EP0538569A1 - Closing device for a flexible holder and holder with such a closing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention describes a closing device (10) for a flexible holder (34) and a holder (34) with at least one such closing device (10), the holder having at least two compartments (38, 40) for different liquids and the at least one closing device (10) being provided sealingly in the sealing strip (58') between said compartments (38, 40) for the production of a fluid connection between said compartments (38, 40). The closing device (10) has two elements (12, 14) which are joined to each other in articulated fashion by means of a film hinge (16). One element (12) is allocated to the compartment (38) and made with a passage (24) which is sealed in the neighbourhood of the film hinge (16) by a membrane (26). The second element (14) is allocated to the adjacent, second compartment (40) and designed with at least one spur (28) in the vicinity of the film hinge (16), with which spur the membrane (26) can be pierced and opened when the second element (14) is pivoted about the film hinge (16) in the direction of the first element (12). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a closure device according to the preamble of claim 1 for a flexible container, and to a flexible container according to the preamble of claim 19.

Flexible containers with at least two separate compartments are known, with a specific liquid being stored in an airtight manner in each of the compartments. These liquids are, for example, certain nutrient liquids which are intended for intravenous food intake and which may only be mixed together immediately before use. For this reason, the different liquids are stored in the separate compartments of the container, with at least one closure device between adjacent compartments in the normal resting or storage position of the container in the sealed state located. In order to be able to mix the different liquids located in the compartments of the container with one another, the at least one closure device is broken open. The known closure devices have a pipe section and a plug molded onto the pipe section on one side, the pipe section and the plug being connected to one another in the circumferential direction of the closure device by a thin-walled connecting section. This thin-walled connecting section is opened when the plug is bent against the pipe section. In this case, however, so-called white fractures of the wall material of the flexible container can occur, as a result of which air can penetrate into the flexible container and which can result in an undesired leakage of the container.

From US 4,458,811 a closure device for a flexible container with compartments separated from one another by sealing strips is known. There the closure device consists of a strip-shaped element which is designed with a predetermined breaking line. Breaking off the strip-shaped element along its entire longitudinal extent can be problematic or time-consuming. In this known design, so-called white fractures of the wall material of the flexible container cannot be excluded with certainty.

US 2 916 886 discloses a flexible container with compartments separated from one another by a sealing strip. In one of the parts, an element is movably provided, which can be designed with tips, with which it is possible to separate the sealing strip in order to separate between the corresponding adjacent sections of the Container to establish a fluidic connection. With this container, it cannot be reliably ruled out that not only the said sealing strip is pierced, but also, under certain circumstances, the flexible wall of the container, which is not desirable.

The invention has for its object to provide a closure device of the type mentioned or a container formed with at least one such closure device, wherein the above-mentioned defects are avoided, i. wherein the closure device can be opened easily and reliably without causing leaks or white breaks in the container.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a closure device of the type mentioned at the outset by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. Preferred developments of the closure device according to the invention are characterized in claims 2 to 18. The flexible container according to the invention with at least one such closure device is characterized in claims 19 and 20.

The closure device according to the invention is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and it has the particular advantage that it can be operated easily and without any special effort, ie it can be opened at a given time. In the normal rest or storage position there is an excellent and reliable seal between the adjacent portions of the container having at least one such closure device. It when the passage is divided by at least one support wall into at least two partial passages with partial membranes, because then the seal between the passage of the closure device and the adjacent portions of the container defining sealing strip between the wall parts of the container can be realized easily and reliably. Because of the support walls there is a good dimensional stability of the passage, so that it is possible, when sealing the closure device in the sealing strip between adjacent portions against the two flexible wall parts of the container, between which the closure device is arranged, to exert sufficient pressure to achieve a to ensure reliable, secure sealing between the closure device and the two wall parts of the container. It serves the same purpose if the fastening section is formed on its outer surface with at least one circumferential sealing rib. The at least one sealing rib results in reliable melting during the welding process and thus a secure seal. The fastening section surrounding the passage is preferably formed with two circumferential sealing ribs spaced apart from one another in order to significantly improve the reliability of the seal.

In order to form such a closure device with a film hinge, a tough plastic material is usually used. These are, for example, polypropylene. When using such a plastic material, it has been shown that the deliberate separation of the at least one membrane can pose problems due to the toughness of the plastic material. Furthermore, it was found that under certain circumstances pinching the wall of the container between the first element having the at least one membrane and the second element formed with the at least one spur.

Characterized in that the at least one membrane is designed with a predetermined breaking line, it is possible to dimension the membrane itself with a greater wall thickness, whereby the at least one membrane has sufficient dimensional stability even when using a tough plastic material, through which one by means of the associated spur caused unwanted bending of the corresponding membrane is avoided without deliberately opening the same. If the two elements are pivoted against each other around the film hinge connecting the elements, the at least one membrane is reliably separated along the predetermined breaking line of the membrane with the aid of the associated spur. The spacer device on the first or second element advantageously reliably prevents undesired pinching of the wall of the container, so that possible damage to the wall of the container can be reliably avoided by such a pinching.

The predetermined breaking line expediently runs around the edge of the corresponding membrane. A membrane designed in this way can be separated safely and reliably with the aid of the associated spur projecting from the second element of the closure device, the force required for this being relatively low. The predetermined breaking line could of course not be self-contained, but could be, for example, straight, angled, U-shaped or any other way.

If the / each membrane has a trapezoidal peripheral edge contour which extends from the base line side adjacent to the film hinge or the base part to the side remote from the base line side or adjacent to the top part, there is the advantage that the corresponding membrane separated along the predetermined breaking line in the associated passage after the separation is stuck because the wider edge of the separated membrane is pinched in the narrower area of the corresponding passage.

The at least one spur standing upward from the second element of the closure device can be formed with a central or with two longitudinally spaced cutting edges spaced apart from one another. Likewise, it is possible to form the / each spur with a conical or pyramid-shaped tip. A reliable separation of the corresponding membrane is possible if the / each cutting edge or tip is designed with a structured surface. This can be a corrugation, knobs or the like. act on the corresponding surface.

The spacing device can be at least one roof element which is oriented at least approximately parallel to the upper part of the first element of the closure device, which is removed from the film hinge and delimits the corresponding passage on the upper side. This at least one roof element is provided or dimensioned in such a way that the at least one spur is not hindered by the at least one roof element when the second element for separating the at least one membrane is pivoted about the film hinge against the first element of the closure device.

Another possibility for the formation of the spacer device is that the spacer device is formed by side ribs which laterally delimit the / each membrane. Like the last-mentioned at least one roof element, these side ribs are thus formed on the first element of the closure device. However, it is also possible that the / each stiffening rib of the corresponding spur has a bump forming the spacing device on which the wall of the container, i.e. the wall of the portion of the container assigned to the second element abuts in order to space this wall from the space between the membrane and the spur.

An unwanted overheating of the at least one membrane or an unwanted melting of the at least one membrane during the sealing welding of the closure device into the sealing strip between adjacent portions of the container can be avoided if the fastening section of the first element is spaced from the / each membrane by a connecting section which is stepped against the fastening section. In this way, an intermediate space or air gap results between the connecting section and the adjacent section of the wall of the container, through which the heat conduction from the connecting section to the at least one membrane is reduced.

The closure devices described above are asymmetrical, ie they are only on one Side of the base part with at least one passage and formed on the same side with a number of spurs corresponding to the number of passages, which protrude from the base part of the second element in the same direction. This means that the second element, which can be pivoted about the film hinge and which can be pivoted about the film hinge axis in the two opposite pivoting directions, must be pivoted in the exactly correct direction of rotation in order to press the at least one spur of the second element into the corresponding membrane of the first element. in order to open the corresponding membrane of the first element and in this way to establish the desired fluidic connection between the adjacent portions of the flexible container. This means that attention must be paid to how the closure device is oriented in the flexible container. With flexible containers made of transparent material, this may be possible without great effort; In the case of flexible containers made of an opaque material, however, there are not negligible defects.

Due to the symmetry of the base part and the film hinge axis, both the first element with passages closed off by membranes and the second element with spurs projecting in opposite directions from the base part thereof, opening at least one membrane and thus a fluidic connection between the parts of a flexible container, in which the closure device is provided, regardless of the direction in which the second element is pivoted about the film hinge axis relative to the first element. Of course, everyone can also face each other Membranes can be opened in both directions by pivoting the second element. The closure device is therefore extremely easy to use.

A production-technically optimal design of the closure device is achieved if the base part is provided in the middle between two upper parts and the spurs facing away from one another are suitably matched to the membrane dimensions, i.e. of the same length. if the closure device is symmetrical with respect to the base parts of the two elements which are hinged together by the film hinge.

A mechanically very stable design is achieved in the closure device according to the invention in that partition or support walls are provided between the base part and the two upper parts, through which each of the two opposite passages is divided into partial passages which are separated from one another by the base part, wherein each partial passage is sealed by an associated membrane and a spur is assigned to each membrane. Such a design has the further advantage that even if one of the membranes is not properly separated for whatever reason, at least one additional membrane can be opened by pivoting the second element about the film hinge axis relative to the first element, so that at any time A corresponding fluidic connection can be reliably achieved by appropriate actuation of the closure device between the adjacent portions of the container.

A material saving without impairing the function or mode of operation of the closure device is achieved if the base part is shorter in the spatial direction perpendicular to the hinge axis than the two upper parts or the dividing or supporting walls in this spatial direction.

Fig. 1

eine Hälfte der Verschlußeinrichtung in Blickrichtung von oben,

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie II-II in Fig. 1 durch die Verschlußeinrichtung,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie III-III in Fig.2, wobei nur eine Hälfte der Verschlußeinrichtung und die an der Verschlußeinrichtung abdichtend befestigten Wandteile des flexiblen Behältnisses abschnittweise gezeichnet sind,

Fig. 4

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie IV-IV in Fig.1, aus welcher die Form der vom zweiten Element der Verschlußeinrichtung nach oben stehenden Sporne zu ersehen ist,

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf ein abschnittweise gezeichnetes Behältnis mit einer Verschlußeinrichtung ähnlich der in den Figuren 1 bis 4 dargestellten Verschlußeinrichtung,

Fig. 6

einen Abschnitt des Behältnisses mit einer Ausbildung der Verschlußeinrichtung in Blickrichtung von oben,

Fig. 7

eine Draufsicht auf die Verschlußeinrichtung gemäß Fig.6, wobei das erste Element abschnittweise und geschnitten gezeichnet und von der Verschlußeinrichtung nur eine Hälfte verdeutlicht ist,

Fig. 8

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie III-III in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie IV-IV in Fig.6, wobei jedoch nur die linke Hälfte der Verschlußeinrichtung dargestellt ist,

Fig. 10

eine der Fig. 7 ähnliche Darstellung einer Hälfte der Verschlußeinrichtung, wobei aus dieser Darstellung auch eine Hälfte des Befestigungsabschnittes der Verschlußeinrichtung deutlich wird,

Fig. 11

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie VI-VI in Fig.6 durch die Befestigungseinrichtung und durch das Behältnis, zwischen dessen benachbarten Anteilen die Verschlußeinrichtung abdichtend angeordnet ist,

Fig. 12

eine der Fig. 6 ähnliche Darstellung eines Abschnittes des Behältnisses, bei welchem zwischen den benachbarten Anteilen eine zweite Ausbildung der Verschlußeinrichtung abdichtend vorgesehen ist,

Fig. 13

eine der Fig. 7 ähnliche Zeichnungsdarstellung zur Verdeutlichung der zweiten Ausführungsform der Verschlußeinrichtung, wie sie gemäß Fig. 12 zur Anwendung gelangt,

Fig. 14

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie IX-IX in Fig.13,

Fig. 15

eine der Fig. 9 ähnliche Darstellung, d.h. einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie X-X in Fig. 12, wobei sich die Fig. 15 von der Fig. 9 insbes. dadurch unterscheidet, daß die Membranen nicht einfach rechteckig sondern mit einer sich nach oben hin erweiternden trapezförmigen Umfangsrand-Kontur ausgebildet sind,

Fig. 16

einen Schnitt durch eine dritte Ausführungsform der Verschlußeinrichtung, die sich von den Verschlußeinrichtungen gemäß Figuren 6 bis 15 insbes. dadurch unterscheidet, daß der mindestens eine Sporn nicht mit einer länglichen Schneide sondern mit einer Spitze ausgebildet ist,

Fig. 17

einen Schnitt durch die Verschlußeinrichtung gemäß Fig.16 in ihrem Originalzustand nach der Entnahme aus einem entsprechenden Formwerkzeug,

Fig. 18

eine den Figuren 16 und 17 entsprechende Schnittdarstellung der dritten Ausführungsform der Verschlußeinrichtung in der die mindestens eine Membran auftrennenden Betriebs- bzw. Schwenkstellung,

Fig. 19

eine der Fig. 16 entsprechende Darstellung der Verschlußeinrichtung bzw. deren abdichtende Anordnung zwischen zwei benachbarten Abteilen eines abschnittweise gezeichneten Behältnisses,

Fig. 20

eine der Fig. 19 entsprechende Schnittdarstellung, wobei die Verschlußeinrichtung in ihrer die mindestens eine Membran auftrennenden Öffnungsstellung gezeichnet ist,

Fig. 21

einen Abschnitt der Verschlußeinrichtung gemäß Fig.16 entlang der Schnittlinie XVI-XVI in Fig. 16,

Fig. 22

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie XVII-XVII in Fig. 21,

Fig. 23

eine vergrößerte Schnittdarstellung einer Spitze eines Spornes zur Verdeutlichung ihrer strukturierten Oberfläche,

Fig. 24

eine der Fig. 21 ähnliche Darstellung einer weiteren Ausbildung einer abschnittweise gezeichneten Hälfte einer Verschlußeinrichtung,

Fig. 25

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie XX-XX in Fig.24,

Fig. 26

eine der Fig. 16 ähnliche Schnittdarstellung durch eine Ausbildung der Verschlußeinrichtung mit einer Anstandhalte-Einrichtung zur Verhinderung eines ungewollten Einklemmens der Wandung des Behältnisses,

Fig. 27

eine Schnittdarstellung der Verschlußeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 26 im Originalzustand nach der Entformung aus einem Formwerkzeug,

Fig. 28

die Verschlußeinrichtung gemäß den Figuren 26 bzw. 27 in der um das Filmscharnier aufgeschwenkten Öffnungsstellung des zweiten Elementes relativ zum ersten Element der Verschlußeinrichtung,

Fig. 29

die Verschlußeinrichtung gemäß den Figuren 26 bis 28 bzw. deren abdichtende Anordnung zwischen benachbarten Anteilen eines abschnittweise gezeichneten Behältnisses, wobei die Verschlußeinrichtung in ihrem abgedichteten Originalzustand gezeichnet ist,

Fig. 30

eine der Fig. 29 entsprechende Schnittdarstellung mit der Verschlußeinrichtung in ihrer geöffneten Stellung,

Fig. 31

eine der Fig. 10 ähnliche Darstellung einer Hälfte einer Verschlußeinrichtung mit einer durch Seitenrippen gebildeten Abstandhalte-Einrichtung zur Verhinderung eines ungewollten Einklemmens der Wandung des Behältnisses zwischen dem ersten Element und den Spornen des zweiten Elementes,

Fig. 32

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie XVII-XVII in Fig. 31 durch die Befestigungseinrichtung bzw. durch das abschnittweise gezeichnete Behältnis, in welchem die besagte Befestigungseinrichtung abdichtend vorgesehen ist,

Fig. 33

eine der Fig. 32 entsprechende Schnittdarstellung, wobei die Verschlußeinrichtung in der Öffnungsstellung gezeichnet ist,

Fig. 34 bis 37

zwei weitere Ausbildungen der Verschlußeinrichtung,

Fig. 38

einen Längsschnitt durch eine im Bereich des Abdichtstreifens eines abschnittweise angedeuteten flexiblen Behältnisses abdichtend festgelegten Verschlußeinrichtung in der normalen Ruhe- bzw. Nichtgebrauchsposition, in welcher die beiden abschnittweise angedeuteten Anteile des Behältnisses voneinander abdichtend getrennt sind,

Fig. 39

abschnittweise eine teilgeschnittene Draufsicht auf die Verschlußeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 38, wobei auf die zeichnerische Darstellung des Abschnittes des Behältnisses verzichtet worden ist,

Fig. 40

eine Draufsicht auf einen Abschnitt eines Behältnisses mit einer im Bereich des Andichtstreifens zwischen benachbarten Anteilen abdichtend vorgesehenen Verschlußeinrichtung,

Fig. 41

eine abschnittweise Darstellung der Verschlußeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 40, wobei die Ausbildung gemäß Fig. 41 vier Sporne und zugehörige Teildurchlässe auf jeder Seite der Grundteile des ersten und zweiten Elementes aufweist, während in Fig.40 auf jeder der beiden sich gegenüberliegenden Seiten der besagten Grundteile nur zwei Sporne bzw. Teildurchlässe vorhanden sind, und

Fig. 42

eine Ansicht der Verschlußeinrichtung gem. Fig. 41 in Blickrichtung der Pfeile V-V, d.h. in Blickrichtung von der Filmscharnierachse zu den durch Membranen verschlossenen Teildurchlässen.

Further details, features and advantages emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the closure device according to the invention shown in the drawing or of a section of a flexible container according to the invention in which at least one such closure device is used. Show it:

Fig. 1

half of the closure device in the direction of view from above,

Fig. 2

2 shows a section along the section line II-II in FIG. 1 through the closure device,

Fig. 3

2 shows a section along the section line III-III in FIG. 2, only half of the closure device and the wall parts of the flexible container which are sealingly fastened to the closure device being drawn in sections,

Fig. 4

2 shows a section along the section line IV-IV in FIG. 1, from which the shape of the spurs standing upwards from the second element of the closure device can be seen,

Fig. 5

2 shows a plan view of a container drawn in sections with a closure device similar to the closure device shown in FIGS. 1 to 4,

Fig. 6

a portion of the container with a design of the closure device in the viewing direction from above,

Fig. 7

6 shows a top view of the closure device according to FIG. 6, the first element being drawn in sections and cut and only one half being illustrated by the closure device,

Fig. 8

7 shows a section along the section line III-III in FIG. 7,

Fig. 9

6 shows a section along the section line IV-IV in FIG. 6, but only the left half of the closure device is shown,

Fig. 10

7 shows a representation of half of the closure device similar to FIG. 7, from which illustration also one half of the fastening section of the closure device becomes clear,

Fig. 11

6 shows a section along the section line VI-VI in FIG. 6 through the fastening device and through the container, between the adjacent portions of which the closure device is arranged in a sealing manner,

Fig. 12

6 shows a representation of a section of the container, in which a second embodiment of the closure device is provided sealingly between the adjacent portions,

Fig. 13

7 shows a drawing similar to FIG. 7 to illustrate the second embodiment of the closure device as used in accordance with FIG. 12,

Fig. 14

a section along the section line IX-IX in Fig.13,

Fig. 15

a representation similar to FIG. 9, ie a section along the section line XX in FIG. 12, FIG. 15 differing from FIG. 9 in particular in that the membranes are not simply rectangular but widen with an upward extension trapezoidal peripheral edge contour are formed,

Fig. 16

6 shows a section through a third embodiment of the closure device, which differs from the closure devices according to FIGS. 6 to 15 in particular in that the at least one spur is not designed with an elongated cutting edge but with a tip,

Fig. 17

16 shows a section through the closure device according to FIG. 16 in its original state after removal from a corresponding molding tool,

Fig. 18

a sectional view corresponding to Figures 16 and 17 of the third embodiment of the closure device in which the at least a membrane separating operating or swivel position,

Fig. 19

16 a representation of the closure device corresponding to FIG. 16 or its sealing arrangement between two adjacent compartments of a container drawn in sections,

Fig. 20

19 shows a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 19, the closure device being drawn in its open position which separates the at least one membrane,

Fig. 21

16 shows a section of the closure device according to FIG. 16 along the section line XVI-XVI in FIG. 16,

Fig. 22

FIG. 21 shows a section along the line XVII-XVII in FIG. 21,

Fig. 23

an enlarged sectional view of a tip of a spur to illustrate its structured surface,

Fig. 24

21 shows a representation similar to FIG. 21 of a further embodiment of a half of a closure device drawn in sections,

Fig. 25

a section along the section line XX-XX in Fig. 24,

Fig. 26

16 similar sectional view through an embodiment of the closure device with a propulsion device to prevent unwanted jamming of the wall of the container,

Fig. 27

26 shows a sectional illustration of the closure device according to FIG. 26 in the original state after removal from a mold,

Fig. 28

26 the closure device according to FIGS. 26 and 27 in the open position of the second element pivoted about the film hinge relative to the first element of the closure device,

Fig. 29

26 to 28 or their sealing arrangement between adjacent portions of a container drawn in sections, the sealing device being drawn in its original sealed condition,

Fig. 30

29 shows a sectional illustration corresponding to FIG. 29 with the closure device in its open position,

Fig. 31

10 shows a representation similar to FIG. 10 of a half of a closure device with a spacing device formed by side ribs to prevent undesired jamming of the wall of the container between the first element and the spurs of the second element,

Fig. 32

FIG. 31 shows a section along the line XVII-XVII in FIG. 31 through the fastening device or through the container drawn in sections, in which the said fastening device is provided in a sealing manner,

Fig. 33

32 shows a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 32, the closure device being drawn in the open position,

34 to 37

two further designs of the closure device,

Fig. 38

2 shows a longitudinal section through a closure device, which is sealingly fixed in the area of the sealing strip of a flexible container indicated in sections, in the normal rest or non-use position, in which the two portions of the container indicated in sections are sealed off from one another,

Fig. 39

a partially sectioned top view of the closure device according to FIG. 38, the drawing of the section of the container being dispensed with,

Fig. 40

3 shows a plan view of a section of a container with a closure device provided sealingly in the area of the sealing strip between adjacent portions,

Fig. 41

40, wherein the configuration according to FIG. 41 has four spurs and associated partial passages on each side of the base parts of the first and second element, while in FIG. 40 only on each of the two opposite sides of said base parts there are two spurs or partial passages, and

Fig. 42

a view of the closure device acc. 41 in the viewing direction of the arrows VV, ie in the viewing direction from the film hinge axis to the partial passages closed by membranes.

Fig. 1 shows one half of the closure device 10 from above. The closure device 10 has a first element 12 and a second element 14, which are connected to one another by a film hinge 16. The thin dash-dotted line 18 illustrates the film hinge axis.

The first element 12 has a base part 20 and the second element 14 has a base part 22 which lie in a common plane and between which the film hinge 16 is formed, as can also be clearly seen from FIG. 2. The base part 20 of the first element 12 forms the base of a passage 24, which is closed off in the vicinity of the film hinge 16 by a membrane 26. From the base 22 of the second element 14 there are (four) spurs 28, which are provided in the vicinity of the film hinge 16, and which have a height dimension which is smaller than the height dimension of the membrane 26 above the film hinge 16. This prevents the flexible wall part 32 of the flexible container 34 adjacent to the tip 30 of the spurs 28 from being unintentionally pierced by one of the spurs 28. The second wall part of the container 34 is designated by the reference number 36 in FIG. 2. The closure device 10 is arranged sealingly between the two wall parts 32 and 36, so that portions 38 and 40 are formed which are sealed against one another in the normal rest or storage position of the container 34. In order to establish a fluidic connection between the portions 38 and 40, only the second element 14 needs to be pivoted in the direction of the arrow 42 around the film hinge 16 or around its film hinge axis 18, as a result of which the membrane 26 is pierced with the spurs 28 and through which Closure device 10 through the portions 38 and 40 of the flexible container 34, the fluidic connection is made. Since there is more than one spur 28, the risk that all sub-membranes 44 (see FIG. 3) are closed again unintentionally is negligible. The membrane 26 is divided into the above-mentioned partial membranes 44 in that the passage 24 is divided by partial walls 46 into partial passages 48. The support walls 46 result in excellent dimensional stability of the closure device 10 or its fastening section 50, along which the closure device 10 is sealingly connected to the flexible wall parts 32 and 36 of the container 34.

In order to ensure a reliable seal along the entire outer circumference of the fastening section 50 of the closure device 10 to the two wall parts 32 and 36, the passage 24 surrounding fastening section 50 is formed with two side extensions 52 facing away from one another, which - as can be clearly seen from FIG. 3 - taper outwards and run out in a cutting edge 54. This results in a tight contact and connection between the wall parts 32 and 36 and the fastening section 50 of the closure device 10. The same purpose, ie a reliable sealing of the closure device 10 or its fastening section 50 with the wall parts 32 and 36 of the container 34 is used if the fastening section 50 surrounding the passage 24 or the partial passages 48 is formed with circumferential sealing ribs 56, by means of which the melting of the parts to be connected is reliably ensured during the welding process.

The sealing connection between the closure device 10 and the wall parts 32 and 36 of the flexible container 34 is preferably carried out by welding.

It can also be clearly seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 that each spur 28 standing upward from the base part 22 of the second element 14 is stiffened by means of a stiffening rib 58 on the side facing away from the film hinge 16 in order to use the corresponding mandrel 28 to membrane 26 or to be able to pierce the associated sub-membrane 44 as desired without any problems.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of two spurs 28 provided side by side with their tips 30, the spurs projecting upward from the base part 22 of the second element 14, which is only drawn on one side in this figure.

5 shows a section from above of a flexible container 34 made of two wall parts 32 and 36, which are connected to one another in a sealing manner along sealing strips 58 '(see also FIGS. 2 and 3) with the formation of parts 38 and 40. In the area of the adjacent portions 38 and 40 defining sealing strip 58 ', a closure device 10 is provided which differs from the closure device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 only in that not four but only two spurs 28 and correspondingly two forming passage 24 Partial passages 48 are present. In addition, in this closure device 10, the circumferential fastening section 50, along which the two wall parts 32 and 36 are sealingly connected to the closure device 10, is formed only with a circumferential sealing rib 56. 5 is similar to the closure device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, so that there is no need to go into detail again in connection with FIG. 5. 5, the film hinge axis is also illustrated in FIG. 5 with a thin dash-dotted line, about which the second element 14 is pivoted relative to the first element 12 of the closure device 10, if necessary, in order to use the spurs 28 to directly opposite them Piercing partial membranes 44 and in this way establishing the desired fluidic connection between the adjacent portions 38 and 40 of the container 34.

Fig. 6 shows with thin dashed lines in a plan view a closure device 10 having a first element 12 and a second element 14, the first and second elements 12, 14 by means of a Film hinge 16 are pivotally connected to each other. The film hinge axis, about which the two elements 12 and 14 can be pivoted relative to one another, is designated by the reference number 18. The closure device 10 is formed with a fastening section 50, along which the closure device 10 is arranged sealingly along a sealing strip 58 'between two adjacent portions 38 and 40 of a container 34 drawn in sections.

The second element 14 has a base part 22, from which two spurs 28 project upwards, which are spaced apart from one another. Each spur 28 is assigned a passage 24 which is formed on the first element 12 and is sealed off by means of a membrane 26. The membranes 26 can be separated with the aid of the spurs 28 at a given time, which is done by pivoting the second element 14 about the film hinge axis 18 of the film hinge 16 toward the first element 12. A stiffening rib 58 protrudes from the rear of each spur 28.

FIG. 7 shows a section of the closure device 10 with a first element 12, which is drawn in sections and in section, and with a second element 14, of which half is drawn. The first element 12 has a base part 20 and the second element 14 has a base part 22. The base part 20 is pivotally connected to the base part 22 by means of the film hinge 16. The film hinge axis, about which the base part 22 can be pivoted relative to the base part 20, is designated by the reference number 18.

7 shows two passages 24 in sections, each passage 24 through a membrane 26 is tightly sealed in its original condition. Each membrane 26 is formed with a predetermined breaking line 60 which runs around the corresponding membrane 26. A part of the fastening section 50 can also be seen from this figure.

Spurs 28 protrude from the base 22 of the second element 14. Each spur 28 is formed with an elongated cutting edge 62, as can also be seen from FIG. 8. A stiffening rib 58 is formed on the back of each spur 28 and protrudes in one piece from the base part 22. With the aid of the stiffening ribs 58, the spurs 28 are prevented from bending back when they are forced against the associated membranes 26 in order to separate the membranes 26 along their predetermined breaking lines 60 in order to open the associated passages 24 and between the adjacent portions 38 and 40 of the container 34 (see FIG. 6) to establish a fluidic connection.

FIG. 9 illustrates one half of the closure device 10 with membranes 26 and one of the side parts of the fastening section 50, which tapers outwards towards a cutting edge in order to securely seal the closure device 10 with its fastening section 50 along the sealing strip 58 ′ of the container 34 guarantee.

FIG. 10 shows a partially cut open half of the closure device 10 according to FIG. 7, the one side part of the fastening section 50 being clearly visible in a view from above in FIG. 10. The same details are given the same reference numerals in FIGS. 7 and 10, so that it is needless to describe all these details again in connection with FIG. 10 in detail.

10 also shows support walls 46 which laterally limit the passages 24. The reference number 52 denotes one of the two lateral extensions of the fastening section 50 of the closure device 10. As has already been described in connection with FIG. 9, each of the two lateral extensions 52 ends in a cutting edge 54.

11 illustrates in sections in a sectional view the closure device 10 with its first element 12 and its second element 14, which are pivotally connected to one another by means of a film hinge 16. The first element 12 has a base part 20, from which support walls 46 stand up. Passages 24 are defined by the base part 20, the support walls 46 and an upper part 64. The passages 24 are sealed in the original state of the closure device 10 by means of an associated membrane 26. Each membrane 26 is delimited by a predetermined breaking line 60.

The base part 20 and the upper part 64 form a region of the fastening section 50 of the closure device 10, along which the closure device 10 is provided sealingly between the parts 38 and 40 of the container 34 or between its sealing strip 58 '. The closure device 10 is preferably welded tightly between the sealing strips 58 ′, which connect the wall part 32 of the portion 38 to the wall part 36 of the other portion 40. Spurs 28 with stiffening ribs 58 project from the base 22 of the second element 14. Each spur 28 is formed on its front side facing the membrane 26 with an elongated cutting edge 62.

FIG. 12 shows, similarly to FIG. 6, a section of a container 34 with portions 38 and 40, between which a closure device 10 is provided which differs from the design of the closure device 10 shown in FIGS. 6 to 11 in particular in that Each spur 28 not only has a stiffening rib protruding from the back, but - as can also be clearly seen from FIG. 13 - two stiffening ribs 58. Otherwise, the container 34 or the closure device 10 are of similar design and the closure device 10 is similarly arranged in a sealing manner in the container 34, as has been described above in connection with FIGS. 6 to 11, so that it is not necessary to describe again in detail all details which are denoted in FIGS. 12 to 15 with the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 6 to 11. Esp. 15 that the membranes 26 assigned to the spurs 28 are not simply rectangular, as shown in FIG. 9, but trapezoidal, with each membrane extending from the base line side 66 adjacent to the film hinge 16 or the base part 20 extended to the top 68 distant from the base line side 66 or adjacent to the top part 64. The purpose of this is that each membrane 26, after having been separated with the aid of the associated spur 28, remains clamped with its broader upper section between the associated support walls 46, thereby preventing the open passages 24 from being re-closed unintentionally.

FIGS. 16 to 18 show another embodiment of the closure device 10 in section, in which spurs 28 project upwards from the second element 14 or its base part 22, which are not designed with an elongated cutting edge, but with a tip 70. A stiffening rib 58 is formed on the back of each spur 28, which sticks upward from the base part 22 of the second element 14. The base part 22 of the second element 14 is pivotally connected to the base part 20 of the first element 12 of the closure device 10 by means of a film hinge 16. Support walls 46 project upward from the base part 20 of the first element 12, through which openings 24 are laterally delimited. The passages 24 are delimited on the upper side by means of an upper part 64. Each passage 24 is sealed in the vicinity of the film hinge 16 by means of a membrane 26. Each membrane 26 can be separated by means of an associated spur 28 or by means of the tip 70 of the corresponding spur 28. This is shown graphically in FIG. 18. In contrast, FIG. 17 shows the closure device 10 according to FIG. 16 in its original state immediately after being molded from a corresponding molding tool. In FIGS. 16 to 18, the same details are given the same reference numbers.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show the fastening device, as it is drawn in FIGS. 16 to 18, in connection with a container 34 drawn in sections, the fastening device 50 with its fastening section 50 being fixed in a sealing manner between adjacent portions 38 and 40 of the container 34. In these figures, the reference number 58 'denotes the sealing strip along which the closure device 10 also its fastening section 50 is sealed between the two parts 38 and 40 of the container 34. This fixation takes place, for example, by welding. Such welding is easily possible with a suitable choice of the plastic material for the container 34 and for the closure device 10.

While the sealing device 10 is drawn in its original sealing state in FIG. 19, it is drawn in its open position in FIG. 20, in which the second element 14 with the at least one spur 28 is pivoted up so far about the film hinge 16 that with the help of the at least one spur 28 or the tip 70 associated with the / each spur 28, the corresponding membrane 26 is separated and a fluidic connection is established between the portion 38 and the portion 40 of the container 34.

The same details are designated in FIGS. 19 and 20 with the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 16 to 18.

FIG. 21 shows a section along the section line XVI-XVI in FIG. 19, the illustration of the container drawn in sections being omitted. Two stiffening ribs 58 protrude from the rear of each spur 28 formed with a tip 70. 22 that each spur 28 is formed with a pyramid-shaped tip 70. 23 illustrates in sections and on a larger scale a spur 28 with a tip or at least one elongated cutting edge 62 or 70, this figure in particular intended to clarify the structured surface 72 of the corresponding spur 28. With the help of this structured Surface 72 enables the membrane 26 associated with the corresponding spur 28 to be separated even more reliably and with less effort than if the at least one spur 28 were formed with a smooth surface.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show an embodiment of the closure device 10, in which each spur 28 projecting from the base part 22 of the second element 14 is formed with two elongated cutting edges 62. A stiffening rib 58 protrudes from the rear of each spur 28 and protrudes upward from the base part 22. The two elongated cutting edges 62 of each spur 28 are at a distance from one another which is at least approximately adapted to the lateral spacing of the predetermined breaking line 60 surrounding the corresponding membrane 26 in order to be able to reliably separate the corresponding membrane 26 with the aid of the elongated cutting edges 62 when the second Element 14 is pivoted about the film hinge axis 18 of the film hinge 16 to the membranes 26.

FIGS. 26, 27 and 28 show an embodiment of the closure device 10 with a first element 12 and a second element 14, the base parts 20 and 22 of which are pivotally connected to one another by means of a film hinge 16. The first element 12 is formed with at least one passage 24 which is delimited by the base part 20, by support walls 46 and by an upper part 64. The at least one passage 24 is sealed in the vicinity of the film hinge 16 by means of a membrane 26 which is designed with a predetermined breaking line 60. The closure device 10 shown in these figures is designed with a spacer device 74, by means of which an undesired jamming of the wall of the container is prevented, that is not shown in these figures. The stand-off device 74 shown in these figures is a roof element 76 which projects from the upper part 64 of the first element 12 to the base part 20 or to the base part 22 of the second element 14 at least approximately in a parallel manner. In the original state of the closure device 10 (see FIG. 26), the roof element 76 extends over the at least one spur 28, so that an unwanted pinching of the corresponding wall part 36 (see FIG. 20) of the container 34 is reliably avoided.

In the embodiment of the closure device 10 shown in FIGS. 26 to 28, the / each spur 28 is formed with at least one elongated cutting edge 62. At least one stiffening rib 58 extends from the rear of the at least one spur 28.

From the last-mentioned figures it can also be seen that the fastening section 50 of the closure device 10, along which the closure device 10 is sealingly provided between adjacent portions 38 and 40 of a container 34 (see, for example, FIG. 20), by a connecting section 78 of the at least a membrane 26 is spaced, the connecting section being stepped against the fastening section 50 in order to reduce the heat conduction from the fastening section 50 to the at least one membrane 26 during the tight welding of the closure device 10 into a container.

26 shows the closure device 10 in its original installed state, in which it is glued or preferably welded in between adjacent portions 38 and 40 of a container 34. In contrast, FIG. 27 shows the closure device 10 26 in its original state immediately after being molded from a molding tool. 28 shows the closure device 10 according to FIGS. 26 and 27 in the open position, in which the associated membrane 26 is cut along the predetermined breaking line 60 with the aid of the at least one spur 28 or the at least one elongated cutting edge 62 of the corresponding spur 28, to establish a fluidic connection between the adjacent portions of a container through the closure device 10. The same details are given the same reference numerals in FIGS. 26 to 28.

FIG. 29 shows the closure device 10 according to FIG. 26 between portions 38 and 40 of a container 34 drawn in sections, and FIG. 30 shows the corresponding closure device 10 in the container 34 in the open position also shown in FIG. 28. The same details are given the same reference numerals in FIGS. 29 and 30 as in the other figures described above.

FIGS. 31, 32 and 33 show an embodiment of the closure device 10 and / or its arrangement in a container 34 drawn in sections, the spacer device 74 being formed by side ribs 80 or bumps 82. The side ribs 80 are formed laterally next to the at least one membrane 26 and protrude from the first element 12 in the direction of the at least one spur 28 standing upwards from the second element 14. They are provided in such a way that the wall part 36 of the container 34 is prevented from being pinched. The formation of the at least one stiffening rib 58 with said cusp 82 serves the same purpose. The at least one cusp 82 also becomes jammed of the wall part 36 between membrane 26 and spur 28 prevented. Otherwise, the design of the closure device 10 according to FIGS. 31 to 33 corresponds to the design of the closure device 10, as shown in FIGS. 26 to 30, so that it is unnecessary to repeat all the details, which are in each case denoted by the same reference numbers to describe in detail.

FIGS. 34, 35, 36 and 37 show further designs of the closure device 10 and / or their arrangement in a container 34 drawn in sections, the spacer device 74 being formed by side ribs 80 or bumps 82. The side ribs 80 are provided laterally next to the base part 22 of the second element 14 and project from the first element 12 in the direction of the at least one spur 28 standing upwards from the second element 14 or to the outermost spur 28 on the side. that with their help pinching the wall part 36 of the container 34 is prevented. The formation of the at least one stiffening rib 58, each with a hump 82, serves the same purpose. The hump 82 also prevents the wall part 36 from becoming jammed between the membrane 26 and the spur 28. Otherwise, the design of the closure device 10 according to FIGS. 31 to 33 corresponds to the design of the closure device 10 as shown in FIGS. 26 to 30, so that it is not necessary to describe all details in detail once again.

38 shows an embodiment of the closure device 10 in a longitudinal section. The closure device 10 has a first element 12 and a second element 14, which can be pivoted relative to one another about the film hinge axis 18 by means of a film hinge 16 are. In FIG. 38, the film hinge axis 18 is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, while the film hinge axis 18 in FIG. 39 is oriented parallel to the plane of the drawing.

The first element 12 has a base part 20 and the second element 14 has a base part 22, which are connected to one another in one piece by means of the film hinge 16.

The first element 12 has passages 24 which are sealed by membranes 26 in the normal rest position of the closure device 10. Each passage 24 is defined in the circumferential direction by said base part 20, by an upper part 64 and by side partitions or supporting walls 46, as can also be seen from FIG. 39, in which the same details are designated with the same reference numbers as in FIG. 38.

From Fig. 38 it can be seen that at least two passages 24 (in Fig. 39 on each side two passages 24) are formed on the two sides 84 of the base 20 of the first element 12 facing away from each other, which lead to the said base 20 and the film hinge axis 18 are provided symmetrically. Spurs 28 protrude from the base part 22 of the second element 14 in opposite directions, with a spur 28 of the second element 14 being associated with each passage 24 or the membrane 26 of the first element 12 closing this.

The closure device 10 is arranged in a container 34 in a sealing manner in the region between a first wall part 32 and a second wall part 36, the wall part 32 delimiting a first part 38 and the second wall part 36 delimiting a second part 40. The shares 38 and 40 are with Various liquids filled, which are exchanged and mixed with each other after opening the closure device 10.

The upper parts 64 of the opposite passages 24 form fastening sections 50, along which the closure device 10 is tightly and mechanically firmly connected to the container 34. The fastening section 50 is formed with two lateral extensions 52, one of which is clearly visible in FIG. 42. Each of the two lateral extensions 52 ends in a cutting edge 54 in order to ensure a reliable seal between the container 34 and the closure device 10 also at this point.

From the base part 22 of the second element 14, stiffening ribs 58 protrude from both base surface sides 86, which are aligned with the associated spurs 28 or form extensions thereof, as can be seen from FIG. 39 or, for example, from FIG. 41, a different design of the spurs 28 and the stiffening ribs 58 stiffening them shows the design of the closure device 10 according to FIG. 39. However, the same details are also given the same reference numerals in FIGS. 39 and 41, so that it is not necessary in connection with FIG. 41 to provide all of these details to describe again in detail.

A predetermined breaking line 60 runs around each membrane 26 in order to support the separation of the corresponding at least one membrane 26 when the second element 14 is pivoted about the film hinge 16. The spurs 28 or the like with elongated cutting edges 62 or with tips. be designed to further facilitate the breaking of the corresponding membranes 26.

In order to reliably prevent unwanted damage, in particular of the second wall part 36 of the portion 40, into which the second element 40 stands virtually free, the closure device 10 can be designed with a spacing device 74, as described above. For this purpose, the spacer device 74 can be formed with side ribs 80 which are molded onto the first element 12 and / or with bumps 82 on the stiffening ribs 58.

40 illustrates sections of a container 34 which is divided into portions 38 and 40 by sealing strips 58 '. In the area of the sealing strip 58 'between the adjacent portions 38 and 40, an embodiment of the closure device is sealingly attached, which is similar to the embodiment of the closure device 10 shown in greater detail in FIGS. 41 and 42, the closure device 10 being shown in FIG thin dashed lines is indicated. The same reference numerals in FIG. 40 also denote the same details as in the other drawing figures, so that it is not necessary to describe all of these details again in detail in connection with FIG. 40.

Claims (20)

Closure device for a flexible container (34), in particular for a container (34) having at least two compartments (38, 40) separated by sealing strips (58 ') for different liquids (34), the closure device (10) being made of a plastic material between adjacent ones Portions (38, 40) of the container (34) are located in the sealing strip (58 ') between the said portions (38, 40) and can be opened to produce a fluid connection,
characterized,
that the closure device (10) has two elements (12, 14) which are articulated to one another by means of a film hinge (16), that the an element (12) is assigned to a portion (38) of the container (34) and is formed with a passage (24) which is closed off in the vicinity of the film hinge (16) by a membrane (26) such that the second element (14 ) is assigned to an adjacent second portion (40) of the container (34) and is formed in the vicinity of the film hinge (16) with at least one spur (28) with which the membrane (26) is pierced and opened when the second element ( 14) is pivoted about the film hinge (16) in the direction of the first element (12) and that the first element (12) is formed with a fastening section (50) surrounding the passage (24) on the outside. Closure device according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the film hinge (16) is formed between a base part (20) of the first element (12) and a base part (22) of the second element (14), the base part (20) of the first element (12) being used for the film hinge The axis (18) has a vertically oriented passage (24) with the membrane (26) parallel to the film hinge axis (18) and the at least one spur (28) protrudes from the base part (22) of the second element (14). Closure device according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized,
that the passage (24) on the first element (12) is divided by at least one support wall (46) into at least two partial passages (48) with partial membranes (44), and that the second element (14) is one of the number Partial membranes (44) have a corresponding number of spurs (28). Closure device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the / each of the base (22) of the second element (14) upstanding spur (28) is connected in one piece by means of a stiffening rib (58) to the base (22), the corresponding stiffening rib (58) on that of the membrane (26) facing away from the corresponding spur (28) is formed. Closure device according to one of claims 2 to 4,
characterized,
that the / each spur (28) is provided at a small distance from the membrane (26), and that the height of the / each spur (28) above the base (22) of the second element (14) is less than the height of the Membrane (26) over the base part (20) of the first element (14). Closure device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the fastening section (50) surrounding the passage (24) is formed with two lateral extensions (52) facing away from one another, which are tapered laterally outwards. Closure device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the fastening section (50) is formed on its outer surface with at least one circumferential sealing rib (56). Closure device according to claim 1
characterized,
that the / each membrane (26) with a predetermined breaking line (60) and / or that the at least one spur (28) with at least one cutting edge (62) or tip (70) facing the associated membrane (26) for separating the corresponding membrane (26), and / or that on the side facing away from the film hinge (16) on the first or second element (12, 14) an unwanted jamming of the wall part (36) of the container (34) prevents the spacer device (74 ) is provided. Closure device according to claim 8,
characterized,
that the predetermined breaking line (60) runs around the edge of the corresponding membrane (26). Closure device according to claim 8 or 9,
characterized,
that the / each membrane (26) has a trapezoidal peripheral edge contour which extends from the base line side (66) adjacent to the film hinge (16) or the base part (20) to that of the Baseline side (66) removed or extended to the upper part (64) adjacent upper side (68). Closure device according to claim 8,
characterized,
that the / each spur (28) is formed with at least one elongate cutting edge (62) running along the corresponding spur (28). Closure device according to claim 8,
characterized,
that the spacer device (74) has at least one roof element (76) which extends from the upper part (64) of the first element (12), which is removed from the film hinge (16) and delimits the corresponding passage (24) on the upper side, to the base part (20, 22 ) stands out oriented in parallel. Closure device according to claim 8,
characterized,
that the spacer device (74) is formed by side ribs (80) which laterally delimit the / each membrane (26). Closure device according to claim 8, wherein the / each spur (28) upwardly from the base part (22) of the second element (14) is connected in one piece to the base part (22) by means of a stiffening rib (58) and the corresponding stiffening rib (58) the side facing away from the membrane (26) is molded onto the corresponding spur (28),
characterized,
that the / each stiffening rib (58) has a hump (82) forming the spacer device (74), against which the wall part (36) of the container (34) bears. Closure device according to one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the fastening section (50) surrounding the passage (24) is formed with two lateral extensions (52) facing away from one another and tapering outwards in a cutting edge (54),
characterized,
that the fastening section (50) is spaced from the / each membrane (26) by a connecting section (78) which is stepped against the fastening section (50). Closure device according to claim 1
characterized,
that at least two passages (24) are formed on the two sides of the base surface (84) of the base part (20) of the first element (12), which are symmetrical to the base part (20) and the film hinge axis (18), and that second element (14) has spurs (28) pointing in opposite directions, a spur (28) being associated with each passage or the membrane (26) closing it off. Device according to claim 16,
characterized,
that the base part (20) of the first element (12) is provided centrally between two upper parts (64) and the spurs (28) of the second element (14) facing away from one another are of equal length. Device according to claim 16 or 17,
characterized,
that between the base part (20) and the two upper parts (64) of the first element (12) there are partition walls or support walls (46) through which each of the two passages (24) is divided into partial passages which are separated by the base part ( 20) are separated from one another, each partial passage being sealed by an associated membrane (26) and a spur (28) being associated with each membrane (26). Flexible container with at least two portions (38, 40) separated from one another by sealing strips (58) for different liquids, at least one closure device (10) according to one of the preceding claims being provided in the sealing strip (58 ') between adjacent portions (38, 40) ,
characterized,
that the closure device (10) is provided sealingly with its fastening section (50) in the sealing strip (58 ') of adjacent portions (38, 40) of the container (34), the second element (14) formed with the at least one spur (28) stands freely in the second portion (40). Container according to claim 19,
characterized,
that the closure device (10) with its fastening section (50) in the sealing strip (58 ') forming sealing strips of the two opposite wall parts (32, 36) of the container (34) is welded in tightly.

Images