# US 11,110,472 B2 · Pump head and metering device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,472 B2 - Document ID: US11110472B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/317,266 - Filed: 2017-06-01 - Published: 2019-07-25 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-14 - Assignees: F. Holzer GmbH - Applicants: F. Holzer GmbH - Inventors: Hyek Hee Lee; Ute Steinfeld; Markus Mahler; Frank Holzer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110472B2 ## CPC - B05B 11/047: {characterised by the outlet or venting means (B05B11/041 and B05B11/042 take precedence)} - B05B 11/007: {being opened by deformation of a sealing element made of resiliently deformable material, e.g. flaps, skirts, duck-bill valves} - G01F 11/04: of the free-piston type - G01F 11/082: {of the squeeze container type (using squeeze bottles or the like for soap A47K5/122)} - B05B 11/0067: {having a valve seat located downstream the valve element} - B05B 11/048: {characterised by the container, e.g. this latter being surrounded by an enclosure, or the means for deforming it (B05B11/041, B05B11/046 take precedence)} - B05B 11/1016: {the outlet valve having a valve seat located downstream a movable valve element controlled by a pressure actuated controlling element (B05B11/1022, B05B11/1023 take precedence)} - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME ## Abstract The present invention relates to a pump head that enables a metered dispensing of fluids. The present invention also relates to a metering apparatus that can, for example, be configured as a squeeze bottle, wherein the metering apparatus comprises a pump head in accordance with the invention. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pump head for a metering apparatus for a metered dispensing of a fluid, the pump head comprising: a head part having an outlet opening for the fluid to be dispensed outside the pump head; a first element that has a cutout, a wall bounding the cut-out at one side, and a passage opening introduced into the wall that brings the cutout directly or indirectly into fluidic communication with the outlet opening of the head part, with the first element being directly or indirectly connected to the head part in a direction of the wall; and a hollow piston having a passage channel that is fit into place in the cutout and is movably guidable up to the wall in the cut-out, wherein the hollow piston is not returned by a spring, wherein the passage channel is arranged in the hollow piston such that the passage opening is closable by the hollow piston on a movement of the hollow piston in the direction of the wall. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pump head in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cut-out and the hollow piston are cylindrical, and wherein the hollow piston is returned by a fluid actuation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pump head in accordance with claim 1, wherein the passage channel ends in the direction of the wall in an aperture arranged concentrically with respect to an axial projection of the hollow piston; wherein the passage channel is guided in a straight line and concentrically with respect to an axial projection of the hollow piston and the passage opening is arranged offset with respect to the aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pump head in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first element comprises at least one means for fixing to a storage vessel, including a latch connection, a snap-in connection, or a thread. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The pump head in accordance with claim 1, wherein on a direct connection of the head part to the first element, the head part and the first element comprise means for a direct connection, including a latch connection, a snap-in connection, or a thread. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The pump head in accordance with claim 1, wherein the head part and the first element are indirectly connected to one another, with the head part having an inner surface; an elastic valve being incorporated that at least regionally has a geometrical configuration corresponding to the inner surface of the head part; and a liner being incorporated that has a passage opening for the fluid to be dispensed via which an inflow of the fluid between the head part and the elastic valve is made possible while deforming the elastic valve while forming an intermediate space between the elastic valve and the head part, with the head part and the liner being connected with shape matching and a force fit while enclosing an elastic seal between the head part and the liner and the elastic valve lying over the full area with a shape match on the inner surface of the head part in a storage position of the pump head so that a fluidic seal between the head part and the liner is ensured; and with the liner being connected at its end remote from the elastic seal to the first element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The pump head in accordance with claim 6, wherein the elastic valve comprises a head and an elastic wall, with the head having a geometrical configuration corresponding to the inner surface of the head part and with the elastic wall being deformable. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The pump head in accordance with claim 7, wherein the elastic wall has at least one desired kink point at which the elastic wall kinks down or in on a transition from a storage state into an actuation state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The pump head in accordance with claim 7, wherein the elastic wall is formed from a film of an elastically deformable material, including a thermoplastic, rubber and/or silicone, having a thickness of 0.03 to 1 mm; and/or in that the head is massive. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The pump head in accordance with claim 7, wherein the head and the elastic wall are formed in one piece and are simultaneously manufactured by an injection molding process. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The pump head in accordance with claim 6, wherein the elastic valve has at least one fixing member via which the elastic valve is connected in a force-locking manner to at least one corresponding fixing member of the liner, with the fixing member of the elastic valve and the fixing member of the liner being formed as a latch connection or as a snap connection. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The pump head in accordance with claim 6, wherein the liner has a liner wall that terminates the intermediate space, with a fluidic communication of the intermediate space with a first region disposed at the other side of the liner wall, viewed from the intermediate space being made possible via the passage opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pump head in accordance with claim 12, wherein the passage opening is led from the first region directly through the liner wall and opens into a second region, or is led through a lateral wall of the liner in the first region, is guided in a notch at an outer surface of the liner that can be bounded by the head part and is again led through the lateral wall of the liner in the second region and opens into the first region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The pump head in accordance with claim 6, wherein a spring that effects a return force on the elastic valve is arranged between the elastic valve and the liner, with the return force having the effect that the intermediate space formed in an actuation state is closed while returning to a storage state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The pump head in accordance with claim 6, wherein at least one means for a sterile filtration of inflowing air is present, including a bacterial filter, between the first element and a storage vessel fixable to the first element and/or between the liner and the first element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The pump head in accordance with claim 6, wherein the liner is fixed with respect to the first element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The pump head in accordance with claim 15, wherein on a connection of the pump head via the first element to the storage vessel, a seal is arranged between the first element and the storage vessel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The pump head in accordance with claim 1, wherein the head part comprises an antibacterial material, including metals or metal ions, including silver particles or silver ions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The pump head in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first element is connected to a storage vessel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The pump head in accordance with claim 19, wherein the storage vessel is configured as a squeeze bottle.