EP0087562B1 - Dispenser for fluid, viscous or powdered products - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A dispenser (1) for liquids, pastes or powders, consisting of a preferably flexible container (2) with a closure (3) at the mouth (19) of the container, said closure having two interlocking parts with concentric sealing surfaces which rotate relative to each other around their common axis, whereby the one closure part consists of a sleeve (5) affixed to the mouth of the container and the other consists of a hollow core (6) which is rotatable inside said sleeve, and is provided with a grip means, and whereby both parts have openings (7, 8) in said sealing surfaces, said openings being congruent in a given position thus dispensing the contents of the container, and said openings being sealable by turning said closure parts, wherein the axis (17) of said closure parts is congruent with the axis of said container mouth (29), whereby said sleeve (5) has an external section directed away from the inside of said container where it forms a contact seal with the inner wall of said container mouth and has an internal section which extends inside said container where it is provided with at least one openings (7), and that said sleeve (5) is made of relatively elastic material, and that said core (6) is made of relatively rigid material and that said internal section of said sleeve (5) is pressed by elastic tension against said core (6) in the area of said openings (7, 8).

Description

The invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing liquid, pasty or dusty filling goods according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a dispenser is described in FR-A-2 467 148.

Various requirements are placed on such donors. From the manufacturer's point of view, it must be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, with only a small outlay for assembling the individual parts and for filling being desirable. The contents must not change their moisture content during transport and storage, nor be contaminated in any way or flow out of the container. For the consumer, ease of use is paramount. In particular, the filling material should be able to be removed with only one hand, without having to handle screw caps or loose caps. Nonetheless, clogging of the closure opening as a result of content residues contained therein drying out should be ruled out.

A tube closure is already known from DE-C-861 666, in which a closure cap made of plastic material is snapped onto the tube neck in a rotationally symmetrical manner. The cap and the neck of the tube each have an opening that allows the contents of the tube to be removed in a congruent position. The disadvantage of such a closure is that the elastic closure part is arranged on the outside, so that in the closed position the inner opening is closed by an outer elastic wall. When an internal pressure occurs, e.g. if the container is inadvertently pressed together, the sealing pressure is released, the elastic wall section is arched outwards and the contents of the container penetrate outwards between the sealing surfaces.

In order to ensure adequate tightness, the initial sealing pressure must be large, which is why the closure is stiff. Residual contents that dry out can also clog the outer closure opening. The outer closure opening will quickly become dirty during use.

FR-A-1 174 882 proposes a similar solution to DE-C-861 666. In contrast to the first-mentioned publication, however, the core element here is arranged such that it can pivot relative to the container and is pressed into the jacket element. Here too, however, one of the two closure parts is part of the container mouth. This limits the choice of materials for the container from the outset. In addition, the container production is complicated by the fact that a lateral opening must be provided at the mouth.

In the case of the dispenser according to FR-A-2 467 148, the core element and the casing element are designed as components that are independent of the container mouth. However, the central axis of the two closure parts lies transversely to the central axis of the container mouth and the core element penetrates the wall of the container mouth. In this way, an opening must also be provided in the container mouth, which complicates the manufacture of the container. The jacket element, which is also designed as a stopper for the container mouth, also forms a component that is difficult to manufacture. As a result of the lateral penetration of the closure elements through the container mouth, sealing surfaces result about two different axes, so that the increase in the initial sealing pressure around one axis may lead to a deterioration in the sealing effect around the other axis. Finally, there is an operating lever, but so unfavorably arranged that one-hand operation is actually impossible.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a dispenser of the type mentioned at the outset which has a reliable and tight closure which is nevertheless easy to operate and can be operated with one hand. The dispenser should be able to be operated either in a stationary holding device or hands-free, without the locking function being impaired in any way. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a dispenser which has the features in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The sealing pressure is brought about by the fact that the wall of the elastic closure part rests against the rigid closure part under prestress and is acted upon directly by any overpressure in the interior of the container. Obviously, when the closure is closed, the opening in the core element is sealed, which is further reinforced when an internal pressure occurs. The relatively elastic material can e.g. be a plastic that can be deformed to a limited extent due to its relatively small shear modulus and its inner resilience, while the rigid material can be a plastic with a relatively large shear modulus. Therefore, the initial sealing pressure can be low and the closure can move smoothly. The container mouth is not directly part of the closure, so that the container is easy to manufacture and no special consideration needs to be given to the function of the closure when choosing the material. Due to the coaxial arrangement of the closure elements with the axis of the container mouth, sealing problems only arise rotationally symmetrically about a single axis.

A particularly optimal sealing effect can be achieved if the casing element and the core element have at least two pairs of openings which are congruent in the same relative position, an opening in the casing element opening in the upper region into a pouring spout firmly connected to the casing element. Obviously, this creates a double seal against the inside of the container. This is particularly advantageous in the case of very thin liquids or those which contain easily evaporating substances.

In the course of use, the pouring spout can become dirty or residues of content can dry inside the pouring spout, which has previously been prevented, for example, by using a detachable, loose cap. In order to ensure the one-hand operation of the dispenser according to the invention in this case as well, the core element is connected to a cover which surrounds the closure and which is pivotable together with the core element and with which the opening of the pouring spout can be covered in the closed position. This prevents the contents that are inside the closure parts or the pouring spout from drying out. This is particularly important for pasty filling goods.

In principle, the dispensers described can be filled and closed in a conventional manner, but in many cases the fastening of the closure would either be complex and expensive or unsafe with regard to the transport risk.

It is therefore a further object of the invention to provide a dispenser of the type mentioned at the beginning, the fastening of which is simple and safe, and which also requires little material and takes up little space. There are two known and used solutions for fastening closures to containers. For example, part of the closure can have an internal thread which is screwed onto an external thread on the bottle neck, or the closure can also be pressed tightly with a type of union nut onto the container mouth. Another common method is for the closure to have a sleeve which is placed over the outside of the container neck and snapped in there with the aid of an annular groove and an annular bead.

However, these arrangements require relatively large and complicated parts, which increases the overall diameter of the closure arrangement and increases its cost. They are used because securing elements, such as threads, beads and grooves, which are sufficiently deep can only be formed on the outside of the neck of the container in an economical manner. Such elements can only have a limited depth on the inside of the container neck, since otherwise problems arise when the container is removed from the mold during the manufacturing process. Therefore, a conventional attachment inside the container neck is not sufficiently secure against internal pressure.

A tight and secure attachment of the closure within the container mouth is achieved by a construction which has the features of claim 9.

A stable but detachable support of the casing element by the core element results when the boundary surfaces of the annular groove on the casing element and the support shoulder on the core element lying against the container mouth lie against one another and essentially have the shape of a conical ring tapering towards the container mouth. As long as the ring surfaces are in contact with one another, the ring bead on the outside of the casing element cannot be pressed together, so that it sits firmly in the ring groove of the container neck. It has proven to be advantageous if the conical ring of the boundary surfaces has an angle with respect to the central axis which is greater than 10 ° and less than 40 °.

This makes it easy to press the closure into the neck of the container; that the support shoulder on the core element is axially displaceable in the annular groove on the casing element, and that the largest outer diameter of the support shoulder is smaller than the largest inner diameter of the annular groove.

Obviously, the jacket element can be pressed together in the region of its ring bead as soon as the core element with the support shoulder is pushed axially inwards as a result of the pressing-in pressure and the conical boundary surfaces separate. On the other hand, when an internal pressure occurs, the support shoulder is pressed axially outwards and the contact pressure of the conical boundary surfaces is increased, so that the annular bead of the casing element is pressed even more firmly into the annular groove of the container. Since the jacket element is relatively elastic, the sealing properties are optimal.

In order to ensure that the pressure required to press out the closure is as large as possible, it is advantageous in flexible containers if the wall thickness of the casing element between its ring bead and its ring groove is greater than the radius difference between the largest outer diameter of the support shoulder on the core element and the smallest Inner diameter of the container mouth, with which an elastic expansion of the container mouth caused by the internal pressure is taken into account from the outset.

• Fig. 1 einen Querschnitt durch den Verschluss eines Spenders,
• Fig. 2 zwei Querschnitte durch die Wandhalterung für den Spender gemäss Fig. 1,
• Fig. 3 eine Ansicht des Spenders gemäss Fig. 1,
• Fig. 4 und 5 abgewandelte Ausführungsbeispiele mit parallel zur Behälterachse verlaufender Ausgiesstülle,
• Fig. 6 einen Spenderverschluss mit fest mit dem Mantelelement verbundener Ausgiesstülle und mit einer Abdeckung der Ausgiesstülle,
• Fig. 7 einen Verschluss gemäss Fig. 6 in SchliessStellung,
• Fig. 8 einen Verschluss gemäss Fig. 6 in Öffnungsstellung,
• Fig. 9 ein abgewandeltes Ausführungsbeispiel mit feststehender Ausgiesstülle, jedoch ohne Abdeckung,
• Fig. 10 einen Teilquerschnitt durch einen Spenderverschluss mit verbesserter Befestigungsvorrichtung,
• Fig. 11a und 11b das Einpressen eines vereinfachten Verschlusses mit Befestigungsvorrichtung, und
• Fig. 12a und 12b den eingepressten Verschluss gemäss Fig. 11 beim Auftreten eines Innendruckes.

Various embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are described in more detail below. Show it:

• 1 shows a cross section through the closure of a dispenser,
• 2 shows two cross sections through the wall bracket for the dispenser according to FIG. 1,
• 3 shows a view of the dispenser according to FIG. 1,
• 4 and 5 modified embodiments with pouring spout running parallel to the container axis,
• 6 shows a dispenser closure with a pouring spout firmly connected to the casing element and with a covering of the pouring spout,
• 7 shows a closure according to FIG. 6 in the closed position,
• 8 shows a closure according to FIG. 6 in the open position,
• 9 shows a modified embodiment with a fixed pouring spout, but without a cover,
• 10 shows a partial cross section through a dispenser closure with an improved fastening device,
• 11a and 11b the pressing in of a simplified closure with fastening device, and
• 12a and 12b the press-in closure according to FIG. 11 when an internal pressure occurs.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the dispenser 1 consists essentially of a container 2 and a closure 3. In most cases, the container body will be made of a flexible plastic material, so that the contents can be removed by pressing the container together . However, it is also conceivable to manufacture the container from other materials or to use additional removal devices such as Use plunger or propellant.

The closure essentially consists of a jacket element 5 firmly connected to the container and of a pivotable core element 6. The two closure parts are designed as rotationally symmetrical, approximately cylindrical sleeves and rotate about the common axis of rotation 17. Openings 7 and 8 are transverse to the axis of rotation 17 arranged in the closure parts, wherein the fixed opening 7 can be closed by turning away the pivotable opening 8. Depending on the circumstances, several pairs of openings 7 and 8 can be provided in the closure parts. The pivotable core element 6 opens into a pouring spout 9, which facilitates the removal of the container contents. For removal, the two closure parts 5 are rotated relative to one another until the pivotable opening 8 matches the fixed opening 7. Then the walls of the container are pressed together so that a pressure is exerted on the contents inside the container. The contents first pass through the two openings 7, 8 into a core cavity 18 and there into the pouring spout 9.

The jacket element 5 is made of a relatively elastic material. In contrast, the pivotable core element 6 is made of a relatively rigid material, so that the fixed jacket element 5 presses against the pivotable core element 6 when an internal pressure occurs. This ensures a particularly secure seal when the closure is closed.

The pouring spout 9 is integrated into an outer cap 19, which in turn can consist of a different material than the pivotable core element 6. The individual components can be put together in the simplest way, which considerably simplifies the assembly of the closure.

The dispenser 1 can be inserted into a wall bracket 4 with the closure facing down. The wall bracket 4 is provided with a holding device 10 which receives the closure 3 in a form-fitting manner. A recess 11 receives the pouring spout 9 and holds it at the same time. In this way, the outer cap 19 can have a cylindrical configuration without twisting the closure in the holding device 10. To remove the contents of the container with the dispenser inserted into the wall bracket, it is evident that only the container 2 has to be rotated about its own axis until the two openings 7 and 8 coincide. This ensures particularly simple operation, since both the rotary movement and the pressing together of the container can be carried out with only one hand.

In the present exemplary embodiment, however, the outer cap 19 is provided with a recessed grip 12, so that the closure can also be operated outside the wall bracket. The recessed grip 12 lies in a form-fitting manner on a corresponding projection 20 in the holding device.

The wall bracket 4 can be attached to a rear wall in various ways. It can be screwed or glued, for example, or attached to the wall using a suction cup. Instead of the wall bracket, any other stationary holding device can also be provided, which is also on a horizontal surface, e.g. can be attached to a table or a washbasin. It is even conceivable that the closure part pivotable relative to the container, for example the outer cap 19 in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, has a fastening element with which the container can be fixed in place and which replaces the holding device. A suction cup or a screw could serve as such a fastening element. It is also conceivable for the closure part which can be pivoted relative to the container to have a self-adhesive surface with which the container can be fixed on a suitable base.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show two exemplary embodiments, which likewise have all the features of the dispenser according to the invention, but in which not only the axis of rotation 17 of the closure parts, but also the pouring spout 9 run approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, the plane of the openings 7 and 8 is not arranged parallel, but rather approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation 17. Here too, a grip strip 13 facilitates the operation of the closure and can also be used to hold it in a stationary holding device. The openings 7 and 8 are arranged eccentrically on a common diameter. The pivotable core element 6 is rotated until the two openings match. When the closure is closed, the fixed jacket element 5 made of elastic material is pressed like a membrane onto the opening 8. The embodiment according to Fig. 5 has a similar closure as e.g. shown in Fig. 1. Only the pouring spout is designed as an immediate extension of the core element.

Figures 6 to 8 show an embodiment in which the pouring spout 9 is firmly connected to the casing element 5. The closure has two pairs of openings 7, 8 or 7 'and 8', so that the core cavity 18 is sealed twice. The pivotable core element 6 is integrated in a cover 14, with which the pouring spout 9 can be completely covered.

The cover 14 has an inwardly facing trough 23, the wall of which is provided with a slot 22 which runs in the plane of the pouring spout 9. The inside diameter of the cover 14 is dimensioned such that when the pouring spout is covered, the opening 15 of the pouring spout is closed by the cover 14. In this way, drying out or soiling of the filling material in the pouring spout is prevented.

The attachment in the wall bracket 4 is basically the same in this version as in the other embodiments. For actuation outside the wall holder, the cover 14 is provided with at least one recessed grip 12.

Since the sealing surfaces touching one another are approximately conical in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6, without a final bead holding the pivotable core element in place, as in FIG. 1, for example, a securing means for the pivotable core element must be provided. This backup he expediently follows in that interlocking retaining ribs 24 extending transversely to the axis of rotation are provided for the sealing pressure of the contacting sealing surfaces. These holding ribs prevent the pivotable core element 6 from being able to move axially without the pivoting being impaired in the process. Since the fixed jacket element 5 is made of an elastic material, the pivotable core element made of rigid material can be pressed into the jacket element, so that the retaining ribs snap into one another. This also considerably simplifies the assembly of the closure.

7 shows the dispenser closure with the pouring spout 9 swung in. By rotating the container about its own axis, the pouring spout 9 is pivoted out of the slot 22 and released, as shown in FIG. 8. In this position, the openings 7, 8 and 7 ', 8' are congruent, so that the contents can be removed.

Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment in which the pouring spout 9 is firmly connected to the casing element 5. However, the pouring spout is not provided with a cover as in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6. Instead of a recessed grip, the pivotable core element 6 is provided with a grip strip 13, which would also enable the pivotable core element 6 to be fixed in a holding device. Since the pouring spout 9 also moves when the container is rotated, the holding device would have to be designed accordingly.

FIG. 10 shows a detailed section of a dispenser with an arrangement similar to that in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, as is also the case in FIGS. 1, 4, 5 and 9, an actual fastening of the closure in the container neck is not for the sake of simplicity presented in detail. In fact, of course, the closure must be mechanically secured in the container neck, unless the closure is welded or glued to the container mouth. Such a mechanical fuse is shown in Fig. 10. The container neck with container mouth 29 has an annular groove 28 on its inside. The annular groove 28 is essentially cylindrical and has a beveled or rounded transition surface at the outer end. This transition surface enables the container to be removed from the mold during manufacture. The cylindrical jacket element 26, which is made of relatively elastic material, has an annular bead 27 on its outside, which can be snapped into the annular groove 28. At the same level as the annular bead 27, an annular groove 30 is provided on the inside of the jacket element 26. In this annular groove 30 a support shoulder 31 engages, which is arranged on the outside of the hollow cylindrical core element 25 made of relatively rigid material.

The boundary surfaces of the support shoulder 31 and annular groove 30 lying towards the container mouth have approximately the shape of a conical ring 32 tapering towards the container mouth. The angle of inclination a of this conical ring, based on the container axis, is between 10 ° and 40 °.

The fit between the core element and the casing element is designed with the cavities 33 such that the core element 25 is axially displaceable in the casing element 26. This displaceability plays a special role in the press-in of the closure (the press-in pressure acting on cover 14 on core element 25), as will be shown below. The largest outer diameter A of the support shoulder 31 is also smaller than the largest inner diameter B of the annular groove 30. In this way, the diameter of the annular bead 27 can be elastically reduced by the dimension BA as soon as the conical annular surfaces 32 disengage when the core element 25 is axially displaced come.

Finally, in the case of flexible containers, the wall thickness C of the jacket element in the plane of the annular bead 27, or the annular groove 30, is dimensioned such that it is greater than the radius difference D between the support shoulder 31 and the container mouth 29. This causes the container mouth 29 to be pressed when the Closure stretched elastically, while at the same time the diameter of the annular bead 27 decreases elastically. Holding ribs 24 secure the pivotable core element 25 and bring about an initial sealing pressure on the sealing surfaces in the region of the openings 7, 8.

The functioning of the fastening device for flexible bottles is explained below with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. The individual parts of the closure are greatly simplified and shown without openings or pouring spouts. 11a shows the closure, consisting of the casing element 26, into which the core element 25 is inserted. The jacket element 26 is in contact with its annular bead 27 at the container mouth 29. However, the individual parts have not yet been deformed or shifted.

To press in the closure, a press-in pressure in the direction of arrow Z is exerted exclusively on the core element 25, as shown in FIG. 11b. The jacket element 26 is axially elastically stretched and the support shoulder 31 is pushed axially inwards relative to the annular groove 30, so that the conical annular surfaces 32 separate from one another. By eliminating the support on the support shoulder 31, the annular bead 27 can be elastically reduced in diameter. At the same time, the container mouth 29 is elastically widened by the dimension E, so that the annular bead 27 can snap into the annular groove 28 in the container neck. This position is shown in Fig. 12a.

12b shows the situation when an internal pressure occurs, the closure being pressed outwards and the container mouth 29 being elastically expanded. The internal pressure causes an elastic shortening of the jacket element 26 and, via the rigid core element 25, an increased sealing pressure of the surfaces 32. Even if the container mouth 29 expands again by the dimension E due to the internal pressure, the jacket element 26 cannot slide out. since the support shoulder 31 prevents the ring bead 27 from being reduced in size and even strives to enlarge the diameter of the ring bead 27.

The closure is only pressed out if the container mouth 29 is stretched beyond the elastic range, which would require a much greater force. As a result of the increasing contact pressure between the core element, jacket element and container mouth, the tightness of the fastening is retained.

Obviously, the relative mass of the core element, casing element and container and their form-fitting fits will depend on both the diameter of the container mouth and the shear modulus of the materials used.

In practice, particularly good results have been achieved if a styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer with a shear modulus of approx. 1000 N / mm2 at 20 ° C. is used as the material for the core element. An ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer with a shear modulus of approx. 40 N / mm2 at 20 ° C can be used for the jacket element.

The shear modulus at 20 ° C. for the jacket element is advantageously chosen to be less than 100 N / mm 2 and that of the core element is greater than 300 N / mm 2.

Claims (14)

1. A dispenser (1) for liquids, pastes or powders, consisting of a preferably flexible container (2) with a closure (3) at the mouth (19) of the container, said closure having two interlocking parts with concentric sealing surfaces which rotate relative to each other around their common axis, whereby the one closure part consists of a sleeve (5) affixed to the mouth of the container and the other consists of a hollow core (6) which is rotatable inside said sleeve, and is provided with a grip means, and whereby both parts have openings (7, 8) in said sealing surfaces, said openings being congruent in a given position thusdispens- ing the contents of the container, and said openings being sealable by turning said closure parts, wherein the axis (17) of said closure parts is congruent with the axis of said container mouth (29), whereby said sleeve (5) has an external section directed away from the inside of said container where it forms a contact seal with the inner wall of said container mouth and has an internal section which extends inside said container where it is provided with at least one openings (7), and that said sleeve (5) is made of relatively elastic material, and that said core (6) is made of relatively rigid material and that said internal section of said sleeve (5) is pressed by elastic tension against said core (6) in the area of said openings (7, 8).

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent sealing surfaces of said closure parts are approximately cylindrical in shape.

3. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the adjacent sealing surfaces of said closure parts are approximately conical and/or ellipsoidal in shape.

4. A dispenser according to claim 2 or 3, wherein near the adjacent sealing surfaces said closure parts are provided with interlocking ribs (24) perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

5. A dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said core is provided with a pouring spout (9).

6. A dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said sleeve (5) and said core (6) are provided with at least two pairs of openings (7, 8 and 7, 8') which are respectively congruent in one relative position, whereby that opening (7') in the sleeve (5) which is directed towards the outside of the container opens into a pouring spout (9) affixed to the sleeve (5).

7. A dispenser according to claim 6, wherein said core is connected to a cover (14) surrounding the mouth of said container, said cover being rotatable with said core relative to said pouring spout, and covering the opening (15) of said pouring spout when in the closed position.

8. A dispenser according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein said dispenser has a stationary holder (10) which holds the closure part that is rotatable relative to said container in such a manner that the closure can be opened by turning said container around the axis of rotation of said closure parts.

9. A dispenser according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sleeve (26) has on its outside wall a ring bead (27) which can be pressed into a corresponding ring groove (28) on the inside of the container mouth (29), and has on its inside wall, at approximately the level of said ring bead, a ring groove (30), and that the core (25) has on its outside wall an at least partially circumferential supporting shoulder (31) that fits inside the ring groove (30) of the sleeve (26).

10. A dispenser according to claim 9, wherein the surfaces of the ring groove (30) of the sleeve (5), and of the supporting shoulder (31) of the core (6) on that side nearest the container mouth, are adjacent, and essentially have the shape of a conical ring (32) tapering in the direction of the container mouth (29).

11. A dispenser according to claim 10, wherein said conical ring has a half-angle (a) which is not less than 10° and not greater than 40°.

12. A dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the supporting shoulder (31) on the core (6) can be displaced axially in the ring groove (30) on the sleeve (5), and wherein the largest external diameter of the supporting shoulder (31) is smaller than the largest internal diameter of the ring groove (30).

13. A dispenser according to claim 12, wherein with flexible containers the wall thickness of the sleeve (5) between its ring bead (27) and its ring groove (30) is greaterthan the difference in radius between the largest external diameter of the supporting shoulder (31) on the core (6) and the smallest internal diameter of the container mouth.

14. A dispenser according to claim 13, wherein the core (6) at one end is so rigidly connected to the external closure parts that external insertion pressure acts upon said core, and at the other end borders on the inside of said container in such a manner that internal pressure acts, either directly or indirectly by way of the elastic sleeve (5), upon said core.

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