EP0133983B1 - Container formed of elastically deformable plastics material - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container, in particular a bottle, made of elastically deformable plastic with the features of the preamble of claim 1. Such a container has become known from the document FR-A-2 050 266. The known container has a tube for filling and removing the filling material.

In the wall of the container, predetermined bending lines are provided, by means of which wall parts can be brought from a first stable end position into a second stable end position for snapping over. As a result, the tube, which constantly maintains its axially parallel position, can be moved from an outer position to a position further inside. During the transition from one end position to the other, the wall parts snap against restoring forces resulting from the elasticity of the wall material via a dead center position.

There is a need for containers in which the tube can be brought into a position in use in which the axes of the tube and the container are inclined or at right angles to each other. This allows z. B. pour powdered cleaning agent on the inner wall of basins, especially toilet bowls. In the case of gasoline canisters or oil containers, an inclined position or the like of the pipe is also expedient for pouring out.

On the other hand, for filling such containers it is necessary that the tube is in the normal position, that is to say axially parallel to the container. This is to avoid expensive filling and closing devices.

The invention has for its object to provide a container, the filling and removal tube between two stable angular positions relative to the container axis can be snapped. The tube is to be pressed against restoring forces pushing into these stable end positions up to an intermediate dead center position and, after passing through the dead center position, snap into the other end position. The forces that push into the stable end positions are to be derived from the shape of the container and its snapping wall surfaces and from the inherent elasticity of the wall material.

This object is achieved by the invention according to claim 1.

Essential to the invention is the presence of at least one, generally a plurality of foldable and snap-on surfaces, which are arranged asymmetrically in at least one, usually in both end positions to the axis of the container. This allows the desired stable inclination of the tube to be achieved and the contents to be dispensed sideways when the container is turned upside down. In particular, it is not necessary to screw or plug an additional part onto the container mouth for this purpose, whereby z. B. the usual screw-on filler tubes for gasoline cans are omitted. The containers can be filled while their tube is in the normal position, the first end position, so that standard filling machines and standard heads of sealing machines can be used.

In addition, the target bending lines can be arranged in such a way that they delimit a part that can be folded in and, viewed in the direction of the folding axis, diverge from one side of the container against the other. At least one oblique wall surface is located between the target bending lines and widens from one side of the container to the other. Such inclined surfaces can be turned inside out during the buckling process. Since they are wider on one side of the container than on the other, the container is shortened on one side by the inverting process, that is, it is kinked.

In an embodiment, more than one inclined surface can be provided, with an inclined surface that tapers in the direction of the axis of the container being followed by an expanding one, which can be continued. As a result, the container can be bent by a considerable angle. This arrangement is mainly of advantage if the collapsible part of the container is to have a substantially constant cross section in its main part.

It can be arranged the foldable part in the shoulder portion of the container, the z. B. is conical in a bottle or tapers convexly or concavely against the tube. By arranging at least two target bending lines, the shoulder section can be designed to be foldable.

Different containers have a rectangular cross section or at least one shoulder section of rectangular cross section. For such containers, the snap-in part can be designed in the manner of a hipped roof, the tube attaching to one (trapezoidal) main surface of the hipped roof.

A seal for the container contents at the inner end of the tube can also be created. This tube end can namely be pushed over a stopper which projects inwards from the one container wall.

According to one embodiment, the target bending lines can be designed as channels which are either open inwards or outwards. Both embodiments are suitable for the production of containers in the blowing process. Instead, the target bending lines can be formed as film hinges in a manner known per se, which is suitable for production using the injection molding process.

According to claim 13, the target bending lines can have at least one narrow area strip, which ensures a striking constriction of the container. Through this you can achieve that when buckling the container wall surfaces adjacent to the target bending line retain their original shape, e.g. B. remain cylindrical or conical. They are prevented from bulging or bulging during the buckling process.

• Figur 1 ist eine Teil-Seitenansicht einer Flasche mit knickbarem Hauptteil.
• Figur 2 ist ein Querschnitt durch diese Flasche nach Linie 11-11 in Figur 1.
• Figur 3 ist eine Teil-Seitenansicht dieser Flasche in Knickstellung.
• Figur 4 ist ein Längsschnitt durch den oberen Teil einer Flasche mit knickbarem Schulterabschnitt.
• Figur 5 ist eine Draufsicht auf diese Flasche.
• Figur 6 ist eine Draufsicht auf eine Flasche mit knickbarem Schulterabschnitt, jedoch mit Soll-Biegelinien anderer Form.
• Figur 7 zeigt in Seitenansicht den oberen Teil einer Flasche mit knickbarem Schulterabschnitt anderer Form in Grundstellung.
• Figur 8 zeigt in Teil-Seitenansicht dieselbe Flasche in Grundstellung und KnicksteIlung.
• Figur 9 zeigt in Seitenansicht den oberen Teil einer Flasche, die sowohl in ihrem zylindrischen Hauptteil als auch in ihrem Schulterabschnitt je einem einknickbaren Teil aufweist.
• Figur 10 zeigt perspektivisch eine Einzelheit der Flaschen nach Figur 7, 8 und 9.
• Figur 11 und 12 sind Teil-Seitenansichten eines Behälters, der an einer umstülpbaren Dachfläche ein Füll- und Entnahmerohr trägt.
• Figur 13 und 14 zeigen perspektivisch den oberen Teil eines Behälters dieser Art mit abgewandelter Anordnung der Dachfläche.
• Figur 15 und 16 zeigen in Längsschnitten einen ähnlichen Behälter mit einer inneren Abdichtung des Rohrs.

Exemplary embodiments with further features of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

• Figure 1 is a partial side view of a bottle with a bendable main part.
• FIG. 2 is a cross section through this bottle according to line 11-11 in FIG. 1.
• Figure 3 is a partial side view of this bottle in the kink position.
• Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the upper part of a bottle with a kinkable shoulder section.
• Figure 5 is a top view of this bottle.
• FIG. 6 is a top view of a bottle with a kinkable shoulder section, but with a different shape of nominal bending lines.
• FIG. 7 shows a side view of the upper part of a bottle with a buckled shoulder section of another shape in the basic position.
• Figure 8 shows a partial side view of the same bottle in the basic position and buckling.
• FIG. 9 shows a side view of the upper part of a bottle, which has a collapsible part both in its cylindrical main part and in its shoulder section.
• FIG. 10 shows in perspective a detail of the bottles according to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.
• FIGS. 11 and 12 are partial side views of a container which carries a filling and removal tube on an invertible roof surface.
• Figures 13 and 14 show in perspective the upper part of a container of this type with a modified arrangement of the roof surface.
• Figures 15 and 16 show in longitudinal sections a similar container with an inner seal of the tube.

First embodiment

Figures 1 to 3 show a container, in particular a bottle made of elastically deformable material, preferably a plastic in the manner of one of the polyolefins. The main part 10 of the container or bottle has a circular cross section. However, the cross section can also be oval, polygonal or of another shape. The upper end of the main part merges via an upwardly tapering shoulder section 12 into a pipe 14 intended for filling and removing (pouring out, pouring out).

The main part has a foldable part 16, through which the bottle can be brought into a position according to FIG. The foldable part 16 of the bottle is formed from four inclined surfaces 18 to 21. Viewed from top to bottom, a downwardly tapering sloping surface 18 is followed by a downwardly widening sloping surface 19, followed by a tapering sloping surface 20 and finally a widening sloping surface 21. Viewed in the direction of the axis 27 of the container, the sloping surfaces have a sickle shape, such as it shows Figure 2 for the inclined surface 19.

The inclined surfaces 19 and 20 together form a rigid hollow body 23. This is delimited at the top and bottom by a predetermined bending line 25 in the form of a channel which is open to the outside. (Instead, channels that are open to the inside can also be used). This shape of the bending lines is particularly favorable for bottles manufactured using the blowing process. In the blowing process, the material is pulled thinly over a corresponding rib in the mold (or sucked or pressed into a groove provided in the mold). This enables a perfect bending or kinking process later.

The two outer inclined surfaces 18 and 21 merge into the main part 10 in predetermined bending lines 24. These bending lines are formed by narrow surface strips, which here have the shape of a very narrow crescent moon (FIG. 2) and lie in the oblique planes of the bending lines 24.

The inclined surfaces 18 to 21 have the shape of crescent moon, as shown in FIG. 2 for the inclined surface 19.

The hollow body 23 can be stiffened, e.g. B. by stiffening ribs 28, which are directed inwards and preferably arranged as shown in Figure 2. However, more stiffening ribs can also be provided. The main part 10 of the bottle can have 16 stiffening ribs 29 above and below its foldable part.

The target bending lines 24 and 25 approach each other on the left side of the bottle at an articulation axis 26, the position of which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

If the upper part of the bottle is bent in relation to the lower one, the bottle comes into the position according to FIG. 3. Here, the rigid hollow body 23 remains unchanged, but is pushed into the upper part, partly into the lower part, with the inclined surfaces 18 and 21 being turned inside out into the bottle. The inclined surfaces 18 and 21 turn from one stable position according to FIG. 1 to another stable position according to FIG. 3, so that the bottle remains unchanged after each kinking process.

The foldable part can also be designed differently, e.g. B. so that not a rigid hollow body 23 is formed, but that z. B. the inclined surface 18 is rigid and the inclined surface 19 reversible, the inclined surface 20 in turn rigid and the inclined surface 21 reversible. Corresponding stiffening ribs are then only arranged within the rigid inclined surfaces.

Instead of the four inclined surfaces, the foldable part 16 can also have only two inclined surfaces, one of which remains rigid during the folding process, while the other is turned inside out.

In all these cases, there is a kink position in which the internal inclined surfaces are no longer visible. This leads to an aesthetically satisfactory impression.

In that the target bending lines 24 narrow Stripes in their sloping planes, there is a striking constriction. This prevents the side wall of the main part 10 from bulging when it bends into the position shown in FIG. 3. Rather, the side walls remain perfectly cylindrical even in the folded position.

Second embodiment

Parts of the same function as in the first embodiment are provided with the same reference numerals in the second and the following embodiments, even if they differ in their external design. The above description also applies to these parts.

Figures 4 and 5 show the upper part of a container, in particular a bottle made of elastically deformable material of the type mentioned above. The bottle in turn has a main part 10, a z. B. cone-shaped shoulder section 12 and a tube 14. The shoulder section 12 could be dipped or bulged instead of conical. He can e.g. B. transition bell-shaped into the tube 14.

The shoulder section 12 has a predetermined bending line 32, which extends over approximately two thirds of the circumference and lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis 27 of the container. As shown, this predetermined bending line can be arranged just above the base line 35 of the shoulder section, but also further above, or can coincide with the base line. A further bending line 37 is arranged in an imaginary plane that is inclined with respect to the axis 27. Since this cuts the conical surface of the shoulder section 12 at an angle, it is part of an ellipse. At corner points 39, the two target bending lines 32 and 37 touch, so that between them there is a crescent surface 41 which is sickle-shaped in plan view. The two corner points 39 are connected to one another by a further predetermined bending line 43. Viewed from above (FIG. 5), this nominal bending line has a slight curvature. Seen from the side, d. H. from the left in Figure 4, it has a much greater curvature.

The inclined surface 41 can be turned down, as a result of which the tube 14 can assume an inclined position shown in dashed lines in FIG. Again, both end positions of the tube are stable. As in the first embodiment, the coaxial basic position of the tube is essential for the manufacture and filling of the bottle. The inclination is essential for the removal of the content, possibly also for transport because of the space savings that can be achieved thereby.

The arrangement can be such that the axis of the tube 14 in its kink position encloses a substantially larger angle with the bottle axis 27 than shown in FIG.

Figure 6 shows a modified embodiment. Here the two corner points 39 between target bending lines are omitted. The target bending lines 37 and 43 according to FIGS. 4 and 5 are replaced in the embodiment according to FIG. 6 by a self-contained target bending line 45, which is circular in plan view according to FIG. This target bending line 45 touches the circular target bending line 32, which here coincides with the circular base line 35 of the shoulder portion of the bottle (which is not absolutely necessary). The target bending line 45 lies on an inclined plane. The crescent-shaped inclined surface 41 here describes a larger arc than in the embodiment according to FIG. 5 and is approximately self-contained. The kink position that can be achieved in this embodiment is very similar to that according to FIG. 4. The inclined surface 41 can be turned inwards from the position shown. A conical ring surface 47, which is located between the tube 14 and the desired bending line 45, remains in its conical shape when it is bent.

Third embodiment

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 7 and 8, the shoulder section 12 has a conical shape. The side walls have an inclination of approximately 50 ° with respect to the plane of the base line 35. Here, the base line 35 functions as the target bending line 32. Only a second target bending line 50 is provided, which is arranged in a plane inclined to the axis 27. This predetermined bending line 50 can be designed as an inward or outward channel of any cross-sectional shape. Figure 10 shows a special shape. Here, the target bending line 50 has two surfaces, namely a very narrow oblique ring surface 47 which widens upwards, in the manner of a truncated cone, and a very narrow ring surface 48 lying in a plane oblique to the axis 27. The oblique ring surface 47 extends in a lower boundary line 52 , the flat ring surface 48 in an upper boundary line 54 into the conical inclined surface 41 here.

FIG. 8 shows which movement paths individual distinctive points of the shoulder section follow during the transition from the basic position to the kink position. The upper part of the shoulder section with the tube 14 folds about an articulation axis 51 which runs transversely to the plane of the drawing.

FIG. 8 also shows that a spray head 56 (shown in broken lines) can be screwed onto the tube. Simple spraying tools can only be used to produce spray heads whose main spray direction is inclined by far less than 90 ° with respect to the container axis. By kinking the container, a main spray direction perpendicular to the container axis can be achieved using a spray head that is easy to manufacture.

The target bending line 32 at the lower end of the inclined surface 41 also contains a narrow, flat ring surface in a plane perpendicular to the axis 27. This target bending line 32 thus forms a striking constriction which, as described above ben, ensures that the adjacent walls keep their shape during the buckling process, that is, the main part 10 its cylindrical shape and the shoulder portion 12 its conical shape.

Fourth embodiment

As FIG. 9 shows, foldable parts can be combined in the main part 10 of the bottle and in the shoulder section 12, so that both can be bent in the same direction. As a result, the tube 14 can be brought into a position in which the axis of the tube encloses approximately a right angle with the axis of the bottle.

FIG. 9 also shows that a target bending line 58 can be designed along the base line 35 in the manner of the target bending line 50 in FIGS. 7 and 10. The foldable part 30 has two inclined surfaces 41 and 59, between which there is a predetermined bending line 57 in the form of a channel open to the outside. When the part 30 buckles, the inclined surface 59 remains unchanged, while the inclined surface 41 is turned inside out. Then the target bending lines 50 and 58 lie on top of one another, so that no recess is visible, as in FIG. 8. The then slanted shoulder section 12 seems to sit directly on the main part 10 of the container.

Fifth embodiment

Figures 11 to 16 show a container, e.g. B: a jerrycan, a detergent container or a bottle with a rectangular cross-section. This part of the invention is also applicable to containers which have only one shoulder section of rectangular cross section and underneath any shape. The foldable part 16 here has the shape of a roof surface 60 of the special shape of a hip roof. The ridge of the hip roof is formed by a target bending line 64. The all-round eaves is formed by target bending lines 66, 67 and 68. Between the target bending lines are two trapezoidal roof main surfaces 70 and 71, of which only the side edges can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, and triangular roof secondary surfaces 72, of which only the front one can be seen. The perspective representations of FIGS. 13 and 14 show (for another embodiment) the roof surfaces more clearly.

The tube 14 attaches to the right roof main surface 71 (FIGS. 11 and 12), the tube axis including this roof main surface 71 forming an acute angle (3. The desired bending lines 66, 67 and 68 lie in a common imaginary plane 74, which in the position according to FIG. 11 also forms an angle (3) with the axis of the container. The main roof surface 71 and the plane 74 are inclined in opposite directions. This arrangement ensures that the tube axis falls into the axis 27 of the container The part of the shoulder section 12 below the plane 74 is essentially rigid, in any case not designed to be indented, and if the tube 14 is tilted into the position according to FIG. 12, the roof surface turns over, as shown in FIG Dashed lines are shown. Both end positions of the roof area are stable.

Sixth embodiment

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 13 and 14, the imaginary plane 74, i. H. the base of the roof, arranged much more inclined than according to Figures 11 and 12. The individual roof surfaces and their bending lines have the same reference numerals as in Figures 11 and 12 and make the circumstances clear from the associated description. The upper main roof surface 71 is horizontal here, that is to say at right angles to the container axis. The front main roof surface 70 in FIG. 13 is preferably inclined at the same angle with respect to verticals as a corresponding rear container wall 77. Despite the strongly inclined roof surface, this results in a symmetrical appearance.

When the roof surface buckles, the target bending lines 66, 67 and 68 of the eaves remain in their positions, while the target bending line 64 of the ridge moves inwards, so that all roof surfaces then run inwards against this target bending line 64 and the pipe 14 is inclined . In the illustration according to FIG. 14, one looks into the indented roof area.

The desired bending lines can also be arranged vice versa so that the tube is inclined when the roof surface is turned out, but parallel to the container axis when the roof surface is turned in.

Seventh embodiment

15 and 16 show in a vertical longitudinal section a similar embodiment of a container to that of FIGS. 13 and 14. However, here the tube 14 can be tilted by 90 °. An inwardly projecting plug 80 is provided in one container wall. If the pipe 14 with its roof main surface 71 around the desired bending; pivoted line 67, its inner opening passes through the plug 80, whereby the container is sealed to the outside. The position of the other parts, in particular the roof surfaces and target bending lines, is again derived from the reference numerals and the preceding description. This type of plug seal can also be used if the pipe 14 can only be bent at an angle smaller than 90 °. The plug 80 is then seated on a wall piece running inwards downwards.

General

FIGS. 15 and 16 show the target bending lines as channels which are open to the outside. Instead, gutters open to the inside could be used. Figure 10 shows a possible embodiment for the target bending line 50. Inwards or outwards gutters open on the outside are suitable for blowing containers. In principle, all of the target bending lines shown can be designed as channels.

However, the containers are injection molded z. B. from. Made of polypropylene, the target bending lines can be designed as film hinges. When manufactured by injection molding, the bottom of the container can be manufactured and screwed, screwed on, bruised or welded as a separate component.

Claims (13)

1. Container, in particular a bottle, made of plastics material which can be elastically deformed, comprising

a) a filler and emptying pipe (pipe 14),

b) in the container wall there are provided predetermined bending lines permitting a snap- over motion of the pipe against restoring forces resulting from the elasticity of the wall material, from a first stable end position in which the axes of the pipe (14) and of the container extend substantially in parallel to each other, through a dead-centre position into a second stable end position and vice versa,

characterized by the following features :

c) the axes of the pipes and of the container include an angle in the second end position,

d) the predetermined folding lines are bounding at least one surface (18, 21, 41, 70, 71) which can be folded and snapped over, the surface being arranged in at least one of the end positions asymmetrically and without mirror symmetrical counter part with respect to the container axis.

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized by the following features :

a) the predetermined folding lines (24 ; 32, 37 ; 32, 45 ; 32, 50 ; 50, 57, 58) are bounding a part (16, 30) which can be folded in and diverge when viewed in the direction of the folding axis (26, 51) from one side of the container towards the other,

b) between the predetermined folding lines there is located at least one wall surface (inclined surface 18 to 21 ; 41, 59) inclined with respect to the axis (27) of the container, this wall surface widening from one side of the container towards the other.

3. Container according to claim 1, characterized by the following features :

a) along the path of the axis (27) of the container a narrowing inclined surface (21, 19) is followed by a widening inclined surface (20, 18),

b) at least one of these inclined surfaces is bounded by predetermined bending lines (24, 25) and can be inverted from one stable end position into a second stable end position.

4. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that the two outer surfaces (18, 21) of four inclined surfaces (18 to 21) can be inverted, and the two inner surfaces (19, 20) form a rigid hollow part (31).

5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that the hollow part (31) has reinforcing ribs (28).

6. Container according to claim 2, characterized by the following features :

a) the container has a shoulder section (12) narrowing towards the pipe (14),

b) at or near the wide end of the shoulder section (12) there is provided an arc-like, in particular self-contained predetermined bending line (32), which lies at least approximately in a plane at right angles to the axis (27),

c) moreover, within the shoulder section (12) is provided at least one arc-like, in the limiting case self-contained predetermined bending line (37, 43, 45, 50, 57) which when viewed in the direction of the folding axis (51) is inclined to the axis (27) of the container.

7. Container according to claim 6, characterized by the following features :

a) three arc-like predetermined bending lines (32, 37, 43), touching at their ends, are inclined to the axis (27) at various angles when viewed in the direction of the folding axis,

b) one (43) of the predetermined bending lines runs around the axis (27) at the side opposite the others (32, 37).

8. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the two self-contained predetermined bending lines (32, 45) are present, one of which (45) lies inside the other (32).

9. Container according to claim 1, characterized by the following features :

a) the container has, at least in the region of its opening, a rectangular cross-section,

b) the part (16) which can be folded in has the shape of a roof surface (60) in the nature of a hipped roof,

c) the part which can be folded in has predetermined bending lines (66, 67, 68) which border the roof surface, and other predetermined bending lines (64, 73) which divide the roof surface into individual surfaces (main surfaces 70, 71 and side surfaces 75),

d) the pipe sits on one of the main roof surfaces (71).

10. Container according to claim 9, characterized by the following features :

a) one side wall of the container carries a stopper (80) protruding into the inside of the container, the stopper having a suitable shape and size for sealing the inside end of the pipe (14),

b) the stopper is arranged at the container wall in such a way that the inside end of the pipe encompasses the stopper sealingly when the roof surface is folded in (60).

11. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that predetermined bending lines (25, 64, 66, 67, 68) are designed as open channels.

12. Container according to claim 11, characterized in that predetermined bending lines (25), which are arranged at the edge of inclined surfaces (18 to 21) turned towards the axis (27), have the shape of channels open to the outside.

13. Container according- to claim 1, characterized in that predetermined bending lines (24, 32) which are arranged at the edge of inclined surfaces (19, 20, 41) turned away from the axis (27) have at least one surface strip extending in their longitudinal direction which is narrow compared with the diameter of the container, the surface strip forming a prominent necking of the container.

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