EP0433796B1 - Container for cosmetics, in particular mascara - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container for cosmetics, in particular a mascara unit, comprising a base body made of plastic with an end shoulder extending approximately parallel to the container base and an axially extending threaded shoulder, onto which a screw cap can be screwed, in the foot area the threaded shoulder on the container shoulder to achieve a defined end position of the screw cap at least one backstop in the form of a spaced from the stop shoulder, extending over a certain angular range along the container shoulder locking projection is provided, with a locking recess between the stop shoulder and this backstop an engaging in the locked state between the stop shoulder and backstop, over the lower edge of the screw cap protruding locking and stop projection is provided is, and wherein the thread pitch and the thread start of the thread approach and screw cap are dimensioned or positioned relative to each other so that the stop and locking projection of the screw cap with its lower end in the end stop position at the lower end of the stop shoulder of the container shoulder is coming.

Containers for cosmetics of the type described above have in part a rectangular or oval, not circularly symmetrical cross-section, so that in order to achieve a corresponding appearance in the closed state it is very important that the outer walls of the closure cap and the container are exactly aligned with one another or oriented to one another in a defined manner are. The same applies in principle to containers or caps that are circular in cross-section if a continuous imprint is provided, which also requires exact positioning of the cap so that the lettering or the decor come into full effect. This is achieved in that, on the one hand, at least one stop shoulder is provided, which defines the end position in a defined manner, and, on the other hand, a backstop, which generally consists of a latching projection and a latching recess, and which ensures that the closure cap is removed from it on the stop shoulder cannot move back to the adjacent position. Such an arrangement is known in different embodiments. A generic container is described, for example, in DE-GM 87 12 015. Such an assignment of a deflection and locking projection with a deflection shoulder and a backstop is also known from FR-A-2 570 057.

This closure technique has proven itself very well for containers made of relatively hard plastics. However, problems arise when containers made of softer plastics are used. The use of such plastics is e.g. for liquids with a high water content necessary or desirable because of the more favorable barrier properties of these softer plastics. With such relatively soft plastics, it can be observed that the backstop, like the stop shoulder, is subject to relatively high wear and tear, in that the relatively soft plastic on the backstop or on the stop shoulder is removed and deformed when it is closed several times, so that the desired defined closing position is not more is guaranteed.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to design a container of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that, even when using relatively soft plastics for the container, even with repeated or frequent actuation of the closure system, its functional properties are maintained unchanged.

This object is achieved in that the circumferential angle of the backstop is chosen based on the position of the thread start and the thread pitch on the one hand and the position of the stop shoulder on the container shoulder on the other hand so that the locking projection on the screw cap when screwing on the top of the Backstop hits and from there with a substantially steady downward movement to the abutment shoulder in the stop position.

This solution prevents the backstop from being removed by the stop shoulder of the closure cap. Through detailed studies of the signs of wear on such closure systems, it was found that a very problematic planing effect is due to the fact that, in conventional closure systems, when the closure cap is screwed on, i.e. when the stop shoulder on the closure cap steadily approaches the container shoulder, it initially moves into the area of the upper side the container shoulder arrives and is then lifted at the rear with continued rotary movement, overcoming the backstop designed as a locking projection. This lifting takes place under elastic deformation essentially of the container shoulder and partly using the thread tolerance. With this lifting of the stop shoulder on the cap, the backstop is "planed" and the outer contour of the stop shoulder on the cap is subject to heavy wear.

In contrast, it was recognized according to the invention that a significantly better wear behavior can be achieved in that the stop shoulder of the closure cap hits the top of the backstop and accordingly no longer needs to be raised again. The subsequently reached The locking action is the same as with conventional locking systems.

In particular, it is provided that the backstop is positioned and dimensioned such that A> H / tan α, where A is the distance between the base point of the stop shoulder on the container shoulder, H is the height of the backstop measured from the container shoulder and α is the thread pitch . As a rule, the top of the backstop will be designed to be essentially flat, parallel to the container shoulder. As far as this top is rounded, the height H is defined by the height in the area of impact of the stop and locking projection of the closure cap.

In order to also take into account the thread tolerances required for easy movement and any manufacturing-related tolerances, it can be provided that the backstop is positioned and dimensioned such that A> H / tan (α + Δ), where Δ is the thread tolerance. This should also include any manufacturing tolerance.

In order to obtain a particularly defined stop and to avoid rounding of the container shoulder even with frequent use, it can further be provided that the stop shoulder on the container shoulder is inclined obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the container, forming an undercut.

Accordingly, it can be provided that the stop and locking projection of a screw cap corresponding to the stop shoulder on the container shoulder is inclined obliquely to the longitudinal axis such that it lies flat against this in the closed end position.

To achieve a defined positioning in the end position also in the axial direction, it can be provided that the stop and locking projection of the screw cap has two mutually offset sections in the circumferential direction, with one section in the region between the stop shoulder and backstop in the latched end position on the container shoulder and the second section rests on the backstop.

As already stated at the beginning, the solution according to the invention ensures high wear resistance, in particular in the case of containers made of softer plastics. It can in particular be provided that the container consists of a plastic such as polypropylene, polyethylene, low-pressure polyethylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers or polyethylene terephthalate.

Fig. 1

einen Längsschnitt durch die Oberseite eines erfindungsgemäßen Behälters,

Fig. 2

eine Aufsicht auf die Oberseite des Behälters nach Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine gegenüber der Darstellung in Fig. 1 um 90° gedrehte Seitenansicht der Behälteroberseite,

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht der zu dem Behälter gehörigen Schraub-Verschlußkappe,

Fig. 5

eine Ansicht der Schraub-Verschlußkappe nach Fig. 4 von unten,

Fig. 6 und 7

schematische Darstellungen der Behälterschulter und der Unterseite der Verschlußkappe beim Einrastvorgang bzw. im Schließzustand und

Fig. 8

eine Fig. 6 und 7 entsprechende Darstellung zur Veranschaulichung der Schraub-Drehwinkel-Verhältnisse.

The invention is described below in connection with the drawing using an exemplary embodiment. Show

Fig. 1

2 shows a longitudinal section through the top of a container according to the invention,

Fig. 2

2 shows a top view of the top of the container according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

2 shows a side view of the top of the container rotated by 90 ° compared to the illustration in FIG. 1,

Fig. 4

a side view of the screw cap belonging to the container,

Fig. 5

4 shows a view of the screw cap according to FIG. 4 from below,

6 and 7

schematic representations of the container shoulder and the underside of the closure cap during the locking process or in the closed state and

Fig. 8

a Fig. 6 and 7 corresponding representation to illustrate the screw-angle ratios.

A container 1 shown in the drawing comprises a base body 2 with a rounded-square cross-sectional shape. On the upper side of the base body 2, it springs back inward to form a container shoulder 3, a threaded shoulder 4 with an external thread 5 extending axially away from the container shoulder 3.

The external thread 5 has a thread start 6 and a thread end 7 and has a thread pitch α, which in the exemplary embodiment is 1.75.

Provided on the container shoulder 3 are two stop shoulders 8 which are offset by 180 ° and which are formed on stop bodies 9 which extend upward from the container shoulder 3.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 6 and 7, a backstop 10 is provided at a distance S from each stop shoulder 8, the backstops 10 in turn being offset from one another by 180 °. Each backstop 10 designed as a locking projection extends on the container shoulder 3 over a circumferential angular range E from an end 11 facing the respectively assigned stop shoulder 8 to an end 12 facing away from it. The distance from the base 13 of each stop shoulder 8 to the opposite end 12 of the backstop 10 is shown in Fig. 6 as A.

A screw cap 14 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has a rounded-square outer contour corresponding to the base body 2 of the container 1. Inside the screw cap 14 is an only indicated application element 15, e.g. a mascara brush. On the lower edge 16 of the screw cap 14, two stop and locking projections 17 are provided offset from each other by 180 °.

Each stop and locking projection comprises a first section 18 and a second recessed section 19.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 6 and 7, the thread start 6 and the thread pitch α are selected and the distance A of the distal end 12 of the backstop 10 from the base point 13 of the stop shoulder 8 is dimensioned such that the stop shoulder 20 has its lower end 21st when screwing in the direction of arrow 22 (Fig. 6) along the screw path 23 runs towards the container shoulder 3 so that it hits the top 24 of the backstop 10 approximately in the middle between its ends 11 and 12 (see FIG. 6) and then, without being raised again, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 6, is moved steadily downward in the direction of the base point 13 of the stop shoulder 8 with elastic deformation.

In the closed position shown in Fig. 7, the stop shoulder 20 of the locking and stop projection 17 rests against the stop shoulder 8 of the stop body 9, both stop shoulders 8 and 20 by an angle β, forming an undercut on the stop body 9 against the longitudinal axis 25 of Container 2 are inclined. The first section 18 of the locking and stop projection 17 lies in the area between the base point 13 of the stop body 9 and the front end 11 of the backstop 10, while the second section 19 of the stop and locking projection 17 extends over the backstop 10 (cf. Fig. 7).

The above-described run-up behavior of the stop and locking projection 17 on the backstop 10 is achieved when dimensioning is provided such that A> H / tan (α + Δ) applies.

The embodiment described above makes it possible to reduce wear, with the screw cap 14 assuming a defined position relative to the base body 2 of the container 1 in the final engaged state. The sloping stop shoulders 8, 20 also ensure an axial holding component.

FIG. 8 is an illustration corresponding to FIG. 7 of the latching conditions in the engaged final state. For a better explanation of the angle of rotation relationships, however, an angle of rotation grid corresponding to an angle range of 18 ° is shown. In addition, the thread stroke R is illustrated corresponding to half the thread pitch with a screw-rotating movement over 180 °. From this representation it follows that the distance between the base point 13 of the stop shoulder 8 and the front end 11 of the backstop 10 as well as the circumferential extent of the backstop 10 is approximately 18 °.

In order to achieve a defined assignment of the thread start 6 on the container 1 or the stop shoulders 8 on the container 1 and the start of the thread of the screw cap 14 or the stop shoulders 20 of the screw cap 14, one is in the tools provided for the production Toothing in the rear area of the thread cores of the tool for the threaded part and an exact position of the beginning of the thread are provided on the one-piece thread core. The position of the thread cores can be changed via the toothing, and accordingly the beginning of the thread in the threaded part can be shifted in phase by, for example, 18 ° according to the toothing. This means that the stop shoulder 20 sooner or later runs onto the backstop 10 with its base point 21 by this phase shift, ie it can be ensured that the intended run-up is achieved in the middle of the backstop 10.

Claims (7)

1. A container for cosmetics, in particular a mascara unit, comprising a base element of plastic with a front shoulder extending approximately parallel to the container bottom and a threaded neck axially extending away from it, on which a screw closure cap can be threaded, whereby for the purpose of obtaining a defined final position of the screw closure cap, at least one stop shoulder and at least one return stop in the shape of a catch projection, disposed at a distance from the stop shoulder and extending over a defined angular area along the container shoulder, is provided in the bottom area of the threaded neck at the container shoulder, whereby a catch recess for a catch and stop projection, which in the locked state is engaged between the stop shoulder and the return stop and which protrudes beyond the lower edge of the screw closure cap, is provided between this stop shoulder and the return stop, and whereby the thread pitch and the start of the thread of the threaded neck and the screw closure cap relative to each other are of such dimensions or are placed such that the stop and catch projection of the screw closure cap in the final catch position comes to rest with its lower end at the lower end of the stop shoulder of the container shoulder, characterized in that the extent E of the angle at circumference of the return stop (10) in relation to the position of the start of the thread (6) and the thread pitch (α) on the one hand and the position of the stop shoulder (8) at the container shoulder (3) on the other hand is chosen in such a way, that in the course of closing the catch projection on the screw closure cap (14) contacts the top of the return stop (10) and from there arrives for bearing against the stop shoulder (8) in the stop position in the course of essentially steady downward movement.
2. A container in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the return stop ( 10) is placed and is of such a size that A > H/tan α, whereby A is the distance between the base (13) of the stop shoulder (8) and the end of the return stop (10) which is facing away, H is the height of the return stop (10), measured starting at the container shoulder (3), and α is the thread pitch.
3. A container in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the return stop (10) is placed and is of such a size that A > H/tan (α+Δ), whereby Δ is the thread tolerance.
4. A container in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the stop shoulder (8) at the container shoulder (3) is obliquely inclined in respect to the longitudinal axis of the container while forming an undercut.
5. A container in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the stop and catch projection (17) at the screw closure cap (14) is obliquely inclined in respect to the longitudinal axis corresponding to the stop shoulder (8) on the container shoulder (3) in such a way that it lies flat against it in the closed end position.
6. A container in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the stop and catch projection (17) of the screw closure cap (14) has, looking in the peripheral direction, two sections offset in respect to each other, whereby in the locked end position one of the sections rests on the container shoulder (3) in the area between the stop shoulder (3) and the return stop (10) and the second section lies over the return stop ( 10).
7. A container in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that the container (1) is made of a relatively soft plastic, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, low pressure polyethylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrol copolymers or polyethylene terephthalate.

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