EP0853588B1 - Container closure - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/DE96/01893 Sec. 371 Date Apr. 2, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Apr. 2, 1998 PCT Filed Oct. 2, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97/13702 PCT Pub. Date Apr. 17, 1997The proposal is for a container closure with a closure head (4) having a pivoted coupling (3) and an outlet aperture (6) as well as a closing component (7), in which, in the closed position, the closing head is clipped over the container aperture and its closing component (7) seals its opening (2), while in the open position, the outlet aperture is pivoted towards the opening.

Description

State of the art

The invention relates to a container closure according to the Genus of the main claim. Such plastic containers are manufactured in many different ways, both for personal care products, for Food as well as for technical means. The decisive factor is that the Substance to be picked up from the container, in particular Due to the natural way can be removed. But such containers are generic, in which due to the Elasticity of the container wall due to the absorbed substance Pressing the container can be pressed out. The Generic container closure is not only on Small container restricted, but also extends to both Tubes as well as on large containers. The container is over one Container opening can be emptied, the container opening immediately is arranged on the container or only attached to it can, for example by screwing, sticking or the like. Independent of this, this container opening has an opening which merges with the Locking part of the locking head for locking them cooperates. While closing head and container different materials, however, exist Parts of the closing head including the swivel connection preferably made of the same plastic, in order to achieve corresponding advantages when recycling the plastic. However, this excludes does not mean that such a container is used as a reusable container becomes.

In a known container of the generic type (EP 00 40 615 B1) is on the, facing the container head, a container opening with a mouth arranged on the upper wall surface and the wall surface is covered by a cap-like closing head completely covered. At one, from the container opening distant point of this area is a hinge strap as Swivel connection available to swing this cap away can. On the inside of this cap facing the neck a socket is provided which with the cap closed over the Container opening is put over to close them. Because both Cap and container are made of the same plastic is a sorted recycling possible. Attaching the cap to the Above all, the container is used for targeted, simple closure which the socket slipped over the container opening and on the bottom the conical formation is connected. In the, Space between the container wall surface and the inside of the lid With the closing head open, substances come out of the container. In addition, depending on the manufacturing tolerance, the clamp connection cause the container to be difficult to open, especially also because the cap due to the connection to the Container towards this is not rotatable.

Furthermore, a container is known (US 5 358 154), in which one Locking device from an open to a closed position can be moved. For this purpose, a is in the wall of the container flexible area provided that has a smaller wall thickness than that has remaining wall of the container. This flexible area acts like a hinge and makes it possible Swiveling the locking device. This works disadvantageously Locking part does not encompass the container opening Closing head but just like a container opening closing lid.

The invention and its advantages

The container closure according to the invention with the characteristic Features of the main claim have the advantage over it on that the outlet opening is also arranged on the closing head and when swiveling the same in front of the neck of the neck Container arrives. The between this outlet opening and the Container opening delimited by the film can the Container space can be attributed as it is with the container open is directly connected to the interior of the container. The The contents of the container flow through when the container is emptied this room and the closing head. The outlet opening remains unchanged on the outside, so that at this outlet opening any guide means such as tubes and the like can be arranged without the function of Container closure would be affected.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention Closing head and the container in one piece and from the same Plastic. This has particular advantages in the manufacture and the Recycle.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the shape of the closing head in the manner of a spherical segment-like cap (Hemisphere), the mouth being annular and the locking part cooperating with the neck opening Form of a curvature formed in the direction of the mouth. The shape of a ball has the advantage that it roughly has the function of the container closure according to the invention follows. When opening the Container, i.e. swiveling the head upwards, becomes this gestural clarified. When closing the container, the head correspondingly pivoted to the side and over the Opening the container. In addition, a spherical body has one optimal stability with a minimum of material. In addition, the seal between the "ring" and "ball" is manufactured easy to control, due to the fact that it is in the sealing area resulting conical sealing arrangement between the interacting parts creates a kind of wedge seal in which lower for the desired sealing quality, in the axial direction acting forces are required than with a flat gasket. The Seal can also be achieved by an undercut on the closing part after which this is in the mouth of the container opening snapped.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention in the closed position of the closing head, the outlet opening via a existing bulge on the closing head or container is pivoted or inverted and thus closable. This bulge can be arranged laterally on the neck of the container and closes in similar to how the spherical cap the container opening here Outlet opening. This mainly avoids that in Drain the existing material through the outlet opening can, although the closing head is in the closed position.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the swivel angle of the cap is approximately 78 °. This However, the swivel angle can vary considerably, depending on the size of the Outlet opening, the distance from the outlet opening to Pivot point of the closing head and dimensions of the closing part. If necessary, a relatively small swivel angle is sufficient between the closed position and the open position of the closing head, without the substance flowing out of the container would be prevented.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention at least one of the end positions after swiveling the Locking head locked in the manner of a snap connection. By this snap connection can simultaneously the contact pressure between the closing part and the mouth of the container opening be determined and accordingly the sealing pressure between Bulge and outlet opening when closed Container closure. Depending on the design, this results in Transition area, i.e. clamping force in the swivel area by the shape and elasticity of the closing head with the Container connecting film.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the delimiting film consists of the same plastic material, like the closing head. This will make the pure variety Recycle the item.

The invention is manufactured in Plastic blowing process, the blow mandrel through the neck in the The container protrudes and the finished product closes the container shows open state. Especially with the invention Container closure has advantages in this type of manufacturing process because the construction of the container closure without Undercuts.

Further advantages and advantageous configurations of the invention are the following description, the drawing and the Removable claims.

drawing

Fig. 1

Eine perspektivisch dargestellte Flasche mit geöffnetem Verschluß;

Fig. 2

die gleiche Flasche verschlossen;

Fig. 3

den geöffneten Verschluß im Längsschnitt
und

Fig. 4

den gleichen Verschluß in geschlossenem Zustand

An embodiment of the object of the invention is shown in the drawing and described in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1

A bottle shown in perspective with the cap open;

Fig. 2

closed the same bottle;

Fig. 3

the opened closure in longitudinal section
and

Fig. 4

the same closure when closed

Description of the embodiment

The bottle shown in perspective in FIG. 1 has a container 1 on, with a container opening that has a mouth 2, with a closing head 4 via a swivel connection 3 is pivotally arranged. The closing head 4 has one hemispherical cap 5, with an outlet opening 6 and a closing part 7 on the inside of the cap 5. Between the cap 5 and mouth 2, a flexible film 8 is present, which with the Cap 5, between the outlet opening 6 and the mouth 2nd located room 9 limited.

2 shows the bottle 1 in the closed state, after the cap 5, as explained in FIGS. 3 and 4 to the Swivel connection 3 pivoted down and over the Container opening was put over. The outlet opening 6 has now to the side, while the dome-shaped inside trained closing part 7 on the upper edge, the mouth 2, rests and thereby closes the bottle 1. The also at the Cap 5 arranged outlet opening 6 is through a through which Foil 8 formed bulge 10 closed, so that possible, in Room 9 existing substances when spilling in this room remained, could not get outside.

The closer function of opening and closing the The container closure according to the invention is in FIGS. 3 and 4 recognizable. The cap 5 is movable around the pivot connection 3 and assumes an end position in FIG. 3 in which the closing part 7 is pivoted away from the container opening and thereby the Outlet opening 6 releases, while in Fig. 4 in the closed position of the Closing head 4 of the closing part 7 rests on the mouth 2 and so that it closes. The outlet opening 6, the corresponding from has been swung up to the side by the Bulge 10 closed.

Claims (8)

1. Container closure

   positioned at a suitable container (1) for the collection of liquid, creamy or purling substances, with an opening (2) showing a mouth (2),

   with a closing head (4) made of plastic for opening and closing of the container (1),

   with a closing part (7) of the closing head (4) covering the mouth (2) when closing the container,

   with a swinging-connection (3) of the closing part (7) facilitating the swinging of the closing part against the container opening,
   caracterized by the fact that

   an outlet opening (6) being mounted at the closing head (4) besides the closing part (7),

   between the closing head (4) and the container (1) a foil (8) being provided,

   during the opened condition, the closing head (4) and the foil (8) bound a volume being open toward the container through the mouth (2), and toward the outside through the outlet opening (6),

   when closing the container (1), the closing head (4) is put in inverted position together with the foil (8) over the part opposit to the container (1), surgripping this part from external, whereas the closing part (7) covers the mouth (2),

   when opening the container (1), the closing device (7) seperat from the mouth (2), and the closing head (4) together with the foil (8) can be swivelt away from the part showing toward the container opening of the container (1) in the direction of the outlet, whereas the outlet opening (6) is open.
2. Container closure according to title 1, caracterized by the fact as the closing head (4) and the container (1) are both made of one plastic peace.
3. Container closure according to title 1 or 2, caracterized by the fact as the form of the closing head (4) is constructed in the kind of a sherical segment cap (5) (halfball), that the mouth (2) is in form of a ring, and that the closing part (7) acting together with the neck-mouth (2) shows the form of a vault toward the mouth.
4. Container closure according to one of the preceding titles, caracterized by the fact as the closing positioin of the closing head (4), the outlet opening (6) is to be swivelt by means of an existing vault (10) over the closing head (4) or the container (1), and therefore possible to lock.
5. Container closure according to one of the preceding titles, caracterized by the fact as the swivelling angle of the closing head (4) amounts to approx. 78° (80°).
6. Container closure according to one of the preceding titles, caracterized by the fact as the closing head (4) in connection with the container opening (2) resp. the container (1) shows an inferior volume after putting in inverted position as in a closing position.
7. Container closure according the one of the preceding titles, caracterized by the fact that at least one of the final positions after swivelling the closing head (4) is fixable in kind of a snapping connection, especially following the self-tension and material elasticity of the closing head (4), the swivel connection (3) and/or the foil (8).
8. Container closure according to one of the preceding titles, caracterized by the fact as the fixed foil (8) is made of the same plastic as the closing head (4).

Images