EP2274212B1 - Closure for drink containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a beverage container with snap closure, with a substantially cylindrical neck with end-side opening and a closure cap.

Beverage containers with generic closures are known in different configurations. These are especially common as keg barrels. These are mostly beverage barrels made of metal and possibly with rubber sheath in different sizes. The barrels have at the upper end of a substantially cylindrical neck with a endseltigen opening. This opening is closed with a cap. This cap usually has a valve and a connection for a coupling element to a dispenser or the like. On. The valve is connected to a tube inside the barrel, which extends into the bottom of the barrel and over which the contents of the barrel are forced up to the valve when an overpressure is created inside the barrel.

For the connection of the cap with the neck a number of different systems are known. The WO 2007/064277 A1 shows, for example, an arrangement in which the cap engages over the outside of the neck and there allows a positive locking arrangement of circumferential grooves and corresponding collar locking the cap with the neck. Furthermore, the neck has a circumferential ring below the cap, which is necessary for the stabilization and handling of the barrel.

Other barrel closures are for example in the DE 101 38 365 A1 , of the EP 0 915 283 B1 or the DE 36 08 300 A1 known.

However, the known container closures have a number of disadvantages. In particular, they are costly and expensive, difficult to clean and must lift stiffeners in the Halsberelch for reasons of stability, in order to accommodate the sometimes high mechanical and in particular the pressure loads inside the barrel can.

In contrast, the invention is intended to enable a significant simplification of the closure design and thus, with constant or even increased stability of the neck arrangement, a simple and secure closure of the barrel allow.

The invention achieves this through a closure for beverage containers with the features of claim 1.

The inner locking collar interacts with the latching hooks located on the outer circumference of the substantially annular insertion shaft in such a way that, after insertion of the locking cap, the latching hook can be pushed over the locking collar by the tapered profiling and, after being pushed in, overlaps on the underside thereof, so that an encircling Locking of the latching hook with the insertion in the direction of the annular surface of the detent collar is formed and so a secure attitude of the cap is gewährlelstet. The profiling of the latching hook is tapered in the insertion direction, so that a simple insertion of the cap is possible. The dimensioning of the effective depths of the locking collar and the corresponding latching hook are designed so that a secure hold of the closure cap is ensured.

Thus, it is achieved that the complete, necessary for the attitude of the cap molding surface design is located inside the neck, which leaves the furthest possible design options for the outer neck area while maintaining at least constant or increased stability of the overall arrangement.

This container design according to the invention therefore offers a number of advantages over the known container designs. In particular, the outside of the container neck can take on a variety of configurations, depending on the desired application. It may, for example, be completely smooth, have a circumferential ring for compatibility with existing equipment or have a circumferential groove, so that a particularly compact, yet secure tangible container design arises. At the same time, the inner latching of the container with the closure cap enables a secure connection of the two elements, which reliably protects the contents of the container from environmental influences and has high pressure resistance and the like. Embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

It can be provided that the cap has a circumferential, the Having neck on the outside cross-supporting and / or guide ring.

This ring is designed so that it engages over the neck opening on the outside and so on the one hand allows accurate guidance of the cap during placement and on the other hand enables a power transmission from the internal insertion shaft on the cap top to the outside of the neck, so that improved stability and holding properties the cap arrangement arises.

It can be provided that a seal is provided on the opening-side annular surface of the detent collar.

An overhead circumferential sealing ring thus provides an advantageous way of sealing the beverage container against the environment, since the cap is pressed after placement against the seal and locked to the lower annular surface of the detent collar, so that a secure squeezing force acts on the seal and ensures a good sealing effect.

It can also be provided that a seal is provided on the outer surface of the insertion shaft.

By appropriate dimensioning of the individual parts, in particular of the sealing ring, a good sealing effect can be achieved by an intermediate seal between the inner surface of the detent collar and the outer surface of the Einsteckschaftes.

In an embodiment, it is provided that the neck has an outer circumferential support ring.

Such support rings, also called neck rings, are known in certain barrel or keg versions. There, however, they serve in particular to stabilize the overall arrangement. This is no longer necessary with the neck design according to the invention. Nevertheless, a corresponding ring may be provided on the outside, which then essentially serves the compatibility with existing filling or dispensing equipment and is no longer necessary for the actual stability and function of the container closure.

It can therefore also be provided that the neck has an outer circumferential holding and / or guide groove.

Such a groove also offers a possibility for automated beverage container handling. Even at such a groove, the container can be taken safely and transported by the required for bottling and the like. Equipment. Since, as stated, by the neck design according to the invention on the outside of any stability-enhancing measures are no longer necessary, a similar functionality can be achieved via the groove.

It can be advantageous that the neck has an inner circumferential support ring.

Above such a support ring, the overall arrangement can be further stabilized, in particular with respect to mechanical loads from the outside and against an overpressure in the interior.

It may be advantageous that the inside circumferential support ring is formed such that the latch hook jammed in deformation of the cap with the support ring.

In such a configuration, the support ring sits below the circumferential detent collar at a distance which is necessary for a safe entry and locking of the latching hook with the lower annular surface of the detent collar. Furthermore, the distance is selected so that in a deformation of the cap transmitted the corresponding bending through the insertion shaft so on the latching hook that this comes down with the support ring into contact and thus creates a Verklemmwirkung, which additionally increases the stability.

• Fig. 1 eine teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Verschlusses in einer ersten Ausgestaltung,
• Fig, 2 eine teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Verschlusses in einer zweiten Ausgestaltung:
• Fig. 3 eine teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Verschlusses in einer dritten Ausgestaltung,
• Fig. 4 eine teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Verschlusses in einer vierten Ausgestaltung sowie In
• Fig. 5 eine teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Verschlusses In einer fünften Ausgestaltung.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the drawings. These show in

• Fig. 1 a partially sectioned side view of a closure according to the invention in a first embodiment,
• Fig. 2 a partially sectioned side view of an inventive Closure in a second embodiment:
• Fig. 3 a partially sectioned side view of a closure according to the invention in a third embodiment,
• Fig. 4 a partially sectioned side view of a closure according to the invention in a fourth embodiment and In
• Fig. 5 a partially sectioned side view of a closure according to the invention In a fifth embodiment.

A beverage container generally designated 1 is In Fig. 1 shown in more detail. It has a substantially cylindrical neck 2, at the upper opening of a cap 3 is arranged. in which there is an opening for a take-off valve. The neck 2 has an inner peripheral locking collar 4. The closure cap 3 has an insertion shaft 5, at the end facing away from the cap 3, a circumferential latching hook 6 is arranged, which is profiled bevelled in the insertion direction, so that an easy insertion is possible. The latching hook 6 is designed so that it overlaps the plugging in the direction of insertion of the annular surface 7 of the locking collar 4 after insertion. On the opposite annular surface 8 of the locking collar 4, a ring seal 9 is arranged. In addition, an outside circumferential support ring 10 is provided for securely gripping the beverage container 1 with known systems at the neck.

Bel in Fig. 2 illustrated variant of the closure according to the invention, the container is analogous to in Fig. 1 designed version designed. The cap has in addition to the features as shown in the in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment, a support and / or guide ring 11 which engages over the neck opening on the outside and so can form a counter force against the inner running shaft 5 with locking hooks 6 and in addition plugging by a bevel at the end lying in the insertion further simplified.

Furthermore, a circumferential annular seal 12 is provided in addition to lying on the locking collar 4 ring seal 9 on the lying to the container neck surface of the shaft 5, which ensures a further improvement of the tightness.

At the in Fig. 3 provided embodiment, the design of the cap 3 is analogous to in Fig. 2 formed cap design. However, the neck 2 of the beverage container 1 has a circumferential holding and / or guide groove 13, which alternatively serves to allow the container 1 to be gripped and moved by machine at its neck 2.

An analogous design is at the in Fig. 4 chosen container variant, in which case the neck 2 is formed externally completely outside and thus has neither a support ring 10 nor a holding or guide groove 13. Otherwise, the design of both the cap 3 and the opening portion of the beverage container neck 2 is analogous to the embodiment described in the foregoing.

At the in Fig. 5 shown embodiment of the beverage container neck 2 according to the invention an inner circumferential support ring 14 is provided in addition to the embodiment described in the foregoing. This first stabilizes the neck opening mechanically. Furthermore, the distance between the support ring 14 and the opposite in the opening direction annular surface 7 of the residual collar 4 is selected such that the latching hook 6 engages in the formed between the support ring 14 and the annular surface 7 groove. The distance is further chosen so that in a deformation of the cap 3 is a jamming between the groove 6 and the support ring 14 in conjunction with the annular surface 7, which can significantly increase the stability of the overall arrangement in such skins.

In the FIG. 5 shown variant is further improved to the effect that the seal 15 is arranged between the lower end of the latching hook 6 and the support ring 14, that the annular space 16 which forms between the neck 2 and the latching hook 6, completely hermetically sealed. The bridging of the distance between the latching hook 6 and support ring 14 through the seal 15 has a further mechanical support of the cap 3 of the result, so that it can be constructed even flatter and filigree.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be modified in many ways without departing from the spirit; the scope is defined by the claims. Such are, for example, the designs of the neck just like the dimensioning of the individual components depends on the intended use and variable.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

beverage containers

2

neck

3

cap

4

Rest collar

5

male stem

6

latch hook

7

ring surface

8th

ring surface

9

poetry

10

support ring

11

guide ring

12

poetry

13

guide

14

support ring

15

poetry

16

annulus

Claims (8)

1. Drink container (1) of the keg barrel type with an unthreaded detent closure comprising an opening for an outlet valve, said detent closure having a closure cap (3) on a substantially cylindrical neck (2) of the drink container, said neck being provided with an end opening, characterised in that the neck (2) comprises an interior circumferential detent collar (4) and the closure cap (3) comprises an insertion shaft (5), having a peripheral detent groove (6) on the outer circumference thereof that corresponds to the detent collar (4) and is profiled in the insertion direction, wherein the detent groove (6) extends across the detent collar (4) on the ring surface (7) thereof located in the insertion direction.
2. Drink container according to claim 1, characterised in that the closure cap (3) comprises a circumferential support and/or guide ring (11) extending across the exterior of the neck (2).
3. Drink container according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the detent closure is provided with a seal (9) on the opening-end ring surface (8) of the detent collar.
4. Drink container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the detent closure is provided with a seal (12) on the exterior surface of the insertion shaft (5).
5. Drink container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the neck (2) comprises an exterior circumferential support ring (10).
6. Drink container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the neck (2) comprises an exterior circumferential retention and/or guide groove (13).
7. Drink container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the neck (2) comprises an interior circumferential support ring (14).
8. Drink container according to claim 7, characterised in that the interior circumferential support ring (14) is designed such that the detent groove (6) locks with the support ring (14) during deformations of the closure cap (3).

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