Metering pump arrangement and method for its production

Abstract

A metering pump arrangement has a container with a changeable volume for accommodating a fluid. The arrangement has a pump that can be connected with the container in a sealed manner, which can be manually activated. The pump has an outlet opening that is connected with the surroundings. A bypass channel runs outside the pump and connects the container with the surroundings. The bypass channel can be sealed off by way of a closure element. The arrangement may be used for metering, dispensing or applying cosmetics or pharmaceuticals. A method is also provided for producing a metering pump arrangement.

1 . A metering pump assembly comprising 
 (a) a container with a changeable volume for accommodating a fluid;    (b) a manually-activatable pump sealably connected with the container having an outlet opening connected with an outside area;    (c) a bypass channel outside the pump connecting the container with the outside area; and    (d) a closure element for sealing the bypass channel from the outside area.    
   
   
       2 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the container has a flange-shaped lid for sealing the container with regard to the pump; and wherein the bypass channel is formed by an opening extending in the lid.  
   
   
       3 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bypass channel is formed by a valve having a valve seat and a corresponding valve element that permits flow out of the container into the outside and blocks flow in an opposite flow direction.  
   
   
       4 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the valve is disposed in or on the lid.  
   
   
       5 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising an elastically deformable element provided on the container, said elastically deformable element closing off the bypass channel at least in one flow direction from the outside area into the container in an unstressed state, said elastically deformable element being deformable by means of a pressure difference between the container and the outside area so as to permit at least a flow through the bypass channel out of the container into the outside area.  
   
   
       6 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the elastically deformable element is a strip or a disk made of a rubber-elastic material.  
   
   
       7 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein the elastically deformable element comprises a seal ring having an opening, said ring being held in a depression into which the bypass channel opens on an outside portion of the container or the lid, so that the seal ring closes off the bypass channel in the unstressed state, and arches under pressure impact from the bypass channel, so that air can escape from the bypass channel through the opening in the seal ring.  
   
   
       8 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the bypass channel or the opening of the seal ring is hermetically sealable by means of a closure pin.  
   
   
       9 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the closure pin comprises a profiled region provided with teeth to form air channels, and a closure region.  
   
   
       10 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bypass channel is hermetically sealable by means of gluing, bonding, or other sealing method.  
   
   
       11 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a pressure chamber having a piston guided in said pressure chamber, a first kick-back valve connecting the pressure chamber with the container, said first kick-back valve permitting flow out of the container into the pressure chamber and blocking flow in an opposite direction, an outlet opening that connects the pressure chamber with the outside area, and a second kick-back valve provided on the outlet opening, said second kick-back valve permitting flow out of the pressure chamber into the outside area and blocking flow in an opposite flow direction.  
   
   
       12 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed from a collapsible film.  
   
   
       13 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 12 , further comprising a substantially rigid covering associated with the container, said covering surrounding the container and connectable with the pump, and a ventilation opening provided in the covering.  
   
   
       14 . The metering pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the outlet opening is formed by a nozzle for atomizing the fluid within the container.  
   
   
       15 . A device for metering, dispensing, or applying cosmetics or pharmaceuticals comprising a metering pump assembly comprising a container with a changeable volume for accommodating a fluid, a manually-activatable pump sealably connectable with the container having an outlet opening connected with an outside area, a bypass channel outside the pump connecting the container with the outside area, and a closure element for sealing the bypass channel from the outside area.  
   
   
       16 . A method of providing a metering pump system comprising the following steps: 
 (a) providing a container having a lid, a pump connectable with the container, and a bypass channel outside the pump;    (b) filling the container with a fluid product;    (c) closing the container after filling, except for the bypass channel, by means of the pump or the lid;    (d) drawing off residual gas remaining in the container substantially completely through the bypass channel; and    (e) closing off the bypass channel at least in one flow direction from an outside area into the container.    
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein to draw off the gas from the container, a suction bell is set onto the metering pump arrangement so that at least an opening of the bypass channel is surrounded by the suction bell.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein after the gas has been drawn off from the container, a punch presses a closure pin into the bypass channel in order to close the bypass channel.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the closure pin has a profiled region and a closure region and the closure pin is inserted into the bypass channel so that the profiled region forms passage channels with an inner wall of the bypass channel, before suctioning, and the closure pin is pressed into the bypass channel after suctioning, so that the closure region of the closure pin seals off the bypass channel.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein a valve that closes off the bypass channel is opened by means of a suctioning process.