EP1768910B1 - Reclosable pouring element for cardboard/plastic composite packagings - Google Patents

Abstract

Described and shown is a re-closable pouring element for cardboard/plastic composite packagings comprising a base to be applied onto the packaging in the vicinity of an over-coated weakened zone, a lid pivotably mounted at the end of the base, and an opening element, pivotably mounted on the lid, wherein restricted guidance elements are arranged between the base and the opening element. A pouring element with small overall height which ensures reliable opening of the packaging is achieved by that the opening element is joined in an articulated manner at the end of a lever projecting downward from the lid, so that the opening element when the lid is lifted up is firstly made to perform a linear movement forward, which as a result of further restricted guidance elements arranged on the interior of the base and/or on the opening element is converted into a downward movement.

Description

The invention relates to a resealable pouring element for carton / plastic composite packs with a base body to be applied to the package in the region of an overcoated zone of weakening, a cover pivotally mounted at the end of the main body and an opening element pivotally mounted on the cover, with forced guiding elements between the base body and the opening element are arranged.

Reclosable pouring elements for beverage packs have been available on the market for a long time in a variety of designs. They usually consist of three parts, a main body, a lid and an opening element for the first time opening provided with such a pouring pack. Depending on the design, these may be screw caps or else those in which the lid is swung up ( WO 97/46455 A1 ) or pulled out ( DE 196 37 865 C2 ). There are also two-part pouring known, in which the lid is designed as an opening element at the same time ( US 6,257,449 B1 ).

In principle, one endeavors to make the pouring elements in question as consumer-friendly as possible, so that on the one hand an easy handling is guaranteed and on the other hand the actual Pouring process can run as smoothly as possible. In addition, to keep the height as small as possible for reasons of material consumption and thus the production costs and better stackability.

Both with screw caps and with such pouring elements, which work with an opening element to be pressed into the package, the height must be at least so great that the over-coated with a composite of PE film and aluminum foil weakening zones are opened reliably. The problem is that polyethylene is very ductile and for this reason, unlike the sole aluminum foil, can not be simply "punched out". For this reason, pouring elements have prevailed which tear either the material of the weakened zone through an opening element of the package to be removed or those which are provided with an opening element which can be pivoted into the interior of the package, whereby a reliable puncture of the weakened zone can be achieved.

The resealable pouring element according to WO 97/46455 A1 However, it is disadvantageous in that the opening element must be operated separately after lifting the lid with the finger or other object. There have also been such pouring elements in which the opening element must be actuated by the folding up of the lid ( WO 90/14280 or US 6,257,449 B1 ).

Also is from the WO 2005/077769 A1 already described a pouring element with a lid and an opening element, wherein the opening element hinged on Basic body is arranged. Since the opening element to be pivoted in this known pouring element when folding the lid down, power transmission means are necessary, for example, the use of a drawstring or meshing gears are described. It is readily apparent that the force to be introduced into the opening element must be enormously large, since the opening element must be pressed against the packing wall in its entire length in order to destroy it. Therefore, such a pouring element can be produced only with extremely high cost and associated costs.

Finally, there is already a relatively small-sized pouring element, in which the opening element is actuated by a guide in the side walls ( WO 03/047981 A2 ). This known reclosable pouring element has all the features of the preamble of claim 1. Due to the aforementioned problem of extensibility of polyethylene, however, this known pouring does not work satisfactorily, since the opening element can penetrate only with its tip in the PE material or in the composite of PE and aluminum foil during the opening process. The forces to be transmitted act only at the tip of the opening element, so that a reliable exposure of a constantly defined pouring opening is therefore not guaranteed in this known pouring.

On this basis, the present invention seeks to provide a reclosable pouring available, which avoids the disadvantages described in more detail above and despite a low height reliable opening of the Packing and a defined exposure of the weakening zone ensures.

This object is achieved with a pouring element with the features of the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the opening element is hinged to a lever projecting downwardly from the lid, so that the opening element is initially caused to move forward linearly when the lid is raised, which is converted by further on the inside of the body and / or on the opening element in a downward movement.

In this way, it was possible to achieve that the opening element initially performs a "forward movement" when the lid is raised and thus, due to the corresponding positive guiding elements on the base element, moves into the weakened zone with a "digging" movement, where it reliably destroys the composite PE film and aluminum foil leads. Because the opening element is not fastened to the cover itself, but rather to a web projecting from the cover as a lever, the entire front part of the opening element pivots relatively strongly into the PE / aluminum material to be destroyed and ensures that a sufficiently large pouring opening is exposed , which will be explained in more detail below.

The invention has recognized that an optimal power transmission for initiating the opening process of the container when opening the lid is ensured by the positive guide elements used on the lid and / or opening element. This is achieved in particular in that the opening element is not easy in the Packing material pivots into it, but performs a superimposed linear and rotational movement.

In particular, all positive guidance elements are detected by the present invention, even if only the preferred embodiment is provided with guide rails provided on the base element and sliding elements provided on the opening element. It is also possible within the scope of the invention to make the arrangement reversed, or to use other known in the art positive guide elements. It is thus possible, for example, not to design opening elements as a more or less flat plate, but in a wavy form, wherein the lateral edges of this wavy plate can then serve directly as guide rails.

According to a preferred teaching of the invention, the positive guide elements are arranged on the inside of the body lateral guide elements corresponding to corresponding guide elements of the opening element, and the other positive guide elements as the base body obliquely arranged lateral guide elements, which correspond with corresponding further sliding elements of the opening element formed.

Another teaching of the invention provides that the lever extending from the lid is designed as a web. This can be realized in a simple way, a particularly good power transmission.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the web extends with the lid closed essentially up to the contact plane of the flange (underside of the pouring element) zoom. This is how to achieve the greatest leverage.

Another teaching of the invention provides that the opening element, at least in the region which is swung out of the plane of the underside of the pouring element, has a circumferential cutting edge. In this way, it is reliably ensured that the overcoat in the region of the weakened zone can be cut cleanly and removed from the pouring opening.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the opening element in the region of the aforementioned cutting edge on at least one tooth for piercing the weakening zone. Also, the cutting edge may consist of a plurality of adjacent teeth. This embodiment is particularly favorable, as can be reliably prevented by the perforation by means of several puncture points a strong elongation of the overcoat before tearing.

According to another teaching of the invention, the guide elements are designed on the main body as a sliding guide. As a result, a forced operation of the opening element is achieved when folding the lid in a simple manner.

Preferably, both the cover on the base body and the opening element are attached to the outgoing from the cover web by means of a film hinge. In this way, a one-piece production of the pouring element according to the invention is possible.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the opening element can be latched in its open position with the main body, so that a re-establishment of the opening element and thus a closure of the opening area during the Ausgießvorganges is reliably excluded. In this way, a defined pouring opening is always present.

Cumulatively or alternatively, it is also possible that the opening element can be latched to the base body before the first opening. This possibility serves to protect against accidental opening, in particular during the transport of containers provided with the pouring element according to the invention. The term "locking" in the context of the invention not only a positive connection is understood, but it is also conceivable that the opening element is connected to one or more thin webs of material with the body, which are destroyed when first opened. The locking is intended to ensure that the opening element by vibration or the like before the first intentional opening of the package damaged or destroyed the underlying film.

According to a further preferred teaching of the invention, the latching takes place by means cooperating with the sliding elements of the opening element arranged on the inside of the body clamping cam.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the cover can be latched in the open and / or closed state with the base body. A locking in the closed state is useful to signal to the consumer on the one hand (acoustically or haptically) that the container is tightly closed by the closed lid, so that, for example, when shaking no product can escape. The latching can also be a sealing connection between the base body and the cover in order to reliably prevent the escape of the product or the ingress of air or the like. On the other hand, a locking in the open state is expedient, since during pouring a contact of the lid with the product can be reliably prevented.

According to another teaching of the invention, it is provided that a tamper-evident seal is arranged between the base body and the lid. In this way, the consumer is signaled whether the pouring element has already been operated without authorization and the package has already been opened.

Finally, it is also possible by the construction according to the invention to produce the pouring element in one piece, whereby the production costs can be lowered again.

Fig. 1

ein erfindungsgemäßes Ausgießelement, in geschlossenem Zustand in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 2

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 1, vertikal geschnitten entlang der Linie II-II,

Fig. 3

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 2 mit leicht angehobenem Deckel,

Fig. 4

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 2 mit stärker angehobenem Deckel,

Fig. 5

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 2 in Öffnungsstellung und

Fig. 6.

das Ausgießelement aus Fig. 1 in Öffnungsstellung.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only a preferred embodiment. In the drawing show:

Fig. 1

an inventive pouring element, in the closed state in a perspective view,

Fig. 2

the pouring element of FIG. 1, cut vertically along the line II-II,

Fig. 3

the pouring element of FIG. 2 with slightly raised lid,

Fig. 4

the pouring element of FIG. 2 with the lid raised more,

Fig. 5

the pouring element of Fig. 2 in the open position and

Fig. 6.

the pouring element of Fig. 1 in the open position.

In Fig. 1, the reclosable pouring spout according to the invention is shown in perspective in the closed state. It can be seen clearly that the height of the pouring element is extremely low. For a better explanation of the operation of the opening process, different representations of closed (FIG. 2), slightly open (FIG. 3), more open (FIG. 4) to completely open (FIG. 5) are shown in FIGS. wherein the pouring element is cut vertically along the line II-II in Fig. 1 in order to better show the kinematic processes can.

The pouring element according to the invention consists in the illustrated and so far preferred embodiment initially and essentially a base body 1, a pivotally mounted at the end of the base body 1 cover 2 and a pivotally mounted on the lid 2 opening element 3. The base body 1 is with a peripheral around a pouring orifice O flange 4 above a weakening zone - not shown - container, preferably one Cardboard / plastic composite pack attached. The lid 2 is pivotally connected to the base body 1 via a film hinge 5.

As is particularly clear from Fig. 4, a projecting into the interior of the body 1 and acting as a lever web 6 is provided on the underside of the lid 2, at the lower end of the opening element 3 is fixed, in the preferred embodiment with a film hinge. 7

Guide elements 8A and 8B are now provided inside the main body 1 according to the invention, the position of which is particularly evident through the sectional representation in FIGS. 2 to 5. For this purpose, the opening element 3, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, laterally arranged sliding elements 9A and 9B, which together with the guide elements 8A and 8B as a slotted guide serve.

When the cover 2 (FIG. 3) is raised, forward movement of the opening element 3 is achieved by the front guide elements 8B and the associated sliding elements 9B due to the fact that the opening element 3 is fastened at the end of the web 6 projecting downwards from the cover 2, which through the oblique running guide elements 8B in the base body 1 can reach the opening element 3 at a steep angle in the weakening zone, not shown. So that now the weakening zone - which usually consists of a composite of PE film and aluminum foil - is reliably destroyed, the opening element 3, at least in the region leaving the plane of the bottom of the spout, a circumferential cutting edge, which in the illustrated and thus preferred Embodiment as a plurality of adjacent teeth 10 is executed.

After the first piercing of the opening element 3 in the over-coated weakening zone and further folding up of the lid 2 (see Fig. 4), the opening element is not only pulled backwards, but moved over the guide elements 8A and corresponding sliding elements 9A down into the package interior, so that the area between the opening element 3 and the forwardly protruding basic body 1 gives a reliably defined pouring opening O, as can also be seen particularly clearly from FIG. 6, where the pouring element according to the invention is again shown completely in its open position.

Thus, the opening element 3 is connected to a container and also after the application, for example during transport, in a fixed position with the base body 1 before the application of the pouring element, there is a non-positive or positive connection of the two parts. For this purpose, the cylindrical sliding elements 9B projecting from the opening element 3 are preferably concave at their free end faces and the base body 1 has correspondingly protruding clamping cams 11 on, which hold the opening element 3 in a defined position until the first actuation of the lid 2.

Finally, the pouring element in the illustrated and therefore preferred embodiment also has a tamper-evident seal. For this purpose, an outgoing from the main body pin 12 is caulked with a laterally disposed in the cover 2 at the appropriate place plate 13, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be seen. The plate 13 is connected to the lid 2 during injection molding of the pouring element via thin material bridges 14. When opening the lid 2 for the first time, the material bridges 14 serving as predetermined breaking points tear off between the plate 13 and the lid 2 and signal the consumer that the pack in question has already been opened.

Claims (16)

1. Re-closable pouring element for cardboard/plastic composite packagings comprising a base (1) to be applied onto the packaging in the vicinity of an over-coated weakened zone, a lid (2) pivotably mounted at the end of the base (1), and an opening element (3), pivotably mounted on the lid (2), wherein restricted guidance elements (8A, 9A) are arranged between the base (1) and the opening element (3), characterized in that the opening element (3) is joined in an articulated manner at the end of a lever projecting downwards from the lid (2), so that the opening element (3) when the lid (2) is lifted up is firstly made to perform a linear movement forwards, which as a result of further restricted guidance elements arranged on the interior of the base (1) and/or on the opening element is converted into a downwards movement.
2. Pouring element according to Claim 1, characterized in that the restricted guidance elements have lateral guidance elements (8A) arranged on the interior of the base (1), which correspond with matching sliding elements (9A) of the opening element (3), and in that the further restricted guidance elements are formed as lateral guidance elements (8B), arranged diagonally on the base (1), which correspond with further matching sliding elements (9B) of the opening element (3).
3. Pouring element according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lever projecting from the lid (2) is formed as a bar (6).
4. Pouring element according to Claim 3, characterized in that the bar (6), when the lid (2) is closed, substantially extends as far as the contact plane of the flange (4).
5. Pouring element according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the opening element (3) has a peripheral cutting edge at least in the section, which leaves the plane of the lower surface of the pouring element.
6. Pouring element according to Claim 5, characterized in that the opening element (3) in the vicinity of the cutting edge has at least one tooth (10) for piercing the over-coating.
7. Pouring element according to any one of Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the guidance elements (8A, 8B) on the base (1) are configured as a crank guiding mechanism.
8. Pouring element according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lid (2) is joined to the base (1) by means of a film hinge (5).
9. Pouring element according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the opening element (3) is joined to the bar (6) by means of a film hinge (7).
10. Pouring element according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the opening element (3) before first-time opening and/or in the opened condition can be locked with the base (1).
11. Pouring element according to Claims 2 and 10, characterized in that the locking takes place by means of clamping cams (11), arranged on the interior of the base (1), cooperating with the sliding elements (9B) of the opening element (3).
12. Pouring element according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the lid (2) in the opened condition can be locked with the base (1).
13. Pouring element according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the lid (2) in the closed condition can be locked with the base (1).
14. Pouring element according to Claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the lid (2) in the closed condition is joined in a sealing manner to the base (1).
15. Pouring element according to any one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that an originality seal (12, 13), which is destroyed when the lid (2) is lifted up for the first time, is arranged between the base (1) and the lid (2).
16. Pouring element according to any one of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it is produced in a single piece.

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