Force-generating Body for a Device for Dispensing Contents

Abstract

There is described a one-piece force-generating body made of elastically expandable material for a device for dispensing contents, which force-generating body in an unfilled state extends longitudinally in the direction of a longitudinal axis, is closed in the region of a lower axial end and satisfies at least one of the following conditions: It has a tubular portion which extends from the lower axial end in the direction towards the upper axial end, wherein the tubular portion has a substantially constant outside diameter and an inside diameter which decreases in the direction towards the upper axial end; it has a funnel portion which extends from the upper axial end in the direction towards the lower axial end, wherein an inner side of the force-generating body forms in the funnel portion a convex rounded portion, whereby an inside diameter of the funnel portion increases in the direction towards the upper axial end; the force-generating body has at its upper axial end a radial lip which extends radially away from the longitudinal axis.

1 . A one-piece force-generating body, which is made of elastically expandable material and is hollow on the inside and is of stable shape, for a device for the metered dispensing of contents which can be stored in the interior of the force-generating body, wherein the force-generating body in an unfilled state extends longitudinally in the direction of a longitudinal axis, wherein the force-generating body is closed in the region of a first axial end, is open in the region of an opposing second axial end and has a lateral wall which extends around the longitudinal axis and reaches from the first to the second axial end, wherein the force-generating body satisfies at least one of the following conditions (a) to (c):
 (a) when seen in an axial longitudinal section, the lateral wall forms at least one pair of a wall piece that is linear on the wall inner side and, adjoining in the direction towards the second axial end, a wall piece that is convexly rounded on the wall inner side, wherein the wall piece that is convexly rounded on the wall inner side effects an increase in the inside diameter of the lateral wall relative to the wall piece that is linear on the wall inner side;   (b) the force-generating body has in the region of its second axial end, in particular at the second axial end, a radially outwardly protruding clamping lip; and   (c) the lateral wall forms a tube portion with an inside diameter which decreases in the direction from the first to the second axial end and a substantially constant outside diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The force-generating body as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wall piece that is convexly rounded on the wall inner side effects over its entire axial length an increase in the inside diameter of the lateral wall relative to the wall piece that is linear on the wall inner side. 
     
     
         3 . The force-generating body as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tube portion is offset axially in the direction towards the first axial end relative to the wall piece that is convexly rounded on the wall inner side. 
     
     
         4 . The force-generating body as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tube portion extends at least over half the total axial length of the force-generating body. 
     
     
         5 . The force-generating body as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lateral wall, when seen in an axial longitudinal section, forms two or more pairs of a wall piece that is linear on the wall inner side and, adjoining in the direction towards the second axial end, a wall piece that is convexly rounded on the wall inner side, wherein the wall piece of each pair that is linear on the wall inner side is oriented differently relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The force-generating body as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lateral wall has a wall thickness throughout which is greater than the axial thickness of the clamping lip. 
     
     
         7 . The force-generating body as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the force-generating body is closed at the first axial end by a base wall which has a substantially planar inner or/and outer surface at least in a base middle piece through which the longitudinal axis passes. 
     
     
         8 . The force-generating body as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lateral wall, starting from the second axial end, forms a funnel portion with an inside diameter which becomes increasingly smaller and an outside diameter which becomes increasingly smaller in the direction towards the first axial end, wherein the lateral wall has in the funnel portion at least one wall piece with a conical inner circumferential surface or/and a conical outer circumferential surface. 
     
     
         9 . The force-generating body as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the wall piece that is convexly rounded on the wall inner side is situated in the funnel portion. 
     
     
         10 . The force-generating body as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the wall piece that is linear on the wall inner side is also situated in the funnel portion and forms a wall piece with a conical inner circumferential surface. 
     
     
         11 . A device for dispensing contents, comprising:
 a container having a container opening in the region of a container head;   a force-generating body inserted into the container; and   a cover component which is connected to the container in the region of an opening edge of the container opening by interlocking engagement and with clamping of the force-generating body, the cover component having structures for the attachment of a valve assembly,   
       wherein the force-generating body is a one-piece body, is made of elastically expandable material and is hollow on the inside, 
       wherein the force-generating body in an unfilled state extends longitudinally in the direction of a longitudinal axis, 
       wherein the force-generating body is closed in the region of a first axial end, is open in the region of an opposing second axial end and has a lateral wall which extends around the longitudinal axis and reaches from the first to the second axial end, 
       wherein the force-generating body satisfies at least one of the following conditions (a) to (c): 
       (a) when seen in an axial longitudinal section, the lateral wall forms at least one pair of a wall piece that is linear on the wall inner side and, adjoining in the direction towards the second axial end, a wall piece that is convexly rounded on the wall inner side, wherein the wall piece that is convexly rounded on the wall inner side effects an increase in the inside diameter of the lateral wall relative to the wall piece that is linear on the wall inner side; 
       (b) the force-generating body has in the region of its second axial end, in particular at the second axial end, a radially outwardly protruding clamping lip; and 
       (c) the lateral wall forms a tube portion with an inside diameter which decreases in the direction from the first to the second axial end and a substantially constant outside diameter.