DE202019106993U1 - Resealable pouring element for cardboard / plastic composite packs with an anchor ring for secure connection of a screw cap - Google Patents

Abstract

Resealable pouring element for cardboard / plastic composite packs (P), in particular beverage packs, with a base element (2) having a circumferential fastening flange (1) and an external thread (10), with at least in the unopened state of the pouring element arranged inside the base element (2) Opening means and a screw cap (3) with an internal thread, the opening means being designed such that when the composite package (P) is opened for the first time when the screw cap (3) is screwed on, the composite material of the package (P) or a barrier layer located in the base element (2) is broken A pouring opening is created within the pouring element, characterized in that an anchor ring (4) is arranged underneath the screw cap (3), which is non-rotatably connected therewith and can be rotated radially freely around the base element (2) and is tensile in the axial direction with the base element (2 ) is connected and that for secure connection of the scraper ubdeckels (3) to the base element (2) in the unscrewed state of the anchor ring (4) via a hinge element (5), the pivot axis of which is oriented tangentially to the outer circumference of the screw cover (3), is connected in an articulated manner to the screw cover (3).

Description

The invention relates to a reclosable pouring element for cardboard / plastic composite packs, in particular beverage packs, with a base element having a circumferential fastening flange and an external thread, with opening means arranged at least in the unopened state of the pouring element inside the base element and a screw cap with an internal thread, the opening means thus are designed such that when the composite package is opened for the first time when the screw cap is screwed on, a pouring opening is created within the pouring element by breaking open the composite material of the package or a barrier layer located in the base element.

A generic pouring element is based on the applicant DE 10 2006 016 113 B3 known. To assemble the pouring element, the screw cap is moved over the cutting element protruding from the pouring element and pressed together with it onto the base element (bruised). As a tamper-evident seal, a plate is integrally molded onto the screw cap, which is connected to the screw cap via connecting bridges. For connection to the base element, the plate has pins on its underside, which engage in corresponding recesses in the flange of the base element and are caulked from below after assembly. The connecting bridges break when the pouring element is opened for the first time, so that the screw cap is then only loosely attached to the pouring element and the composite pack.

In order to ensure that the screw caps of compound packaging do not get into the environment unintentionally, it is desirable to securely attach screw caps to their respective compound packaging so that loose plastic parts are reliably avoided even when the packaging is open.

Elements that ensure a secure connection of screw caps to their respective packs, even when open, have long been known from the prior art in the area of closures for commercially available PET bottles. The known PET bottles have in common that the cylindrical base body has a bottle neck that is significantly narrower than the base body, so that a screw cap provided with a connecting element can be pivoted away well over 90 °.

From the EP 1124 734 B1 is known a closure device for a PET bottle with a ring arranged under the screw cap, which is connected to the screw cap via a film hinge and prevents the screw cap from being pulled off even in the open state.

The US 5 215 204 A shows a cap for a bottle with a ring arranged under the screw cap, which is integrally connected to the screw cap via two connecting bridges. The ring and the bottle are designed in such a way that the ring cannot be pulled off the bottle.

Furthermore, from the WO 2009/048273 A2 a screw cap for a conventional bottle is known. The screw cap consists of a screw cap and a ring connected by a film hinge. Here, too, the ring ensures that the screw cap is connected to the bottle in a tensile manner in the axial direction.

Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the object of designing and developing a reclosable pouring element for cardboard / plastic composite packs of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that a connection of the screw cap to the pouring element is ensured even when unscrewed. For this purpose, a tensile connection between the screw cap and pouring element is provided, in which the screw cap can be tightened with a force of at least 10 to 30th N , which is usually necessary for the first time opening a commercially available screw cap, cannot be detached from the pouring element in the axial direction.

Furthermore, it is desirable that a reliable locking of the screw cap in an open position with respect to the pivoting open is ensured in order to enable pouring out of the composite package without undesired pivoting of the screw cap. A radial adjustment of the screw cap in the locked open position is particularly advantageous in order to enable pouring from any direction of the pouring element, since composite packs are not essentially rotationally symmetrical like commercially available PET bottles or have an essentially square cross section and from every side can be poured out equally well. Furthermore, it is desirable that in the locked opening position there is as much free space in front of the pouring opening as possible, despite the opening means which are often present in the screw cap in the case of cardboard / plastic composite packings and which are necessary for producing a pouring opening.

This object is achieved in a reclosable pouring element with the features of the preamble of claim 1 in that underneath the screw cap one with the latter rotatably connected anchor ring is arranged, which is radially freely rotatable about the base element and axially tensile to the base element and that for secure connection of the screw cover to the base element, even when unscrewed, the anchor ring via a hinge element, the pivot axis of which is tangential to the outer circumference of the screw cover is aligned, is hinged to the screw cap.

The connection of the screw cap to the base element, which is tensile in the axial direction, ensures that the screw cap is not a loose plastic part even when the pouring element is open and that it cannot escape into the environment as a loose plastic part. The invention thus makes a valuable contribution to reducing pollution.

The film hinges usually used for connecting a screw cap to a base element often tear off after only a small number of opening operations and can therefore not guarantee a secure connection of a screw cap to its base element. The special design of the hinge element ensures that even after the pouring element has been opened several times, the screw cap does not become detached from the rest of the base element.

A further teaching of the invention provides that the anchor ring has a circumferentially extending slot which separates the anchor ring in one section into upper parts and a lower part, the upper parts and the lower part being arranged at a distance from one another in the axial direction. It is advantageous if the slot is arranged in the circumferential direction in the area of the hinge element. Thus, the hinge element can be connected to the upper parts of the anchor ring in such a way that the end of the upper parts facing the hinge element is twisted after the screw cap has been swung open.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the hinge element is arranged centrally in the circumferential direction to the slot. This ensures that the two sides of the upper parts of the anchor ring are loaded evenly when the screw cap is opened.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the lower end of the hinge element protrudes downward in the unopened state of the pouring element over the lower end of the upper parts of the anchor ring in the direction of the fastening flange. If the screw cap is pivoted open after it has been unscrewed, the lower end of the hinge element folds in the direction of the slot, so that the screw cap is locked in its open position with respect to its pivoting at an opening angle of 120 ° to 150 °. In this state, the screw cap can no longer pivot back without exerting any external force. This has the great advantage that the screw cap does not automatically swing back when pouring and does not come into contact with the product during the pouring process.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the screw cap can be rotated radially freely in its locked open position. This has the great advantage that the screw cap can be turned into a position desired by the user. In the locked position, however, a slight force must be applied from the outside in order to allow rotation, since the fixing of the screw cover with respect to its pivoting creates increased frictional resistance between the hinge element and the base element. However, the increased frictional resistance is also desirable so that the screw cap does not easily move in the direction of the pouring jet during pouring, caused by the gravitational force.

Another teaching of the invention provides that the hinge element is arranged above the lower third of the base element with respect to its pivot axis in the unopened state. The arrangement of the hinge element above the lower third ensures that the screw cap can achieve an opening position with an opening angle of 120 ° to 150 ° before the screw cap hits the composite package. Since composite packs typically do not have a bottle neck as is the case with PET bottles, the swing-open movement of the screw cap is significantly more limited than with PET bottles. In order to achieve a sufficiently large opening angle for a pleasant pouring process, an arrangement of the hinge element as high as possible is desirable.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the base element has an outwardly projecting and essentially circumferential collar. By providing an essentially circumferential web directed towards the base element at the lower end of the anchor ring, which is arranged below the collar, the anchor ring is reliably prevented from being pulled off over the collar. At least either the collar or the web can be interrupted at one or more points, provided that it is ensured that the anchor ring with its web facing the base element cannot slide over the collar provided on the base element.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the collar is arranged in the unopened state in the axial direction in the upper region of the anchor ring, so that when the screw cap is unscrewed, movement of the hinge element in the axial direction is possible until the web comes into contact with the collar. By as large a distance as possible in the axial direction between the web and the collar in the unopened state of the pouring element, the anchor ring including the hinge element can cover the greatest possible distance when the screw cap is screwed on and swung open, so that the pivot axis of the hinge element is displaced upward. A swivel axis arranged as far up as possible is desirable in order to enable the screw cap to have the largest possible opening angle for convenient pouring, despite the bottle neck not being present on composite packs.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivot axis of the hinge element is arranged in the axial direction in the upper half of the base element when the screw cover is pivoted away, particularly preferably in the upper third of the base element.

According to a preferred development of the invention, it is provided that on the base element below the collar in the direction of the anchor ring protruding outwards and extending perpendicular to the mounting flange ribs are provided. These ribs ensure that the anchor ring is always at a certain distance from the base element in the radial direction. As a result, the anchor ring is centered with respect to the base member in any state.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening means comprise a cutting element arranged in the interior of the base element and at least one driver web arranged in the interior of the screw cover and positively or materially connected thereto, which is preferably attached as close as possible to the hinge element.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of driver webs arranged uniformly distributed over the circumference are provided.

This driver web can at least partially protrude from the inside of the screw cap in the swung-open state. It is therefore particularly important that a sufficiently large opening angle of the screw cap can be achieved.

Another advantageous teaching of the invention provides that the fastening flange of the pouring element is connected to the inside of the composite package. A corresponding composite pack has a material cutout at the point of the later pouring opening. For assembly, the pouring element is guided through the interior of the composite package, positioned in the area of the material recess and then connected to the inside of the composite package. In the case of this embodiment of the invention, the base element is closed on the inside of the package in the unopened state, so that the product in the composite package cannot flow into the pouring element in the unopened state. In this embodiment of the invention, the opening means comprise an opening element which is arranged in the unopened state inside the base element and is integrally connected to it, and at least one force transmission element which is arranged in the interior of the screw cap and is integrally connected to it.

The opening element is positively connected to the at least one force transmission element and, when the pouring element is opened for the first time, triggered by the rotation of the at least one force transmission element, is separated from the base element at predetermined breaking points, so that there is no longer a cohesive connection between the base element and the opening element. From this point on, the opening element is only positively connected to the at least one force transmission element, so that it cannot get into the composite package under the pouring element. When opened, the opening element can at least partially protrude from the inside of the screw cap. Appropriate opening means are already from the JP 5857668 B2 known.

A pouring element according to the invention preferably has at least one tamper-evident seal between the fastening flange and the anchor ring or the screw cap. This can consist of a band, one end of which is firmly connected to the anchor ring and the other end of which is connected to the anchor ring by means of a predetermined breaking point such that the predetermined breaking point is broken open by at least one mandrel element arranged on the fastening flange when the screw cap is screwed on, and thus informing the consumer of a first opening that has already taken place.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a drawing which represents only preferred exemplary embodiments.

Figure list

• 1 1 shows a perspective view of a pouring element according to the invention in the unopened state (without cardboard / plastic composite packaging),
• 2 the pouring element 1 in a side view,
• 3 a base element of the pouring element 1 in perspective,
• 4 the pouring element 1 in vertical section,
• 5 the pouring element 1 at the beginning of the screwing on of the screw cap in a perspective view,
• 6 the pouring element 1 with the screw cap already screwed on but still closed in a side view in half section
• 7 the pouring element 1 with unscrewed and swung-away screw cover in a side view,
• 8th the pouring element 1 with unscrewed, swung away and locked screw cover in a side view and
• 9 an alternative embodiment of a pouring element according to the invention in vertical section.

In the drawing, a preferred embodiment of a pouring element according to the invention is shown in order to make it clear how it works when a compound package P is opened. Here is in 1 a pouring element according to the invention without composite pack P is shown in a perspective view. The pouring element has a circumferential fastening flange 1 having basic element 2 (which in 1 is not visible) and a screw cap 3 , which is used for the first opening and for reclosing a composite pack P, not shown.

Below the screw cap 3 is a non-rotatably connected anchor ring 4 arranged to remove the screw cap 3 from the base element 2 or to reliably exclude a composite package P provided therewith. For this are the screw cap 3 and the anchor ring 4 articulated via a hinge element 5 , whose pivot axis is tangential to the outer circumference of the screw cap 3 is aligned with each other. The anchor ring 4 has a circumferential slot 6 on the anchor ring 4 in one section into upper parts 4A and a lower part 4B separates, the upper parts 4A and the lower part 4B are arranged spaced apart in the axial direction. The hinge element 5 can compared to the rest of the screw cap 2 be made with a larger, the same or a smaller wall thickness.

In 2 it can be clearly seen that the slot 6 in the circumferential direction centered on the hinge element 5 is arranged. The hinge element 5 is with the upper parts 4A of the anchor ring 4 connected and with respect to its pivot axis in the unopened state above the lower third of the base element 2 arranged. Also going out 2 that the lower end of the hinge element 5 in the unopened state of the pouring element over the lower end of the upper parts 4A of the anchor ring 4 down towards the mounting flange 1 protrudes. They are also at the bottom of the base element 2 towards the anchor ring 4 protruding outwards and perpendicular to the mounting flange 1 extending ribs 7 intended. These center the anchor ring 4 with respect to the base element 2 and ensure even friction when turning the anchor ring 4 ,

3 shows the basic element 2 of in 1 pouring element shown. One can see that the basic element 2 an external thread 8th , by means of which the in 3 screw cap, not shown 3 on the base element 2 can be screwed on. The basic element 2 also shows on its outside above the ribs ( 7 ) an outwardly projecting and radially circumferential collar 9 on.

Furthermore is inside the base element 2 a cutting element 10 recognizable, when opening the compound package P by screwing on the screw cap 3 creates a pouring opening within the pouring element.

In 4 the pouring element is now shown in vertical section in the unopened state. In 4 it can be seen that the collar 9 with its outer peripheral surface in the upper area of the anchor ring 4 the inner surface of the anchor ring 4 touched. According to the invention, the anchor ring 4 at its lower end a radially circumferential, to the base element 2 facing jetty 11 on that below that on the base element 2 provided collar 9 a removal of the anchor ring is arranged 4 over the collar 9 this also prevents. The collar 9 is in the unopened state of the pouring element in the upper area of the anchor ring 4 arranged so that when the screw cap is screwed on 3 the movement of the anchor ring 4 and thus also that of the hinge element 5 is made possible in the axial direction upwards until the web 11 with the collar 9 comes into contact.

In the in 4 The preferred embodiment shown is an opening means consisting of the inside of the base element 2 arranged cutting element 10 and inside the screw cap 3 arranged carrier bars 12 that are connected to this materially recognizable. When the compound package P is opened for the first time, this becomes an external thread 13 having cutting element 10 by means of the carrier bars 12 and one on the base element 2 trained internal thread 14 by screwing on the screw cap 3 conveyed in the direction of the composite package P, so that a pouring opening is created within the pouring element. It is clearly recognizable that the driver webs 12 compared to the outer peripheral surface of the screw cap 3 protrude downwards so that they swivel open from the inside of the screw cap 3 stick out.

The 5 to 8th finally illustrate the function of the pouring element according to the invention during the opening process of the screw cap 3 ,

In 5 is the pouring element at the beginning of the screwing on of the screw cap 3 shown. Here you can see that the anchor ring 4 radially freely rotatable with the base element 2 is connected so that the anchor ring 4 with the rotating movement of the screw cap 3 moved along.

In 6 is the pouring element with the screw cap already screwed on but still closed 3 shown. On the left side of the 6 the pouring element is shown in a side view, while the right side of the 6 reproduces a vertical section. The anchor ring 4 and the hinge element 5 have moved through the screw cap 3 also moved upwards. In this state, the base element touch 2 provided collar 9 and the web arranged on the anchor ring 11 , The slot 6 has by moving the screw cap 3 upwards at least centrally in the axial direction, so that the pivot axis of the hinge element 5 has moved further up in the axial direction.

In 7 is the pouring element in an open state and with a screw cap pivoted away 3 shown with a composite package P. As in 6 can also be seen here that the anchor ring 4 not over the collar 9 can slip out, so that despite its rotatability with respect to the base element 2 tensile in the axial direction with the base element 2 connected is. Consequently, pulling off the anchor ring 4 and with it the screw cap 3 reliably prevented.

Also going out 7 shows that by opening the screw cap 3 the top parts 4A of the anchor ring 4 at one end that connects to the hinge element 5 manufacture, twist, but not tear off. The hinge element 5 turns by swinging open the screw cap 3 towards the slot 6 until this like in 8th shown folded down so that it is locked in its open position at an opening angle of 120 ° to 150 ° with respect to its pivoting open. The screw cap 3 is still radially freely rotatable in its locked open position, although a certain force must be applied from the outside due to an increased frictional resistance in order to enable rotation.

In the 7 and 8th it can be clearly seen that the carrier webs 12 of the opening means in the swung-open state from the inside of the screw cap 3 stick out.

In addition, the 7 and 8th remove that on the anchor ring 4 a ribbon serving as a symbol of originality 15 is attached, one end of which is fixed to the anchor ring 4 is connected and in which the other end by means of a predetermined breaking point with the anchor ring 4 is connected such that the predetermined breaking point of one on the mounting flange 1 arranged mandrel element 16 when screwing on the screw cap for the first time 3 is broken up.

In 9 an alternative embodiment of a pouring element according to the invention is shown, in which the fastening flange 1 of the pouring element with its top with the inside of the composite package P connected is. A corresponding composite package P has a material recess at the point of the later pouring opening. For assembly, the pouring element is through the inside of the composite package P guided, positioned in the area of the material recess and then with the inside of the composite package P connected. The basic element 2 In this embodiment of the invention, the inside of the package is closed on the package side in the unopened state, so that in the composite package P product in the unopened state cannot flow into the pouring element.

The opening means of this pouring element comprise an unopened state inside the base element 2 arranged and integrally connected to this opening element 17 and two power transmission elements 18th that inside the screw cap 3 arranged and cohesively connected to this. The power transmission elements 18th each comprise a radially inwardly projecting hook at their downward end 19 , To the Opening element 17 there are recesses in the appropriate places 20th provided in which the hook 19 the power transmission elements 18th grip in the assembled state so that a positive connection is created. A radial circumferential breaking point 21 is in the section where the base element 2 and the opening element 17 are integrally connected to one another, so that the integral connection when the screw cap is screwed on 3 can be easily cut. It is clearly recognizable that the opening element 17 compared to the outer peripheral surface of the screw cap 3 protrudes downwards, so that it swings open from the inside of the screw cap 3 protrudes.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102006016113 B3 [0002]
• EP 1124734 B1 [0005]
• US 5215204 A [0006]
• WO 2009/048273 A2 [0007]
• JP 5857668 B2 [0026]

Claims (22)

Resealable pouring element for cardboard / plastic composite packs (P), in particular beverage packs, with a base element (2) having a circumferential fastening flange (1) and an external thread (10), with at least in the unopened state of the pouring element arranged inside the base element (2) Opening means and a screw cap (3) with an internal thread, the opening means being designed such that when the composite package (P) is opened for the first time when the screw cap (3) is screwed on, the composite material of the package (P) or a barrier layer located in the base element (2) is broken A pouring opening is created within the pouring element, characterized in that an anchor ring (4) is arranged underneath the screw cap (3), which is non-rotatably connected therewith and can be rotated radially freely around the base element (2) and is tensile in the axial direction with the base element (2 ) is connected and that for the secure connection of the Schr Aubdeckels (3) to the base element (2) in the unscrewed state of the anchor ring (4) via a hinge element (5), the pivot axis of which is oriented tangentially to the outer circumference of the screw cover (3), is articulated to the screw cover (3). Pouring element after Claim 1 , characterized in that the anchor ring (4) has a circumferential slot (6) which separates the anchor ring (4) in one section into upper parts (4A) and a lower part (4B), the upper parts (4A ) and the lower part (4B) are spaced apart in the axial direction. Pouring element after Claim 2 , characterized in that the slot (6) is arranged in the circumferential direction in the region of the hinge element (5), the hinge element (5) being connected to the upper parts (4A) of the anchor ring (4) such that the hinge element ( 5) facing end of the upper parts (4A) is twisted after swinging open the screw cap (3). Pouring element after Claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that the hinge element (5) is arranged in the circumferential direction centrally to the slot (6). Pouring element according to one of the Claims 2 to 4 , characterized in that the lower end of the hinge element (5) in the unopened state of the pouring element projects downward over the lower end of the upper parts (4A) of the anchor ring (4) in the direction of the fastening flange (1). Pouring element according to one of the Claims 2 to 5 , characterized in that the screw cover (3) is locked in the open position with an opening angle of 120 ° to 150 ° by the hinge element (5) in its open position with respect to its pivoting open. Pouring element after Claim 6 , characterized in that the screw cap (3) can be rotated radially freely in its locked open position. Pouring element according to one of the Claims 1 to 7 , characterized in that the hinge element (5) is arranged with respect to its pivot axis in the unopened state above the lower third of the base element (2). Pouring element according to one of the Claims 1 to 8th , characterized in that the base element (2) has an outwardly projecting and essentially circumferential collar (9) on its outside. Pouring element after Claim 9 , characterized in that the anchor ring (4) has at its lower end a substantially circumferential web (11) directed towards the base element, which is arranged below the collar (9) in order to pull the anchor ring (4) over the collar ( 9) to prevent. Pouring element after Claim 10 , characterized in that the collar (9) is arranged in the unopened state in the axial direction in the upper region of the anchor ring (4), so that when the screw cap (3) is unscrewed, movement of the hinge element (5) in the axial direction is possible until the Web (11) comes into contact with the collar (9). Pouring element after Claim 11 , characterized in that the pivot axis of the hinge element (5) is arranged in the axial direction in the upper half of the base element (2) when the screw cap (3) is pivoted away. Pouring element after Claim 12 characterized in that the pivot axis of the hinge element (5) is arranged in the upper third of the base element (2) in the axial direction when the screw cover (3) is pivoted away. Pouring element according to one of the Claims 9 to 13 , characterized in that on the base element (2) below the collar (9) in the direction of the anchor ring (4) projecting outwards and extending perpendicular to the mounting flange (1) ribs (7) are provided which reference the anchor ring (4) Center on the base element (2). Pouring element according to one of the Claims 1 to 14 , characterized in that the opening means in the interior of the base element (2) arranged cutting element (10) and at least one in the interior of the screw cap (3) arranged and connected to this positively or materially connected carrier web (12). Pouring element after Claim 15 , characterized in that the at least one driver web (12) at least partially protrudes from the interior of the screw cap (3) in the pivoted open state. Pouring element after Claim 15 or 16 , characterized in that the at least one driver web (12) is attached as close as possible to the hinge element (5). Pouring element according to one of the Claims 15 to 17 , characterized in that a plurality of driver webs (12) arranged uniformly distributed over the circumference are provided. Pouring element according to one of the Claims 1 to 14 , characterized in that the fastening flange (1) is connected to the inside of the composite package (P), the inside of the base element (2) being closed on the package side in the unopened state, the opening means being in the unopened state inside the base element (2 ) arranged and integrally connected to this opening element (17) and at least one force transmission element (18), which is arranged inside the screw cap (3) and is integrally connected to it, and wherein the opening element (17) with the at least one force transmission element (18 ) is positively connected. Pouring element after Claim 19 , characterized in that the opening element (17) is no longer cohesively connected to the base element (2) after the pouring element has been opened for the first time. Pouring element after Claim 19 , characterized in that the opening element (17) at least partially protrudes from the inside of the screw cap (3) in the pivoted-open state. Pouring element according to one of the Claims 1 to 21 , characterized in that at least one tamper-evident seal (15) is arranged between the fastening flange (1) and the anchor ring (4) or the screw cap (3).

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