EA038169B1 - Plastic container having an opening means - Google Patents

Abstract

A plastic container, comprising a container body (1), a container cover (2, 2', 2''), and an opening means (9) for opening the container cover (2, 2', 2''), the container body (1) comprises a container wall (3) and a container bottom (4) arranged in a lower region, wherein a container opening (5) is formed at an upper end of the container body (1) lying opposite the container bottom (4); the container body (1) comprises a peripherally extending upper border (6) in the upper region; wherein the container cover (2, 2', 2'') is fastened to the upper border (6) of the container body (1) in order to cover the container opening; it is provided that the upper border (6) is connected to the container wall (3) at a distance radially outward from an upper edge (7) of the container wall (3) and by means of a flexible connecting portion (8), the flexible connecting portion (8) permitting sliding of the upper border (6) relative to the container wall (3) and to the opening means (9) such that the plastic container can be brought from a closed position into an open position.

Description

Technology area

The invention relates to a plastic container with an opening means including a container body and a container overlap.

State of the art

From WO2012048922, CH700312, WO2006046730, WO03093128, US6705462, US6886686, US4247001 and US2008067172, respectively, a plastic container is known, which in the container chamber has an integrated dispensing device for dispensing substrates placed in the container chamber into a mixing container. The plastic container is often made in the form of a closure element of the container or, when used, is put on the opening of the mixing container. When the dispensing device is activated, the container is opened and the substrate is discharged from the container chamber into the mixing container.

Plastic containers include a container body, a punch, and a sealing film, respectively. In this case, the body of the container forms the inner space of the container or the chamber of the container for receiving solid or liquid substrates, such as solid, free-flowing or liquid active substances, additives to drinks, reagents, etc., which or which is / is sealed with a sealing film. In the inner space of the container, the punch is displaceable so that the actuation of the punch moves it in the direction of the sealing film and breaks through the sealing film. Placed in the inner space of the container, the substrate can leave the container. The actuation of the punch can be carried out by means of a flexible convex membrane, or a part of the punch is lead hermetically through the vessel wall and can be directly actuated.

US6003728 shows an alternative to sealing film. In this case, the chamber of the container, instead of the sealing film, is closed by a push-open lower closure cover, which is force-locked with a protrusion running along the perimeter in the groove of the container wall. The closure lid can be connected by a narrow hinge bridge to the container wall and in the open position projects substantially vertically into the mixing container. The punch acts in the middle on the cover plate. For dispensing, the closure cap must be squeezed out of the locking joint with a relatively large expenditure of effort, and then it pops out into the open position. In this case, it can also happen that the hinge bridge breaks and the closure lid falls into the mixing container.

The disadvantage of the known plastic containers is that they consist of several elements, which are separately manufactured and then assembled in a further step of the manufacturing process. It takes time and money.

A further disadvantage with the known capacitive devices is that the punched film or the folded back closure lid is often immersed in the liquid of the mixing vessel and remains in this open position. Thereafter, it is practically impossible to cleanly remove the plastic container from the mixing container. Also, the construction of known containers with an integrated dispensing device is in most cases complicated and time consuming. In addition, tearing or cutting of the sealing film cannot be controlled and the handling of the plastic container is therefore fraught with errors. A further disadvantage with the known containers is that the substrate is dispensed uncontrollably and often along the circumferential edge region. In this case, it can happen that, for example, a powdery or granular substrate gets stuck on the inner surface of the mouth of the mixing bowl and is not dispensed completely or cleanly into the mixing bowl.

The essence of the invention

The object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the object of the invention is to create conditions for a more economical manufacture.

This problem is solved using a plastic container with the features of claim 1. The plastic container includes a container body, a container cover, and an opening means for opening the container cover.

The body of the container includes the wall of the container and the bottom of the container located in the lower region, and the opening of the container is made at the upper end of the container body opposite to the bottom of the container. The body of the container includes, in the upper region, a perimeter-extending upper rim. The overlap of the container for closing the opening of the container can be fixed on the upper rim of the container body. The upper rim is spaced from the upper edge of the container wall radially outward with respect to the axis of the container. The upper border is connected to the container wall by a flexible connecting section, the flexible connecting section allowing the upper border to move relative to the container wall and the opening means, so that the plastic container can be moved from the closed position to the open position.

Due to the relative displacement, the opening means functionally connected to the container wall for opening the container overlap is pressed against the container overlap, which is functionally fixed and functionally connected to the upper rim.

The flexible connecting element allows a simple production of a plastic container with an integrated dispensing or opening device for the substrate placed in the plastic container, whereby the container body and the container overlap define the interior of the container.

- 1 038169 for the substrate. In this case, the upper edge of the container wall can be designed as an opening means for closing the container, as will be explained further below. Alternatively, it is also possible to arrange a separate opening means, for example a piercer, in the interior of the container.

The axis of the container is defined in the middle by the bottom of the container and the opening of the container, and the wall of the container does not have to be made in the form of a circular cylinder around the axis of the container, but can also have other shapes.

Further embodiments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

In some embodiments, the opening means may be in a closed position underneath the container overlap or within the container and, in the open position, can be displaced upwardly such that the container overlap is punctured, cut or squeezed.

In some embodiments, the flexible connecting portion may be substantially looped or U-shaped in cross-section in a closed position. Sliding the top border to the open position straightens the flexible, loop or U-shaped connecting section. In doing so, it can create a return force in order to facilitate the return movement of the upper border to the closed position. The maximum offset may correspond to approximately the length of the connecting portion, that is, approximately twice the length of the flange of the hinge or U-shaped connecting portion.

In some embodiments, the flexible connection portion may be a flexible and / or resilient thin-walled site. Typically, the flexible connecting portion is thinner than the normal wall thickness of the container. The vessel wall and top rim can have substantially the same wall thickness.

In some embodiments, the top rim may form a wall that extends substantially parallel to the wall of the container. The lower end of the wall can be connected to a flexible connecting portion. At the top edge or at the top end of the wall, a circumferentially extending radially outward flange can be provided.

In some embodiments, the top rim may be integrally formed through the connecting portion with the container wall. The body of the container can be manufactured in one piece, for example by injection molding.

In some embodiments, the container overlap may be a container lid with multiple flaps, and the top edge of the container wall forms an opening means. It can be designed and positioned, for example, in such a way that it can push out a container lid with multiple flaps. Typically, the opening means upwardly protrudes from the start region of the flexible connecting portion, that is, towards the container lid.

Such a container lid may have a circumferential fastening rib and a plurality of flaps which are respectively hinged to the fastening rib, and the movement of the opening means towards the container lid causes the flaps to deflect around the corresponding hinge.

The actuation of the plastic container causes the flaps to rotate, and the container lid begins to open in the middle. The flaps themselves act as inclined guides, which feed the substrate in the middle into the mixing bowl.

Such a container lid with flaps is described in a Swiss patent application entitled Capsule with integrated dispensing device by the same applicant and with the same filing date, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in this application.

In some embodiments, the multiple flaps may be formed by slots in the container lid or slots in the cover surface of the container lid that form several sectors of the container lid. The sectors can be pointed sectors, the tops of which meet on the longitudinal axis of the plastic container. These are preferably equal or uniform circular sectors, so that the flat surface of the container lid circle is divided into at least three identical circular sectors. In this case, the lid of the container opens from the center and thus ensures a controlled dispensing of the substrate. Overlapping web slots can be provided between the flaps, which form predetermined break points.

In some embodiments, the hinge may be configured such that a return force acts on the flap when the container lid is open. The hinge can be designed, for example, in the form of an arc, in particular a circular arc. In this case, the return force acts on the turned open sash, and after pulling back the opening means, the sash moves back to the closed state. The capsule can now be removed cleanly from the mixing vessel.

In some embodiments, the opening means, which are preferably formed by the upper edge of the container wall, may have a front abutment surface that, when the plastic container is actuated, exerts pressure on several flaps and causes the flaps to pivot outward.

In this case, the abutment surface can also be formed from several (partial) abutment surfaces. Preferably, the abutment surface is annular or arranged

- 2 038169 several (partial) ring-shaped abutment surfaces. In this case, as a rule, each abutment surface is disposed with an offset in the radial direction inward relative to the corresponding hinge.

That is, the annular abutment surface is disposed radially inwardly with respect to the plurality of film hinges, or the plurality of annular abutment surfaces are disposed respectively radially inwardly displaced with respect to the plurality of film hinges.

In other words, the diameter of the annular abutment surface or a plurality of annular abutment surfaces is less than the distance of the hinges from the center of the ring shape. Preferably only slightly, so that the abutment surface reaches the flap as close as possible to the film hinge, but still at a sufficient distance from it, so that a sufficiently large lever effect for forced opening of the flaps is obtained. Thus, even with a slight movement of the opening means, the flaps can pivot outwardly almost completely, that is, almost 90 ° relative to the flat initial position. Ideally, the outward pivot is at least 60 ° with the opener moved all the way forward.

In some embodiments, the overlap of the container may be in the form of a sealing film and the opening means in the form of a cutting edge. The sealing foil can then be attached to the outwardly directed flange of the top border. The top rim or flange may have a support surface with which the plastic container is supported to cause movement through the opening of the mixing container.

In some embodiments, the top rim may have a threaded circumferential apron, preferably with a female thread, by which the plastic container can be screwed onto the mixing container.

In some embodiments, the opening means may be an internally disposed punch that rests on the container wall or the bottom of the container.

List of figures

The invention will be explained in more detail below based on exemplary embodiments in connection with the drawing (s). The drawing shows:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a plastic container;

fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the plastic container of FIG. 1;

fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view of FIG. 2;

fig. 4 is a detailed view of a connecting portion, with (a) in the closed position and (b) in the open position;

fig. 5 is a perspective view of the plastic container of FIG. 1 with a partially open container overlap;

fig. 6 is a detailed view of a plastic container with a sealing film;

fig. 7 is a perspective view of a plastic container with opening means with multiple piercing means and a sealing film; and FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the plastic container of FIG. 7.

Implementation of the invention

FIG. 1-3 show a plastic container with an integrated opening mechanism. FIG. 4 shows a fragment of a plastic container in an open position and in a closed position. The plastic container includes a container body 1 and a container overlap 2 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in partial section). The body 1 of the container includes a wall 3 of the container with the bottom 4 of the container at the lower end and the opening 5 of the container at the upper end. The container wall 3 has a substantially conical shape. At the upper end, the container wall further includes an upper rim 6 extending along the circumferential perimeter. ... The rim 6 includes, at the upper end of the wall 61, a radially outwardly directed flange 62 with a circumferential downwardly directed apron 63 for reinforcement.

At the lower end of the wall 61, the border 6 is connected by a flexible connecting section 8 to the container wall 3. The flexible connecting portion 8 has, in the embodiment shown, a loop-shaped or U-shaped cross-section. The container wall 3 and the rim 6 have substantially the same wall thickness. The connecting section 8 is made thinner than the container wall 3 or the rim 6. The connecting section 8 has such flexibility that the rim 6 can be moved relative to the container wall 3 from the closed position (Fig. 4 (a)) to the open position (Fig. 4 ( b)). Above the attachment point 81 of the flexible joint 8 to the container wall 3, the container wall 3 extends further upward and forms opening means 9 at its upper edge 7. The upper edge 7 is below the plane defined by the flange 62.

The loop-shaped or U-shaped flexible connecting section 8 is connected by both end regions to the container wall 3 and, respectively, to the upper rim 6. In the closed position, both ends are at substantially the same height. In the open position, they are offset from each other - 3,038169 ha and the flexible connecting section 8 is straightened.

In the embodiment shown, the container cover 2 'is a container lid 2' with several flaps 24 for closing off the container opening 5 and has a circumferential fastening rib 21. Such container cover 2 'is described in a Swiss patent application entitled Capsule with an integrated dispensing device from the same applicant and with the same filing date of the application, the content of which is thereby included in this application. The lid 2 'of the container can be directly secured with a fastening rib 21 on the rim 6 or, as in the embodiment shown, have on the circumferential fastening rib 21 a perimeter downward-extending apron 22 with a projection 23 on its outer surface extending around the perimeter. For securing the container lid 2 ', the perimeter protrusion 23 jumps into the mating groove 64 located on the inner surface of the wall 61 of the border 6.

In the embodiment shown, the container lids 2 'are formed by means of through-slots 25 in the cover surface, four flaps 24 in the form of uniform circular sectors. These flaps 24 are connected, respectively, by a hinge 26, preferably by a film hinge, to a fastening rib 21 of the container lid 2 '. There may be retaining webs overlapping slots 25 between the flaps 24, which define predetermined break points. Instead of slots, predetermined breaks in the form of thin-walled breaks are also possible.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of a flexible connecting portion 8, with (a) in the closed position and (b) in the open position. In the closed position, the border 6 is relative to the container wall 3 or the opening means 9 in the upper position, in which the flexible connecting section 8 has a loop-shaped or U-shaped cross-section, and the upper edge 7 of the container wall 3 or the opening means 9 is below the surface specified by the flange. In this case, the opening means 9 is closed by the container lid 2 '.

In order to open the container lid 2 ', the border 6, on which the container lid 2' is fixed, is slid down along the container axis A towards the container bottom 4. This can happen, for example, because the plastic container is pressed against the mouth of the mixing container by the flange 62, which simultaneously forms the support surface 65. In this case, the opening means 9 are displaced relative to the container lid 2 'and are squeezed out by the upper edge 7 of its flap 24. In the open position, the opening means 9 protrude beyond the flange 62 of the border 6. The flexible connecting section 8, which is made elastic, is then straightened (see Fig. 4 (b)). The maximum offset corresponds in this case to approximately the length of the connecting section 8 or twice the length of the U-shaped flange.

The film hinges 26 on the container lid 2 ', which respectively hold the flaps 24 on the container lid 2', can be arcuate (see FIG. 1). This results in a return force acting on the flaps 24 on the pivoted flaps 24, that is, in the open position. If the opening means 9 is pulled back again, the flaps 24 are also at least partially closed.

The bottom 4 of the container is curved outwardly in the shown embodiment. At the lower end of the container wall 3, an apron 31 protruding beyond the bottom 4 of the container is made.

FIG. 5 shows the plastic container of FIG. 1 with a 2 'container lid partially open. In this case, the flaps 24 are turned outward around the film hinges 26.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of a plastic container with a sealing foil 2 as the overlap 2 of the container. The sealing foil 2 is attached to the upper rim 6, for example by being welded to the flange of the rim 6. The opening means 9 can be designed as a cutting edge, for example by the fact that the upper edge 7 of the container body 1 or the container wall 3 forms cutting edge. The relative displacement of the cutting edge from the closed position of the plastic container to its open position causes cutting of the sealing film 2.

FIG. 7 and 8 also show a plastic container with a sealing film 2 in a perspective view and in a detailed view, in which FIG. 7, the sealing film 2 is not shown. In contrast to the plastic container of FIG. 6, the opening means 9 is provided with at least one piercing means 10. The opening means 9 is designed in such a way that it is functionally connected to the container wall 3. The relative displacement of the piercing means 10 from the closed position of the plastic container to its open position causes the sealing film 2 to pierce.

In the embodiment shown, the opening means 9 is located at the upper edge 7 of the container wall 3. It can also be secured to the container wall 3, for example by means of a locking means.

The opening means 9 can be made, for example, in the form of a filter plate with filter holes 11. The filter holes can be covered with filter paper.

List of reference symbols

- the body of the container;

- container overlap;

2 '- container lid;

- 4 038169

- sealing film;

- tank wall;

- the bottom of the container;

- container opening;

- bordering;

- top edge;

- flexible connecting section;

- opening means;

- piercing agent;

- filter holes;

- fastening rib;

- apron;

- ledge;

- sash;

- slots;

- hinge, film hinge;

- apron;

- wall;

- flange;

- apron;

- groove;

- supporting surface;

A - tank axis.

Claims (11)

CLAIM 1. A plastic container, including the body (1) of the container, the overlap (2, 2 ', 2) of the container and the opening means (9) for opening the overlap (2, 2', 2) of the container; the body (1) of the container includes a wall (3) of the container and the bottom (4) of the container located in the lower region, and at the upper end of the body (1) of the container, opposite to the bottom (4) of the container, a hole (5) of the container is made; the body (1) of the container includes, in the upper region, a perimeter-extending upper rim (6); moreover, the overlap (2, 2 ', 2) of the container for closing the opening of the container is fixed on the upper rim (6) of the body (1) of the container; characterized in that the upper edge (6) is spaced from the upper edge (7) of the container wall (3) in the radial outward direction and is connected to the container wall (3) by a flexible connecting section (8), and the flexible connecting section (8) allows the upper borders (6) with respect to the wall (3) of the container and the means (9) for opening, so that the plastic container can be moved from the closed position to the open position, while the flexible connecting section (8) in the closed position is substantially loop-shaped in cross-section or U-shaped. 2. A plastic container according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening means (9) in the closed position is under the container overlap (2, 2 ', 2) and in the open position is displaced in such a way upward that the overlap (2, 2', 2) containers are punctured, cut or squeezed. 3. A plastic container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flexible connecting section (8) is made in the form of a flexible thin-walled place. 4. A plastic container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the upper rim (6) forms a wall (61) that extends substantially parallel to the container wall (3). 5. Plastic container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the border (6) forms a flange (62) directed radially outward. 6. Plastic container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the upper border (6) is formed through a flexible connecting section (8) in one piece with the wall (3) of the container. 7. A plastic container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the upper edge of the container wall (3) forms an opening means (9). 8. A plastic container according to claim 7, characterized in that the container overlap (2) in the form of a container lid (2) has several flaps (24), which are made with the possibility of being pushed out by the upper edge (7) of the container wall (3). 9. A plastic container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the overlap (2) of the container is made in the form of a sealing film (2) and the opening means (9) is made in the form of a cutting edge. 10. Plastic container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the upper rim (6) has a support surface (65) with which the plastic container can be slipped onto the mixing container to cause movement through the opening of the mixing container. 11. Plastic container according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the upper rim (6) has a threaded circumferential apron, preferably with an internal thread, by means of which the plastic container can be screwed onto the mixing container.