EP3020648A1 - Closure for a drinking bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

Closure (1) for a drinking bottle (10), comprising a closure cap (4) for attaching the closure (1) to a drinking bottle (10), wherein the closure cap (4) has a through hole (3) and at least one ventilation opening (13) a seal (12) disposed in the closure cap (4), wherein either the seal (12) or the closure cap (4) has a web (5) over which seal (12) and closure cap (4) at least contacting in sections, wherein the seal (12) is formed so that upon reaching an excess or negative pressure in the bottle (10) and / or by axially displacing the seal (12) in the cap (4) at least that portion of the seal ( 12), which lies between the web (5) and the inner wall of the closure cap (4), lifts off the inner wall of the closure cap (4) and thus releases a gap for ventilating the drinking bottle (10) via the at least one ventilation opening (13).

Description

The invention relates to a closure for drinking bottles with the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a drinking bottle with the features of the preamble of claim 10.

Closures for drinking bottles are known in variety from the prior art. That's how it describes AT 509 897 a Handschraubverschluss for water bottles, the hand screw has a through hole in which a seal is detachably fastened, which can accommodate a drinking straw. In this document, two openings in the cap are described to prevent the occurrence of negative pressure during the drinking process in the bottle. For this purpose, ventilation slots are provided in a seal whose position must correspond to the screwed-in with the bottle state with the ventilation openings. For this purpose, the seal has a positioning device so that the ventilation slots in the seal when screwing the closure with the bottle with respect to the ventilation openings in the cap can be arranged in the correct position. Such vents are not optimal in terms of hygiene, as they can not be cleaned well.

It is an object of the invention to provide a comparison with the prior art improved closure and a bottle.

These objects are achieved by a closure with the features of claim 1 or by a drinking bottle with the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

Characterized in that either the seal or the closure cap has a web, over which the seal and cap touch at least in sections, wherein the seal is formed so that at Achieving an excess or negative pressure in the bottle and / or by axially displacing the seal in the cap at least that portion of the seal which lies between the web and the inner wall of the cap, lifts off from the inner wall of the cap and thus a gap for ventilation of the Drinking bottle releases over the at least one ventilation opening, an over or under pressure can be reduced in the bottle.

Through the shared gap so the interior of the bottle communicates with the environment via the at least one ventilation opening and thus again reaches the ambient pressure. The portion of the seal which lies between the web and the inner wall of the closure cap is that which is outwardly of the web, i. Direction circumference protruding part.

The particular advantage of the proposed solution over the prior art is that the venting without perforation of the seal manages. Thus, the disadvantages of ventilation slots in a seal described above are avoided.

It is preferably provided that the seal has a tilting point. By this is meant that the seal rests on the web so that under the action of an overpressure in the bottle of the sealing portion between the web and inner wall of the cap tilts against the direction of action of the overpressure.

Technically, this is realized in such a way that the membrane seal made of silicone, for example, has a prestressing and thus a so-called reset flex in the installed state. Restriction Flex means that the membrane has a tendency to return to the undeformed position.

By tilting the sealing portion between the web and inner wall of the cap is a gap between the seal and

Inner wall released. By the seal is formed so that it has a tipping point, the venting effect, ie the release of an overpressure from the bottle, not gradual but abruptly occurs only when a certain amount of overpressure. The setting of the tipping point is carried out by means of tests or simulation, wherein the essential factors are the stiffness of the seal and the lever distance of the seal on the seal distance between the web and inner wall of the cap. The sizes are chosen so that the tipping point is safely reached at a usually expected in a drinking bottle pressure.

Preferably, it can be provided that the seal with the web and the inner wall of the bottle forms a gap, wherein the gap is connected via at least one ventilation opening with the environment.

It is preferably provided that the seal is at least partially formed as a membrane-like portion. In other words, the seal is at least partially thin-walled and flat.

It can preferably be provided that the membrane-like section forms a circular sector extending over 360 ° or a circular ring extending over 360 °. By this is meant that the membrane-like portion extends over the entire circumference of the seal. Circle sector (circular section) is called a partial area of a circular area, which is bounded by a circular arc and two circle radii. A circular ring is the area between two concentric circles, d. H. the area between two circles with a common center.

Alternatively it can be provided that the membrane-like section forms a circular sector or a circular sector below 360 °. That is, the membrane-like portion may also extend only over a segment of a full circle, that is less than 360 °.

The web can be formed circumferentially. Alternatively, the web can also be formed interrupted.

The seal can be circumferentially closed or interrupted, so be formed in sectors.

The web can be formed on the seal or on the closure cap. In both cases, the web may be formed circumferentially or interrupted.

It is preferably provided that the web is formed in the region of the membrane-like section. This means in the case in which the web is part of the seal that the web is formed as a survey in the membranous portion.

In the case that the web forms part of the cap, it means that the web is formed at the level of the membrane-like portion.

Protection is also desired for a drinking bottle with a closure according to the invention and an arrangement of a drinking bottle with a drinking straw with a closure according to the invention.

Fig. 1

einen Querschnitt des Verschlusses in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 2

den Verschluss in einem Querschnitt mit Transportstopfen,

Fig. 3

den Verschluss in einem Querschnitt mit geschlossener Dichtung,

Fig. 4

den Verschluss in einem Querschnitt mit geöffneter Dichtung,

Fig. 5

eine Dichtung nach einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 6a-6c

verschiedene Ansichten einer Anordnung von Dichtung und Verschlusskappe,

Fig. 7a-7d

Details der Anordnung von Verschlusskappe und Dichtung,

Fig. 8

einen Trinkhalm und

Fig. 9

eine Trinkflasche.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. It shows or show:

Fig. 1

a cross section of the closure in a perspective view,

Fig. 2

the closure in a cross section with transport stopper,

Fig. 3

the closure in a cross section with closed seal,

Fig. 4

the closure in a cross-section with the seal open,

Fig. 5

a seal according to a further embodiment,

Fig. 6a-6c

different views of an arrangement of seal and cap,

Fig. 7a-7d

Details of the arrangement of cap and seal,

Fig. 8

a drinking straw and

Fig. 9

a drink bottle.

In FIG. 1 a first embodiment of closure 1 is shown as a section in a perspective view.

The seal 12 is made of a flexible material, such as rubber or silicone and seals the cap 4 against the through hole 3 of the cap 4 from. The seal 12 is partially membrane-like, so flat (in the membranous portion 14) is formed. The geometric shape of the membrane-like portion 14 is that of a circular ring which extends in this embodiment over 360 °, ie around the entire circumference of the seal 12. It is also conceivable forms of the membrane-like portion 14 deviating from the ideal shape of a circular ring.

Furthermore, the seal 12 has a substantially cylindrically shaped portion 7 which is inserted like a kind of plug in the through hole 3 of the cap. Thus, the seal 12 forms at the same time with the subsequently explained sealing function and the mouthpiece for drinking or a receptacle for a drinking straw. For the sake of simplicity, the section 7 is referred to as a cylindrical section and may, of course, deviate from an ideally cylindrical shape. The section 7 has a through opening and can therefore be considered as a hollow cylinder.

The seal 12 does not necessarily have to be integrally formed. Thus, the cylindrical portion 7 and the membranous portion 14 may be separately manufactured and subsequently connected parts.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the seal 12 rests on the inner wall 11 of the closure cap 4 over the entire circumference of the membrane-like section 14, that is, completely around it. The seal 12 nestles.

Unlike shown here, the membrane-like portion 14 could also be formed as a circle segment, ie, do not extend over 360 °, see the embodiment according to FIG. 5 ,

At the same time, the seal 12 is at least in sections on the web 5, which is formed as a projecting rib on the inner wall 11 of the cap 4. By the concerns of the seal 12 on the inner wall 11 of the cap 4 is inserted with the transport closure 8 (not shown here for clarity) a sealed with the closure 1 container (not shown) sealed.

The seal 12 is formed so that the inner wall of section 7 can serve for receiving a transport closure 8 (not shown) or a drinking straw 9 (also not shown). For this purpose, detents 6 are preferably formed on the inside of a passage formed in the cylindrical portion 7, which can securely fix a transport closure 8 or a drinking straw 9. In principle, other measures which are familiar to the person skilled in the art may also be considered to design section 7 in such a way that drinking straws of different diameters can be securely held. For example, the inner diameter of section 7 may be conically tapered downwards (direction of the inside of the cap).

As a particularly suitable measure has been found to run the inner diameter of section 7 of 7 millimeters outside (from where a drinking straw is introduced) to 5 millimeters (at the lower end of section 7). Then standard drinking straws are kept firm and leak-proof.

In its attachment situation in the cap 4, the seal 12 is inserted into the through hole 3 of the cap 4. The material of seal 12 is chosen to be sufficiently flexible, so that the portion 7 comprising the shoulder 17 can be pressed from the inside to the outside through the through hole 3 of the closure cap 4. The membrane-like portion 14 is pressed in the attachment situation at its periphery to the inner wall 11 of the cap 4.

To set the contact force required for a sealing effect of the membrane-like portion 14 is preformed in the unloaded state, preferably upwards bowl. Since the seal 12 rests in the installed state with shoulder 17 on the outside of the through hole 3, a tension of the membrane-like portion 14 relative to the inner wall 11, whereby the membrane-like portion 14 is pressed against the inner wall 11 at its periphery.

If the internal pressure of the vessel closed by the closure 1 rises, for example as a result of heating or if carbonized drinks leave the gas, the internal pressure of the vessel acts on the membrane-like section 14 of the seal 12.

The position of web 5 and membranartigem section 14 to each other is chosen so that the web 5 of the web 5 inwardly facing portion of section 14 is significantly larger than the projecting from the web 5 to the outside supernatant. Due to the larger engagement surface of the internal pressure on those of the web 5 inwardly facing part of section 14 of this section moves in the direction of through hole 3 upwards.

Due to the leverage effect acting as an abutment web 5 moves from the web 5 outwardly facing projecting projection of section 14 against the direction of action of the internal pressure down and lifts from the Inner wall 11 from. When exceeding a certain internal pressure so tilts between the web 5 and inner wall 11 projecting material portion and are so between the inner wall 11 and seal 12 a gap freely.

The movement of section 14 is made possible by a corresponding material compliance in the lower region of section 7 and / or by an axial displacement of the seal 12 in the through hole. It is therefore quite possible that the actuation of the seal takes place exclusively by deformation of section 14 and the adjoining regions of section 7. Likewise, the deformation of section 14 may be accompanied by an axial displacement of section 7.

The exact geometrical conditions can be derived by the person skilled in the art via material properties and determined by spraying tests. In the Figures 1-4 shown geometries represent conditions as they are suitable for commercial wide-necked bottles.

Through the ventilation opening 13, which lies in the cap 4 in a portion which is formed between the web 5 and the sealing surface 12 formed by the seal 12 to the inner wall, the gas can now escape and so the pressure in the container are reduced.

The web 5, a portion of the inner wall 11 and that portion of the seal 12 which lies between web 5 and inner wall 11, thus form a gap 16. The ventilation openings 13 connect the gap 16 with the environment. Due to the described tilting effect of the seal 12, the pressure compensation is particularly comfortable and elegant.

Another advantage of this embodiment over the prior art is that no correct installation of the seal 12 is required. By this is meant that the seal 12 can be used in any angular position.

The pressure equalization also works in the opposite way when the external pressure exceeds the internal pressure, as it can happen for example by cooling a bottle contents, by height changes or while drinking. Here, the ventilation is done by the external pressure pushes the supernatant of section 14 between the web 5 and inner wall 11 down. Even so, the seal 12 lifts off from the inner wall 11 and a pressure equalization can take place.

FIG. 2 shows a closure 1 in a cross section, wherein in the seal 12, a transport closure 8 is inserted. Good to see are the web 5, on which the seal 12 is supported and the gap formed with the inner wall 16th

Other solutions for closing a closed by means of closure 1 beverage container come into consideration. Mention may be made, for example, the possibility to put the closure 1 on a beverage container, which is closed with an original seal. An original seal is usually a thin polymer film that hygienically seals the contents of a disposable container. In this case, a drinking straw could be pushed through the closure 1 by the original seal.

The transport closure 8 is formed in the embodiment shown so that ventilation openings 13 are overlapped by the transport closure 8. For this purpose, a catch 15 is formed on the outer wall of the cap 4, in which the transport closure 8 can engage.

The closure 1 provides leakage protection in the event of tipping over of a bottle 10 and improved handling in the case of using the closure 1 with a drinking straw 9.

When used with a drinking straw 9, the seal 12 causes a negative pressure building up in the bottle 10 to be compensated by the effect of the seal 12 described at the outset relative to the ambient pressure.

It is also avoided by the inventive design of the closure 1, that can build up an overpressure in the bottle 10, which would have an undesirable leakage of liquid through the drinking straw 9 result. Also prevented by the inventive design of the closure 1 of a pressure differences deformation of the bottle 10th

FIG. 3 shows the closure 1 in a cross section with closed seal 12. Good to recognize again that the membrane-like portion 14 of the seal 12, the gap space 16 seals. As described above, an overpressure in the drinking bottle 10 (not shown) causes a deformation of the membrane-like portion 14 in such a way that it tilts up and releases the gap space 16 with respect to the drinking bottle 10. This can be done via the ventilation opening (s) 13, a pressure compensation. Conversely, a negative pressure in the drinking bottle 10 can also cause an opening of the gap 16 with respect to the drinking bottle 10.

FIG. 4 shows the closure 1 in a cross section with seal 12 in the open position. The membrane-like portion 14 of the seal 12 is lifted from the inner wall 11. The gap 16 is open with respect to the interior of the closure cap 4. It can be seen further that the cylindrical portion 7 of the seal 12 is displaced slightly axially in the through hole 3. In this embodiment, the opening of the seal 12, so the lifting of the membrane-like portion 14 of the inner wall 11, accompanied by a movement of the cylindrical portion.

The opening process can, as already explained, be effected by an overpressure in the bottle 10. Also, the seal 12 can be brought by pulling on the cylindrical portion 7 in an open position.

In a variant, not shown here, the cylindrical section 7 could at its outer diameter with notches or similar. be provided so that the seal 12 can be fixed by the user in an open position.

It is by no means compulsory for all variants of the closure 1 that the cylindrical section 7 moves in the through hole in order to open the seal. It may be due to weakening, i. by a particularly flexible design of the lower portion of section 7 also an already described tipping and thus opening the seal 12 can be ensured. By allowing such an upset area in Section 7, the opening of the seal 12 need not necessarily be visible from the outside.

FIG. 5 shows a seal 12 in a further embodiment.

Here, the membrane-like portion 14 of the seal 12 is formed only sectorally. The portion 14 thus does not extend over 360 ° of the seal 12. The seal 12 carries here a positioning device 18 in the form of a groove or depression. The positioning device 18 is used to guide the seal 12 in a cap 4 and for correct angular positioning of the seal 12. Because the membrane-like portion 14 as shown in this embodiment, is incomplete over the circumference, is the correct angle installation of the seal 12 in the cap 4 relevant. In the cap 4, the corresponding counterpart of the positioning device 18 may be provided. In this case, the counterpart would be a projection, for example a knob or a rib.

The membrane-like portion 14 may have a web 5 (not shown here), on the analogous to the web 5 of the previous embodiment (in which the web 5 was realized as part of the cap 4), the membrane-like portion 14 is in line contact with the cap 4. By the web 5 is the tilting effect already described allows. It is irrelevant whether the web 5 is formed on the cap 4 or on the seal 12.

For a particularly good sealing effect, a ridge 19 can be provided on the circumference of the membrane-like section 14 of the seal 12, through which the seal 12 then abuts defined on the inner wall 11 of the closure cap 4. Such a burr - it is sufficient a fine survey - is particularly favorable when the seal 12 has no or only a slight bias against the cap 4. The ridge 19 is by no means mandatory.

This embodiment is particularly suitable for closure caps 4 with a substantially flat lid surface, i. Caps, which have no dome shape. This form is common in commercial wide-mouth PET disposable bottles. With the closure 1 according to this embodiment, said bottles become practical sports beverage bottles.

FIGS. 6a to 6c show views of a cap 4 with the seal 12 according to the embodiment of FIG. 5 , Shown is the same arrangement in different representations.

FIG. 6a shows the cap 4 with the seal 12 with an inserted drinking straw 9 in a perspective view.

FIG. 6b can see the position of the membranous portion 14 by the view from below. The membranous portion 14 is located so that it covers the ventilation opening 13. The operating principle of the seal 12 is the same as explained for other embodiments.

In the view of FIG. 6c is a quadrant cut to facilitate detection of the mounting position of the seal 12.

FIGS. 7a to 7d show details of the arrangement of cap 4 with seal 12 according to embodiment of FIG. 5 ,

Figure 7a shows the top view of a cap 4 with seal 12 according to embodiment of FIG. 5 ,

FIG. 7b shows the same arrangement in a side view.

FIG. 7c shows the section along AA from Figure 7a , The membrane-like section 14 covers the ventilation opening 13. If now the seal 12 are pushed upwards or pulled, the membrane-like section 14 tips over and releases the ventilation opening 13.

FIG. 7d shows detail B FIG. 7c , The seal 12 is seated with shoulder 17 on the cap 4. The positioning device 18 can also be seen.

For all embodiments, the tilting effect is made possible by the web 5. It is irrelevant whether the web 5 is formed on the cap 4 or on the seal 12.

FIG. 8 shows a drinking straw 9, here the example of a Knicktrinkhalms.

FIG. 9 shows a drinking bottle 10. It is only the relevant in connection with the present application upper part of the bottle 10 is shown. The drinking bottle 10 is suitable to be closed with the closure 1. This can, as indicated in the figure, for example, via a thread.

The closure 1 according to the invention also causes leakage protection when using a drinking straw 9, for example when the drinking bottle 10 tips over. Particularly suitable straws with an inner diameter of less than about 8 millimeters. Then cause the capillary forces between liquid and straw that no liquid through the straw 9 from the bottle 10 runs to the outside. Through the liquid column in the drinking straw, a subsequent flow of air is prevented in the bottle 10, which would be necessary for leakage of liquid.

List of reference numbers used:

1

shutter

3

Through Hole

4

cap

5

web

6

notch

7

Cylindrical portion of the seal 12

8th

transport closure

9

drinking straw

10

Bottle

11

Inner wall of the cap 4

12

poetry

13

vent

14

Membrane-like section of the seal 12

15

notch

16

gap

17

Shoulder to seal 12

18

positioning

19

ridge

Claims (10)

Closure (1) for a drinking bottle (10), comprising - A closure cap (4) for fastening the closure (1) on a drinking bottle (10), wherein the closure cap (4) has a through hole (3) and at least one ventilation opening (13), a seal (12) which is arranged in the closure cap (4), characterized in that either the seal (12) or the closure cap (4) has a web (5) over which the seal (12) and closure cap (12) 4) at least in sections, wherein the seal (12) is formed so that upon reaching an overpressure or underpressure in the bottle (10) and / or by axially displacing the seal (12) in the closure cap (4) at least that portion the seal (12) which lies between the web (5) and the inner wall of the closure cap (4), lifts off from the inner wall of the closure cap (4) and thus a gap for ventilation of the drinking bottle (10) via the at least one ventilation opening (13 ) releases. Closure (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the seal (12) has a tilting point and so rests on the web (5), that upon development of an overpressure in the drinking bottle (10) has a sealing portion between the web (5) and an inner wall of the closure cap (4) tilts against the effective direction of the overpressure and thus releases the gap for ventilation of the drinking bottle (10) via at least one ventilation opening (13). Closure (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (12) forms a gap (16) with the web (5) and the inner wall (11) of the closure cap (4), wherein the gap space (16) via at least one ventilation opening (13) is connected to the environment. Closure (1) according to at least one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the seal (12) is formed at least in sections as a membrane-like portion (14). Closure (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the membrane-like portion (14) forms a circular sector extending over 360 ° or a circular ring extending over 360 °. Closure (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the membrane-like portion (14) forms a circular sector or a circular ring below 360 °. Closure (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the web (5) is formed circumferentially. Closure (1) according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the web (5) is interrupted. Drinking bottle (10) with a closure (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims. Arrangement with a drinking bottle (10), a drinking straw (9) and a closure (1) according to at least one of claims 1-8.

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