CZ294214B6 - Packaging means - Google Patents

Abstract

In the present invention, there is disclosed a packaging means with a wall (2), whereby at least one locally defined region of the external surface of the wall (2) is made from plastic material of a different hardness than of that one of the remaining portion of the external surface of the wall (2).

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a packaging means having a wall, for example a container, bottle, tube, container, box, with a separate or attached closure, cover or other additional equipment for such containers.

In particular, the invention relates to blow molding a bottle of glass or preferably of any type of plastic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to packaging means of this type of flexible plastic material, such as containers for cleaning or care products. In such applications, the user is often required to manually exert a force on the container to pressurize the contents of the container so that a metered dose of the contents of the container can be removed through the outlet. In principle, any location of the container can be gripped, since the user's feel due to the uniform nature of the top surface of the container cannot provide orientation support for the preferred location. Similar circumstances can be encountered when handling containers to move them from one storage location to another. In this case, the container can easily slip out of the hand, especially when a slippery layer of the container contents has deposited on the upper surface. Analogous circumstances occur when closing, for example, a screw cap or a snap-on cap, from which the drain opening of the container can be closed. In addition, there is a need for individualized visual arrangement of the packaging means without jeopardizing its economical manufacture.

In addition, it is often useful when the spatial placement or orientation of the packaging means can only be determined by the touch itself. This option is advantageous, for example, for shampoo or shower gel containers when the user has closed eyes on the face of the foam and still wishes to find out where the opening or cap of the container is arranged and whether the container is in his hand in the correct or inverted position.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose measures for the packaging device of the type mentioned above which utilize the user ' s tactile capability so that the user will be able to blindly determine in particular the spatial fit / orientation of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved according to the invention in that at least one locally delimited area of the outer wall surface has a plastic material with a hardness different from that of the plastic material on the remaining parts of the outer wall surface.

In particular, the invention deals with so-called haptics, tactile science. According to the invention, the outer surface of the packaging means in a partial region is formed with a different plastic material which differs in haptics and preferably also in color from the remainder of the upper surface of the packaging means.

For a particularly simple and convenient determination of the spatial fit and orientation of the packaging means, it is advantageous if the locally delimited region is formed only in the lower or only the upper part of the wall.

-1 CZ 294214 B6

When, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one region is formed in the lower part of the wall with low hardness and in particular with a rubber-like haptic, this clearly leads the user to grasp the packaging means by its lower region.

Further, it is also proposed that the outer surface of the locally delimited region substantially aligns with the remaining portion of the outer wall surface. This embodiment offers advantages in terms of aesthetics as well as handling.

According to the state of the art, it is possible to produce a blown body only with a material uniform outer surface. Only by means of coextrusion other material boxes, similar to the packaging means, are also possible. Indeed, the flat embedded regions, which consist of other materials, for example thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) with rubber-acting haptics, and which are also incorporated into the finished surface region cannot be realized by the blow molding process. Therefore, in a further and particularly important embodiment of the invention, it is proposed that the locally delimited region be part of a separate plastic part which is connected to the remainder of the wall. The main body of the packaging means, in particular the bottle body, is therefore at least two-piece. Such a body then consists of the actual packaging means (bottle), which later receives the product, and in particular an injection molded part which forms the second part of the outer surface of the packaging means. This complementary part, also referred to herein as a " separate plastic part ", is particularly rigidly connected to the rest of the packaging means by clamping, screwing, gluing, welding or the like.

The injection molded individual plastic part may be formed in various ways. It may consist of a material that causes different surface haptics. However, it is also possible for this separate plastic part to be formed as a two-component plastic component by means of two-component injection molding. Such a coextruded portion has an inner core material that serves to reliably bond with the remaining portion of the packaging means, and an outer layer of material of the desired haptic. In doing so, the core material may partially protrude into the outer layer or may substantially coincide with the outer surface of the outer layer, or may also coincide with or protrude from the outer surface so that the core material extends somewhat over the upper surface in order to achieve this also another optical effect.

It is further proposed that a harder plastic material include a polyolefin and a softer plastic material an elastomeric material. It is preferred that the harder plastic material is PE, or otherwise polyethylene, or PP, or otherwise polypropylene, and the softer plastic material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

Furthermore, it is also preferred that the locally delimited region is colored differently from the rest of the outer wall surface. Advantageously, the different coloring can also be formed within a separate two component component of the plastic part, since the core material and the outer layer are differently colored.

Furthermore, the separate plastic part can be distinguished from the rest of the outer wall surface not only by the material and optionally the color, but also by the geometrical arrangement of the upper surface. It is proposed that at least one locally delimited region The stud structures can be readily recognized by the user ' s fingers, so that they can immediately look at the wall location to which they should preferably apply force. Moreover, the stud structures may be anti-slip. At the same time, these structures provide an optical effect on the user, especially when the base surfaces are clearly distinguished by suitable coloring or structuring, for example by their roughness. These structures are therefore suitable for visually individualizing the packaging means and appropriately affecting purchasing decisions.

-2GB 294214 B6

Furthermore, it is also proposed that the stud structures overlap a little over the remainder of the outer wall surface.

In addition, it is preferred that the stud structures have a greater hardness than the hardness of the plastics material of the rest of the outer wall surface. It is particularly advantageous here that the stud structures have less hardness than the plastic material hardness of the remaining part of the outer wall surface.

In addition, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is furthermore proposed that the wall be formed as a multilayer, with a region of inner layer of plastic material of greater hardness and an area of outer layer, the outer layer region. The packaging composition according to the invention enables economically problem-free production in large batches by a two-component injection molding process.

If the stud structures have less hardness than the plastics material of the remaining portion of the outer upper surface of the wall, it may further advantageously be provided that the stud structures are housed in openings in the wall.

In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in some detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Overview of figures and drawings

Giant. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a bottle according to a first embodiment of the invention, taken along the line I-I in FIG. 6;

Giant. 2 is a front view of the bottle of FIG. 1;

Giant. 3 is a side view of the bottle of FIGS. 1 and 2;

Giant. 4 is a side view of the other side of the bottle of FIGS. 1 to 3;

Giant. 5 is a bottom view of the bottle of FIGS. 1 to 4;

Giant. 6 is a top view of the bottle of FIGS. 1 to 5;

Giant. 7 is a perspective exploded view of the bottle of FIGS. 1 to 6;

Giant. 8 shows a partial front view of a container according to the invention in a second exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

Giant. 9 shows a perspective view of a snap-on cap according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In all figures, the same reference numerals have the same meaning and will therefore be explained only once in the present case.

Although the invention will be described in the following by way of specific examples, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these examples, but may always be advantageous.

It can be used when the packaging of any type is to be improved in terms of its tactile action and possibly also its visual appearance.

First, the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 will be explained in detail.

The plastic bottle is formed as a container for the liquid product, which is a shower gel. The bottle consists essentially of three parts, a blow molded body 5 having an upper opening 6 (see Fig. 7), a separate plastic part 7 and a closure 8, which is constructed in a known manner, is pressed into the opening 6 of the bottle body 5 and connection through insertion. Preferably, the three parts, namely the body 5, the separate plastic part 7 and the closure 8, have different colors.

The closure 8 is made of polypropylene (PP) plastic. The cap 8 has a known cap 9 of the cap 8, which is rotatably arranged by means of a film hinge 13 or other structure of the club hinge and can be opened by the engagement groove 14.

The bottle body 5, which is colored white in contrast to the blue cap 8, is made of polypropylene (PP) plastic. On the underside of the body 5, a yellow-colored separate plastic part 7 is mounted and snapped on, as is particularly apparent from FIG. 7. The separate plastic part 7 is injected by a two-component injection process. The outer layer is made of plastic, which is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), the inner layer, or otherwise the core layer, is made of plastic polypropylene (PP). The outer side of the separate plastic part 2 carries the stud structure 4 in the form of individual studs extending slightly outwardly over the upper surface. No studs are formed on the outside of the bottom of the separate plastic part 7 (see FIG. 5). In four regions 15, the core layer of the plastic part 7 passes through the outer layer. This core layer is noticeably harder than the outer layer of the areas 15, serving as a non-slip means for the container when transported in the filling device. Similar elements can also be provided on the outside of this plastic part 7 as structural elements, which may also have additional technical advantages. The bottom of the separate plastic part 7 (see FIG. 5) has any number of differently shaped openings, preferably two circular openings 19.

The connection of the separate plastic part 7 to the bottle body 5 is particularly well evident in FIG. 7. The four plastic strips 16 extending in the longitudinal direction of the plastic part 7 engage the corresponding slots 17 of the bottle body 5. The separate plastic part 7 will be caught by the snap-fit elements 18 of the bottle body which cooperate with the corresponding snap-in elements on the strips 16 of the plastic part 7 after being fully pushed onto the bottle body 5.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a container 1 according to the invention as a second embodiment of the invention. Only the peripheral wall 2 and the bottom wall 3 can be seen from the container 1. The upper end of the container 1 (not shown) can be formed in any desired manner. For example, it may be formed by a discharge opening with a closable closure cap or the like. The peripheral wall 2 may have a cylindrical, rectangular, oval or other desired configuration.

A plurality of stud structures 4 are formed on the peripheral wall 2 of the container 1 near the bottom wall 3, the distribution of which may be regular or intermittent on the peripheral wall 2. If desired, the regions of the peripheral wall 2 may be formed without the stud structures 4. it is preferable that the stud structures 4 are formed at diametrically opposed locations of the peripheral wall 2, so that from these opposing locations, The finger structures 4 provide the user with an indication of where the pressing force should preferably be applied. Although the stud structures 4 in the illustrated embodiment of the invention are formed in one region of the peripheral wall 2 near the bottom wall 3 of the container L, other regions of the peripheral wall 2 may also be selected instead of or in addition thereto. the surface of the peripheral wall or may overlap to a small extent. These structures 4 may have a circular, angular, oval or other suitable cross-sectional arrangement and may be flat, domed, smooth or roughened on the outer surface.

-4GB 294214 B6

The stud structures 4 are formed in contrast to the previously described embodiment of a plastic material having a different hardness than that of the plastic material forming the outer surface of the peripheral wall 2. Depending on the choice of plastic material for the stud structures 4, these structures 4 may have a correspondingly larger less hardness than the plastic material forming the outer surface of the peripheral wall 2.

The container will preferably be formed by two-component injection molding, as is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art, comprising one component of a higher hardness plastic material and another component of a lower hardness plastic material. A preferred plastic material of the first type is a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, in particular polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). A preferred plastic material in the second place of said type is a material selected from the group consisting of rubber-elastic materials such as elastomers, in particular thermoplastic elastomers.

In the two-component injection molding of the canister with the stub structures 4, when these structures 4 are to have a hardness greater than that of the plastic material on the outer surface of the peripheral wall 2, it is preferred to inject the inner layer 2 and together with the stud structures 4 extending therefrom. The preformed inner layer is then injected with an outer layer of softer plastic material which forms the outer surface of the peripheral wall 2, wherein the stud structures 4 are embedded in the softer plastic material of the outer layer.

If it is desired that the stud structures 4 have a lower hardness than the plastic material of the outer surface of the peripheral wall 2, the entire peripheral wall 2 of harder plastic material is injected in the first working step, while simultaneously in the peripheral wall In the next step, a softer plastic material is injected into the perforations of the peripheral wall 2 to form the stud structures 4. These structures 4 may be meshed to one another on the inside of the peripheral wall 2. via thin connecting bridges.

The thickness of the peripheral wall 2 of the container may be substantially uniform over the entire length of the container 1. However, it can also be ensured that the wall thickness in the section of the peripheral wall 2 containing the stub structures 4 is greater than in the remaining sections of the container 1, whereby the container 1 in the vicinity, e.g. However, a completely reversed distribution of wall thickness could also be advantageous for some applications.

Giant. 9 shows a snap-on cap 10 according to one further exemplary embodiment of the invention. In this exemplary embodiment, the stud structures 4 are formed in the circumferential wall 2 of the snap-on cap 10 on diametrically opposed wide sides 12. These structures 4 provide the user with a reference where the force of the fingers should be applied in order to deform the wide sides 12. Such deformation of the wide sides 12 is, for example, necessary for the snap-fit mounting means 11 of the snap-on cap 10 to be disengaged from the complementary lower engagement means on the container (not shown) when it is desirable to remove the snap-on cap 10 from the container to be dispensed. its content. In an analogous manner, the peripheral wall of the screw cap could be formed to improve handling. The stud structures could also be formed on an outer cap that includes an inner closure cap to facilitate removal of the outer cap.

Finally, it may be desirable to utilize the invention with additional equipment for the packaging device of the initially mentioned type. For example, a wall of a panel, plaque, plate, or the like (not shown), mountable, for example, clampable, to a container or closure cap could be formed as described above and provided with stud structures. The term "ancillary equipment" also further includes a bandage comprising a peripheral wall of the container or closure cap (also not shown).

Claims (13)

PATENT CLAIMS Packaging means having a wall, characterized in that at least one locally delimited area of the outer surface of the wall ( 2) is made of a plastic material with a hardness that is different from the hardness of the plastic material in the rest of the outer surface of the wall (2). Packaging means according to claim 1, characterized in that the locally delimited region is formed only in the lower or upper part of the wall (2). Packaging means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one region having a lower hardness is formed in the lower part of the wall (2) and in particular 15 with a rubber-like haptic. Packaging means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer surface of the locally delimited region is substantially aligned with the remaining portion of the outer surface of the wall (2). Packaging means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locally delimited area is part of a separate plastic part (7) which is connected to the rest of the wall (2). 25 Packaging means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separate plastic part (7) is a two-component plastic component formed by two-component injection molding. Packaging means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the harder plastic material comprises a polyolefin and the softer plastic material comprises an elastomeric material. The packaging composition of claim 7, wherein the harder plastic material is polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) and the softer plastic material is a thermoplastic material. 35 plastic elastomer. Packaging means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locally delimited area is colored differently from the rest of the outer surface of the wall (2). Packaging means according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one locally delimited region has a plurality of spaced apart stub structures (4) on the outer surface. II. Packaging means according to claim 10, characterized in that the stud structures (4) 45 slightly overlap the remaining part of the outer surface of the wall (2). Packaging means according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the stud structures (4) have a hardness greater than that of the plastic material of the remaining part of the outer surface of the wall (2). Packaging means according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the stud structures (4) have a lower hardness than the hardness of the plastic material of the remaining part of the outer surface of the wall (2). Packaging means according to claim 12, characterized in that the wall (2) is formed as a multilayer, with a region of the inner layer of plastic material of greater hardness and an area of the outer layer, the stud structures (4) extending outward are embedded 5 in the plastic material of the outer layer region. Packaging means according to claim 13, characterized in that the stud structures (4) are seated in the openings of the wall (2).