DE7818230U1 - Collapsible dispenser - Google Patents

Description

PATENT LAWYERS
-ING. BUSCHHOFF
..- ING. HENNICKE
L.- ING. VOLLBACH

5 COLOGNE / RH.

ISER-WILHELM-RING 24

Alttenz .:

Registration number.

I from 151

please specify

Note: Mr. Joseph L. Abbott

109 Primrose Place, Lima , Ohio (USA)

Title: Collapsible Dispensing Container

COLOGNE, June 16, 1978

he / ka

The invention relates to a compressible dispensing container, in particular a tube, with a tubular shape Body and a dispensing head attached to one end thereof and provided with an outlet opening.

There are dispensing containers or tubes that can be squeezed by hand for various purposes, for example for dosed dispensing of products for body and beauty care, for shampoos, foodstuffs and luxury foods, Dentifrices and the like. Such tubes have a tubular body made of deformable material, which is closed at one end and with a closable dispensing head or a mouthpiece on the other end is provided. Extruded metal tubes were used for such dispensing containers. the Fragility of metal tubes, especially aluminum tubes, with repeated use and the Difficulty finding metal tubes with a satisfactory inner lining to protect against corrosion and the associated contamination, have to use thermoplastic Plastics, such as polyethylene, for the manufacture of dispensing containers guided. In the case of plastics such as polyethylene it leads

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however, clear permeability for certain products to destroy the tubes. For example, the taste of toothpastes packaged in such tubes during storage as a result of such permeability. In addition, plastic containers absorb Oxygen and such absorption can be contained in the tube over a period of time Decompose product.

In order to overcome these difficulties, multi-layer structures have been used which is generally between an inner and an outer layer of thermoplastic such as Polyethylene had a barrier layer of metal foil ^

Although such shaft-shaped made of metal and plastic assembled, collapsible dispenser containers have enjoyed a certain degree of success over the years, they also have their problems and the aforementioned difficulties, which lead to their Construction is undesirably expensive and / or limited to certain materials from which these containers are made manufactured or with which they can be filled. Thus, the tubular body becomes the container with a layered structure made by first forming a flat sheet into the tubular shape with overlapping sand and that these edges are then glued together hot, so that a tube with a longitudinal seam is created. This manufacturing process naturally requires compatibility of the inner and outer layers of the Plastic film »to glue them together hot be able. Thermoplastic materials are also required for the same reason. This makes the choice the materials are just as limited as the possible uses of the so limited choice of materials manufactured container. Although in the shift

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Foil a barrier layer is provided, is it too a thin inner plastic layer is required, to protect the contents of the package from the barrier material and / or the heat seal to enable the seam of the tube formed from the layered film inner layer of the tube made of thermoplastic material. Although the inner plastic film, of course is made as thin as possible, there will still be some permeability left in the finished container exist. The required mutual affinity of the inside and outside of the film to carry out the Heat bonding in the production of tubular .Spendbehältern has made it impossible to use materials in the layer film au use which the problem of the permeability of the inner layer for make the finished container disappear.

In addition, the seam creates difficulties in making indications on the tubular body. The longitudinal seam of the tubular body makes it namely necessary, the plastic film, which forms the outer layer of the composite film, in the gravure printing process to be printed beforehand or for one of the outer layers of the laminate a previously printed paper or Use plastic film. In this case, the outermost layer of olives would have to be a transparent plastic film being. Such prior printing is "expensive" and increases the cost price of the finished container. In addition, prior printing requires high accuracy in the manufacture of the tubular body, so that the printed notes in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the tube coincide and not be distorted. The arrangement of a heat seal longitudinal seam in the tubular body constitutes an interruption the otherwise circular outer circumferential

18230 10/5/78

\ area of the tube. This can therefore be

position cannot be printed using inexpensive techniques, such as EoIl or roller printing.

The head or the mouthpiece of the well-known dispensing container, their body either made of uniform plastic or consists of a layer film, was previously based on dsm tubular body attached primarily by hot glue '. This in turn requires tolerance between the plastic material of the head and the tube body and the use of thermoplastic Material for both the head and the

Body of the container to achieve a heat seal. For this reason, the selection of the

i

ι limited materials for the tube head and can here- I

through the use of the container further limited ken. In addition, the production of the known types of container is time-consuming and expensive, in particular as a result the heat bonding between head and tube body. Time is required for the plastic to heat up to precisely control the melting temperature that is necessary for the required connection.

f Then considerable time has to be spent cooling down |

Ι before the tube body and the

i th tube head pulled off the mandrel or template on which the assembly was made. This increases the manufacturing speed

. limited, which together with the special heating, cooling

and printing devices leads to undesirably high costs per container unit. This high cost operators will not spend containers for markets of certain products unacceptable, where he usually desirable, "and would be good to use. In addition, the heat sealing can result in a loss of the structural integrity of the material of the tube body in the vicinity of the jj

κ

^; ? Is,

i

fit ™

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Head, which are not flawless containers or such Containers that tear when in use.

There are already two-part tube heads but mechanical ones Attachment to a tubular body made of paper, metal, plastic or a layered structure. These two-part devices clamp an axial cable of the tube body endβ between two head parts, so that the tube is clamped in between. Although such a mechanical connection between the tube head and tube body avoids the heat seal problems mentioned above, the mechanically connected head constructions were so far not acceptable from an economic point of view. This unacceptability was caused by Difficulties such as the impossibility of achieving an airtight connection, a separation of the body and of the head under the pressure exerted on the junction between head and body when using the to prevent dispensing, and in the low production speed and the high production costs, which are caused by a complicated construction and / or complicated assembly.

With regard to an airtight seal, it is assumed that any leak in the connection between the head part and the tube body is undesirable because through these both escape the contents of the dispensing container and through contact with the inside of the container air entering along such a leakage path can become contaminated. A separation of the container body and the container head during use of the dispensing container is obviously also undesirable, as it does the Donation container for its further dispensing and storage function makes useless.

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As for assembly time, there are millions of squeezable dispensing containers annually for strong Established markets exposed to competition, in which the manufacturing costs and the necessary costs Time are the subject of in-depth research in the industry. A number of known, mechanically fastened Dispensing heads either require a screw connection or an adhesive bond between the body of the youth and tube head and thus lead to higher manufacturing costs than is desirable.

The aim of the invention is to avoid these disadvantages and create a dispensing container bu which can be squeezed by hand in particular and which has a layered Has body with an inner layer that is less permeable than the previously known layer structures. In more detail, the inner layer of the container body according to the invention consists of a thermosetting or thermosetting plastic. This thermosetting plastic is preferably a Epoxy resin, which can be bonded with a metal foil as a barrier layer, for example. With such a Embodiment, the composite film consisting of epoxy resin and metal becomes a drilling with overlapping Hand shaped and this drill is then from a sheath or a sleeve, for example by injection molding, extrusion or extrusion. The robx-shaped one formed in this way Body can be connected to any suitable head, for example glued or heat-sealed to it connected or provided with a two-part head, as described in more detail below will be. Due to the outer plastic shell, the body of the container can be sealed without a heat seal

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From 151

seam to be made. This has the advantage that the Eohr can be provided with a yellow print after its production and can be produced much more economically, than was previously the case with the previous printing, which is »winged« due to the drilling construction with heat-sealed seams was prescribed.

Another advantage is that the plastic shell holds the barrier layer and inner epoxy layer in ear shape and has a heat seal bond compatibility eliminates the need for between the inner and outer layers. This will increase the scope for each Layers of usable materials expanded in an advantageous manner. It can be seen that the layer film is additional Have layers of paper, plastic and / or metal foils between the barrier layer and the plastic shell can. Basically, the combination of the substances used is only limited by considerations as to which the concern product to be packaged, and by the possibility of a desired structural integrity between to achieve the layers of the laminate.

Although the tubular © body, for example, by hot glue between the head and the outer layer C of the container body could be connected, provided that the materials used for this Purpose are suitable, the container body according to the invention is preferably mechanically attached to a two-part Headboard and preferably connected with a tight fit. Such a connection is preferred because it minimizes manufacturing costs and expands the range of materials that can be used to manufacture the dispensing container.

7818230 10/05/78

According to a further feature of the invention, the dispensing container has a two-part head which is attached to the body of the Container is attached airtight. The body of the container has at least one layer of thermoplastic Material and the ItLftproof connection is made by a better manufacturing process and a better interference fit connection between the container body and the parts of the head. The headboards can be made of metal or Consist of plastic or a combination of these materials, the plastic parts being either thermosetting plastics, i.e. thermosetting plastics or thermoplastics). The tubular body can be made of plastic or from a laminate of plastics, plastic and metal foils, Plastic and paper foils or other combinations exist.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention there is the head of two ropes adapted to one another in such a way that they are interlocked with one another can be and have a recess or a projection which engage in one another and ensure that one end of the tubular body of the container is received and clamped between the two parts of the head will. The recess and the projection have two opposing sealing surfaces, the one Raised distance from each other, which is smaller than the Vanddieke of the tubular body. The end of the tubular body is heated to create the thermoplastic layer to soften. The distance between the sealing surfaces then forces the part of the container wall enclosed between them tends to reduce its thickness and cause the plastic material to flow and gaps between the headers to be filled out. This creates an airtight connection so that air or Eüllgut between the connection between the container body and the head part cannot escape. It also provides the interlock between

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From 151

• · C t »« · »C · S

β ft «·· ·» β ■ · fc β

share the head to maintain the seal and improve along with the orientation of the sealing surfaces the tight fit of the container material between the head sections under the pressure exerted on the container exercised during its use.

The assembly of the headboards is done without heat sealing and Without difficult mechanical handling of the individual parts, such as screws or the like., Achieved. Consequently a high production figure is achieved. For example, in a heat seal assembly, an output of 18 to 40 containers per minute can be achieved during the assembly of the container body and head parts according to the invention reached a production rate of around 60 to 100 per minute. This will reduce the production time and significantly reduces the equipment cost for the assembly of the container body and container head, which in turn leads to a lower hex sprex for a given container construction.

With the invention, a very simple, in particular manually compressible dispensing container can also be used Tubular body constructed in the form of a shaft can be produced, the inner plastic layer of which has a smaller one Permeability has than the inner layers of the previously known dispenser of this type. Here the outer surface of the container wall made of a layered film is not interrupted by a longitudinal seam. The tubular body of the dispenser can have an inner surface made of epoxy resin and the The mouthpiece-carrying head may consist of several parts that interlock and form the body of the container pinch between them. Since a heat seal or adhesive bond is not required, the range is the usable materials for both the container body as well as for the container head much larger than with the previously known tubes.

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Another advantage of the invention is that it is possible to dee the container body and parts Head airtight without the use of heat or adhesives to connect with each other and at the same time to ensure that the point between the tube body and tube head remains intact.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description and the drawings of preferred embodiments, by means of which the invention is explained in more detail using examples. It indicates:

Pig. 1 a collapsible dispensing container with outlet head according to the invention in a perspective view,

! Fig. 2 shows the object of FIG. 1 in a longitudinal section of the plane after line 2-2 in enlarged hatred rod,

Pig. 3 the individual parts of the head of the container structure after Pig. 2 in section in an exploded view,

Pig. 4 the junction between the container body and headboards of the embodiment according to P5.g. 2 in section on an enlarged scale Scale,

Pig. 5

and 6 the Pig. 4 corresponding representations,

which show the load conditions in the area of the connection point, which are avoided according to the invention,

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Fig * 7 shows how headboards are assembled and container body in a somewhat hematic position in longitudinal section,

8 shows another embodiment example of the head part according to the invention in section,

9 shows a layer-shaped, tubular body for a collapsible container according to the invention in cross section,

Pig. 10 after the tubular container body

9 shows the one with a two-part head part is clamped connected, in a side view and partially in section and

11 shows the tubular container body

Fig. 9 »gL © 2? connected to a headboard is, on average.

In Fig. 1, 10 denotes a compressible dispensing container, which consists of a body 12 of deformable Material and a head 14 which is attached to one end of the body 12 and two head parts 16 and 18 exists. Such collapsible containers are made bo that the head at one end of the tubular Body is attached while the opposite end of the body remains open to the inside packaging product. Bas the end of the container with the dispensing opening is not shown in detail Cap provided. After the product to be packaged in the tube is filled into the open end of the body has been, this open end is bent transversely and fused in a suitable manner or to others Way tightly closed so that it forms a closed end 20 for the container.

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away

In accordance with the invention and for other reasons which will be explained in more detail below, the tubular body 12 can be made of any suitable material including metal foils, thermoplastic or thermosetting plastic foils or extruded tubing or drilling and laminates of these materials with or without other substrates like paper or the like. getting produced. The term "deformable material" in the following general represent a material that has the ability to deform under hand pressure exerted crushing forces, so that the tubular body of ζ _s hand can be squeezed, the contents of Oha.be easy to push out. As a result, a plastic film or a body made of laminate, in which the material has a tendency to re-create after a crushing process.

$ which can assume its undistorted outline, as well as

deformable material viewed as a metal foil

or a body made of laminate, in which the film is so stiff that it allows permanent deformation of the tubular body. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the body 12 is shown for the sake of simplicity as a single sheet of plastic, f which may for example consist of polyethylene and which its tubular shape either by extrusion or '·) by forming a plastic film into one may have received a seamed tube.

The first head part 16 is circular transversely to the axis A of the dispensing container and in the illustrated embodiment consists of plastic, for example urea-formaldehyde. As can best be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the head part 16 has a dispensing mouthpiece which is formed by a neck 22 which has a bore in the center which forms an outlet opening 24 in the first head part. The neck 22 is provided with an external thread * 26, on which a not n

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The cap shown here with an internal thread can be screwed on, with which the container can be restored after use is locked. The first head part 16 has a collar 28 which surrounds the inner end of the neck part 22 and extends outwardly therefrom in the radial direction and has an outer peripheral edge 30, which is annular and whose diameter is so large that it is axially sliding fit into the open end of the tubular Body 12 can be inserted before the head section is fully assembled on the body, such as this will be explained in more detail below.

The side of the collar 28 which is on the outside in the axial direction is provided with an annular recess 32 (i "ig. 3) t cLie arranged coaxially to the neck part 22 and has opposite side walls 34 and 36 in the radial direction. The one on the outside, the inner end of the neck portion 22 adjacent surface of the collar 28 is radially outward and axially forward beveled on the inside towards the outer end of the neck 22 so that the inner side wall 34 of the recess 32 in Axial direction has a greater height than the outer wall 36 of the recess. The recess 32 also has a radially extending bottom surface 38 and a plane-parallel wall 39 extending in the radial direction and perpendicular to the outer wall 36 of the recess stands and this' and the outer edge 30 of the collar cuts. The wall 34 · is arranged in a radial direction Direction extending, protruding bead 40 is provided, which extends in the circumferential direction over the wall and serves for a purpose which will be explained in more detail below.

The second head part 18 has the shape of a ring, which in the illustrated embodiment is made of plastic, for example made of polyethylene

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is »The head part 18 has a circular inner wall (Jj ¹ Xg. 3)> the diameter of which is adapted to the diameter of the inner wall 34 of the recess 32 and the height of which in the axial direction is slightly smaller than the height of the wall 34 of the recess 32. Bex Hing also has a radially outer bing wall 44, the lower hand 45 of which is rounded or beveled. The wall 44 has a diameter which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the outer wall 36 of the recess 32. The reason for this will be explained further below.

/ The insert also has a radial direction extending bottom surface 46 and a flange part 48 which extends in the radial direction and which has a plane-parallel surface 50 which is perpendicular to the outer wall 44 of the integral part runs. The walls 44 and 50 intersect in a corner 51 which is circumferential of the entrance extends. The wall 44 forms a radial sealing surface, that of the wall or the sealing surface 36 of the head part 16 lies radially opposite one another for a purpose which will be explained below. The one in the axial direction outer or overhead surface 52 of the entrance has a slope that corresponds to the slope of the beveled Wall 28a of the collar matches. The annular inner wall 42 is provided with a continuous circumferential groove 54 is provided, which is arranged and designed so that they the bead 40 of the head part 16 in an im can include the following type still described and for a purpose that will be explained in more detail.

The edges 42, 44 and 46 of the integral part 18 form a projection which axially into the recess 32 of the head part 16 fits. If the two headboards, as below Will be explained in more detail, assembled, the lower part of the single wall 42 slides axially. to the bead 40 arranged on wall 34 of part 16

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151

Torbei until the recess 54 rait the bead in one Level lies. At this moment the bead slides into the recess 54 and locks onto it Put the hang »so that it is no longer axially out of the Head part 16 can be pulled out «The mutual position of the bead 40 and the recess 54 on the Walls $ 4 and 42 in the axial direction and the radial engagement between walls 34 and 42 create the desired Space between the axially opposing walls 39 and 50 and between the radially opposite walls 36 and 44 of the two head parts and hold these spaces one. As an alternative to this connection with a bead and a recess, the diameters of the walls 34 and 42 can also be chosen so that there is a plague fit between them, through which the head parts are fixed are connected to each other and the opposing walls have the desired spacing.

When the two headboards are joined bind, are located the radially opposite walls or sealing surfaces 36 and 44 of the two ropes in one radial distance, which is slightly smaller than the wall thickness of the tubular body 12. The axially one another opposing walls 39 and 50 of the two head parts preferably have a distance, which corresponds to the wall thickness of the tubular body. These proportions in dimensions create one Clearance between the opposing walls allowing the attachment of the head to the end of the tubular body in such a way that one axial end of the material from which the Body consists, is clamped airtight between the head parts 16 and 18 and a separation of the tubular body from the head during the use of the container is not possible.

7818230 05.16.78

You can see more in detail from fig. 2 that one axially extending part 12a of the end of the tubular Body 12 is folded inward and the radial surface 39 of the head part 16 covers and from there runs axially inward at 12b and there covers the wall 36 of the recess. As the thickness of the material of the tubular body 12 is greater than the radial distance between the opposing walls 36 and 44, it can be seen that the cable 12b in radial Direction between these two walls is compressed. According to the invention, the ropes 12a and 12b heated to facilitate bending, to eliminate the plastic restoring force and the radial Compression of portion 12b causes the plastic material to move into corner 51 between walls 44 and 50 of the ring member 18 to flow, as can best be seen in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The warming takes place at a temperature below the melting temperature of the plastic material and is sufficient to a to enable plastic evasion under bridge. The axial distance between the opposing walls 39 and 50 is dimensioned so that this part 12a of the Pinch the body wall between them without the thickness of the part 12a being noticeably reduced, as is the case with the distance between the radially opposite walls 36 and 44.

The heating of the body parts 12a and 12b, the radial compression of the part 12b and the resultant plastic flows make it possible to create the desired airtight connection between the body and the To achieve head of the container that the wall portion 12b between the radially opposite walls 36 and 44 is tightly enclosed and the gap formed by the corner 51 between the head parts completely fills out. It also eliminates heating

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the plastic bending force and improves on this Way the integrity of the construction in the area of the Bends between the outer wall and the part 12a and between the ropes 12a and 12b of the body material. This improves the cohesion between the container and the head when the container is in use and the resistance of the container body against tearing of the body material enlarged next to the head. These properties can be better understood and more easily from the illustrations can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 in comparison with FIG.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there are two headers and tubular bodies shown, which to facilitate the description structurally with the corresponding, shown in Figs. 2 to 4- Parts match. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are used to designate corresponding parts been used.

If one turns first to FIG. 5, one recognizes that that the head parts 16 and 18 are dimensioned so that the radially opposed walls 36 and 44 and the axially opposed walls 39 and 50 have a distance from each other which is the thickness corresponds to the material of the tubular body. This places the parts 12a and 12b of the body between pinched the corresponding opposite ends with no noticeable reduction in the thickness of the material. If the parts 12a and 12b of the film of the body are not heated according to the teaching of the invention, the leads Bending of the body part 16 around the walls 39 and 36 so that the material of the body in the region of the bends is stretched and thereby placed under tension in these areas, as shown in Fig. 5 by the Arrows 56 is indicated. By bending the body material and dragging it around the edges between

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see dta walls 30 and 39 - and between the walls 39 and 36 of the head part 16, a gap is formed in the corner 51. In addition, the bending and tensioning creates weak spots in the body material transversely to the bends in the directions, which are indicated by the lines 58 and 60, which represent the angle between the walls 30 and 39 and the angle between the walls 39, respectively and. Cut 36 of the head part 16 in half. These structural peculiarities and relationships with one another increase the possibility of a leakage path occurring between the inside and outside of the container, they facilitate the separation of the body and head parts by pulling out the body parts 12a and ", 2b as a result of an inadequate clamping connection and / or tearing of the body material across its folds in the direction of lines 58 and 60, which properties are both undesirable and unacceptable.

If, as shown in Fig. 6, the radially opposite Walls 36 and 4A are arranged so that they are at a distance from one another which is less than the thickness of the wall material of the tubular body, the aforementioned difficulties are not resolved. Rather, the distortion problem is in the bend between the parts 12a and 12b of the tubular body due to the combined action of the assembly of the head parts on the part 12b exerted axial tension and the radial compression is reinforced. In addition, such strain and compression result to an even greater extent to a reduction in the thickness of the material in the area of the corner between the Walls 36 and 39 of the head part 16 than in the corresponding Corner of the in Pig. 5 construction shown. For this reason, the tensile stress in the body material increases between the parts 12a and 12b together with the reduction in thickness the readiness of the material

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rials, across the bend, looking at line 60 tear.

It can also be seen that the possibility of tearing in this design is at the bend between the tubular Body 12 and its end part 12a in the direction of the line 58, which is the corner between the walls 30 and 39 <his head part 16 intersects, and that a gap in the corner 51 is present, the formation of a leak path favored between the inside and outside of the container. Although the part 12b is compressed radially can become and thereby in the construction of Fig. 6 it is a little thin, there is no plastic here Flow. For this reason, the gap in the corner 51 together with other joints, for example do not result from scratches on the walls 44 and 50 or from contaminants adhering to them filled in and thereby increases the possibility of leakage through the tube body and the head connection through.

In the light of the preceding description of the embodiments according to FIGS. 5 and 6 it can be seen from FIG. 4 that through the heating of the plastic material, its radial compression and through the plastic flow according to the teaching of the invention, the desired airtight seal and the integrity of the junction between the tubular body and the head part is achieved. So far the heating of the plastic eliminates its resilience and a plastic flow achieved, whereby the creation of tensile stresses at the bending points between the head parts and avoided the ice resistance of the body material in the area of Bends along lines 58 and 60 is improved. In addition, the plastic flow, thereby filling the corner 51, also enables the filling

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From 151 ";". ¹¹ U ₁ ";'{/

I 1 * 1

- 20 -

of other columns that or the like as a result of scratches. may be present, so that the seal of the joint between the tubular body and the head part is improved against the ingress of air or the outflow of the container contents. Besides that becomes the greatest possible due to the plastic flow of the material in the corner 51 in the direction of the line 60 Material thickness reached and thereby the risk of the material tearing in this area to a minimum reduced. Also, filling in the

Corner 51 cLie holding force of the tube body material, since j

an open area into which the end portion 12b of the tubular body slide freely is eliminated can, if a sufficiently high radial force is exerted on the part 12a, to the parts 12a and Pull out 12b between the head sections. If, for example, on the part 12a of that shown in FIG Construction is exerted a radial force, the gap in the corner 51 forms a space in which the part 12b can slide in freely and facilitate extraction, provided that the Material does not tear along the line 60. It can be seen that the filling of the corner 51, as shown in Fig. 4,

creates a resistance to pulling out

opposes the tube body end parts from the head. '

ji The thickness of the material from which the tubular body

; produced by 12, can of course be different

f- and depend on a variety of factors, namely-

'borrowed from the purpose the dispenser is supposed to serve,

also of whether the tubular body part consists of a single or a layered film, and also of the type or types of material used, from | which the body part is manufactured, etc. Likewise, can the space between the radially opposite

the walls 36 and 44, between which the part 12b of the

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tubular body is radially compressed, depending on the material and construction of the tubular body. A gap between the walls 36 and 44, which serves to compress the starting material of the tubular body between the walls and reduce its thickness by about 25% BU, is sufficient to obtain the desired clamping connection and sealing between the head and the tubular body.

The manner in which the head sections 16 and 18 connect to the tubular body section 12 in the case of the Pig. 1 to 4 illustrated embodiment is shown schematically in Jig. 7 shown. Here, a mandrel 62 is rotatably mounted about the mandrel axis by means not shown in detail. The mandrel has a stop flange 64 at one end and a connecting piece 66 of smaller diameter at the opposite end, which extends axially beyond the outer end of the connecting piece and forms an end face 68 with the mandrel body. The connecting piece 66 has a diameter which corresponds to the diameter of the outlet opening 24 in the head part 16. The head part is first pushed over the connecting piece 66 and carried by it, the inner end of the head part resting against the end face 68. The tubular body 12 of the container is then slid over the mandrel and against the surface 64. Its axial length is dimensioned such that the free end of the tubular body, adjacent to the head portion 16 protrudes in the axial direction across the wall 3 ^Q of the head portion by an amount which corresponds to the length required for the parts 12a and 12b is. With these parts thus positioned on the mandrel, the mandrel is rotated and a somewhat heated molding tool 70 is advanced radially inward against the mandrel around the overlapping portion of the tubular body 12

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to heat and radially inward into the in-dashed lines Lines shown in Fig. 7 position to bend. The molding tool 70 can consist of nylon, for example and is heated to remove the resilience of the plastic material and its bending and to facilitate plastic flow as described above.

After the material of the tubular body has been bent in this way, the rotational movement of the Domes braked and the head part 18 pushed axially onto the head part 16 so that the head part 18 arranged projection into the recess 32 in the head part 16 inserts. When pressing the head part 18 push the walls 44 and 46 of the ring part and the rounded or beveled edge 45 arranged in between the radially inwardly protruding Heil 12b of the tubular body axially into the recess 32 and press it radially outward against the wall 36 the recess 32 in order to bring about the plastic flow described. Here is preferred a suitable pressure tool 72 is used to position the ring 18 in its seat in the recess 32 press. The assembly is finished when the projection 40 and the recess 5 ^ interlock with one another.

From this it can be seen that the assembly can be carried out easily and quickly. Once the assembly is complete the container can immediately be withdrawn from the mandrel. The plastic is here on a ! Heated temperature which is below the melting temperature of the plastic. Here the Body and head are not fused together and no cooling delay is required before the assembled dispenser from the mandrel

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From 151

can be deducted. The cap for the container will

generally attached prior to peeling the device from the mandrel, followed by the container after peeling can be filled and closed by the mandrel.

Pig. 8 shows another embodiment of a compressible Container with a head according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the Head a first head part 74 · and a second head part 76, which are made of plastic, such as polyethylene or nylon. The head part 74 has a neck part 78, which is provided with a central bore which creates an outlet opening 8Θ and which has an external thread 82 is provided, onto which a cap, not shown here, is screwed. the Head part 74 also has a collar 84 extending from the inner end of the neck portion 78 from radially outward extends and is inclined axially inwardly relative to the outer end of the neck part. The inside of the collar 84 carries an annular projection 86 which is coaxial with the flow opening 80 and extends from the collar extends from axially inward. In more detail, the protrusion 86 has radially delimiting inner and outer walls 88 and 90, respectively, and a bottom surface 92. In addition, the collar has (a

Wall 94 extending from the radial wall 90 of the protrusion 86 extends outwardly and intersects the outer surface 96 of the collar and with it a circular one Forms outer edge 98 of the collar.

The second head part 76 is formed by a sing, which has a circular recess which is coaxial with the through hole 80, and which has an annular recess Has groove that opens axially outward and receives the projection 86 of the other head part. More

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in detail, this groove is made of radially delimiting inner and outer walls 100 and 102 and a base formed, which has the same contour as the bottom of the projection. The courage wall 100 has a diameter which corresponds to the diameter of the inner wall 88 of the

Projection 86 is related in such a way that

an interference fit is created between them. The wall 102 of the groove, however, has a diameter that is small

is docile larger than the diameter of the outer wall of the projection. As with the one in KLg. 1 to 4 shown The embodiment is defined by the diameter ratio between the walls 90 and 102 created radial clearance or an Eadialspiel between these walls, which is smaller than the Thickness of the wall material of the tubular body. This becomes the axial part 12b of the container body 12 between the walls 90 and 102 in fiadialrichtung compressed and with the heating described above, a plastic flow is generated, through which the corner between the walls 90 and 94 of the headboard 74 is filled out.

In this embodiment the ring is circular Outer edge 106, the diameter of which corresponds to the inner diameter (diameter of the tubular body, so that the Ring can be pushed into the tubular body. Between the wall 102 of the recess and the An end wall surface 108 extends in the radial direction of the outer edge 106 and is located below the collar wall 94 lies. The axial part 12a of the tubular body 12 is.between these axially opposite one another Walls or end faces pinched without any noticeable reduction in the thickness of the part 12a. The tight fit between the wall 100 of the recess and the wall 88 of the projection connects the head parts firmly to one another and prevents their separation in the axial direction. Palis desired, of course, the wall 100 of the

7818230 05.10.7B

take and the wall 88 of the projection still with a suitable, interlocking locking device be provided to the head parts 74 · and 76 against a Lock separation in the axial direction.

It can be seen from the preceding description of the exemplary embodiments according to Pig.1 to 8 that the interlocking Connection between the container body and the container head according to the invention from the mutual Compatibility of the materials for an adhesive or heat seal connection between the tubular body part and the dispensing head is independent. As a result, although in connection with the disclosed embodiments Plastics are described and certain plastic materials are cited as examples that individual ropes of the head made of very different plastic Plastics, made of thermoplastic or thermosetting synthetic resins, made of metal, such as made of aluminum, or of combinations of metals and plastic.

An improved tubular body in a layered construction according to the invention and a preferred combination the materials for such a tubular body is in operation. 9 of the drawing. This construction of the tubular body is particularly suitable for use in connection with a dispensing container where Permeability and oxygen absorption problems occur.

In Fig. 9, 110 denotes a tubular body for a dispensing container, which consists of a barrier layer 112, such as a metal foil, which prevents oxygen absorption, and the an inner layer 114 made of a thermosetting plastic or a thermosetting plastic, preferably of one

7818230 10/05/78

Epoxy resin, bonded to the barrier layer is. The barrier layer and the thermosetting plastic layer attached to it have the iorm of one Foil and are shaped into a body with a tubular cross-section, with their opposite one another Side edges overlap each other in the circumferential direction, as shown in Fig. 9. This tubular The structure is then placed in an outer sleeve 116 made of a suitable thermoplastic which encloses it on the outer surface Material, for example enclosed in an extensive plastic pipe or plastic hose.

The barrier layer 112 provides effective protection against oxygen absorption and the inner layer 114 improves protection against penetration. It is known that thermosetting plastics are less permeable are as thermoplastic materials previously used for such compressible container bodies became. As a result, it can be seen that the construction of the tubular body of a dispensing container, the straight the barrier layer and a thermoplastic, inner plastic layer, the desired solution of this Problems and that the overlapping longitudinal edges of the barrier layer and the inner plastic layer in the case of these two parts could be connected to each other in order to only use the tubular rope of the container to accomplish. In this respect, for example, the barrier layer and the inner layer could be before curing of the thermosetting plastic are deformed into the tubular shape and the overlapping Ends could be compressed and held during the heat treatment to cure the resin will. However, it is preferred to have the barrier layer and the inner layer in an outer polypropylene sleeve 116 include so that the outer film the barrier

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From 151

layer and the inner layer in its tubular Holds shape without the need for a constructive one Establish a longitudinal connection between these parts, and while solving the problems associated with making a tubular shape occur before thermosetting resins harden.

Bas housing the barrier film and the inner film in a sleeve allows a circular outer peripheral surface 118 for the tubular body of the container to obtain which has no interruptions in the circumferential direction in the circular outline, like this is the case with a longitudinal seam in the tubular body. This makes it possible in an advantageous manner Notes or information on the tubular body after its manufacture, for example in the EoIl or To apply roller printing processes, which processes are not used satisfactorily for tubes with a longitudinal seam can be. In addition, the uninterrupted peripheral surface advantageously contributes to the aesthetic impression of the dispenser made in this way.

In the preferred embodiment of the tubular body 9 shown in FIG. 9, the barrier layer is 112 an aluminum foil with a thickness of 0.005 cm, while the epoxy layer 114 has a thickness of 0.0013 cm. A suitable epoxy resin is available from Hanna Chemical Company of Columbus, Ohio, sold under the product designation H-11 or H-23. The outer layer 116 is made of a low density polyethylene about 0.0076 cm thick. It can be seen that the thickness of the outer layer 116 in the area of the overlap between the barrier layer 112 • and inner layer 114 of dess. the latter dimension deviates.

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'' '••••••• I,

- 28 -

I With reference to the pipe shown in Fig. 9

': shaped body of the container one recognizes that for this

this construction also includes a pre-printed plastic

I or paper foil can be used, although the

I circular outer peripheral surface for printing on the

I tube relieved after its manufacture. If before-

f-engine printing is desired, or if for Somehow

I another reason an additional layer or fo-

I lay between the barrier layer 112 and the outer one

If layer 116 is desired, such a layer can be used

laminated onto or onto the barrier layer 112 before it is rolled up to form the tubular structure otherwise attached in order to then be encapsulated in the outer plastic sleeve. At-I For example, a film made of white pigmented,

I preprinted polyethylene whichever is the desired

I carries notes or instructions for the container body,

I attached to the outer surface of the barrier layer 112

I will be. In this case, the outer film 116

ί Made of a low-density polyethylene, transparent

3 be to the notices or the imprint by the

¹ film to make visible through it. In general

such a preprinted layer would have to have a thickness; of about 0.005 cm.

FIG. 10 shows a shaft-shaped, tubular body 110 which is connected to a head of the type shown in FIGS. Here, an axial bearing 110a of the tubular body in the head part 116 is bent inward and covers its radial wall 39.An axial part 110b of the material for the tubular body is pushed axially inward into the recess 32 of the head part 16 and covers the outer radial wall 36 of the recess. The I part 110b is between the wall 36 of the recess and

the outer radial wall 44 of the protrusion on the ring

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18 compressed radially. You can see that the part 11Ot, as described in more detail above, reduced in thickness and that the material of the outer layer 116 of the laminate flows plastically into the corner 51.

One recognizes in the case of I ¹ Xg. 10 that the outer layer 116 of the laminate is made of a suitable thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene, which can flow plastically into the corner 51 when a radial pressure is exerted on the part 110b of the body. During assembly, the end parts 110a and 110b are heated so that they lose the restoring force of the thermoplastic plastics and thus facilitate the bending of the parts 110a and 110b and a plastic flow similar to that given above in connection with the description of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 2 to 4 stated purpose is achieved.

If the layer construction of the tubular body provides a non-metallic barrier against a metallic Has barrier layer, the heating before connecting the two head parts in the connection above with the description of the Pig. 7 made the manner described. If, on the other hand, the layer film has a Has a barrier layer made of metal foil, the heating for the aforementioned purpose is carried out in two separate steps. Here, the parts 110a and 110b of the material for the tubular body, as above described, heated while sitting on the assembly mandrel. The parts of the body are then around the wall 39 of the part 16 folded radially inward and then axially along the wall 36 when the Ring part 18 applied to the head part 16. After that, the assembled container is in the area of the junction between body and head through a

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suitable induction heating device heated from the circumference, that in Mg «10 by the reference numeral 120 schematically is indicated and the metal foil and thus also the thermoplastic in a manner known per se Layer 116 is inductively heated. Such a second heating ensures that the desired plastic Flow enters the corner 51 in order to achieve an airtight seal, since such a plastic Flow to the best possible extent cannot be achieved by the initial heating alone. Here During the preparatory heating, the metal foil acts as a heat exchanger and draws heat in the process from the thermoplastic plastic film. During the Time required to bend the laminate and join the two headboards together, Such a heat exchange effect can lower the temperature of the plastic far enough that the necessary plastic flow is reduced to achieve the desired tight connection. The second heating step also takes place at a temperature below the melting temperature of the plastic and is high enough that the plastic is below the radial applied to the portion 110b of the laminate Pressure can flow.

While the construction of the tubular body shown in Fig. 9 preferably together with a Head according to the invention described above is used to make time consuming and expensive heat sealing processes to avoid, it is to be understood that the tubular body can nonetheless also be heat-sealed can be attached to a dispensing head. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a dispensing head 122 can be provided with a collar part 124 which has a circumferential direction on its underside continuous recess with an axially

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From 5

direction extending ring wall 126 and one in Has wall 128 extending in the radial direction and inclined in the axial direction. Reaches into this recess one end 110c of the tubular body 110, the outer end of which against the end wall 126 of the recess abuts while the outer surface of the outer layer of the composite sheet is beneath the wall 128 of the recess lies. The head portion 122 would have to be made of a material identical to the outer layer 116 of the composite film is compatible in order to be able to enter into a heat-seal connection with this. Accordingly, the Head in conjunction with the preferred construction of the tubular body described herein made of polyethylene exist. It can be seen from this that the advantages achieved by the barrier layer 112 and the epoxy layer 114 can be achieved with a variety of head designs and connection types.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments, but rather it A number of modifications and changes are possible

Lich without departing from the scope of the invention.

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Claims (1)

* PATENT LAWYERS \ DIPL.-ING. BUSCHHOFF : DlPL.-ING. HENNICKE DIPL.- ING. VOLLBACH , 5 KOLN / RH. KAISER WILHELM RING 24 Registration number. File: I From 1 5ΐΊ ^ LN, the> | June 6, 1978 please cngoben / Arm .: Mr. Joseph L. Abbott 109 Primrose Place, Lima , Ohio (USA) Title: Collapsible Dispensing Container Expectations Collapsible dispensing containers, in particular Tube, with a tubular body and an on whose dispensing head is attached to one end and provided with an outlet opening, characterized in that that the body (12) is thermoplastic at least on its outer circumference and that the dispensing head (14-) consists of two axially interlocking parts (16) and (18), of those of the one (16) with its outer wall on the inner wall (30) of the tubular body (12) is inserted lying in this at one end and one extends from the outer wall has a radially inwardly extending first wall (39) and a circular second wall (36), which extends in the axial direction from the first wall (39) inward, and that the end of the tubular body (12) has a first part (12a) and a second part (12b), those in the radial direction or in the axial direction over the first wall (39) and over the second Wall (36) of the first head part (16) drawn 7818230 10/05/78 - II - are and rest on these walls, and that the second head part (18) has a first wall (50) and a second wall (44) which are parallel and in the Distance to the first or second wall (39 or 36) of the first head part (16) run and such interlock so that they the two parts (12a and 12b) of one end of the tubular Wedging the body (12) between them, and that interlocking locking devices (40, 54) ztöi locking the two head sections in assembled state are provided, which at the same time the walls (39 and 50 or 36 and 44) of the two headboards at a distance from each other, and that the first and the second wall (44 and 50) of the second head part 618) a corner (51) form the radially outer surface of the two files (12a and 12b) of the end of the tubular body (12) opposite.,. and that the two walls of the first and second head part (16 and 18) are arranged at a radial distance from one another which is smaller than that Thickness of the tubular body in radial seal, and the second part (12b) at one end of the tubular body (12) compressed between walls (44) and (36) to a thickness which corresponds to the distance between these two walls in the radial direction, and that the material of the outer part (12b) of the tubular body (12) in the corner (51) between the walls (44 and 50) of the second head part (18) pulls into it. 2. Compressible dispensing container, in particular according to claim 1, characterized by a shaft-shaped, tubular body (110) made of deformable material, which has a locking 7818230 10/05/78 From 151 _. - iii.-L layer (112) and an inner layer (114) made of thermoplastic material and on one End carries a dispensing head (14), which consists of two head parts (16 and 18) ", one end of the tubular body are clamped between them. 5. Collapsible dispenser, marked by a shaft-shaped, tubular body and one attached at one end Head part, the shaft-shaped body having a barrier layer (112) and a layer of thermosetting, thermosetting material, and in that the thermosetting material layer forms the inner surface of the tubular body. 4. Container according to one of claims 1 to 3 »characterized in that the two head parts each other corresponding third walls (34 and 42) which are spaced radially from the corresponding second wall (36 or 44) are arranged and an interlocking recess (54) and a Have projection (40). 5. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the outlet opening (24) on the first head part (16) is arranged and has a frustoconical surface (28a) which the Surrounding nozzle (24) and cutting the third wall (3 #) of the first head part (16), and that the second Head part (18) is a ring which has a frustoconical wall (48), the inner and outer edges of which each intersect the third wall (42) and the first wall (44) of this second head part (18) 7818230 10/05/78 From 151.; -IV- and that the frustoconical surfaces (28a and 48) are coplanar with each other if the two headboards (18 and 18) are assembled, and that the recess (54-) and the projection (40) in the axial Distance from the outer edges of the third walls condition. 6. Container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized characterized in that the tubular body consists of a Laminate consists of a barrier layer (112) an inner layer (114) made of thermosetting, thermosetting (plastic plastic and an outer layer (1 ^ 6) having made of thermoplastic material. 7- container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized characterized in that the innermost layer (114) is an epoxy resin. 8. Container according to one of claims 1 to 7 »characterized characterized in that the barrier layer (112) is a metal foil. 9. Container according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first head part (16) the - Has dispensing mouthpiece with respect to the axis of the tubular body within the recess and projection formed connection is arranged, and that the second head part (18) of one Hung is formed. 10. Container according to one of claims 1 to 9 »characterized in that the first head part (74) and the Bing part (76) interlocking parts (86 or 88) which secure the ring part (76) in the head part (74) against pulling out in the axial direction. 7818230 10/05/78 From 151 ', I. 11. Container according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized I marked that the opposite I walls the radially outer walls (90 or 102) I of the interlocking parts (86) and 88) of the two I are the head parts whose radial distance from one another I which is smaller than the thickness of the wall of the pipe I shaped body. I 12. Container according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized ί characterized in that the first head part has a radial I has external sand and has a wall that I radially between the outer wall of the recess I and this outer edge extends, and that the radial I insert the outer edge of the first headboard into the I engages one end of the tubular body (12) I and that one end of this tubular body I pers along the radially inwardly extending I wall and from there over the inner door wall extends and that the bing part of the head part has a second wall surface which extends above the radially between the outer wall of the recess and this outer edge extending surface of this other Headboard lies. ⁽ ) 13. Container according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized characterized in that the outermost layer of the laminate consists of a thermoplastic material. 14. Container according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the outer layer of the tubular Body (12) is formed by a hose or seamless tube. 7818230 10/05/78