EP2240382B1 - Fillable closure device with triggering pushbutton - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a refillable closure which is releasable by means of a push-button such that the separately-filled small container accommodated inside the closure is thereby opened and emptied into the container with which the closure is fitted. Many drinks are already produced today by mixing a concentrate with water. Instead of distributing the finished mix, it would be much more efficient if the bottlers could only fill up with water on the spot, and the concentrate would only be added to the water in the bottle by the first opening of the bottle and then mixed with it.

A known solution for metering a separate liquid is a plastic metering closure and associated container neck for a container. It consists of a threaded cap, a separately fillable capsule which can be closed with a foil or closed after filling and an associated container neck. The capsule with its closing foil is held downwards inside the container neck. When attached to the container neck cap it protrudes into the interior of the container neck, and there is a piercing and cutting device at the bottom of the container neck, by means of which the closing foil at the bottom of the capsule when opening the first plastic Dosierverschlusses openable, so that the in the capsule contained substance falls into the container. The threaded cap is first moved counterclockwise - ie in the release direction - on the container neck down, whereby the film of the capsule is pressed over a piercing and cutting device and thus cut while the threaded cap on the container neck finds a stop. With further turning of the Threaded cap in the release direction takes this with the container neck, which in turn sits with a thread on the container neck, but which requires a larger torque to unscrew. So if the threaded cap is rotated further, it takes with it the container neck and the now lying empty capsule and the whole closure is unscrewed from the container neck. The elegance of this solution lies in the fact that it requires a single action, namely only a continuous unscrewing the threaded cap in the release direction. Everything will then be done automatically in order. The disadvantage of this solution, however, is that it is complex in design and execution, but left- and right-handed threads are needed, and the assembly of the closure is not without problems. The document US 6,003,728 A shows a fillable closure with an upwardly curved cap lid, which can be depressed. By pressing a plunger inside a separate container, which sits on top of a disc pressed down, and thereby the disc, which is first clicked with its edge at the lower edge of the container in a groove, pushed out of this detention down. However, this closure is not easy to fill, and it can not be performed oxygen-tight, because it is shot down only via a snap connection. Emptying does not work completely for bulk materials. Part of the bulk material remains on the discs. The document US2007 / 0170142 shows a fillable closure with a closed bottom of a film container. This film is cut open throughout by rotation of the cap, this rotation activating a knife which cuts the film along its outer edge. The mechanism for this cutting is complicated in design and consists of several parts, and the assembly of the closure is therefore correspondingly expensive.

The object of the present invention is to provide a refillable closure for a capsule to be filled separately, which is easier to manufacture and to assemble, bearing in mind that it can not be actuated by a single action. In addition, the closure should consist of a minimum number of components.

This object is achieved by a fillable closure with a push button for triggering with the features of claim 1. The present closure with separately fillable container consists solely of two components , namely, from neck and hinged thereto molded cap as a one-piece molded part. Down at the neck is a lancing and Cutting element formed. The second component is a separately fillable container which can be closed with a sealing film. This can therefore provide an oxygen barrier and filled regardless of time and location of nozzle and cap and stored. The installation of the filled container is very simple. It is simply inserted from above into the neck and then the cap is lowered and clicks on the neck. The depression by a button formed in cap lid is irreversible. Therefore, the closure also offers a tamper-evident warranty by immediately recognizing whether or not the push-button has already been pressed. By depressing the container mounted upside down in the closure, the sealing film is reliably cut open and, in a special embodiment, folded upwards.

In the figures, various variants of this fillable closure with push button are shown in several views. Based on these figures, the shutter will be described in detail and its function will be explained.

FIG. 1

Die einzelnen Teile eines befüllbaren Verschluss mit Druckknopf in auseinander genommenem Zustand auf einer gemeinsamen Achse dargestellt, mit aufzuprellender Verschlusskappe;

FIG. 2

Diesen Verschluss in einem Schnitt längs der Drehachse, in verschlossener Ausgangslage und inliegendem Behälter mit separater Substanz;

FIG. 3

Diesen Verschluss in einem Schnitt längs der Drehachse, nach Öffnen des inliegenden Behälters mit der separaten Substanz;

FIG. 4

Einen befüllbaren Verschluss mit scharnierend am Stuzten angelenkter Verschlusskappe in aufgeschwenktem Zustand, ohne den inliegenden gesonderten Behälter;

FIG. 5

Die Verschlusskappe mit der Drückerscheibe im Kappendeckel, und der unten angeformten Aufnahmehülse in einem Schnitt dargestellt;

FIG. 6

Die Verschlusskappe nach Figur 5 in vom Stutzen aufgeschwenktem Zustand und mit eingesetztem, gesondert befüllten Behälter, in einem Schnitt dargestellt;

FIG. 7

Den Moment des Öffnens des Verschlusses des eingesetzten folienverschlosssenen Behälter mit separater Substanz, bevor die Verschlusskappe vom Stutzen aufgeschwenkt wird;

FIG. 8

Einen befüllbaren Verschluss für eine Auslösung der Substanzzugabe durch das Durchdrücken eines Öffnungsorgans im Innern des Behälters;

FIG. 9

Den Kunststoff-Dosierverschluss nach Figur 8 von unten gesehen;

FIG. 10

Das zum Kunststoff-Dosierverschluss nach Figur 8 gehörige Stech- und Schneidorgan von unten gesehen;

FIG. 11

Den Kunststoff-Dosierverschluss nach Figur 8 beim Auslösen der SubstanzZugabe;

FIG. 12

Den Kunststoff-Dosierverschluss nach Figur 8 nach dem Entfernen der Verschlusskappe.

It shows:

FIG. 1

The individual parts of a fillable closure with push button in disassembled state shown on a common axis, with aufzuprellender cap;

FIG. 2

This closure in a section along the axis of rotation, in closed starting position and in-lying container with a separate substance;

FIG. 3

This closure in a section along the axis of rotation, after opening the in-container with the separate substance;

FIG. 4

A fillable closure with hinged on Stuzten hinged cap in the swung-open state, without the underlying separate container;

FIG. 5

The cap with the pusher disc in the cap lid, and the below-molded receiving sleeve shown in a section;

FIG. 6

The cap after FIG. 5 in swung-up condition from the nozzle and with inserted, separately filled container, shown in a section;

FIG. 7

The moment of opening the closure of the inserted foil-closed container with separate substance before the cap is opened by the nozzle;

FIG. 8th

A fillable closure for triggering the substance addition by pushing through an opening member in the interior of the container;

FIG. 9

The plastic dosing closure after FIG. 8 seen from below;

FIG. 10

The to the plastic dosing after FIG. 8 associated piercing and cutting member seen from below;

FIG. 11

The plastic dosing closure after FIG. 8 upon triggering of the substance addition;

FIG. 12

The plastic dosing closure after FIG. 8 after removing the cap.

In FIG. 1 you can see the individual parts of a fillable closure with snap in disassembled state. There is first the cap 1, which can be aufgeprellbar on the neck 3. The nozzle 3 is in turn on the container neck 4 of the container - here a bottle - screwed. In the nozzle 3, a separate small container 2 can be used, which contains a separate substance that should fall only when you first open the shutter in the underlying container or bottle. On top of the cap 1, a pusher disc 7 is present as a push button, which is enclosed by a deformable circular ring 9 all around and is connected via the same with the outer wall of the cap 1. The fillable container 2 is closed at the bottom with a sealing film and can be used as a whole in the interior of the nozzle 3. The nozzle 3 is screwed onto the container neck 4 of the bottle. On its outside, it has a flat point 10, in which ribs come to lie, on the inside the cap 1 are formed. When the cap 1 is bounced on the nozzle 3, these ribs cause a rotation against the nozzle 3. Thus, when the cap 1 is rotated vigorously, so she takes the nozzle 3, which is thereby unscrewed from the container neck 4. But before the entire closure is unscrewed in this way from the container neck 4, the substance from the separate small container 2 should first fall into the bottle. For this purpose, from the top first pressed on the pusher disc 7. To open this closure so it says: first on top of it - then turn.

The FIG. 2 shows the closure in a section along the axis of rotation, in locked starting position. As can be seen, the separately filled small container 2 is housed inside the nozzle 3. The pusher disc 7 is fed up on top of the small container 2 on the edge of the pusher disc 7 is connected via a defomierbaren area 12 with the outer wall of the cap 1. Down in the neck a piercing and cutting device 13 is arranged, which has upwardly projecting teeth 14.

The FIG. 3 shows the situation after depressing the pusher disc 7. The deformable region 12 around the pusher disc 7 was thereby pivoted downward and the pusher disc 7 pushed the container 2 in the nozzle 3 axially downwards, so that the sealing film 19 of the container 2 via the teeth 14th the lancing and cutting device 13 has been pushed and thereby ripped open. As a result, the substance dropped from the container 2 down into the bottle. Now it can be turned on the cap 1 in the release direction, and it will be unscrewed together with the nozzle 3 from the container neck 4.

The FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the fillable closure hinged over the hinge 16 hinged cap lid in the swung-open state of the closure lid, without the underlying separate container. At the bottom of the closure lid, a receiving sleeve 15 is integrally formed on the pusher disc 7 in the closure lid. This receiving sleeve 15 fits exactly over the upper part of the container to be used with the separate Zudosiersubstanz. In the interior of the nozzle 3 can be seen a holding element 5, which serves to hold the small container 2 to be used.

The FIG. 5 shows the variant in which the cap 1 after FIG. 4 hinged at the neck via a hinge 16. In the same way is on the bottom of the Drückerscheibe 7 a receiving sleeve 15 is formed. The receiving sleeve ensures in each case that when depressing the pusher disc it is moved exactly in the axial direction and no tilting occurs because the receiving sleeve 15 with the in-lying Container 2 in the nozzle 3 is forcibly axially guided. The receiving sleeve 15 thus stabilizes the pusher disc 7 during depression.

The FIG. 6 shows the cap after FIG. 5 in swung from the neck 3 state, shown in a section, with inserted foil-closed container 2 with a separate substance. The cap lid is connected via the hinge 16 with the nozzle. The container 2 with the separate substance lies inside the closure, with the sealing film 19 directed against the teeth 14 of the piercing and cutting device 13 out. In the cap lid a pusher disc 7 is again enclosed, which is enclosed and held all around by a bellows-like deformable edge 12. At the bottom of the pusher disc 7, the receiving sleeve 15 is formed, which comes to lie precisely on the upper portion of the container 2 when swiveling the cap lid and encloses it.

In FIG. 7 the depression of the pusher disc 7 is shown. The receiving sleeve 15 encloses the upper region of the small container 2 with the separate substance and ensures axial depression of the same via the piercing and cutting device 13. The bellows-shaped deformable portions 12 are stretched by the depression of the pusher disc 7.

In FIG. 8 another embodiment of a plastic dosing closure is shown. On the container neck 4, in turn, a threaded sleeve 3 is placed, the bottom forms a richly fitting into the interior of the container neck 4 smooth sleeve 31, with molded at its lower edge, projecting into the sleeve interior grille 32. At the top of the smooth sleeve 31, this forms a radially outwardly extending bridge 33, and at its outer edge a downwardly directed skirt 34, by means of which this threaded sleeve 3 is cheated on the container neck 4, so that the skirt 34 the container neck 4 outside sealingly. On the bridge 33 is a coaxially upwardly projecting sleeve 35 with external thread with rechtsläufigem thread. On this sleeve 35, a threaded cap 1 can be screwed clockwise from above. This threaded cap 1 has on its underside in the smooth sleeve 31 retractable nozzle 11, in the interior of a bottom open, closed with a film 6 capsule 2 is inserted with dome-shaped upward bulging soft elastic capsule bottom 27. The capsule 2 is inserted by a detent or clamp. The cap 1 also has a soft elastic, dome-shaped upwardly bulging cap base 30, so that by finger pressure from the outside on the cap base 30 by the deformation of a rigid piercing and cutting element 8 with pressure stem 37 in the capsule interior is pressed down, piercing and slicing the Locking film 6 of the capsule 2. The grille 32, which is integrally formed at the bottom of the smooth sleeve 31 of the threaded sleeve 3, thereby prevents the piercing and cutting element 8 falls into the container interior. The lancing and cutting element 8 hooks on a barb 36 on the grille 32 and is henceforth secured against falling out. Once in this way the contents of the capsule is emptied into the container, the cap 1, together with the nozzle 11 and the capsule 2 located therein, is unscrewed from the threaded sleeve 3 and the container is ready for pouring.

The FIG. 9 shows the cap 1 from below, with the star-shaped grille 32, while the FIG. 10 the piercing and cutting element 8 in a view from below shows. The central pressure stem 37 is connected in a star shape with the ring on which the lancing and incisors are formed. The FIG. 11 illustrates the use of the closure, namely the opening of the in-capsule 2 by depressing the dome-like curvature 30 in the center of the cap lid. The ring of the lancing and cutting element 8 hooks on the barb 36 on the grille. The FIG. 12 shows the situation after removing the cap 1 with the capsule 2 held therein, now deflated. The cut piece of film 6 protrudes downwards from the opened capsule 2 and the piercing and cutting element 8 is henceforth held on the grille 32.

Claims (4)

1. A fillable closure device with triggering pushbutton, comprising a connector (3) to be screwed or pressed onto a container neck (4), and a closure cap (1) that is associated with this connector (3) and can be pressed on, or swivelled downward about a hinge connection (16) onto the connector (3) and snapped onto the connector (3), wherein a separately fillable container (2) can be inserted into the connector (3) and is closed at the bottom using a sealing foil (19) that can be pierced or cut open, characterized in that the closure cap (1) consists of only two building elements, namely of a connector (3) with a piercing and cutting element (13) arranged on the its lower side, having teeths (14) that extend upwards, and a closure cap (1) as common single-piece injection molded part ond the one side, and a separately manufactured container (2) that is filled and sealed by a sealing foil (19) on the other side, whereby the closure cap (1) has a cap cover with an outer deformable annulus (12) that forms a pusher disc (7) which can be pressed downward non-reversably in the axial direction while deforming, and which on its lower side forms a reception hose (15) extending downwardly and which can be put over the containter (2) which is inserted upside down into the connector (3), and which is only movable in axial direction only and designed to work as guiding element for the container (2) so that by pressing down the cap cover, the upside down inserted container (2) with its sealing foil (19) directed downwardly and which container has been manufactured separately and is filled, can be pressed downwardly, so that while pressing the sealing foil (19) onto the piercing and cutting element (13), the same will be pierced and cut open.
2. The fillable closure device with triggering pushbutton according to claim 1, characterized in that the cap cover of the closure cap (1) forms a deformable, upwardly arched dome that can be pressed from above to form a downwardly arched dome, thereby pressing downward on the container (2) inserted in the connector (3), or on a stiff opening element (8) accommodated in the container (2), thereby piercing and cutting the sealing foil (19) of the container (2).
3. The fillable closure device with triggering pushbutton according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the closure cap (1) is a hinged cap that is integrally formed as a single piece on the connector (3) via a hinge (16), and that can be swivelled downward onto the connector (3) and snapped into place thereon using a snap-in mechanism.
4. The fillable closure device with triggering pushbutton according to on of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piercing and cutting element (13) comprises a lever that is swivelably connected on it and that extends in radial diection towards the connector (3) and whose power lever arm of force extends radially beyond the piercing and cutting element (13) and can be activated by the edge of the separately filled container (2) so that the load arm which does extend into the inner side of the piercing and cutting element (13) is swiveled upwards for folding the cut open sealing foil (19) upwardly.

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