fig. IB shows a front view of the dispenser according to Fig. IA.

Fig. 2 shows a view in cross section over the line II-II of the dispenser of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a front view of the dispenser of Fig. 1, in which this is mounted on a pocket of a piece of clothing.

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the dispenser according to the invention. The dispenser 1 comprises a container 7 for holding a liquid substance, such as hand alcohol, and a nozzle 2 for dispensing that substance. For operating the dispenser 1 this has an operating member 4 having a pressure surface 5. Furthermore the dispenser 1 comprises a seizing part 6 that can be seized with at least two fingers 14 of the hand 19 of the user, whereas a thumb 13 of this hand rests on the pressure surface 5. In this the nozzle 2 is directed to the inside 20 of that hand. For the operation of the dispenser 1 the operating member 4 is displaced in the direction of the arrow 15 by the mutual displacement of the fingers 14 and the thumb 13, whereas the nozzle 2 is directed to the inside 20 of the hand 19.

The dispenser 1 has as fastening member 3 a clip 12 for fastening the dispenser 1 to a piece of clothing. The fastening member 3 has a first and a second side 31 and 32. The seizing part 6 is present on the upper side of the clip 12, on a side surface 11 of the dispenser 1. The clip 12 and the nozzle 2 are at that same side surface 11. In an embodiment the distance A between the pressure surface 5 and the seizing part 6 is 4,5 - 5cm , and the distance B between the seizing part 6 and the nozzle 2 is 4 - 4,5cm

The length L (vide Fig.3) of the seizing part 6 is about 5cm (the width of the seizing part comprises above 0,5-1 cm). Furthermore the dispenser 1 has an upper side 9 and a lower side 10.

Fig. 2 show a view in cross section along the line H-II of the dispenser of Fig. 1. The pump means 8 comprises for instance a slit valve 30. The pump means 8 are in fluid connection with the container 7 for the transport of the substance 21, in this case hand alcohol, present in the container 7. The hand alcohol is transported through a riser tube 23 to the nozzle 2 connected with the pump means 8, by moving the operating member 4 in the direction of the arrow 15. The container 7 is connected with a screw connection 22 to the pump means 8. In stead of a screw connection every disconnectable connection known from the state of the art, such as a snap connection, can be used.

Fig.3 show a front view of the dispenser of Fig. 1 in the situation that the dispenser 1 is fastened in a pocket 17 of a piece of clothing 16. The dispenser 1 is mounted in such a way over the edge 18 of a pocket 17, that the nozzle 2, the seizing part 6 and the pressure surface 5 extend above the edge 18 of the pocket 17.

It will be clear to the expert, that many variations of the dispenser, container, assembly and method according to the invention are possible, without leaving the scope of protection defined in the claims.