EP1847473B1 - Double-walled container and method for its manufacturing - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a double-walled container having an inner container and a collecting trough, in which the inner container is received, wherein the collecting trough is provided with a container lid. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a double-walled container. The inner container is used in particular for receiving fluid media such as fuel oil or diesel fuel.

From practice such double-walled containers are known in various embodiments. So double-walled containers are known in which the container lid is connected via a welded connection with the drip pan. Drip tray and container lid thus provide a liquid-tight housing. However, the production of these containers is associated with a relatively high production cost. In addition, the welded connection between the container lid and drip pan causes optical defects that must be laminated, for example by means of adhesive tapes. Out DE 201 22 400 U1 For example, a transport packaging for bottles with toxic contents is known, which has a container to which a closure cap is applied by means of a screw thread or a snap connection. - Furthermore, double-walled containers are known in which the container lid sits relatively loosely on the drip pan and is fixed only with the help of lid nuts in the region of a nozzle or other (fixations) fasteners of the inner container. The drip tray will then hold under the container lid at least 100% of the filling content of the tank in accordance with applicable regulations. However, this loose assembly of the container lid is associated with disadvantages. First, the connection between the container lid and sump does not ensure a satisfactory seal of the container against penetrating media such as water or Dirt. In addition, the double-walled container leaves a lot to be desired in terms of strength or stability.

In contrast, the invention is based on the technical problem of providing a double-walled container of inner tank and 100% of the filling volume sump tray of the type mentioned, in which a functionally reliable solid and against external media tight connection between the container lid and sump is realized and the strength in strength and optical Respects all requirements.

To solve this technical problem, the invention teaches a double-walled container with an inner container and a collecting trough, in which the inner container is received,
wherein the drip pan is provided with a container lid, wherein the container lid has an overlapping portion which engages over an edge portion at the upper edge of the drip tray,
wherein the overlapping portion and the edge portion are connected to each other via a latching connection, characterized in that the container lid has at least one opening, engages in the fixed state of the container lid, a neck of the inner container.

The reach-over portion runs over the entire circumference of the container lid and the edge portion overflows over the entire circumference of the sump. It is within the scope of the invention that the detent connection between the overlapping portion and the edge portion rotates over the entire container circumference. In other words, expediently both the latching elements and the complementary latching elements on the collecting trough or on the container lid over the entire container circumference. - That the container lid engages over the upper edge of the drip tray, means in the invention that a collecting tray on the outside überfassender container lid is provided.

According to a very preferred embodiment of the invention, the drip pan and / or the container lid made of plastic, suitably made of a thermoplastic material. Very preferably, both the Collecting pan and the container lid made of plastic, preferably made of a thermoplastic material. According to one embodiment, the inner container is made of plastic.

It is within the scope of the invention that the overlapping portion of the container lid and the edge portion of the drip pan are connected to each other without material connection (cohesive connection free). Over-grip portion and edge portion are in particular connected without welding connection.

It is also within the scope of the invention that in the region of the latching connection between the overlapping portion and the edge portion at least partially a positive connection between the overlapping portion and the edge portion is realized. The locking connection according to the invention is thus expediently a positive locking connection. It is recommended that the positive connection between the overlapping portion and edge portion rotates over the entire circumference of the container.

A very preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the edge portion of the collecting trough has at least one outwardly projecting bead as a locking element and / or positive-locking element. Preferably, the outwardly projecting bead of the collecting trough is both a latching element for realizing the latching connection according to the invention and a positive locking element for the realization of the positive locking connection. Conveniently, the outwardly projecting bead runs over the entire circumference of the drip pan. It is preferred that the bead extends over at least a quarter of the vertical height of the edge portion. Edge portion means the portion of the sump, which is covered or covered in the fixed state of the container lid of the over-grip portion of the container lid. Vertical height refers to the standing condition of the double-walled container with arranged at the top of the container lid.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the over-grip portion of the container lid also has an outwardly projecting bead, in which the bead of the edge portion engages or engages on the inside. It is within the scope of the invention that in this way a locking connection between the overlapping portion and edge portion is realized. Conveniently, the bead of the overlapping section runs over the entire circumference of the container lid, and preferably also the latching connection between the overlapping section and the rim section runs over the entire circumference of the container. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the bead of the overlapping portion is both complementary locking element and complementary positive-locking element. In the context of this embodiment of the invention, the outside of the bead on the edge portion is expediently at least partially positively against the inside of the bead on the grip portion. Thus, there is an at least partially positive engagement or engagement of the bead of the edge portion in the bead of the container lid instead. Appropriately, this at least partially positive fit runs over the entire circumference of the container. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a planar positive engagement of vertical planes or of substantially vertical planes of the two beads takes place here. Incidentally, the bead of the overlapping section expediently extends over at least a quarter, preferably over at least one third, of the vertical height of the overlapping section.

It is within the scope of the invention that the edge portion of the drip pan outside its bead has at least one flat outer portion, the form-fitting manner to a corresponding flat inner portion of the Abgriffsabschnittes applied. These positively abutting surfaces of the container lid and drip pan expediently run over the entire circumference of the container. They are preferably arranged above the beads at the upper edge of the collecting trough.

A very preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the container lid has a fixing tongue, which engages behind the bead of the edge portion in the fixed state of the container lid. Conveniently, the fixing tongue is circumferentially formed over the circumference of the container lid. It is within the scope of the invention that the fixation tongue is elastic. In this way, in the course of the production of the container, the container lid can be slipped on the collecting trough in a relatively simple manner. When the fixing tongue reaches the bead at the edge portion of the collecting trough, the fixing tongue is pressed outward due to the bead and then snaps or engages behind the fixation tongue behind this bead. The fixing tongue preferably forms the lower edge of the container lid.

According to the invention, the container lid has at least one opening through which a stub of the inner container engages in the fixed state of the container lid. According to a preferred embodiment, a plurality of such openings are provided in the container lid and each opening is associated with a neck of the inner container. It is recommended that a connection piece can be closed with a cap screwed onto the connection piece.

It is within the scope of the invention that the container lid is connected to the inner container in the region of a nozzle or in the region of the nozzle. This connection between the container lid and inner container comes in combination with the locking connection of the overlapping portion and edge section of particular importance. Preferably, in this attachment of the Container lid applied to the inner container a fixing sleeve on the nozzle, so that the container lid is fixed by clamping between fixing sleeve and inner container. According to a recommended embodiment variant, the fixing collar is a cover nut which is screwed onto an external thread of the socket. It is within the scope of the invention that this attachment of the container lid is carried out at a plurality of nozzles of the inner container.

Appropriately, carrying handles are molded into the side walls of the drip pan. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, both drip pan and container lid are colored. It is recommended that the container according to the invention is equipped with a leak indicator.

The invention also provides a method for producing a double-walled container. In this case, the inner container, the sump and the container lid are first prepared, wherein the container lid is configured with at least one opening, wherein then the inner container is disposed in the sump, then the container lid is fixed to the sump by the slipping over the container lid on the Drip pan a latching connection is made, and wherein in the fixed state of the container lid, a neck of the inner container engages through the opening of the container lid. It is within the scope of the invention that a bead in the overlapping portion of the container lid is slipped over a bead in the edge portion of the sump, and that in this way the locking connection between the container lid and sump is realized. According to one embodiment of the invention, the fixation of the container lid can take place in the warm state of the container lid. In this embodiment, therefore, the container lid, which preferably consists of thermoplastic material, in the warm state mounted so that the bead is slipped over the bead in the edge portion of the drip pan in the overlapping portion of the container lid. Due to the subsequent shrinkage of the container lid this is a particularly effective form fit produced.

A very particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that container lid and drip pan are manufactured as a plastic product or as a blown product of thermoplastic material in one operation, and that this plastic product is subsequently separated into container lid and drip tray. In this case, the container lid is expediently separated as the upper part of a hollow product manufactured as a plastic product, so that the lower part of this hollow body remains as a collecting trough. In the context of this embodiment of the method according to the invention can advantageously be used the same manufactured in a single operation plastic product for the production of at least two containers of a product family. Container of a product family means container with drip pans of the same base area. In this case, a first plastic product (hollow body) is separated into two parts, namely container lid and drip pan and results in a first high container of a product family with larger volume. A second plastic product (hollow body) is divided into three parts, wherein initially the upper part is separated as a container lid and wherein an upper portion is separated from the remaining part, so that the remaining lower part can be combined as a collecting tray with the separated container lid. This creates a second container with compared to the first container lesser height and smaller volume. In the same way, by separating a larger upper part from the remaining sump, a third container of even lower height or even lower volume can be produced and so on. The containers of different heights produced in this way have the same footprint and consequently belong to the same product family. It is within the scope of the invention that produced in one operation Plastic product (hollow body) distributed over its height has a corresponding number of circumferential over the container circumference beads, which form the corresponding bead on the edge portion of the remaining sump after the separation of the plastic product.

The invention is based on the finding that in the double-walled container according to the invention a very reliable and also relatively tight connection between the container lid and sump can be realized. The design of the connection between the container lid and sump as a positive locking connection also ensures that, for example, a thermal expansion of the inner container effective support by the aggregate of sump and container lid. This can avoid that the entire double-walled container expands and possibly pushes against adjacent containers. The locking connection according to the invention between the container lid and drip tray meets all requirements in terms of strength and stability. It should also be emphasized that the connection area in the optical aspect satisfies all requirements by the latching connection according to the invention. It should also be emphasized that the container according to the invention can be produced in a relatively simple and cost-effective manner.

• Fig. 1 eine Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen doppelwandigen Behälters,
• Fig. 2 einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus der Fig. 1,
• Fig. 3 einen weiteren vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus der Fig. 1,
• Fig. 4 den Gegenstand gemäß Fig. 1 in einer anderen Ausführungsform und
• Fig. 5 den Gegenstand nach Fig. 1 in einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment. In a schematic representation:

• Fig. 1 a view of a double-walled container according to the invention,
• Fig. 2 an enlarged section of the Fig. 1 .
• Fig. 3 another enlarged section of the Fig. 1 .
• Fig. 4 the object according to Fig. 1 in another embodiment and
• Fig. 5 the object after Fig. 1 in a further embodiment.

The figures show a double-walled container according to the invention with an inner container 1 and a collecting trough 2, in which the inner container 1 is accommodated. The drip pan 2 is provided with a container lid 3, which has an overlapping portion 4, which engages over an edge portion 5 at the upper edge of the drip pan 2. The grip portion 4 is thus the portion of the container lid 3, which engages over the collecting trough 2 or which lies over the edge portion 5 of the collecting trough 2. The edge portion 5 is accordingly the portion of the collecting trough 2, which is covered by the grip portion 4. Overgrip section 4 and edge section 5 thus have an identical vertical height h. Vertical height refers here to the erected state of the container according to the invention, which is shown in the figures.

According to the invention, the overlapping section 4 and the edge section 5 are connected to one another via a latching connection. It is within the scope of the invention that the overlapping section 4 and the edge section 5 are connected to each other without material connection (material connection connection free) and in particular without welded connection (weld connection).

It is also within the scope of the invention that in the region of the latching connection between the overlapping section 4 and the edge section 5, at least in regions, a positive connection between the overlapping section 4 and the edge section 5 is realized. In other words, a form-fitting Latch connection between the container lid 3 and drip tray 2 realized. This will be explained in more detail below.

Conveniently, the edge portion 5 of the drip pan 2 has an outwardly projecting bead 6 as a locking element and positive locking element. It is within the scope of the invention that this bead 6 rotates over the circumference of the collecting trough 2. The bead 6 preferably extends over at least a quarter, preferably at least over one third of the vertical height h of the edge section 5 (FIG. Fig. 2 ). Expediently, furthermore, the overlapping portion 4 of the container lid 3 also has an outwardly projecting bead 7 into which the bead 6 of the edge portion 5 engages. Also, the bead 7 expediently runs over the circumference of the container lid 3. By the interlocking beads 6, 7, the locking connection between the overlapping portion 4 and edge portion 5 is realized. It is within the scope of the invention that this locking connection rotates over the container circumference. Preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, the bead 7 is not only complementary detent element, but also complementary positive-locking element to the bead 6. In the exemplary embodiment, the outer side of the bead 6 is partially form-fitting manner on the inside of the bead 7 at ( Fig. 2 ). In this case, preferably and in the exemplary embodiment vertical surfaces 8, 9 of the beads 6, 7 form-fitting together. The bead 7 on the overlapping portion 4 expediently extends over at least a quarter, preferably over at least one third of the vertical height h of the overlap portion 4.

Preferably, and in the exemplary embodiment, the edge portion 5 of the drip pan 2 outside its bead 6 at least one flat outer portion 10 which rests positively against a flat inner portion 11 of the grip portion 4. Again, vertical surfaces 10, 11 form-fitting together. It is within the scope of the invention that this Positive fit between the sheet-like sections 10, 11 extends over the entire circumference of the container. It is also expedient if the positive connection between the vertical surfaces 8 and 9 extends over the entire circumference of the container.

According to a preferred embodiment and in the embodiment, the container lid 3 has a fixing tongue 12, which engages behind the bead 6 of the edge portion 5 in the fixed state of the container lid 3. It is within the scope of the invention that this fixing tongue 12 rotates over the container circumference. In the embodiment (see in particular Fig. 2 ), the fixing tongue 12 forms an edge of the bead 7 on the overlapping portion 4. The fixing tongue 12 also forms the lower edge of the container lid third

When applying the container lid 3 on the drip pan 2, the bead 7 of the overlap portion 4 with the fixing tongue 12 as it were slipped over the bead 6 of the edge portion 5. In this case, the elastically yielding fixing tongue 12 first slides over a mounting bevel 13 of the bead 6 and then over the vertical surface 8 of this bead 6 to finally the bead 6 in the end position or fixing position ( Fig. 2 ) behind.

In the exemplary embodiment, the container lid 3 four openings 14 through which in the fixed state of the container lid 3 each a nozzle 15 of the inner container 1 engages. On each nozzle 15, a cap 16 is screwed. In the area of each nozzle 15, the container lid 3 is connected to the inner container 1 or fixed to the inner container 1. Fig. 3 shows that each one designed as a lid nut 17 Fixierungsmanschette can be screwed onto a nozzle 15, so that the container lid 3 is fixed as it is clamping. In the embodiment according to Fig. 3 is between the container lid 3 and inner container 1 is still a sealing ring 18 is provided. Of the Container lid 3 is thus fixed with the lid nuts 17 to the nozzle 15 and the inner container 1.

In Fig. 1 an embodiment of the container according to the invention is shown, which has a relatively large volume. This volume may be 1000 I in the embodiment. The 4 and 5 show embodiments of the container according to the invention, which have the same footprint as the container in Fig. 1 , However, these containers have a lower height and thus a smaller volume than the container in Fig. 1 , The product family of containers in the Fig. 1 . 4 and 5 can be realized in an advantageous manner that for all containers of this product family initially only a plastic product (hollow body) must be made, which is approximately the size of the container in Fig. 1 Has. By appropriate separation of the upper regions above the bead 6 'or above the bead 6 "can then the drip pans 2 for the container after the 4 and 5 to be obtained. In all variants according to the Fig. 1 . 4 and 5 is then the container lid 3 with its bead 7 over the corresponding bead 6, 6 'and 6 "inverted.

Claims (9)

1. A double-walled container comprising an inner container (1) and a collecting tray (2) which accommodates the inner container (1), wherein the collecting tray (2) is provided with a container cover (3), wherein the container cover (3) has an overlap section (4) which overlaps an edge section (5) at the upper edge of the collecting tray (2), wherein the overlap section (4, 5) and the edge section (5) are interconnected by means of a locking connection, characterised in that the container cover (3) has at least one opening (1A.), through which a connecting piece (15) of the inner container (1) engages in the fixed state of the container cover (3).
2. The double-walled container according to claim 1, wherein the overlap section (4) and edge section (5) are interconnected in a manner free from flush connection, in particular free from welded connection.
3. The double-walled container according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein in the area of the locking connection between overlap section (4) and edge section (5) at least in sections, a positive connection is implemented between overlap section (4) and edge section (5).
4. The double-walled container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the edge section (5) of the collecting tray (2) has at least one outwardly projecting protuberance (6) as locking element and/or positive connecting element.
5. The double-walled container according to claim 4, wherein the overlap section (4) of the container cover (3) has an outwardly projecting protuberance (7) in which the protuberance (6) of the edge section (5) engages.
6. The double-walled container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the container cover (3) has a fixing tongue (12) which grips behind a protuberance (6) of the edge section (5) in the fixed state of the container cover (3).
7. The double-walled container according to claim 6, wherein the container cover (3) is connected to the inner container (1) in the area of a connecting piece (15).
8. A method for manufacturing a double-walled container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein firstly, the inner container (1), the collecting tray (2) and the container cover (3) are produced, wherein the container cover is configured with at least one opening, wherein the inner container (1) is then arranged in the collecting tray (2), wherein the container cover (3) is then fixed on the collecting tray (2), whereby a locking connection is produced by pulling the container cover (3) onto the collecting tray (2), and wherein in the fixed state of the container cover, a connecting piece of the inner container engages through the opening of the container cover.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein collecting tray (2) and container cover (3) are fabricated as a plastic product in one process step and wherein the plastic product is then separated into collecting tray and container cover.

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