DE29717117U1 - Automatic closure for handy, elastic containers - Google Patents

Description

WOLFGANGAMBERG

Hoftannenstr.22

63637 Jossgrund

06059 / 1208

Automatic closure for handy, elastic containers

Before removing the liquid or paste-like contents (washing liquid, toothpaste, ketchup, milk, fruit juices, etc.) from handy, flexible containers such as plastic tubes, plastic bottles, Tetra Paks, etc., these containers must first be opened in a more or less laborious way; be it by unscrewing the cap, opening a lid or something similar. The outlet opening must be closed again in the same way.

The invention was based on the problem of simplifying the opening and closing of the outlet opening of these containers.

The solution to the problem is an automatic closure that opens automatically when the container wall is compressed and closes again when the pressure is released. This is done by providing the part of the closure made of elastic material (e.g. rubber) that closes the outlet opening of the container with an incision of any shape and size that penetrates the thickness of the closure wall or with a point-shaped puncture.

In its simplest form, the closure is designed as an elastic disk that is attached in front of the outlet opening of the container (e.g. by gluing, welding or using an additional closure cap, etc.). The outer shape of this disk can be any shape (round, oval, square, etc.). The incision (or puncture) is designed in such a way that the closure is closed when not in use, but if there is excess pressure inside the container, the elastic material of the closure is pushed forwards (outwards) at the incision point, thus creating an opening in the closure. If the container is placed in such a position that the liquid or pasty contents are in contact with the automatic closure without any pressure being exerted on the container, the contents are prevented from flowing out by the nature of the closure material. If slight pressure is applied to the elastic container (e.g. by finger pressure), the excess pressure created in the container pushes the closure at the incision outwards and the liquid or pasty contents can escape from the container through the opening created; this continues as long as the excess pressure is maintained. If no more pressure is applied to the wall of the container, the parts of the closure that have become movable due to the incision (due to the flexibility of the material) are returned to the resting position and the container is closed again.

The size and wall thickness of the automatic closure in the area of the incision, the elasticity of the closure material, as well as the size and shape of the incision (or puncture) depend on the weight and consistency of the container contents. Taking these properties into account, the automatic closure can be designed according to aesthetic aspects. The material used can be, for example, rubber or rubber-like plastic with or without fabric insert or a combination of different materials. The elasticity of the material should preferably be such that the weight of the container

content alone is not sufficient to open the closure at the incision site, but this can be done by applying slight pressure beyond it.

For example, a cross-shaped or star-shaped incision has proven to be advantageous, but wave-shaped, zigzag-shaped, H-shaped, T-shaped or similar incisions are also possible. A point-shaped puncture would be conceivable, for example, if the contents were to be removed drop by drop.

Instead of the disc described above, the automatic closure can have a variety of shapes. For example, it can be hat-shaped, conical, pyramid-shaped or similar. Instead of a closure cap and insert, the automatic closure can be designed as a unit that adapts to the outlet opening of the container. It is also conceivable to cast the automatic closure into the container during manufacture. However, it is important that the part of the automatic closure that covers the outlet opening of the container has the attributes described. The incisions can be made, for example, during manufacture of the closures using the mold or subsequently using a tool.

In order to prevent the contents from leaking out during transport of the containers, it is recommended that the cut be sealed using a transport lock. This could be done, for example, by gluing or sealing a film in the area of the cut, which is removed before first use.

The described automatic closure for elastic containers has the advantage that the more or less laborious opening and closing of containers such as elastic bottles, tubes, etc. is no longer necessary, since when using the automatic closure according to the invention, these containers open automatically by applying light pressure to the container wall and close again automatically when the pressure is released.

Embodiments of the automatic closure according to the invention for handy, elastic containers are explained in more detail with reference to Figures 1 to 6.

Show it:

Figure 1 shows an automatic closure in a simple design,

Figure 2 further embodiments according to Figure 1,

Figure 3 Examples of automatic closure
in the form of closure caps,

Figure 4 an elastic container with automatic closure,
Figure 5 shows another embodiment according to Figure 4,
Figure 6 Examples of incision shapes.

Figure 1 shows an automatic closure according to the invention for elastic containers in the simplest design in a top view and side view. The closure is shown here as a disk 11 made of rubber or rubber-like material with any diameter and thickness and provided with a cross-shaped incision 19a. The disk 11 is fastened in front of the outlet opening of a container using the closure cap 12. The closure cap 12 is provided with a hole-like opening 13 in order to give the parts of the elastic disk 11 that have become movable due to the incision the opportunity to move outwards from an overpressure in the interior of the container (20) determined by the thickness and flexibility of the disk, thereby opening up an opening for the container contents to exit. The closure cap 12 is also shown in a top view and side view.

Figure 2 shows two further embodiments of the automatic closure in top view and side view according to

Figure 1. The disk (11) from Figure 1 is here deformed into a cone shape 14 or hat shape 15 and also provided with a cross-shaped incision 19a. The closure cap 12 from Figure 1 is also used here for fastening to a container.

Instead of using the closure cap 12, the disk 11 from Figure 1 and the deformed disks 14 and 15 from Figure 2 can also be attached to the container by gluing, welding, etc.

Figure 3 shows several embodiments of the automatic closure according to the invention. It is designed as a complete closure cap and is designed in such a way that the outlet opening (bottle neck) of a container is covered. There are also various options for the shape of this embodiment. For example, straight 16, curved 17, tapered 18 or other shapes of the part of the automatic closure that serves to accommodate the notch 19a are possible.

Figure 4a shows the position of the automatic closure, designed as an elastic disk 11 according to Figure 1, on an elastic container 20 (here, for example, a plastic bottle). The automatic closure, designed as an elastic disk 11, is inserted between the outlet opening 21 (bottle neck) and the closure cap 12. The closure cap 12 can be connected to the outlet opening 21 by screwing, gluing, welding, etc.

Figure 4b shows a section of Figure 4a. Here, the individual parts (closure cap 12, disc 11 and container 20 with outlet opening 21) are clearly shown again.

In the same way, the automatic closure, which is completely designed as a closure cap (16, 17, or 18 from Figure 3), can be attached in front of the outlet opening.

In Figure 5, the automatic closure 23 is incorporated as a part of the elastic container 20 during the manufacture of the same.

or cast on. The contents can be filled, for example, through a filler neck 22. In the case of plastic tubes, for example, the end of the tube can be welded after filling.

Figure 6 shows further embodiments of possible incision shapes. 19b shows a star-shaped incision, 19c a V-shaped incision, 19d a point-shaped incision, 19e a wave-shaped incision, 19f an H-shaped incision and 19g a T-shaped incision.

Claims (2)

Protection claims Automatic closure for handy, elastic containers for removing liquid or paste-like products stored therein, characterized, that the part of the closure (11) covering the outlet opening (21) of the container (20) and consisting of elastic material is provided with at least one incision (19a) or puncture (19d) penetrating the wall thickness of the closure part, so that when pressure is exerted on the container contents from the outside via the container wall, the container contents press the material of the closure outwards at the incision point and consequently an opening is created in the closure through which the container contents can escape from the container, but this opening closes again automatically after the excess pressure has been relieved due to the elasticity of the closure material. 2. Automatic closure according to claim 1, characterized in that that the strength and elasticity of the closure material is adapted to the incision site, the consistency and the weight of the respective container contents.