EP0686568B1 - Container with insertable closure element - Google Patents

Abstract

A container, esp. for liquids, with an opening point in the wall for the insertion of a closure uses a closure with two separate inner holding sections (22, 26). They are located at opposite sides of the pouring opening for the hinge (11) at one side and the opening lip (12) at the other side. Also claimed is a container mfg. process where an opening is punched in the laminated container material through the centre layer to be covered by the lamination, together with a second smaller hole which can be pierced or reclosed. Pref. the container is formed of a laminated material with a centre cardboard layer and outer layers of polyethylene. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention is in the field of the packaging industry and relates a combination according to the preamble of the first independent claim, consisting of a container and a closure unit, which in the container wall can be inserted. The invention also relates a closure unit according to the preamble of claim 4.

Containers made of plastic-coated cardboard are used to pour out the Content usually opened by either a seam of the package opened or a corner is torn off. In both cases the can not to be closed again, that is, once the container has been opened can no longer be easily transported and that the content must be used up quickly when in contact with the outside air spoils.

Containers that do not have the disadvantages described above are, for example equipped with locking units that have an opening in the Container wall are attached and which consist of a pouring part and a closure part exist, the closure part the pouring opening of the pouring part closes and is removable from this. Containers equipped in this way are relatively expensive to manufacture. The closure unit is usually attached in the material for the container wall before this to the container is folded and welded or at least before the container is filled and it must therefore have the same hygienic and antiseptic conditions meet like the inside of the container wall. Such Closure unit is described for example in publication WO-91/12181.

To the described disadvantages of containers with assembled closure units Combinations of plastic-coated containers are to be avoided Cardboard box with a potential opening and insertable in it Closure units have been proposed. The combination is coming usually on the market with the closure unit on the side of the container sticking in the same way as straws on straws Market come. The potential opening in the container is a predetermined one Location that is designed such that it is easily opened by the consumer can be removed by removing a pull tab and / or by breaking through a predetermined breaking point in the container wall or in at least one Layer of the container wall when the closure unit is inserted, whereby an opening with a given shape is created.

Such a plug-in closure unit has inner and outer holding means and when positioned in the container opening, the edge is the Container wall held between these holding means.

• Die potentielle Öffnung im Gebinde muss einfach geöffnet werden können aber sie darf keine schwache Stelle des Gebindes darstellen, derart, dass das Gebinde mit potentieller Öffnung in genau derselben Weise gehandhabt werden kann wie ein gleiches Gebinde ohne potentielle Öffnung.
• Die Verschlusseinheit muss flach sein, derart, dass sie mit dem Gebinde verpackt werden kann, ohne dass dadurch Schwierigkeiten beim Transport und bei der Lagerung der Kombination entstehen.
• Es muss für den Verbraucher möglich sein, die Verschlusseinheit mit einem zumutbaren Kraftaufwand und ohne die Gebindewand stark zu verformen in die potentielle Öffnung einzustecken (dies ist besonders wichtig für Gebinde, die völlig gefüllt sind).
• Die eingesteckte Verschlusseinheit muss geöffnet werden können, ohne dass sie dabei vom Gebinde entfernt wird.
• Das Gebinde mit eingesteckter Verschlusseinheit muss dicht sein und zwar sowohl zwischen Gebinde und Verschlusseinheit als auch zwischen Ausgussteil und Verschlussteil der Verschlusseinheit.
• Wenn zusätzlich zu den oben genannten Bedingungen weitere Bedingungen betreffend guten Ausfluss und guten Rückfluss des Inhaltes nach dem Ausgiessen befriedigt werden können, dann wird die Kombination von Gebinde und einsteckbarer Verschlusseinheit sehr vorteilhaft. Dasselbe gilt für Bedingungen betreffend Gebrauch mit eingesteckter Verschlusseinheit über längere Zeit und ohne negative Einflüsse.

The following conditions must be met by combinations of containers and plug-in closure units:

• The potential opening in the container must be easy to open, but it must not represent a weak point in the container, such that the container with a potential opening can be handled in exactly the same way as an identical container without a potential opening.
• The closure unit must be flat in such a way that it can be packaged with the container without causing difficulties in transporting and storing the combination.
• It must be possible for the consumer to insert the closure unit into the potential opening with a reasonable amount of force and without strongly deforming the container wall (this is particularly important for containers that are completely filled).
• The inserted closure unit must be able to be opened without being removed from the container.
• The container with the closure unit inserted must be tight, both between the container and the closure unit and between the pouring part and the closure part of the closure unit.
• If, in addition to the above-mentioned conditions, further conditions regarding good outflow and good reflux of the content can be satisfied after pouring out, then the combination of the container and the plug-in closure unit becomes very advantageous. The same applies to conditions regarding use with the locking unit inserted for a long time and without negative influences.

In the publication EP-A2-291112 (corresponds to the preamble of claim 1 and the preamble of claim 4) is a combination of containers and insertable closure unit described the above conditions more or less fulfilled. The closure unit of the described Combination consists of a pouring part and a closure part are connected by a hinge, the closure part has an opening lip which is arranged opposite the hinge and serves to open the closure unit. The above to the opening in the Container wall and conditions placed on the flatness of the closure unit are well fulfilled, but the pouring properties are in favor of flatness the closure unit bad, such that it is protruded by a Edge on the container must be supported.

The closure unit of the combination described is on the container assembled by positioning it on the opening and then into the opening is pressed in with a force which is substantially perpendicular to the Container wall works. There is a catch around the entire circumference of the pouring part, which serves as an internal holding means. The outermost edge of the notch (Locking edge) delimits a surface that has essentially the same shape as the opening in the container wall, but is larger than this. The rest will pressed through the container wall opening and then holds the closure unit stuck in the opening. When the catch is pressed through the opening, the container wall is stretched around the opening and at least temporarily deformed. For this is the force required to insert the locking unit is necessary, rather large. At the same time, the whole container wall is against that The inside of the container is pressed, causing the contents to overflow may have.

Positioning and pressing the closure unit into the container opening are facilitated by a conical sliding surface that is against the locking edge leads. The ease with which the closure unit into the container opening depends on the slope of this sliding surface, which slope determines how far the closure unit in in other words, the container protrudes, at the same time the flatness the closure unit.

It is the object of the invention, a combination of containers and insertable Closure unit to create the conditions given above to such a combination better than the known combinations.

This task is accomplished by combining containers with potential Opening and insertable closure unit, and through the closure unit for such Combination as described in the claims.

The basic idea of the combination of container and insertable according to the invention Closure unit is that to minimize the need for the Insert the locking unit into the necessary force in the container opening and at the same time to minimize the insertion caused Deformation of the container wall, the inner holding means exactly on the function the combination. This means that the inner Holding means are designed such that they the circumference of the pouring part do not circulate regularly, but that they are pronounced where the Opening and closing the inserted closure unit and pouring part act, and that they are not present where no such Forces work.

The force that is necessary to push the closure unit into the container opening inserting is further reduced by not using all of the inner holding means be designed as a catch, but only a minimal part of it, while the rest of the part is designed as a retaining lip or retaining lips not pressed into the opening, but laterally under the edge of the container wall are pushed, which also causes the deformation of this edge to continue is minimized.

Figuren 1 bis 3

das Prinzip der einsteckbaren Verschlusseinheit gemäss dem Stande der Technik als Draufsicht (Figur 1) und geschnitten (Figuren 2 und 3);

Figuren 4 bis 6

das Prinzip der Verschlusseinheit der erfindungsgemässen Kombination, gleich dargestellt wie Figuren 1 bis 3;

Figuren 7 und 8

eine beispielhafte Ausführungsform einer Verschlusseinheit für eine erfindungsgemässe Kombination im Schnitt und als Draufsicht;

Figur 9

einen Querschnitt durch den Hals der Verschlusseinheit gemäss Figuren 7 und 8 und zugehörige Gebindeöffnung;

The combination of container with potential opening and plug-in closure unit according to the invention is described in detail in connection with the following figures. Show:

Figures 1 to 3

the principle of the plug-in closure unit according to the prior art as a plan view (Figure 1) and cut (Figures 2 and 3);

Figures 4 to 6

the principle of the closure unit of the combination according to the invention, shown in the same way as FIGS. 1 to 3;

Figures 7 and 8

an exemplary embodiment of a closure unit for a combination according to the invention in section and as a plan view;

Figure 9

a cross section through the neck of the closure unit according to Figures 7 and 8 and associated container opening;

The following description relates in particular to containers made of coated Carton. However, this does not mean that the invention is limited is on such containers. All containers with walls that are flexible enough are for inserting a closure unit can be part of the invention Combination of container and closure unit, for example Containers made of metals (e.g. aluminum or sheet steel) or plastic containers.

Figures 1 to 3 show the principle of the closure unit (shown in the closed state) according to the prior art. The closure unit is not shown in all details, only the important parts are shown. Figure 1 shows the closure unit as a plan view, with only the outline of the closure part 1 with hinge 11 and opposite opening lip 12 is shown and as dashed lines A and B the edge of the container wall around the opening into which the closure unit is inserted, and the circumference of the inner holding means (B) which protrude from this opening inside the container. The two lines A and B run essentially parallel to each other.

The elongated shape of the opening in the container wall (and the pouring opening in the pouring part of the closure unit) with the hinge and the opening lip facing each other along the length of the elongated shape arranged allow a good pouring.

Figures 2 and 3 are sections through the closure unit according to Figure 1, cut along section line II-II (Figure 2) and along section line III-III (Figure 3) of Figure 1, i.e. cut through the hinge position and opening lip position (Figure 2) and in the middle and perpendicular to it (Figure 3). They show the closure unit with closure part 1 and pouring part 2 connected by a hinge 11. The closure unit is inserted into an opening in a container wall 3. The pouring part 2 has a neck 21, around which the edge 31 of the container wall 3 lies tightly. The pouring part 2 also has inner holding means in the form of a catch 22 which projects beyond the opening on the inside of the container. The catch 22 shows a sliding surface 23, a locking edge 24 (line B in FIG. 1) and a holding surface 25 which leads against the neck 21. The area enclosed by the latching edge 24 is larger than the opening in the container wall, the area enclosed by the edge of the sliding surface opposite the latching edge 24 is smaller than the opening. The pouring part also has outer holding means which protrude beyond the opening on the outside of the container. Since the outer holding means do not influence the plug-in characteristics of the closure unit, they do not have to be described in detail here. The inner holding surface 25 and the outer holding means together determine the position of the container wall relative to the pouring part (inner and outer holding surfaces C and C ').

Usually the opening in the container wall is before inserting the Closure unit slightly smaller than the cross section of the neck, such that the edge 31 of the container wall 3 against the neck of the inserted closure unit is pressed and thereby the tightness is increased.

A comparison of FIGS. 2 and 3 and also of lines A and B in FIG. 1 shows that the inner holding means of the plug-in closure unit according to the prior art in the same shape, the outer scope of the closure unit circulate. The sealing unit is in the container opening inserted by positioning the inner edge of the sliding surface in the opening and then the closure unit is pressed into the opening with a Force that acts essentially in the middle of the closure unit and in acts essentially perpendicular to the container wall.

Figures 4 to 6 show the closure unit of a combination according to the invention in the same representation, in which Figures 1 to 3 show the closure unit according to the prior art. The same parts are identified by the same reference numbers. The most important feature of the closure unit according to FIGS. 4 to 6 are the inner holding means, which are provided only in the hinge position and in the opening lip position relative to the hinge position. This means that the pouring part of the inserted closure unit only projects beyond the container opening in these two positions. This can be seen from the lines A (edge of the container wall) and B (inner holding means which protrude beyond the opening) of FIG. 4. It can also be seen from a comparison of FIG. 5, in which parts (inner holding means) of the pouring part 2 inside of the container reach over the opening, and FIG. 6, in which no parts extend inside the container over the opening.

In view of the function of the closure unit, it is completely sufficient inner holding means only in two positions, namely in the hinge position and in the opening lip position opposite the hinge position to provide. If the plugged-in closure unit with one on the opening lip 12 attacking force is opened, the locking unit acts Force K.1 pulling out of the opening in the area of the opening lip 12 and a force K.2, which presses the closure unit into the container, in the area of the hinge 11, the two forces K.1 and K.2 being the same Are of the order of magnitude. When the inserted closure unit is closed the forces K, K.1 and K.2 act in the opposite direction if the closing force acts on the opening lip 12. This is probably common not because the closure part is more convenient in its center the pouring part is pressed, which leads to forces that both in the hinge position as well as in the opening lip position the closure unit press against the container. For all described cases of opening and Closing the closure unit therefore forces act on the closure unit pull out of the container, in areas between the hinge and opening lip position, i.e. in the area of section line VI-VI (Figure 4), which is not negligible would be. In other words, this means that in these areas internal holding means can be dispensed with.

From the above considerations of the forces involved in opening and closing Closure unit and container act, it also shows that it is beneficial is to provide stronger holding means in the opening lip position. This is shown in Figure 5 with a retaining lip 26 in the opening lip position and a detent 22 in the hinge position. The holding lip 26 differs from the catch 22 in that it protrudes further over the opening and that it has no sliding surface. A closure unit with a holding lip 26 and a catch 22 is inserted into the container wall opening by the Retaining lip 22 is first pushed sideways under the wall edge and then the catch 22 is pressed into the opening. Since the catch is narrow (expansion parallel to the edge of the container wall), this type of insertion only needs a small force and therefore leads to only a small wall deformation, so that overflowing of the container contents can be avoided.

The different design of the inner holding means in hinge and in the opening lip position is not an essential feature of the closure unit the combination according to the invention. The inner holding means can also be designed as a detent in both positions.

The closure unit according to FIGS. 4 to 6 has very good pouring properties, if the pouring opening and the container opening are elongated Shape, as shown in Figures 1 to 6, have. But it is also different shaped, for example round openings conceivable.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show in detail an exemplary embodiment of a plug-in closure unit in which the principles described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 are applied and further developed for further advantageous properties.

FIG. 7 shows the closure unit in section (section analogous to FIG. 5, ie through the hinge and opening lip position) and shows the closure part 1 and the pouring part 2. The inner holding means are again designed as holding lip 26 and catch 22 with sliding surface 23, the inner holding means determine the inner holding level C.

The pouring part also has outer holding means, which have an outer holding plane Define C '. It is advantageous to design the outer holding means in such a way that the inner (C) and outer (C ') holding planes are not parallel to each other, such that the neck 21 is higher in the hinge or Position of the catch as in the opening lip or holding lip position and thereby providing enough space in the hinge position for a more deformed Container wall edge. With a neck designed in this way it is The position of the inserted locking unit is precisely defined and nevertheless it is unlikely that the edge of the container wall will be so strong is deformed so that it covers the catch, which means the tightness between In this area, negatively influence the sealing unit and the container wall would.

Since no sliding surface is necessary for the holding lip 26, the Pouring part less far into the container in the opening lip position than in the hinge position, that is, a level D, which the pouring part inside the container limited, does not run parallel to the inner holding plane C, i.e. not parallel to the container wall. This means that without the maximum expansion to enlarge the closure unit perpendicular to the container wall, the pouring part is equipped with a pouring lip 27 in the opening lip position can become less and less against the hinge position rises above the container wall. Such a pouring lip 27 improves the Pouring properties of the closure unit are considerable. It is beneficial To design closure part 1 and pouring part 2 such that the closed, inserted closure unit on the outside of the container essentially through a plane E is limited, the plane E being parallel to the plane D and the hinge 11 parallel to the cutting line of the outer holding plane C 'and Level E is arranged.

FIG. 8 further illustrates the closure unit according to FIG. 7, wherein it is shown here in the open state, viewed from above (against the outside of the container). The same parts are identified by the same reference numbers as in the preceding figures. Figure 8 needs no further explanation.

The closure unit for the combination of containers according to the invention and the closure unit advantageously consists of a thermoplastic Material and is manufactured using an injection molding process. The hinge 11 is designed as a thin and therefore sufficiently flexible material zone, as so-called film hinge. The inner side of the pouring lip 27 can with Channels 28 may be equipped, the return flow of remaining on the lip Favor liquid. The sliding surface 23 of the detent 22 can for a Ventilation opening 29 may be interrupted, which improves the pouring properties.

FIG. 9 shows the circumference A of the neck cross section projected one above the other and the container opening F before the closure unit is inserted. The opening is generally smaller than the neck cross-section. As a result, the edge of the container wall is pressed against the neck of the inserted closure unit, thereby guaranteeing tightness. The two lines A and F are not parallel to each other. While the shape of the opening (line F) consists of two arches with different radii and two straight sections, the circumference of the neck cross section does not contain any straight parts, but only consists of arches with different radii. It has been shown that such a shape of the neck cross section is advantageous since regions in which an arc adjoins a straight line tensions the edge of the container wall more strongly. The size difference between the opening and the neck cross-section has to be adapted to the quality of the container wall. The figure shows an opening of 21mm length in a container made of coated cardboard with 250ml content (magnification approx. 1: 6.4).

Claims (8)

1. Combination of container and insertable closure element, in which case the container has a potential opening, into which the closure element can be inserted, and the closure element has a pouring part (2) with a pouring opening and a closure part (1), which closes the pouring opening of the pouring part (2) hermetically and can be removed therefrom by means of an opening lip (12), which opening lip (12) is located opposite a hinge (11), which connects the pouring part (2) and closure part (1) to each other, the pouring part (2) comprising a neck (21) and inner and outer retaining means, which on the inside and outside project from the container by way of the opening in the container, when the closure element is inserted, and which define an inner and an outer retaining plane (C and C'), between which the container wall is retained, and in which case the neck (21) fits in a sealing manner in the opening in the container, due to the fact that the cross section of the neck is larger than the potential opening (15), characterized in that the closure element comprises two separate inner retaining means (22, 26), which are located on opposite sides of the pouring opening, at positions which correspond to the position of the hinge (11) and the position of the opening lip (12) and that the peripheral line of the neck cross section is not parallel to the edge of the container wall around the potential opening.
2. Combination according to Claim 1, characterized in that the inner retaining means in the opening lip position is a retaining lip (26) without a sliding surface and the inner retaining means in the hinge position is a notch (22) with a sliding surface (23).
3. Combination according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that regions of the peripheral line of the neck cross section, which correspond to rectilinear regions of the container wall edge around the potential opening, are constructed in a curved manner.
4. Closure element for a combination according to one of Claims 1 to 3, which closure element comprises a pouring part (2) with a pouring opening and a closure part (1), which closes the pouring opening of the pouring part (2) hermetically and can be removed therefrom by means of an opening lip (12), which opening lip (12) is located opposite a hinge (11) which connects the pouring part (2) and closure part (1) to each other, and in which case the pouring part (2) comprises a neck (21), which fits in a sealing manner in the opening in the container and inner and outer retaining means, which on the inside and outside project from the container by way of the opening in the container, when the closure element is inserted, and which define an inner and an outer retaining plane (C and C'), between which the container wall is retained, and which closure element has a flat shape, which is defined essentially by an inner (D) and an outer (E) plane, in which case the two planes (D and E) are parallel to each other, characterized in that the closure element comprises two separate inner retaining means (22, 26), which are located on opposite sides of the pouring opening, at positions, which correspond to the position of the hinge (11) and the position of the opening lip (12) and that the inner and the outer retaining plane (C and C') are aligned at an angle to the parallel planes (D and E).
5. Closure element according to Claim 4, characterized in that the inner retaining means, in the opening lip position, is a retaining lip (26) without sliding surface and the inner retaining means in the hinge position is a notch (22) with a sliding surface (23).
6. Closure element according to one of Claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the inner retaining plane (C) is aligned at an angle with respect to the outer retaining plane (C'), such that in the hinge position the neck (21) is higher than in the opening lip position.
7. Closure element according to one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the region of the closure part (2), which extends between the outer retaining plane (C') and the outer plane (E), is shaped to form a pouring lip (27), which rises higher above the outer retaining plane (C') than the hinge (11).
8. Closure element according to Claim 7, characterized in that the inside of the pouring lip (27) comprises return flow channels (28).

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