DE102020210367A1 - RESEALABLE PRODUCT PACKAGING - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a resealable product package having a container for receiving a product and a closure which can be mounted on the container and which is designed to be repeatedly removed from the container by disassembly and re-attached by mounting it on the container. When fastened, the closure covers a dispensing opening of the container for the product. At least one first retaining element is attached to the closure and at least one second retaining element is attached to the container, which are positively engaged with one another when the closure is in the fastened state. At least one first spreading element is attached to the closure and at least one second spreading element is attached to the container, the at least one second spreading element being set up to exert a spreading force on the at least one first spreading element when the closure is removed, and the at least one first holding element being held by the Spreading force is moved such that the form fit of the at least one first holding element is canceled or largely canceled with the at least one second holding element.

Description

The present invention relates to a reclosable product packaging with a container for receiving a product, preferably liquid, pasty or powdery, and a closure mountable on the container, which is adapted to be repeatedly removed from the container by disassembly and reattached to the container by assembly be, wherein the closure in the attached state covers a dispensing opening of the container for the product. If the closure itself has an additional dispensing opening, as described below, the closure should cover the dispensing opening of the container at least in the closed state of this additional dispensing opening.

The dispensing opening of the container is used in particular for removing the product from the container and/or for filling the container with the product. In addition, the closure can also have at least one further dispensing opening, which is used in particular for removing the product from the container. Then the further dispensing opening in the closure can be used in particular for removing the product when the closure is attached, while the dispensing opening of the container is used for filling the container with the product when the closure is removed (or not yet fitted).

Closures for product packaging of the type described above are often realized as so-called snap-on closures.

Against the background of the ever-increasing cost pressure in the packaging segment, a trend away from the classic screw cap towards a closure applied via a snap-on process can be seen in numerous packaging systems. A snap-on closure is a closure whose connection to the container is formed by a form fit, the form fit being established by linear movement of the closure towards the container. Such closures are often used in machine closures after a bottling process, since they often show advantages, in particular shorter cycle times, lower weight and/or better efficiency on the bottling lines, for production and bottling. When a snap-on closure is removed, a force is usually applied to the elements involved in the form fit in order to bring about a mechanical deformation of the material and a dissolution of the form fit. This causes a heavy load on the material, which also depends in particular on the material of the closure and/or the container. For this reason, a material-dependent closure system is often necessary, even if the bottle geometry remains the same. With regard to the multiple use of such product packaging, which is becoming more and more important, it is of great importance to minimize this stress and to provide a closure system that can be used for a variety of materials.

The present invention is based on the object of providing a reclosable product packaging of the type described above, which allows the closure to be removed (and also screwed on again) in a way that is gentle on the material and can be easily carried out by a user, and in particular the effort required to deform the material during the dissolution to reduce the form fit.

The solution to this problem is achieved according to the teaching of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The resealable product packaging according to the invention has a container for receiving a preferably liquid, pasty or powdery product and a closure that can be mounted on the container and is set up to be repeatedly removed from the container by disassembly and reattached by mounting it on the container. When fastened, the closure covers a dispensing opening of the container for the product.

At least one first retaining element is attached to the closure and at least one second retaining element is attached to the container, the at least one first retaining element being in positive engagement with the at least one second retaining element when the closure is in the fastened state.

Furthermore, at least one first spreader element is attached to the closure and at least one second spreader element is attached to the container, with the at least one first retaining element being essentially rigidly connected to the at least one first spreader element and the at least one second spreader element being set up on the at least one first When removing the closure, the spreading element exerts a spreading force, in particular directed radially outwards, and the at least one first holding element is moved by the spreading force, in particular radially outwards, in such a way that the form fit of the at least one first holding element with the at least one second holding element is abolished or largely abolished.

The resealable product packaging according to the invention has the advantage that the first holding element and the second holding element can enter into a form fit that has a high holding force in the direction of removal, but can be released by the user without great effort, without heavily stressing the material. While in conventional resealable product packaging the entire holding force of the form fit usually has to be overcome in order to cancel the form fit, according to the invention the form fit is canceled or largely canceled by the spreading force exerted by the second spreading element on the first spreading element, so that not the entire holding force in the removal direction must be overcome.

Preferred embodiments of the product packaging are described below, which can be combined with one another in any way, unless this is expressly excluded or is technically impossible.

According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one second spreading element is set up to exert a removal force, in particular directed away from the container, on the at least one first spreading element when removing the closure, and the at least one first holding element is moved by the removal force in such a way, in particular away from the container moved to remove the shutter. This has the advantage that the closure is removed at the same time as the positive locking is released, as a result of which the force that has to be applied in order to remove the closure from the container is reduced or eliminated. This simplifies the movement of removing the closure.

According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one second spreading element has a surface, in particular an essentially conical one, which tapers in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the container in the direction away from the container. As a result, the at least one first spreading element can slide off the tapered surface of the second spreading element in the direction away from the container after the positive locking of the at least one first holding element with the at least one second holding element has been canceled or partially canceled, whereby, in particular together with a force opposite to the spreading force Restoring force of the at least one first spreading element, the removal force directed away from the container is generated.

According to a preferred embodiment, the closure is arranged to be fixed by a substantially rectilinear movement of the closure towards the container. A rectilinear fastening movement has the advantage that it can be carried out quickly and easily both for machines, in particular in the case of automated filling of the container and assembly of the closure, and for people when using the product packaging.

According to a preferred embodiment, the closure is set up to be removed by a combination of a substantially linear and a substantially rotary movement of the closure relative to the container. Substantially rectilinear movement is easy for the user to perform, and substantially rotary movement of the closure has the advantage of reducing the risk of accidental removal of the closure. Furthermore, the container and the closure can be designed in such a way that a substantially rotational movement of the closure results in an additional rectilinear movement, whereby the rectilinear movement does not have to be deliberately applied by the user.

According to a preferred variant of this embodiment, the closure is set up to be removed both by a rotational movement of the closure in a clockwise direction and by a rotational movement of the closure in an anti-clockwise direction. This has the advantage of making the shutter easier and more intuitive to remove as the user has more options for the removal movement. For example, favorable distance movements can be made possible in this way both for right-handers and for left-handers.

According to a preferred embodiment, the closure has an outer peripheral wall, the at least one first retaining element and the at least one first spreading element are arranged within the outer peripheral wall, and the spreading force is not exerted via the outer peripheral wall on the at least one first spreading element and the at least one first transfer holding element.

A “peripheral wall” within the meaning of the invention is to be understood as meaning a wall which at least partially surrounds the first holding element and the at least one first spreading element.

This has the advantage that when removing the closure, the user can grip the closure on the peripheral wall without disturbing or stressful forces being exerted on the at least one first holding element and the at least one first spreading element, which makes removing the closure more reliable and easier lower material stress is made possible. Since the outer peripheral wall does not participate in the transmission of the spreading force, it can also be designed more freely, for example with regard to its shape, its material and/or its wall thickness.

According to a preferred embodiment alternative to the last-mentioned embodiment, the closure has an outer peripheral wall, and the at least one first holding element and the at least one first spreading element are arranged on the inside of the outer peripheral wall.

In this way, additional elements in the closure for arranging the at least one first holding element and the at least one first expanding element are superfluous, as a result of which the closure can be designed overall with less material and therefore lighter and cheaper.

According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one first holding element and the at least one first spreading element are arranged together on a closure element with a longitudinal extension, a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the closure element is connected to an outer wall of the first end closure, in particular with a cover section of the outer wall, the at least one first spreading element is arranged at the second end and the at least one first holding element is arranged between the first end and the second end, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the closure element. Because the first holding element is arranged between the connection of the closure element with an outer wall of the closure and the first expansion element, a lower expansion force is required due to the leverage effect.

According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one second spreading element does not have a rotationally symmetrical shape. This has the advantage that a spreading force is already produced on an adjacent first spreading element by rotating the closure.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cross section of the at least one second spreading element perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container essentially has the shape of an ellipse. This has the advantage that a first spreading element, which is in contact with the end of the semi-minor axis of the elliptical cross-section of the second spreading element, is in contact with the end of the semi-major axis of the elliptical cross-section by rotating it through 90°, with the first spreading element being in contact with the difference during the rotation the major semi-axis is moved outwards towards the minor semi-axis.

In a method of manufacturing the container of a reclosable product package according to the invention, the container is formed by injection stretch blow molding. In a first step a preform is injection molded and in a second step a section of the preform is blown out within a blow mold, the at least one second spreading element being arranged in the blown out section of the preform.

In this two-stage injection stretch blow molding, prior art containers intended for use with oriented closures, i. H. with closures that cannot be mounted in any rotational position relative to the container, it is often necessary to align the preform before the blow molding process. Such an alignment is usually achieved by the preform having at least one cam for alignment. The parison is then rotated slightly so that the cam can be aligned against a stop before the parison is placed in the blow mold.

However, such an alignment is complex and often error-prone. In the production method according to the invention, there is no need for such an alignment, since the at least one second spreading element is not in the injection-molded area (which remains untouched during blowing out), but in the blown-out section of the preform, i.e. only in the second step, the blowing out of the preform. is formed.

Due to this manufacturing process, the at least one second spreading element is automatically in the correct rotational position on the container. In this way, the closure is later automatically fixed in the correct rotational position relative to the container.

This enables the container to be manufactured more quickly and at lower cost. In addition, standard preforms can be used.

Alternatively, a container of a reclosable product packaging according to the invention can also be produced, for example, by an extrusion blow molding process, by single-stage injection blow molding or by single-stage injection stretch blow molding.

The features and advantages explained in relation to the reclosable product packaging according to the invention also apply correspondingly to the manufacturing method according to the invention.

Further advantages, features and application possibilities of the present invention result from the following detailed description in connection with the figures.

• 1a schematisch einen Querschnitt eines erfindungsgemäßen Verschlusses auf einem erfindungsgemäßen Behälter im befestigtem Zustand in Richtung der Behälterhauptachse;
• 1b schematisch einen Querschnitt des Verschlusses aus 1a auf dem Behälter aus 1a im befestigtem Zustand senkrecht zur Behälterhauptachse;
• 2a schematisch einen Querschnitt des Verschlusses aus 1a auf dem Behälter aus 1a im entfernbaren Zustand in Richtung der Behälterhauptachse;
• 2b schematisch einen Querschnitt des Verschlusses aus 1a auf dem Behälter aus 1a im entfernbaren Zustand senkrecht zur Behälterhauptachse;

while showing

• 1a schematically shows a cross section of a closure according to the invention on a container according to the invention in the fastened state in the direction of the main axis of the container;
• 1b schematically shows a cross section of the closure 1a on the container 1a when fastened, perpendicular to the main axis of the container;
• 2a schematically shows a cross section of the closure 1a on the container 1a in the removable state in the direction of the main axis of the container;
• 2 B schematically shows a cross section of the closure 1a on the container 1a in the removable state, perpendicular to the main axis of the container;

Throughout the figures, the same reference numbers are used for the same or corresponding elements of the invention.

1a and 1b schematically show a closure 10 according to the invention on a container 20 according to the invention in the fastened state. while showing 1a a cross-section through a plane containing the container main axis 30 and 1b a cross section through a plane which is perpendicular to the main axis 30 of the container. The container main axis 30 coincides with a longitudinal axis of the container 20. The position of the plane of the cross section 1a is in 1b indicated by the line B - B. The position of the plane of the cross section of 1b is in 1a indicated by the line A - A.

The closure 10 has two first holding elements 11 and 11'. These are arranged integrally in two closure elements 13 and 13 ′, which are designed as two tongues that are slightly curved in the circumferential direction and are attached to the cover wall 15 of the closure 10 and extend from it along the main container axis 30 towards the container 20 . The container 20 has a second holding element 21 which is designed to be rotationally symmetrical and runs around the main axis 30 of the container and widens conically towards the container. The first holding elements 11 and 11' and the second holding element 21 have a mutually complementary, hook-like shape in cross section.

When the closure 10 is fastened, it is moved linearly towards the container 20 in the direction of the main container axis 30 . Due to the conical widening of the second retaining element 21, the linear movement directed in the direction of the main container axis 30 when the closure 10 is fitted results in a force directed radially outwards from the main container axis 30 on the first retaining elements 11 and 11′.

As soon as the closure 10 is placed on the container 20, the first retaining elements 11 or 11' snap back like a hook due to the elasticity of the closure elements 13 or 13' and form a form fit with the second retaining element 21. The closure 10 is covered in this fastened state the closure 10 the opening 25 of the container 20.

The second spreading element 22 on the container 20 is also rotationally symmetrical and is designed to run around the main axis 30 of the container and has the shape of an ellipse tapering away from the container. In the cross section of the shutter 10 shown in 1a is shown and the line B - B off 1b contains, the outer wall of the second spreading element 22 has a small radial distance from the container main axis 30, since the cross section runs through the minor semi-axes of the ellipse. As a result, no force, in particular no radially outwardly directed force, is exerted on the first spreading elements 12 or 12', which are connected to the first holding elements 11 or 11' via the closure elements 13 or 13'.

2a and 2 B Fig. 12 schematically show the closure 10 on the container 20 in the removable condition. This condition is achieved by rotating the container 20 relative to the closure 10 by 90 degrees or by -90 degrees about the main axis 30 of the container. 2a shows a cross-section through a plane containing the container main axis 30, and 2 B a cross section through a plane which is perpendicular to the main axis 30 of the container. The position of the plane of the cross section of 2a is in 2 B indicated by the line D - D. The position of the plane of the cross section of 2 B is in 2a indicated by the line C - C. The rotational position of the breech 10 in 2a or. 2 B is identical to the position of the breech 10 in 1a or. 1b , while the container is 20 in 2a or. 2 B compared to the container 20 in 1a or. 1b rotated by 90 degrees or -90 degrees about the main axis 30 of the container.

The second holding element 21 is rotationally symmetrical about the main axis 30 of the container. This simplifies the manufacturing process in that no rotational positions of the second holding element 21 with the second spreading element 22 have to be matched to one another during the manufacturing process.

In the cross section of the shutter 10 shown in 2a is shown and the line D - D off 2 B contains, the outer wall of the second spreading element 22 has a greater radial distance from the container main axis 30, since the cross section runs through the major semi-axes of the ellipse. As a result, the first spreading elements 12 or 12', which are connected to the first holding elements 11 or 11' via the closure elements 13 or 13', are spread radially outwards. In this position, the maximum spreading of the spreading elements 12 or 12' has been reached, and the positive locking of the first holding elements 11 or 11' with the second holding element 21 is broken.

Due to the conical shape of the second spreader element 22, which tapers upwards, in addition to the radially outwardly directed spreading force on the first spreader elements 12 and 12', a force directed away from the container in the direction of the main container axis 30 is exerted on the closure 10 via the spreader elements 12 and 12' and the closure elements 13 and 13 'exercised. This ensures that the form fit is canceled and the closure 10 is removed from the container 20 at the same time.

Reference List

10

closure

11, 11'

First holding elements

12, 12'

First expansion elements

13, 13'

First closure elements

14

perimeter wall

15

top panel

20

container

21

Second holding element

22

Second spreader

25

opening

30

container main axis

Claims (12)

Resealable product packaging comprising: a container (20) for receiving a preferably liquid, pasty or powdery product and a closure (10) mountable on the container (20), which is set up to be repeatedly removed from the container (20) by disassembly and reattached by mounting on the container (20), wherein the closure (10) in the attached state covers a dispensing opening (25) of the container (20) for the product, at least one first holding element (11, 11') being attached to the closure (10) and at least one second holding element (21) to the container (20), wherein the at least one first retaining element (11, 11') is positively engaged with the at least one second retaining element (21) when the closure (10) is in the fastened state; at least one first spreading element (12, 12') being attached to the closure (10) and at least one second spreading element (22) being attached to the container (20), the at least one first holding element (11, 11') being attached to the at least one first expansion element (12, 12') is essentially rigidly connected, wherein the at least one second spreading element (22) is set up to exert a spreading force, in particular directed radially outwards, on the at least one first spreading element (12, 12') when the closure (10) is removed; and wherein the at least one first holding element (11, 11') is moved by the spreading force, in particular radially outwards, in such a way that the form fit of the at least one first holding element (11, 11') with the at least one second holding element (21) is canceled or is largely abolished. Resealable product packaging claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one second spreading element (22) is set up to exert a removal force, directed in particular away from the container (20), on the at least one first spreading element (12, 12') when the closure (10) is removed, and that the at least one first holding element (11, 11') is moved by the removal force in such a way, in particular away from the container (20), that the closure (10) is removed. Resealable product packaging claim 2 , characterized in that the at least one second spreading element has an in particular essentially conical surface which tapers in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the container in the direction away from the container. Reclosable product packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure (10) is set up by a substantially movement of the closure (10) in a straight line towards the container (20). Reclosable product packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure (10) is adapted to be removed by a combination of substantially linear and substantially rotary movement of the closure (10) relative to the container (20). Reclosable product packaging according to the preceding claim, characterized in that both a clockwise rotational movement of the closure (10) and a counterclockwise rotational movement of the closure (10) result in removal of the closure from the container (20). Reclosable product packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure (10) has an outer peripheral wall (14) that the at least one first holding element (11, 11') and the at least one first spreading element (12, 12') inside the outer peripheral wall (14) and that the spreading force is not transmitted via the outer peripheral wall (14) to the at least one first spreading element (12, 12') and the at least one first holding element (11, 11'). Resealable product packaging according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the closure (10) has an outer peripheral wall (14) and in that the at least one first holding element (11, 11') and the at least one first spreading element (12, 12') on the inside of the outer peripheral wall (14 ) are arranged. Reclosable product packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one first holding element (11, 11 ') and the at least one first spreading element (12, 12') together on a closure element (13, 13 ') with a longitudinal extent, a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the closure element (13, 13') being connected at the first end to an outer wall of the closure (10), in particular to a cover section of the outer wall, which is at least a first spreading element (12, 12') is arranged at the second end and the at least one first holding element (11, 11') is arranged between the first end and the second end, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the closure element (13, 13'). . Reclosable product packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one second spreading element (22) does not have a rotationally symmetrical shape. Reclosable product packaging according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the cross-section of the at least one second spreading element (22) perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container (20) essentially has the shape of an ellipse. A method of manufacturing the container (20) of a reclosable product package according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (20) is formed by injection stretch blow molding, wherein a parison is injection molded in a first step and a portion of the parison is injection molded in a second step within a Blow mold is blown out and wherein the at least one second spreading element (22) is arranged in the blown-out section of the preform.

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