EP3597072B1 - Discharge head for a massage dispenser and massage dispenser with such a discharge head - Google Patents

Description

AREA OF APPLICATION AND STATE OF THE ART

The invention relates to a discharge head for a massage dispenser and a massage dispenser with such a discharge head.

Massage dispensers of the generic type and of the invention are distinguished by the fact that they have a liquid reservoir in the manner customary for a dispenser, the liquid of which can be discharged through an outlet opening. The special feature of a massage dispenser is that the discharged liquid is discharged in the area of a massage surface which is designed by profiling to massage the discharged liquid into the user's skin. In principle, two procedures are conceivable here, both of which are also relevant in connection with the present invention. On the one hand, the liquid can be applied to the massage surface in a first step and then rubbed into the skin from there. Alternatively, the discharge can take place on the massage surface while the massage surface is already being pressed against the skin of the user.

Dispensers with an axially displaceable output surface, the displacement of which causes a pumping action, are from the documents EP 2959795 A1 , WO 2013/032223 A2 and EP 1 935 390 A1 known. From the DE 20 2004 019 763 U1 a metering pump is known which has a purely axially movable housing part, the axial movement of which can be controlled by a purely rotatably movable rotary sleeve.

TASK AND SOLUTION

The object of the invention is to provide a massage dispenser and a discharge head for such a massage dispenser which enable particularly pleasant and convenient operation.

According to the invention, a discharge head according to claim 1 and a massage dispenser with such a discharge head according to claim 12 are proposed for this purpose.

A discharge head according to the invention is designed for attachment to a liquid reservoir. For this purpose, it has a base section with a receptacle for fixed coupling to an outlet section of the liquid reservoir. For this purpose, the receptacle can in particular be designed as a receptacle shaft into which the outlet section of the liquid reservoir is pushed in the coupling direction in order to be secured therein by a latching connection or a clamping connection. Alternatively, a thread can be provided, in which case the central axis of the thread forms the coupling direction.

In addition to the base section fixed completely or at least axially on the liquid reservoir, the discharge head has a massage section. This has the aforementioned massage surface, which serves the purpose of rubbing or massaging the liquid over the skin of a user by means of pressed movement. This massage surface is penetrated by at least one outlet opening, so that liquid can be discharged from the liquid reservoir directly onto the massage surface and can then be rubbed in from there. The liquid that is discharged with a discharge head according to the invention is preferably highly viscous, in particular in the form of a cream or gel. The terms cream and gel are used synonymously in the context of this invention and also describe a liquid that has a viscosity of at least 500 cP when stored.

The aforementioned rubbing in or massaging in takes place using a massage profile on the massage surface. The profiling is considerable in order to create, as it were, small intermediate stores for the liquid through their depressions, so that the liquid is not completely stripped off the surface immediately upon movement. In addition, the profiling leads to locally varying pressure when the massage surface is moved over the skin, which produces the desired massage effect.

There are many options for designing the profiles. A design with a plurality of elevations or depressions which are arranged in rows and columns next to one another, preferably in a honeycomb-like arrangement, is particularly preferred. Alternative massage profiles have a plurality of concentric circular elevations or depressions or at least one elevation delimiting the massage surface on the outside and in particular circular or oval elevation.

In a plan view in the direction of its mean normal vector, the massage surface preferably has an essentially round or oval shape. Their area is comparatively large to to be able to treat larger areas of skin well. The smallest useful size is 0.5 cm ² and the largest useful size is 20 cm ² , the size specifications referring to the area between the at least one outlet opening on the inside and the outside edge of the massage area. A size of at least 1 cm ² and a maximum of 10 cm ^{2 is} particularly preferred.

The massage surface can be rigid in itself, so that there is no significant displacement with respect to other parts of the massage section and in particular its parts of a pumping device which will be discussed below. However, designs are also conceivable in which the massage surface is designed to be inherently deformable. It can then assume a concave and a convex shape, in particular as a function of a contact pressure.

The massage section as a whole, together with the outlet opening and the massage surface, is movable in relation to the base section in a main direction of extent of the discharge head. This mobility is given between two end positions, a distal end position and a proximal end position, it being possible for the distal end position to be adjustable, as will be explained below. The main extension direction, in which the mobility is given, is preferably identical to the coupling direction of the receiving shaft.

The axial mobility of the massage section relative to the base section is used to actuate a pump device of the discharge head. This pumping device has a volumetrically variable pumping chamber and an inlet valve and an outlet valve, the inlet valve preferably being provided on the base section and the outlet valve preferably being provided on the massage section. The inlet valve is provided in a connecting channel between the pump chamber and the liquid reservoir or the receptacle for the liquid reservoir. The outlet valve is provided in a connecting channel between the pump chamber and the outlet opening. The valves are designed for typical pump interaction. This means that the inlet valve opens when there is negative pressure in the pump chamber with respect to the liquid reservoir, this being equivalent to overpressure in the liquid reservoir with respect to the pump chamber. The inlet valve closes when there is overpressure in the pump chamber. The outlet valve opens when there is sufficient overpressure in the pump chamber compared to an ambient pressure and closes when there is negative pressure. The size of the excess pressure for opening the outlet valve is explained below.

The valves can each have different designs. Thus, the valves as a whole can have movable, rigid valve bodies such as valve balls, for example, which are movable in a valve chamber of their respective section between a closed position and an open position. Alternatively, the valves can have an elastic valve section which is fixed in sections to the respective section and which can assume an open position or closed position through a valve slot or a valve flap.

The pumping chamber is volumetrically variable in that the massage section is displaced between the mentioned end positions relative to the base section. According to the invention, the pump chamber is at least also delimited by the walls of these two sections, so that their displacement in the direction of the proximal end position causes a change and, in particular, a reduction in the pump chamber volume. The walls of the base section and the massage section, which directly delimit the pumping chamber, can be rigid parts, in particular plastic parts. However, they can also be elastically deformable parts in whole or in part, for example in the case of a design with a pump bellows or in the case of elastically deformable sealing lips or sealing rings.

The maximum amount of liquid that can be dispensed with a stroke from the distal end position to the proximal end position is comparatively large in the case of a massage dispenser according to the invention, since enough liquid should be dispensed with one stroke to cover the entire massage surface with a film of liquid. This maximum amount of liquid caused by the maximum stroke can be at least 0.5 ml, preferably at least 1 ml, in particular preferably at least 2 ml.

The two sections mentioned, the base section and the massage section which is movable in relation to it, can each be formed in one piece. However, they can also each comprise several components that are firmly connected to one another. This can be particularly useful in order to be able to combine different massage surfaces with otherwise identical massage sections in order to obtain sections with more easily deformable characteristics, for example to form a sealing lip and / or to form a valve body cage to accommodate a rigid valve body.

A discharge head according to the invention and a massage dispenser with such a discharge head are distinguished by simple and pleasant operation. The provision of a pumping device leads to the discharge of constant or, depending on the configuration, adjustable amounts of liquid. The pumping device can also use a link guide to be described below promote very high viscosity. Depending on the configuration, the discharge itself can be achieved by manual handling of the massage section and / or by pressing the massage section onto the skin.

The massage surface is provided with profiles in the manner described above. If these profiles are not observed, the basic shape of the massage surface is preferably flat, which means that the height variation in the direction of the mean normal vector between opposing outer edges of the massage surface is a maximum of 1/5, in particular a maximum of 1/10, of the maximum distance between the outer edges of the massage surface orthogonal to mean normal vector is. This evenness is advantageous for most fields of application, for example for applying the liquid to the arms, legs and back of a user. In special fields of application, in particular for a small-area local discharge, a different shape, in particular a clearly convex shape, can also be useful.

The mean normal vector on the massage surface preferably corresponds completely or largely (5 ° deviation) with the main direction of extent. This leads to a small design and a particularly advantageous possibility of emptying the pump chamber in that the massage surface is pressed against the skin in the direction of the normal vector. However, this type of operation is also possible with a larger angle between the main direction of extent and the mean normal vector, in particular of up to 30 °.

While in dispenser pumps in the field of cosmetics and medicine mostly pumps are used which reset themselves into an end position, in particular by means of a pump spring into the end position with maximum pumping chamber volume, it is considered advantageous in a discharge head according to the invention if the pumping device is designed in such a way that the massage section and the base section both in the proximal end position and in the distal end position remain in the respective relative position without the action of an external force, wherein in the case of a discharge head with several potential distal end positions formed by different stops for at least one of these distal end positions and preferably all end positions the specified whereabouts are given without external force.

This design of the pumping device allows the pumping chamber to be volumetrically enlarged for the purpose of the subsequent discharge by displacing the massage section with respect to the base section in the direction of the or a distal end position in order to thereby allow filling cause. The pump chamber then remains in the filled state until an external force causes the massage section to be transferred in the direction of the proximal end position, thereby reducing the size of the pump chamber so that the liquid contained therein is conveyed through the outlet opening onto the massage surface.

In addition to the handling advantages described below due to this stability in opposite end positions, dispensing with an automatic reset is also advantageous because a corresponding pump spring makes the lifting movement against the spring force more difficult. In the case of highly viscous liquids, where the viscosity already requires a comparatively high amount of force in the shooting position, this spring force would represent an additional difficulty. It is therefore preferred if no pump spring is provided.

In the case of a purely axial mobility of the massage section with respect to the base section for the purpose of changing the pumping chamber volume, the pumping chamber can be enlarged primarily by pulling the massage section in the direction of the distal end position by means of a manually applied tensile force, the pumping chamber being filled with liquid. Alternatively, the liquid in the liquid reservoir can also be pressed into the pump chamber by applying pressure. This procedure is particularly possible when using tubes as a fluid reservoir. For this type of operation, a special design of the outlet valve is proposed, which is explained below.

The discharge by reducing the pumping chamber volume can take place with purely axial mobility in that the massage section is manually shifted in the direction of its proximal end position. Here, however, there is also the alternative of already causing the discharge by pressing the massage surface against a part of the skin and thereby shifting it in the direction of the proximal end position.

According to the invention, a superimposed axial and rotational mobility of the massage section with respect to the base section is provided, which is also understood as mobility in the main extent within the meaning of the invention. For this purpose, the discharge head has a link guide with a link track and link slider, one of the cited link elements being provided on the base section and the other on the massage section. The sliding block guide makes it possible to increase or decrease the pump chamber volume by means of the guided movement of the massage section relative to the base section in the superimposed direction of rotation and main extension direction. Around To facilitate the rotary movement, it is advantageous if the massage section has a handling surface on an outside for coupling a torque in relation to the base section, in particular with a profile for easier rotation. The superimposed movement with a link track is particularly suitable for highly viscous liquids for which a purely axial solution would require too high a tensile force.

If the direction of extent of the link track encloses a large angle close to 90 ° with the main direction of extent, this causes self-locking between the link slider and the link track, so that the indirect cause of a rotary movement by applying force to the massage part in the main direction of extent is prevented with respect to the base section. This can be desired in order to bring about an undesired change in the pump chamber volume.

Correspondingly, however, self-locking can also be prevented in the case of a link track with a smaller angle between the extent of the track and the main direction of extent, in order to ensure that a rotational movement of the massage part can be indirectly caused by applying force to it in the main direction of extent in the direction of the proximal or distal end position. The lack of self-locking therefore means that the pump chamber can be filled by liquid pressure in the liquid reservoir, in particular the tube, and / or the pump chamber can be emptied by pressing the massage surface onto an area of skin.

Particularly in the case of a design with a self-locking link track, a design is particularly advantageous in which a holding section is provided on the massage section, which in the proximal end position from massage section to base section mechanically secures the inlet valve on the base section against opening. This holding section preferably protrudes into the pump chamber, so that in the proximal end position it blocks the mobility of a valve body or elastic valve section of the inlet valve.

In this way, in the proximal end position, liquid is prevented from getting into the pump chamber and possibly also as far as the outlet opening as a result of inadvertent pressurization in the liquid reservoir, ie in particular accidental compression of a tube. The self-locking described ensures that the holding section cannot be displaced by liquid pressure.

Even with a design in which the massage section and the base section are moved purely axially against each other for the purpose of changing the pump chamber volume, it can be advantageous if the massage section and the base section against each other in a certain position, in particular the proximal end position, around a central axis is rotatable between at least two rotational positions. Here, the massage section and the base section can be provided with interacting profiles which, depending on the rotational position, prevent an axial relative mobility of the massage section and the base section in the main direction of extension and / or limit the travel between the proximal end position and the distal end position.

The named profiles can include axially extending grooves of different lengths, for example in the base section, and a cam engaging therein, for example on the massage section. If the cam is arranged in one of the grooves, this groove determines the maximum stroke, in particular by defining the distal end position through its length.

The user can selectively select one of the grooves by rotating the massage section with respect to the base section and thereby set how long the stroke should be. In this way, he can control in a targeted manner which amount of liquid is discharged by moving the massage section with respect to the base section.

The profiling can also be designed with only one axial groove, which thus only defines a distal end position. Said rotatability can then only be provided in order to prevent the movement of the massage section relative to the base section and thus secure the dispenser in the proximal end position by introducing a profiling cam into a groove section extending in the circumferential direction and adjoining the axial groove.

As explained above, the outlet valve opens when there is overpressure in the pump chamber and closes when there is underpressure. In principle, no spring means or the like on the outlet valve is required for this, since the pressure difference alone is sufficient to push a valve body into a corresponding open position or closed position.

However, it is advantageous if the outlet valve is acted upon by force by means of a spring means in the direction of its closed position, so that a certain minimum discharge pressure of the liquid in the pump chamber is required in order to convey liquid from the pump chamber to the outlet opening. At the same time, a guide between the base section and the massage section is sufficient to design smoothly so that the base section and the massage section can be transferred from the proximal end position into the distal end position by an expansion pressure which is lower than the minimum discharge pressure.

Such a design allows the pump chamber to be filled solely by excess liquid pressure in the liquid reservoir. This excess liquid pressure can be achieved, for example, by squeezing a squeeze bottle or a tube. If this pressure is above the expansion pressure defined by the discharge head, but below the minimum discharge pressure of the outlet valve, the pump chamber is indirectly filled in the desired manner.

The outlet valve is preferably designed in such a way that, even after reaching a completely filled pump chamber and an arrangement of the base section and massage section in the distal end position, there is little risk of being unintentionally discharged through the outlet valve when the liquid in the liquid reservoir is pressurized. For this purpose, it is preferably designed in such a way that it remains closed up to an excess pressure of at least 0.1 bar compared to the ambient pressure. An overpressure of 0.1 has in a tube is usually not caused accidentally when gripping the tube.

Even more difficult to open outlet valves can be expedient, for example outlet valves which are closed up to an excess pressure of at least 0.2 bar, at least 0.5 bar or at least 1.0 bar. An overpressure of 0.5 bar, for example in a tube, can usually only be achieved willfully, so that a high degree of safety is achieved as a result. In order to still be able to open the outlet valve for the discharge as intended, it is advisable with such a difficult-to-open outlet valve that the discharge takes place by turning the massage section, since a comparatively low torque can then be converted into a high liquid pressure via the mentioned link guide.

In order to isolate the massage surface and any liquid residues that may have remained there, the discharge head preferably has a cap for repeated removal and replacement. This cap can be attached to the base section by means of a clamping surface or a latching or thread profile.

In addition to the direct protection of the massage surface, such a cap can take on additional functions. It can be provided on the inside of the cap in the attached state Closure pin which close at least one outlet opening in order to prevent unwanted liquid discharge.

The cap is preferably dimensioned in such a way that, in the attached state and in particular in the delivery state, it forces the massage section to be arranged in its proximal end position. In this position, the cap can hold the massage section in a relative position relative to the base section in which, with a corresponding design, the massage section mechanically secures the inlet valve on the base section against opening. This can be done in particular by means of a holding section protruding into the pump chamber, as described above.

In order to ensure this state in the delivery state, it can be provided in particular that the cap is secured against removal by means of an originality section that can only be removed in a destructive manner.

The two main components of a discharge head according to the invention are the base section and the massage section. In order to achieve a particularly small overall size, in particular in the main direction of extent, it can be advantageous to use the area outside the receptacle of the base section. In particular, the base section can have a circumferential groove into which an annular collar of the massage section dips when the massage section is displaced in the direction of the base section, this groove preferably being arranged surrounding the receptacle for the fluid reservoir.

As already mentioned at the beginning, the invention relates not only to the discharge head itself but also to a massage dispenser with such a discharge head and a filled or unfilled liquid reservoir, which is coupled to the discharge head, preferably secured against rotation.

The liquid reservoir is preferably designed as a liquid reservoir with a variable volume, in particular as a tube. Other fluid reservoirs with variable volumes are, for example, those with a drag piston or an inner bag in the fluid reservoir. Such liquid reservoirs make it possible to dispense with a ventilation device for the liquid reservoir, so that a simple construction is possible. The aforementioned design with a tube also allows the fluid in the fluid reservoir to be pressurized. In principle, however, liquid reservoirs with a fixed volume and a ventilation device are also possible, in the sense of The invention also provides a squeeze bottle which, after being squeezed, resumes its original volume, is viewed as a liquid storage device with a fixed volume.

In the case of a liquid storage device according to the invention, the liquid reservoir can already be filled with a cosmetic or pharmaceutical liquid, with a dispenser according to the invention particularly advantageously being used for liquids with a viscosity of at least 1000 cP at 20 ° C.

In particular, the massage dispenser according to the invention is considered to be suitable for the following liquids: liquid soap or liquid shower gel or bath gel, skin care cream, sun protection cream, cooling or warming pharmaceutical gel, gel with ingredients that reduce swelling or inflammation and cream with analgesic effect.

An anti-swelling gel preferably has arnica or heparin as a component. A pain relieving gel preferably has diclofenac or ibuprofen as a component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• Fig. 1 und 2 zeigen einen erfindungsgemäßen Massagespender im Lieferzustand und in einem für den Austrag vorbereiteten Zustand mit befüllter Pumpkammer.
• Fig. 3 verdeutlicht eine Möglichkeit der Anwendung des Massagespenders.
• Fig. 4A bis 4C verdeutlichen verschiedene Stadien der Benutzung des Massagespenders.
• Fig. 5A bis 5C zeigen eine nicht von der Erfindung umfasste Gestaltung des Massagespenders im Zuge der Vorbereitung für den Austrag.
• Fig. 6A und 6B zeigen eine weitere nicht von der Erfindung umfasste Gestaltung des Massagespenders, die abweichend von der Gestaltung der Fig. 5A bis 5C für gezielt einstellbare Austragmengen vorgesehen ist.
• Fig. 7 zeigt eine nicht von der Erfindung umfasste Gestaltung des Auslassventils mit Federvorspannung.
• Fig. 8 bis 10 zeigen unterschiedliche Variationen der Massagefläche eines erfindungsgemäßen Massagespenders.

Further advantages and aspects of the invention emerge from the claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained below with reference to the figures.

• Figs. 1 and 2 show a massage dispenser according to the invention in the delivery state and in a state prepared for discharge with a filled pump chamber.
• Fig. 3 illustrates one possibility of using the massage dispenser.
• Figures 4A to 4C illustrate different stages of using the massage dispenser.
• Figures 5A to 5C show a design of the massage dispenser not included in the invention in the course of preparation for discharge.
• Figures 6A and 6B show a further design of the massage dispenser that is not covered by the invention, which differs from the design of Figures 5A to 5C is intended for specifically adjustable discharge rates.
• Fig. 7 shows a design of the outlet valve with spring preload that is not encompassed by the invention.
• Figs. 8-10 show different variations of the massage surface of a massage dispenser according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The Figs. 1 and 2 firstly illustrate the basic structure of a massage dispenser according to the invention using a first exemplary embodiment.

Again Fig. 1 As can be seen, the massage dispenser 10 consists primarily of a discharge head 20 and a liquid reservoir 80, which in the present case is designed in the form of a tube. The liquid reservoir 80 is provided by means of an outlet section 84, which is shown in FIG Fig. 1 is not shown, attached to the discharge head 20 in a latched manner.

The discharge head 20 itself has two main sections, namely a base section 50, which is coupled directly to the liquid reservoir 80, and a massage section 30, which can be displaced with respect to the base section 50 at least in the direction of the main direction of extent 2.

At the distal end of the massage section 30, a massage surface 32 is provided, which is centrally penetrated by an outlet opening 31 for the discharge of liquid. In the Fig. 1 The massage surface 32 shown has a round outer shape, in the present case approximately 25 mm in diameter. It is provided with a massage profile 33, which is designed in the form of a plurality of raised areas arranged in a honeycomb structure, which are therefore surrounded by depressions.

By means of a pump device 70, which is also shown below, liquid can be conveyed from the liquid reservoir 80 through the outlet opening 31 onto the massage surface 32 in order to be massaged into the skin during or afterwards.

Dashed lines indicate in Fig. 1 shows that a discharge head according to the invention is usually provided with a cap 100 in the delivery state, covers the massage surface 32 and optionally holds the massage section 30 in position and which can only be removed after a removable tamper-evident section 108 has been removed. After removal of the cap, the massage section 30 can be moved relative to the base section 50.

Fig. 2 shows the discharge head 20 after removal of the cap and after displacement of the massage section 30 with respect to the base section 50 in the main direction of extension upwards. As a result of this relocation, in the manner to be explained below, the in the Figs. 1 and 2 The pumping device 70 (not shown) is actuated to the effect that its pumping chamber 72 sucks in liquid from the liquid reservoir 80. The reverse movement in which the massage section 30 is moved in the direction of a proximal end position towards the base section 50 has the effect that the pump chamber 72 of the pump device 70 is reduced in size and the liquid is discharged from the pump chamber 72 through the outlet opening 31.

Fig. 3 illustrates the use of a massage dispenser according to the invention. After the liquid has been dispensed onto the massage surface 32 or alternatively with the simultaneous dispensing of the liquid onto the massage surface 32, the massage dispenser 10 with the massage surface 32, guided by a hand 200 of the user, is pressed onto an area of skin 204 to be treated, in this case a forearm 202.

The Figures 4A to 4C show a first design of the discharge head, that of the Figs. 1 and 2 corresponds.

Figure 4A illustrates in particular the internal structure of the discharge head 20. The base section 50 consists predominantly of two components 50A, 50B, which, however, could also be made in one piece. The base section 50 has on its underside a shaft-like receptacle 52 with a latching geometry 54 into which the fluid reservoir 80 designed as a tube is inserted with its outlet section 84, a latching geometry 82 provided on the outlet section 84 with the latching geometry 54 forming a robust and non-positively rotatable connection comes in. On the opposite, upper side, the base section 50 has a circumferential cylindrical web 56 and on the outside thereof a circumferential groove 58.

By means of this web 56 and the groove 58, the massage section 30 is guided in the main direction of extent 2 and is movable relative to the base section 50. The main components of the massage section 30 are a front component 30A, which forms the massage surface 32, a guide component 30B, which dips into the aforementioned groove 58 with a circumferential collar 34, and an inner component 30C which is inserted between the base section 50 and the massage section 30 provided pumping chamber 72 protrudes.

This pump chamber 72 forms the main component of the pump device 70. On the inlet side, it can be isolated from the liquid reservoir 80 by an inlet valve 74. It is on the output side can be isolated from the environment by an outlet valve 76. Both valves 74, 76 are designed in such a way that they open upstream when there is excess pressure. In the design shown, they each have a cage on the base section 50 or on the massage section 30, in which a valve ball is movably arranged. Simpler types of valves with an elastically deformable valve section or slot can also be used here.

An annular seal is provided in the area of the guide of the massage section 30 and the base section 50.

The displaceability of the massage section 30 relative to the base section 50 is in the embodiment of FIG Figures 4A to 4C no purely linear displaceability. Rather, a helical section-shaped link track 40 in the form of a groove is provided on the outside of the collar 34 of the massage section 30 and, corresponding to this, on the inside of the base section 50, a link slider 60 which projects into the cited link track 40. As a result, the massage section 30 can only be displaced in a helical movement with respect to the base section 50.

In the position of Figure 4A the massage section 30 is in its proximal end position relative to the base section 50. In this position, a holding section 38 presses on a valve ball of the inlet valve 74 on the side of the base section 50 and thus presses it into its closed position. Since in the present example, due to the self-locking of the link track 40, a rotation of the massage section 30 cannot be caused indirectly by a force acting in the axial direction, the inlet valve 74 is effectively blocked and unintentional discharge by force acting on the tube is prevented.

In order to discharge liquid, the pump chamber 72 is filled in preparation. For this purpose, the liquid reservoir 80 or the base section 50 is gripped with one hand and the massage section 30 is rotated about the central axis 3 with the other, which at the same time causes an axial movement of the massage section 30 in the distal direction. As a result, the pump chamber 72 is enlarged and, with the outlet valve 76 closed by the suction and the inlet valve 74 open, liquid is drawn into the pump chamber 72.

After an angle of rotation of about 50 °, the state is Figure 4B reached. A marking arrow 36 on the massage section 30 makes it clear that at this point in time a total of about 2 ml of the liquid was drawn from the liquid reservoir 80 into the pump chamber 72. A continued twisting motion by a further 50 ° leads to the state of Figure 4C . In this state, the massage section is in its distal end position opposite the base section 50. The enlargement of the pump chamber 72 compared to the state of FIG Figure 4A is now about 4 ml and thus its maximum.

Optionally based on the state of the Figure 4B or from the state of the Figure 4C the user can effect the discharge by reversing the direction of rotation. The reversal of the rotary movement and thus the beginning displacement of the massage section 30 in the direction of the base section 50 leads to the inlet valve on the base section closing and the outlet valve 76 on the massage section opening. The liquid is then conveyed onto the massage surface 32 so that massaging into the skin area can then begin.

In the variant not covered by the invention according to FIGS Figures 5A to 5C the structural design is identical, unless explained below. Deviating from the design of the Figures 4A to 4C In this second variant, a link guide has been dispensed with, so that the base section 50 can be displaced purely axially in the direction of the main extension direction 2 with respect to the base section 50 after the cap 100 has been removed.

Otherwise, the operation can be done in the same way as the Figures 4A to 4C explained. This means that for the purpose of filling the pump chamber 72, the massage section 30 is displaced upwards in accordance with the desired discharge amount, in particular Figure 5C clarified. When the outlet valve 76 is closed and the inlet valve 74 is open, the pump chamber 72 is filled with liquid from the liquid reservoir. Then, for the purpose of discharge, the massage section 30 is shifted downwards again with respect to the base section 50, so that the desired discharge through the outlet opening 31 occurs when the inlet valve is closed and the outlet valve is open.

This design also makes it possible to effect the discharge not by manually depressing the massage section 30, but by pressing its massage surface 32 onto the skin area 204 and thus indirectly by applying force to the massage section 30 in the direction of its proximal end position relative to the base section 50 A well-measured discharge is also possible, in which liquid is discharged continuously or in batches during a massage movement by increasing the approach of the massage section 30 in the direction of the proximal end position to the base section.

Based on Figure 5A It is clear how a cap 100 can be used to secure the discharge head 20 with such a purely axial mobility. The cap 100 is secured in the position shown until the tamper-evident section 108 has been separated. After first use, it is secured in the attached state by a locking cam 104 and a locking groove 66 provided for receiving it on the base section 50. In the attached state, it presses on the valve ball of the outlet valve 76 via a locking pin 102 and thus presses the entire massage section, including the holding section 38, downwards. This also forces the valve ball of the inlet valve 74 into its closed position.

The Figures 6A and 6B show an alternative design not encompassed by the invention, as a variation on the design of the Figures 5A to 5C is to be seen. In this alternative configuration, a profile 64 with three axial grooves 64A, 64B, 64C is provided on the inside of an outer ring wall 57 of the base section 50, as in FIG Figure 6B to recognize. These grooves are connected to one another at the lower end by a transverse groove 65.

A control cam 44 which is provided on the massage section 30 and is directed outward is arranged within this groove structure. This has been inserted into the groove structure through the axial groove 64B. Due to a latching tongue arranged in the groove 64B, the control cam cannot later escape in the opposite direction through the groove 64B after overcoming the latching tongue during assembly.

By arranging one of the three axial grooves 64A, 64B, 64C at the lower end, the control cam 44 can control how far the distal end position of the massage section 30 is spaced from the proximal end position with respect to the base section 50. By choosing the rotational position of the massage section with respect to the base section 50, it is thus possible to control how large the maximum liquid discharge is. Furthermore, the massage section 30 can be secured against axial displacement by arranging the control cam 44 in the transverse groove 65 of the base section 50. This is for example in the rotary position of the Figure 6A the case.

The variant also not included in the invention Fig. 7 differs from that of the in only one detail Figures 5A to 5C . In this configuration, the outlet valve 76 is provided with a valve spring 77, as a result of which the pressure required to discharge liquid from the pump chamber 72 onto the massage surface 32 is increased.

For example, an overpressure in the pump chamber 72 of at least 200 mbar may be required in order to discharge liquid. This makes it possible in particular to fill the pumping chamber 72 solely by compressing the liquid reservoir 80, namely when the pressure required for the displacement of the massage section 30 relative to the base section 50 is lower than the opening pressure defined by the outlet valve 76.

In addition, the valve spring 77 enables the outlet valve 76 to usually prevent accidental discharge by pressing the tube, even when the pump chamber 72 is filled. Only when the tube is compressed with great force is the pressure sufficient to unintentionally convey liquid out through the outlet opening 31. If necessary, a cap can also be used to prevent the risk of unwanted discharge in a non-use state.

The Figs. 8-10 show alternative designs of the massage surface 32. The massage surface 32 shown in the previous examples has a large number of elevations, arranged in a honeycomb structure

Fig. 8 shows a likewise preferred embodiment, in which the massage profile 33 is formed by concentric ring elevations and depressions between them. Fig. 9 likewise shows such ring elevations and depressions, but in this case on a self-deformable massage surface which can give way somewhat elastically to the rest of the massage section 30 in order to be able to adapt to the body shape even better. The variant of the Fig. 10 has only one outer web as a massage profile 33.

All the massage profiles shown are suitable for preventing the liquid present on the massage surface 32 from being stripped off immediately upon skin contact. They form local depressions which prevent this and thus advantageously allow liquid to be massaged in over a larger area.

Claims (15)

1. Discharge head (20) for a massage applicator (10) for discharging and massaging-in cream-like liquids, having the following features:

   a. the discharge head (20) is formed for attachment to a liquid reservoir (80), and

   b. the discharge head (20) has a base portion (50) with a receptacle (52) for positionally fixed coupling to an outlet portion (84) of the liquid reservoir (80), and

   c. the discharge head (20) has a massage portion (30) which has a massage surface (32), wherein the massage surface (32) is provided with a massage profile (33) and is penetrated by at least one outlet opening (31), and

   d. the massage portion (30) is attached movably with respect to the base portion (50) between a proximal and a distal end position along a main direction of extent (2), and

   e. the discharge head (20) has a pumping device (70) with a volumetrically variable pump chamber (72), an inlet valve (74) and an outlet valve (76), by means of which valves liquid can be conveyed out of the liquid reservoir (80) to the outlet opening (31), wherein the pump chamber (72) is delimited by a wall of the base portion (50) and a wall of the movable massage portion (30),

   characterized by the following feature:

   f. the discharge head (20) has a slotted-guide mechanism (40, 60) with a slotted-guide track (40) and a slotted-guide slider (60), by way of which a guided movement of the massage portion (30) with respect to the base portion (50) in the superimposed direction of rotation and main direction of extent (2) is enabled.
2. Discharge head (20) according to Claim 1, having the following additional feature:

   a. the massage surface (32) is of a substantially planar form.
3. Discharge head (20) according to Claim 2, having the following additional feature:

   a. the massage surface (32) is formed relative to the base portion in such a way that a mean normal vector on the massage surface (32) encloses an angle of less than or equal to 30° with the main direction of extent (2), preferably an angle of less than or equal to 5°.
4. Discharge head (20) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature:

   a. the pumping device (70) is configured in such a way that the massage portion (30) and the base portion (50) remain in the respective relative position without the action of an external force both in the proximal end position and in the distal end position.
5. Discharge head (20) according to one of the preceding claims, having one of the following additional features:

   a. the slotted-guide mechanism is oriented, at least in portions, relative to the main direction of extent in such a way that self-locking, by way of which an indirect causation of a rotational movement of the massage portion with respect to the base portion by applying force to the massage part in the main direction of extent is prevented, occurs between the slotted-guide slider (60) and the slotted-guide track (40), or

   b. the slotted-guide mechanism is oriented, at least in portions, relative to the main direction of extent in such a way that self-locking is not provided between the slotted-guide slider and the slotted-guide track, with the result that the indirect causation of a rotational movement by applying force to the massage part in the main direction of extent is enabled.
6. Discharge head (20) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature:

   a. provided on the massage portion (30) is a retaining portion (38) which, in the proximal end position between the massage portion (30) and the base portion (50) secures the inlet valve (74) on the base portion (50) mechanically against opening.
7. Discharge head (20) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional features:

   a. the outlet valve (76) is subjected to the application of force in the direction of its closed position by a spring means (77), with the result that said outlet valve requires a discharge pressure of the liquid in the pump chamber (72) in order to convey liquid from the pump chamber (72) to the outlet opening (31), and

   b. a guidance between the base portion (50) and the massage portion (30) is smooth enough that the base portion (50) and the massage portions (30) can be transferred out of the proximal end position into the distal end position by an expansion pressure of the liquid in the pump chamber (72), and

   c. the minimum expansion pressure is lower than the discharge pressure.
8. Discharge head (20) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature:

   a. the outlet valve (76) is designed in such a way that it remains closed up to an excess pressure of at least 0.1 bar with respect to the ambient pressure, preferably up to an excess pressure of at least 0.2 bar, at least 0.5 bar or at least 1.0 bar.
9. Discharge head (20) according to one of the preceding claims, having the following additional feature:

   a. the discharge head (20) has a cap (100) for repeated removal and fitting-on, wherein said cap (100) can be fastened to the base portion (50) by means of a clamping surface or a detent or threaded profile (66, 104),

   in particular having one of the following additional features:

   b. in the state fastened to the base portion (50), a closing pin (102) provided on the inside of the cap (100) closes the at least one outlet opening (31), and/or

   c. in the state fastened to the base portion (50), the cap (100) presses or retains the massage portion (30) in a relative position relative to the base portion (50), in which relative position the massage portion (30) secures the inlet valve (74) on the base portion (50) mechanically against opening, and/or

   d. in a delivery state, the cap (100) is secured against removal by means of an authenticity portion (108) which can be only be destructively removed.
10. Discharge head (20) according to one of the preceding claims, having at least one of the following additional features:

    a. the massage surface (32) has a substantially round or oval shape in a plan view in the direction of its mean normal vector, and/or

    b. the massage surface (32) has a size between 0.5 cm² and 20 cm², particularly preferably between 1 cm² and 10 cm², and/or

    c. the massage profile (33) has a multiplicity of elevations or depressions which are arranged in rows and columns alongside one another, and/or

    d. the massage profile (33) has a plurality of concentric circular elevations or depressions, and/or

    e. the massage profile (33) has a circular elevation bounding the massage surface on the outside, and/or

    f. the massage surface (32) is formed as intrinsically deformable and can preferably assume a concave and a convex form depending on a contact pressure.
11. Discharge head (20) according to one of the preceding claims, having at least one of the following features:

    a. the base portion (50) has an encircling groove (58), into which an annular collar (34) of the massage portion (30) dips when the massage portion (30) is displaced in the direction of the base portion (50), wherein preferably the groove (58) is arranged in a manner surrounding the receptacle (52) for the liquid reservoir (80), and/or

    b. the receptacle (52) for fastening the discharge head (20) to the liquid reservoir (80) is in the form of a receiving shaft with an internal thread or an inwardly facing detent geometry (54), and/or

    c. on an outer side, the massage portion (30) has a handling surface for coupling in a torque with respect to the base portion (50), in particular with a profile for facilitated rotation, and/or

    d. the maximum pump chamber volume amounts to at least 0.5 ml, preferably at least 1 ml, particularly preferably at least 2 ml.
12. Massage applicator (10) for discharging and massaging-in cream-like liquids into the skin of a user, having the following features:

    a. the massage applicator (10) has a liquid reservoir (80),

    b. the massage applicator (10) has a discharge head (20) according to one of the preceding claims.
13. Massage applicator (10) according to Claim 12, having the following additional feature:

    a. the liquid reservoir (80) is in the form of a liquid reservoir (80) with a variable volume, and a ventilating device to replace discharged liquid in the liquid reservoir with ambient air is not provided,

    in particular having the following additional feature:

    b. the liquid reservoir (80) is in the form of a tube with flexible walls.
14. Massage applicator (10) according to Claim 12 or 13, having at least one of the following features:

    a. the base portion (50) of the discharge head (20) is fastened in a manner secure against rotation to the liquid reservoir (80).
15. Massage applicator (10) according to one of Claims 12 to 14, having the following additional feature:

    a. the liquid reservoir (80) is filled with a pharmaceutical or cosmetic liquid, in particular with a highly viscous liquid having a viscosity of at least 1000 cP at 20°C,

    in particular having one of the additional features:

    b. the liquid is a liquid soap or a liquid shower gel or a bath gel, or

    c. the liquid is a skin care cream, or

    d. the liquid is a sunscreen cream, or

    e. the liquid is a cooling or warming pharmaceutical gel, or

    f. the liquid is a gel with swelling-alleviating or inflammation-alleviating ingredients, or

    g. the liquid is a cream with a pain-alleviating action.

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