EP3353082B1 - Container - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container with at least one connection opening and at least one connection part, grooves and locking elements being provided as interacting connecting elements for connecting the container and the connection part, wherein in the connected state in each case one locking element in a receiving section running essentially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container a groove is arranged.

Containers of the aforementioned type are already known in principle from the prior art, in which, for example, a closure cap can be fastened either by means of a longitudinal movement applied in the axial direction of the container by means of a snap connection or alternatively via a bayonet connection. So is especially in the WO 94/13547 A1 such a container closure is known. It should be noted, however, that depending on the type of connection to be used to establish a connection, the orientation of the container neck relative to the closure cap must be selected accordingly, i.e. for the connection via the bayonet lock, it is necessary to align the connecting elements to be inserted into the bayonet bracket with the to align in the longitudinal direction of the container end portion of the bayonet bracket. On the other hand, it is necessary for the snap connection that the latching lugs are not arranged in the area of the longitudinal groove of the bayonet catch or in a stop area between the longitudinal groove and the transverse fastening section of an adjacent bayonet bracket, since a snap connection is not possible in this area.

Furthermore, from the US 2012/0261378 A1 a closure system of a container with a lid is known. Here, an annular collar of the container has two opposite primary anchors and two secondary anchors, each offset by 90 °. The primary anchors are constructed in the manner of a bayonet lock with a vertical section and a horizontal section. Parallel to the vertical section, adjacent to an inclined end piece of the horizontal section, there is a securing projection which is flatter than is the two sections. As a result, a plug-in / rotary movement is absolutely necessary to close the bayonet lock.

From the EP 2 368 809 A1 are also known containers which have inwardly extending flanges in the cap, which can be snapped onto corresponding flanges projecting outward from the container. However, a snap connection is not possible if the flanges of the cap are arranged exactly in the spaces between the flanges of the container. In this position, the cap can only be attached to the container by twisting - in accordance with the closing of the bayonet catch.

From the US 4,383,619 A a medication container with an elastic inner cover and an outer cover is also known, projections provided in the outer cover in the closed state engaging with notches provided on the container in the manner of a bayonet catch. To open the outer cover, the collar provided in the outer cover must be pressed against the inner cover and deformed in order to be able to turn the projections out of the notches.

In connection with baby bottles is particularly from the WO 2005/041851 A a baby bottle is known, which is open in an upper and lower end region, the lower container opening for receiving a bottom cap for the purpose of forming a bottom valve and the upper container opening for attaching a teat are provided in a conventional manner with the aid of a cap. This baby bottle basically works perfectly, whereby conventional threaded connections are provided here both for attaching the cap and for attaching the bottom cap. Accordingly, both hands are required to establish the connection, ie the mother must hold the bottle jacket on the one hand and then rotate the base or union cap relative to the bottle jacket.

From the US 2005/0258123 A1 a bottle teat with an inner groove 38 is also known, which has a corresponding circumferential Web of the bottle can be fastened in a snap connection. An inwardly projecting lip is also provided below the snap groove. Also from the DE 20 2012 100 829 U1 a bottle teat with an inner lip is known.

From the EP 1779 833 A1 a bottle teat is known, which has receiving openings for connection to a cap on an upper side of the flange. A container according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from the EP0208390 known.

The aim of the present invention is therefore to create a container of the type mentioned, in which in particular the fastening process of a connecting part, in particular a base or union cap, is simplified, in particular one-hand operation is possible.

According to the invention, the aim is achieved by a container with the features according to the invention according to claim 1.

Accordingly, according to the invention, the container and the connection part have overrun elements with run-up surfaces which run obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the container and which cooperate by means of rotary movement between the container and the connection part in such a way that the latching elements can be moved out of the receiving section of the respective groove and in a rotated position the latching connection between the container and connector is detached from each other.

Accordingly, a container is provided according to the invention in which a connecting part can be achieved essentially by means of a snap or snap connection by bringing the connecting part and the container together in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the container. It is therefore possible to connect the container and the connecting part using one-hand operation. In order to release the connector from the container, however, a rotary movement is required, so that with the aid of cooperating contact surfaces, the latching elements are released from their locked position in the respective groove and the container and connector can thus be separated from one another.

In order to ensure that a snap connection can be achieved regardless of the rotational alignment between the container and the connecting part, i.e. there is no need for a special rotational alignment of the two parts with respect to one another in order to be able to establish a connection via the snap connection, it is advantageous if in a section between adjacent ones Grooves or in an end section of the grooves a merging of the connecting part and the container in the direction of the longitudinal axis is prevented, so that when the connecting part and the container are brought together in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the container, the connecting part and the container are rotated relative to one another.

If a connection of the connection part and the container in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the container would be possible in a section between adjacent grooves or in an open end section of the groove (if there is a groove in the manner of a bayonet lock), only one movement in the longitudinal direction would be possible in the case of one-hand operation take place without effectively connecting the container and the connecting part. In order to avoid this, in the case of a corresponding alignment of the latching elements with respect to the grooves via the guide element, rotation of the connecting part in the longitudinal direction causes rotation, so that the latching elements of the connecting part in the longitudinal direction above or below the one running essentially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the container Receiving section of the groove come to rest before the container and the connecting part are then reliably connected to one another by means of a snap connection.

With regard to a structurally simple configuration, in which no additional measures have to be taken on the container side in order to prevent the container and connecting part from being brought together in the longitudinal direction of the container, i.e. in the manner of a plug-in connection, no reliable snap-in connection is achieved, it is advantageous if the overrun element of the connection part interacts with the guide element of the container when the connection part and container are brought together in the direction of the longitudinal axis in alignment with one another in such a way that rotation of the connection part and container to each other is effected.

In order to reliably achieve a rotation of the container and the attachment part, provided that the guide element becomes active when the container and the connecting part are brought together, it is advantageous if the guide element has at least one guide flank that runs obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the container.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if contact surfaces of the latching elements and / or the grooves have undercuts, at least in sections. Such undercuts can preferably form an angle of approximately 5 ° -15 ° with respect to a right angle to the surfaces from which the latching elements protrude or the grooves protrude, so that an unwanted loosening of the Snap connection is reliably prevented even with larger tensile forces acting in the longitudinal axis of the container.

If the grooves have a ramp-shaped end section connecting the receiving section of the respective groove with a ramp-shaped end section connecting the remaining outer surface of the container in the mouth region, the latching elements can come to rest in the flat section between adjacent grooves, so that the latching connection is thus released and the connecting part and container can be separated from one another in a simple manner.

With regard to a structurally simple design, with which a reliable connection between the connecting part and the container is guaranteed at the same time, it is advantageous if the latching elements are spring-mounted.

In order to enable sufficient deformability of the locking elements and at the same time to reliably establish a connection to the container via the locking elements in the snapped position, it is advantageous if the grooves are arranged on the outside of a cylindrical outer surface of the container and the locking elements on the inside of Wall sections of the connecting part are arranged, the connecting lines of which, in their relaxed position, have a course deviating from a circular shape, the wall sections being elastically deformable in such a way that the latching elements can each be snapped over the web. The course of the wall sections carrying the latching elements deviating from a circular shape, in particular an approximately polygonal course corresponding to the number of latching elements, preferably an approximately square course, can ensure in this case that the wall sections carrying the latching elements essentially conform to the circular shape during assembly of the container carrying the grooves. The latching elements can then snap into the respective groove, the wall sections then being tensioned in the snap-in position, so that a reliable connection between the attachment part and the container is ensured.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, the cooperating connecting elements have grooves in the manner of a bayonet catch, the catch elements being able to be snapped into the closed position essentially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the container via a web adjoining the respective groove and being removable from the respective groove via an opening are. In this embodiment, an end section of the groove, which is designed in the manner of a bayonet lock, preferably has a run-up surface, so that when the attachment part and the container are rotated, the latching elements are moved in the direction of an opening of the respective groove.

In order to enable the user to connect the connecting part and the container in the usual manner by means of a rotary movement, it is advantageous if the cooperating connecting elements can be connected to one another as an alternative to a snap connection by means of a plug / rotary movement, the latching element in each case via the opening in the Receiving section of the respective groove is insertable. If both hands are thus available to the user, according to one embodiment, in the usual way - similar to known thread connections - by inserting the locking elements into the respective groove of the bayonet lock, i.e. First, a reliable connection between the container and the connecting part is likewise produced in the end section causing a displacement in the longitudinal direction and then a rotation in the direction of the essentially pocket-shaped receiving section. The connection between the container and the connecting part can be released in a simple manner in a manner known per se by turning and then displacing essentially in the longitudinal direction out of the groove of the bayonet catch. A coupling cap of a baby bottle as well as a bottom cap of a baby bottle are particularly suitable as connecting parts.

On the other hand, as an alternative to the possibility mentioned above, it may also be desirable to offer only a single closure variant, ie that via a snap connection. In this case, it is advantageous if the opening in each case has a stop preventing the insertion of a latching element. To release the connection between the connecting part and the container, a rotary movement and a removal of the latching elements via the respective opening in the groove is also required in this variant.

If the guide element has a tip, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the container, which is preferably rounded, to which guide flanks are connected on both sides, one guide flank opening in the web adjacent to the groove and the other guide flank ending adjacent to an opening reliably ensures that the connection part and the container are aligned with respect to one another in such a way that a snap connection takes place reliably in the longitudinal direction when the connection part is plugged on. In other words, this means that insertion into the end section of the bayonet groove is reliably prevented in the case of one-hand operation, i.e. during a movement essentially in the longitudinal direction of the container, via which no effective connection between the connecting part and the container would be established.

Accordingly, in one exemplary embodiment the guide element preferably has a substantially triangular shape, so that - if a latching element is brought to the container in the longitudinal direction - the latching element may come into contact with the tip and thus a stable support is not achieved, so that a twisting of the Connection part relative to the container along an obliquely arranged guide flank is reliably reached.

In order to particularly reliably avoid a blockage when the connecting part and the container are brought together in the longitudinal direction of the container, it is furthermore advantageous if the latching elements have a substantially triangular shape with a preferably rounded tip, which when the connecting part is brought up to the container with a corresponding rotational orientation hits the tip of the respective guide element. The likewise triangular-shaped latching element significantly reduces the probability that a tip of the latching element meets a tip of the guide element compared to larger-area configurations. In addition, both tips of the respective guide and latching elements therefore do not have a stable contact surface, so that rotation of the container and connection element is reliably ensured away from the opening formed in the longitudinal direction.

Advantageously, starting from the opening, each groove has an end section which extends in such a way that a locking element received therein is guided obliquely to an orthogonal plane on the longitudinal axis of the container, and which opens into the receiving section, which on one side of the preferably along an orthogonal plane is limited to the longitudinal axis of the container web. With the aid of such an inclined end section, the closing process is simplified for the user, since only a fitting and then a rotary movement, as is customary for the user, in particular of baby bottles with conventional threaded connections, are required in order to reliably establish an effective connection between the container and the connecting part achieve.

Advantageously, the risk of pseudo attachment, i.e. a connection between the container and the connecting part, which gives the user the impression that the two parts have been successfully connected to one another, but in reality there is only a loose connection, in that the web delimiting the groove adjoins the opening of an adjacent groove Section on the side from which the connecting part is brought to the container for connection, has a recess. With the aid of the recess, the groove of the bayonet catch thus has a type of receiving pocket in the area of the opening, so that, if a locking element comes to rest in this area, rotation in the opening is prevented. By further applying a force in the longitudinal direction of the container, there is then a latching.

In order to secure the locking elements against unscrewing in the receiving section of the groove, it is advantageous if in the transition area between the end and receiving section of the groove there is provided a securing web extending transversely to the longitudinal extent of the groove. This means that an increased torque must be applied to overcome the securing web. At the same time by overcoming the safety bridge, the user can clearly see that the connection has now been released.

If a bottle body is provided as a container and a cap for fastening a bottle teat is provided as a connecting part, an effective connection can be established between these parts in a reliable and simple manner by means of one-hand operation. Since users of baby bottles in particular often have only one hand at their disposal, the embodiment according to the invention is therefore of great practical use, in particular in connection with baby bottles.

The result of this is that the possibility of establishing a connection in connection with baby bottles by means of one-hand operation is particularly advantageous both for fastening the bottle teat and for a bottom valve. If the bottle body therefore has two connection openings opposite one another, a connection part designed as a base cap with an air inlet valve can be attached to an upper connection opening of the bottle teat and to a connection opening on the bottom.

In order to ensure that a teat is held reliably over the snap or bayonet connection between the cap and bottle body and consequently there is no risk that the bottle teat is pulled out of the connection unintentionally, it is advantageous if the cap is in an annular lid section an underside facing the container in the assembled position has at least one projecting web, preferably divided into four sections. With the aid of such projecting web sections, a bottle teat which has at least one projection engaging behind the projecting web sections can thus be reliably secured in the manner of a positive connection.

The invention further relates to a bottle teat with a container according to the invention, the bottle teat in an end section opposite a suction opening, a cylindrical section with a slightly larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the container adjacent to the connection opening, which has an inwardly projecting sealing lip at the end. Such a projecting sealing lip reliably achieves a seal between the bottle body and the teat, the sealing lip being designed in such a way that the sealing effect increases with higher pressure differences between the inside of the bottle and the surroundings. In addition, in the flange-shaped end section opposite the suction opening, the bottle teat has a groove-shaped depression on the top side facing the suction opening, which recess corresponds to an edge of the upper connection opening of the container. Thus, the groove-shaped area can easily yield resiliently while the connection part is being snapped onto the container and tries to return to its relaxed starting position. With the aid of this resilient restoring force, the connection part together with the latching element is thus advantageously pressed upward into the preferably undercut contact surfaces of the web, so that the connection part and the container are connected to one another essentially without play. The groove-shaped area can be generated either by a material taper or a material deformation with an essentially constant wall thickness.

Furthermore, it is advantageous for the bottle teat to interact with a cap according to the invention if the cylindrical section has a circumferential, preferably ring-shaped web which projects upwards in the direction of the suction opening. Such an annular web therefore interacts positively with a projecting circumferential web or web sections of the cap, so that even with comparatively small axial (contact) forces between the cap and bottle body, the bottle teat is reliably held between the bottle body and cap.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to an insert part with a container according to the invention, the insert part in an outer end section having a cylindrical section with a slightly larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of the container adjacent to the bottom-side connection opening, the cylindrical section having an inward end projecting sealing lip. As a result, as in connection with the bottle suction device described above, a seal is achieved between the insert part of the bottom valve and the bottle body, which, the higher the pressure difference between the inside of the bottle body and the surroundings, exerts an increased sealing effect. Such sealing lips are fundamentally well known from sealing connections, such as are used, for example, in washing machine hatches.

The insert part also has a groove-shaped depression in a bottom-side flange-shaped end section on the underside, which in use faces a connection part, and preferably runs corresponding to an edge of a lower connection opening of the container, so that the groove-shaped area can be easily pushed onto the connection part while it is being snapped on Give up the container resiliently and try to return to its relaxed starting position. With the aid of this resilient restoring force, the container together with the preferably undercut contact surfaces of the webs is pressed upward, so that the connecting part and the container are connected to one another essentially without play. Here, too, the groove-shaped region can be produced either through a material taper or a material deformation with an essentially constant wall thickness.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments, to which, however, it should not be restricted.

• Fig. 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Behälters in Form einer Babyflasche,
• Fig. 1a eine Schnittansicht gemäß der Linie Ia-Ia in Fig. 1,
• Fig. 2 eine Ansicht des als Behälter vorgesehenen Flaschenmantels der Babyflasche gemäß Fig. 1,
• Fig. 2a eine Schnittansicht gemäß der Linie IIa-IIa in Fig. 2,
• Fig. 3 eine perspektivische Ansicht des Flaschenmantels von unten gemäß Fig. 2a,
• Fig. 4 eine Draufsicht auf einen unteren Anschlussteil,
• Fig. 5 eine Schnittansicht gemäß der Linie V-V in Fig. 4,
• Fig. 6 eine perspektivische Ansicht des unteren Anschlussteils gemäß Fig. 4 von oben,
• Fig. 7 eine perspektivische Ansicht des unteren Anschlussteils gemäß Fig. 4 von unten,
• Fig. 8 eine Ansicht eines oberen Anschlussteils von unten,
• Fig. 8a eine Schnittansicht gemäß der Linie VIIIa-VIIIa in Fig. 8,
• Fig. 9 eine perspektivische Ansicht des oberen Anschlussteils gemäß Fig. 8 von oben,
• Fig. 10 eine perspektivische Ansicht des oberen Anschlussteils gemäß Fig. 8 von unten,
• Fig. 11 eine Ansicht eines alternativen Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Behälters in Form einer Babyflasche,
• Fig. 12 eine Schnittansicht gemäß der Linie XII-XII in Figur 11,
• Fig. 13 eine vergrößerte Schnittansicht gemäß Fig. 12 im Bereich einer oberen Flaschenbehälteröffnung,
• Fig. 14 eine vergrößerte Schnittansicht gemäß Fig. 12 im Bereich einer unteren Flaschenöffnung,
• Fig. 15 eine Ansicht eines Flaschenkörpers mit einer oberen und unteren Behälteröffnung,
• Fig. 16 eine perspektivische Ansicht des Flaschenkörpers gemäß Fig. 15,
• Fig. 17 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Flaschensaugers,
• Fig. 18 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Einlegeteils eines Bodenventils,
• Fig. 19 eine Draufsicht auf eine als Anschlussteil vorgesehene untere Bodenkappe,
• Fig. 20 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Bodenkappe gemäß Fig. 19,
• Fig. 21 eine Draufsicht von unten auf eine als Anschlussteil vorgesehene, obere Überwurfkappe,
• Fig. 22 eine perspektivische Ansicht der Überwurfkappe gemäß Fig. 21 von oben,
• Fig. 23 eine perspektivische Ansicht auf die Unterseite der Überwurfkappe gemäß Fig. 21,
• Fig. 24 eine Ansicht eines alternativen Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Behälters,
• Fig. 25 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Überwurfkappe des Ausführungsbeispiels gemäß Fig. 14,
• Fig. 26 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Bodenkappe des Ausführungsbeispiels gemäß Fig. 14, und
• Fig. 27 eine Ansicht eines alternativen Ausführungsbeispiels.

The drawings show in detail:

• Fig. 1 2 shows a perspective view of a container according to the invention in the form of a baby bottle,
• Fig. 1a a sectional view along the line Ia-Ia in Fig. 1 ,
• Fig. 2 a view of the bottle shell provided as a container of the baby bottle according to Fig. 1 ,
• Fig. 2a a sectional view along the line IIa-IIa in Fig. 2 ,
• Fig. 3 a perspective view of the bottle shell from below according Fig. 2a ,
• Fig. 4 a plan view of a lower connecting part,
• Fig. 5 a sectional view along the line VV in Fig. 4 ,
• Fig. 6 a perspective view of the lower connector according to Fig. 4 from above,
• Fig. 7 a perspective view of the lower connector according to Fig. 4 from underneath,
• Fig. 8 a view of an upper connector from below,
• Fig. 8a a sectional view along the line VIIIa-VIIIa in Fig. 8 ,
• Fig. 9 a perspective view of the upper connector according to Fig. 8 from above,
• Fig. 10 a perspective view of the upper connector according to Fig. 8 from underneath,
• Fig. 11 2 shows a view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a container according to the invention in the form of a baby bottle,
• Fig. 12 a sectional view along the line XII-XII in Figure 11 ,
• Fig. 13 an enlarged sectional view according to Fig. 12 in the area of an upper bottle container opening,
• Fig. 14 an enlarged sectional view according to Fig. 12 in the area of a lower bottle opening,
• Fig. 15 a view of a bottle body with an upper and lower container opening,
• Fig. 16 a perspective view of the bottle body according to Fig. 15 ,
• Fig. 17 a perspective view of a bottle teat,
• Fig. 18 1 shows a perspective view of an insert part of a bottom valve,
• Fig. 19 2 shows a plan view of a lower base cap provided as a connecting part,
• Fig. 20 a perspective view of the bottom cap according Fig. 19 ,
• Fig. 21 3 shows a plan view from below of an upper cap provided as a connecting part,
• Fig. 22 a perspective view of the cap according to Fig. 21 from above,
• Fig. 23 a perspective view of the underside of the cap according to Fig. 21 ,
• Fig. 24 2 shows a view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a container according to the invention,
• Fig. 25 a perspective view of a cap of the embodiment according to Fig. 14 ,
• Fig. 26 a perspective view of a bottom cap of the embodiment according to Fig. 14 , and
• Fig. 27 a view of an alternative embodiment.

In Fig. 1 shows a container 1 according to the invention with a jacket-shaped bottle body 2, which - as in Fig. 1a can be seen - has an upper container opening 3 and a lower container opening 4. A bottle teat 5 is attached to the upper container opening 3 with the aid of a cap 6 designed as a connecting part. At the lower container opening 4, a valve insert 7 is provided, which is fastened with the aid of a lower base cap 8. In addition, a cover cap 6a can be seen, which in particular when the baby bottle is not being used is snapped onto the cap 6 and seals the drinking opening (s) of the bottle teat 5 in the snapped-on position.

In the Fig. 2, 2a and 3rd the bottle body 2 is shown in detail, wherein it can be seen in particular that the bottle body 2 in a region adjacent to the upper connection opening 3 or the lower connection opening 4 each has a plurality of grooves 12, which in the exemplary embodiment shown are four, essentially along one run perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 2 'of the bottle body 2 longitudinal plane. These grooves 12 are provided for receiving latching elements 10, which on the inner surface of an apron of the cap 6 and the bottom cap 8 (cf. in particular Fig. 6a and 10th ) are provided.

These spring-loaded locking elements 10 are - as in particular in Fig. 1a can be seen - in the connected position in the grooves 12, so that the cap 6 and the bottom cap 8 are each in a latching connection with the bottle body 2. The contact surfaces of the latching elements 10 or of the grooves 12 can have undercuts, preferably at an angle of approximately 5 ° -15 °, in order to reliably prevent unwanted loosening of the latching connection even in the event of greater tensile forces acting in the longitudinal direction of the container 1.

To the locking elements 10 from the in Fig. 1a To be able to release the connection shown again, the bottle body 2 and the connecting parts 6, 8 have overrun elements 9a, 9b.

When the connecting part 6, 8 is rotated with respect to the latched position in which the latching elements 10 are received in a receiving section 14 of the respective groove 12, the latching elements 10 are moved out of the receiving sections 14 of the grooves 12 via an inclined ramp 14a and then with the aid of one another ascending inclined run-up surfaces 9c of the run-up elements 9a, 9b in the longitudinal direction 2 'of the bottle body 2 so that the latching elements 10, viewed in the longitudinal direction 2', are then arranged above or below adjacent grooves 12. Here, the locking elements 10 are located in an intermediate area during the displacement in the longitudinal direction 2 ' 12a between two adjacent grooves 12, in which the surface of the bottle body 2 is substantially flat with the adjacent surface of the remaining bottle body 2.

Furthermore, in particular Fig. 2 It can be seen that the container 1 has a guide element 15 which, viewed in the longitudinal direction, is arranged in the region 12a between two grooves 12, so that it is plugged together in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 'of the bottle body 2, in which the latching elements 10 do not snap into the grooves 12. is impossible. If the locking elements 10 are inadvertently aligned with the areas 12a between two adjacent grooves 12, a run-up element 9b runs onto an inclined guide flank 17 of the respective guide element 15, so that the container 1 or the bottle body 2 is twisted and the connecting element 6, 8 to each other is achieved and the locking elements 10 snap into the grooves 12.

As in the 4 to 10 Furthermore, the locking elements 10 are preferably arranged in wall sections 19, which project inwards from the essentially rotationally symmetrical circular course of a jacket section of the connection part 6, 8 and whose imaginary connecting lines essentially form a rectangle. Due to this deviating from the circular shape, inwardly projecting shape, the projecting wall sections 19 together with the latching elements 10 are elastically deformed when snapped on. In the snapped-on position, the wall sections 19 thus remain elastically deformed and only return to their relaxed position, deviating from the circular shape, when they are released from the snapped connection.

In Fig. 11 An alternative exemplary embodiment of a container 1 according to the invention is shown in the form of a baby bottle, this baby bottle 1 also having a bottle body 2 which - as in particular in FIG Fig. 12 can be seen - has an upper container opening 3 and a lower container opening 4. A bottle teat 5 is in turn attached to the upper container opening 3 by means of a cap 6. A valve insert 7 is fastened to the lower container opening 4 by means of a lower base cap 8.

In the Figures 13 and 14 the union cap 6 or bottom cap 8 provided as connecting parts of the container 2 are shown in detail in an enlarged representation in the connected representation with the bottle body 2. It can be seen that the cap 6 and the bottom cap 8 each have locking elements 10 which are resiliently mounted and in the in the Fig. 3 and 4th shown attached positions each engage a web 11 in the area of the upper and lower bottle openings 3 and 4, so that the teat 5 or the valve insert 7 are reliably connected to the bottle body 2 via the cap 6 or the base cap 8. Contact surfaces 11 'of the locking elements 10 and / or the webs 11 between the locking elements 10 and the webs 11 preferably have undercuts in the receiving section 14 of the groove 12 shown. Such undercuts can in particular have an angle of approximately 5-15 ° with respect to a right angle to the surfaces from which the latching elements or webs protrude, so that an unintentional loosening of the snap connection is reliably prevented even with greater tensile forces acting in the longitudinal axis of the container.

How especially out 15 and 16 as can be seen, the bottle body 2 has in a region adjacent to the upper connection opening 3 as well as in a region adjacent to the lower connection opening 4, in each case a plurality of, in the exemplary embodiment shown four, grooves 12 in the manner of a bayonet catch. The grooves 12 each have an end section 13 that runs obliquely to an orthogonal plane on a longitudinal axis 2 ′ of the container 1 and a receiving section 14 that runs essentially along an orthogonal plane to the longitudinal axis 2 ′.

The end section 13 has an opening 13 ', but insertion into this opening 13' is only possible in the direction of rotation, ie orthogonal to the longitudinal axis 2 'of the bottle body 2. In order to reliably prevent insertion into the end section 13 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 ', a guide element 15 is provided in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2' above or below in a region adjacent to the opening 13 '.

These guide elements 15 consequently prevent the latching elements 10 from being inserted into the end sections 13 when a connecting part 6, 8 is brought together in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 'of the container 1. This ensures that when the connecting part 6, 8 is brought together with the container 1 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 ′, the latching elements 10 are not inserted into the end section 13 of the grooves 12. Rather, in the event that the rotational alignment between the connection part 6, 8 and the container 2 is such that a latching element 10 and a guide element 15 meet when being brought together in the longitudinal direction 2 ′, the rotational orientation of the connection part 6, 8 relative to the container 2 is changed . For this purpose, the guide elements 15 each have a rounded tip 15 ′ on the side with guide flanks 17 which, with the respective latching element 10, more precisely corresponding contact flanks 18 (cf. also 9, 10 , 11 and 13 ) work together. Thus, the latching elements 10 slide along the obliquely arranged guide flanks 17, so that the connecting part 6, 8 is rotated relative to the container or bottle body 2 until the latching elements 10 each strike the web 11, above or below which they then in the respective Snap in the receiving section 14 of the respective groove 12. In the event of continued application of pressure in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 ′, the latching elements 10 pivot due to their resilient mounting and snap behind the respective web 11. In the transition area between the end and receiving section of the groove 12, a securing web 16 running transversely to the longitudinal extent of the groove 12 is provided, which can only be overcome by applying an increased torque. By overcoming the safety bars 16, the user can see that the connection has now been released.

As further in Fig. 16 As can be seen, the web 11 has a recess 13 ″ in a section adjacent to the opening 13 ′ of an adjacent groove. This recess 13 ″ forms a type of receiving pocket in the region of the opening 13 ′, so that if a latching element 10 comes to rest in this region should, rotation in the opening 13 'is prevented. By further applying a force in the longitudinal direction 2 'of the container 2, in this case there is a latching via the snap connection.

With regard to a resilient mounting, the locking elements 10 - as in 9 to 13 can be seen - in particular be arranged projecting inwards on a circumferential wall 19.

As also in the 19 to 23 As can be seen, the inner circumferential wall 19 is designed in one piece with the rest of the connection part, ie the cap 6 or the bottom cap 8, the inner wall 19, however, compared to an outer wall 20, which produces the stability of the respective connection part, a significantly smaller wall thickness having. When the connection parts are produced from a thermoplastic, for example polypropylene (PP), a wall thickness between 0.5 mm and 3.5 mm has proven to be advantageous.

Due to the relatively small wall thickness, the entire circumferential wall can thus be elastically deformed in a simple manner. In order to ensure that it snaps over the associated web 11 in a simple manner, the circumferential wall in its relaxed position does not have a circular course, but a course deviating from a circular shape, which in the exemplary embodiment shown essentially corresponds to a square shape with rounded corners. As a result, when the latching elements 10 are transferred over the respective web 11, the wall 19 carrying the latching elements 10 essentially takes on a circular shape, in order to subsequently turn into, in particular in the FIGS Fig. 19 or 21 can be seen to return a square shape deviating from a circular shape. This ensures reliable snapping between the respective web 11 and the associated latching element 10.

An alternative exemplary embodiment to this type of resilient mounting of the latching elements 10 is shown in FIG Fig. 24 shown. A container 1 with a bottle body 2 is also shown here, on which a cap 6 and a bottom cap 8 are provided as connecting parts.

As especially in the 25 and 26 as an alternative to a comparatively thin-walled elastic wall 19, it is also possible for the latching elements 10 to be formed on an outer wall 20, in this exemplary embodiment the locking elements 10 are each arranged in the end region of locking tongues 21.

The locking tongues 21 are in turn achieved by material cutouts or cutouts 22 in the outer wall 20. This can also - as in Fig. 24 can be seen - a container 1 with two connecting parts 6, 8 are connected, which either via a snap connection made in the longitudinal direction 2 'or, however, by means of a plug-in / rotary connection with the in particular in 5 and 6 apparent bottle body 2 are connected.

In the 17 and 18 a bottle teat 5 and insert 8 can be seen in detail, which are specially designed for use with the cap 6 or the bottom cap 8.

The bottle teat 5 here has a cylindrical end section 25 which, in the assembled position, has a slightly larger inside diameter compared to an outside diameter of the bottle body 2 in the region of the upper container opening 3, as in particular in FIG Fig. 13 evident.

In Fig. 17 it can also be seen that the bottle teat 25 has a circumferential groove 25 'on the upper side of a fastening flange 25 ". As in particular in FIG Fig. 13 it can be seen that the groove 25 'is arranged essentially congruently with an edge of the upper container opening 3. When the connection part 6 and the container 2 are plugged together, the suction device 5 thus yields resiliently in the region of the groove 25 ', so that the pretension thus generated in FIG Fig. 3 Connected position shown, the contact surfaces 11 'of the webs 11 and locking elements 10 are pressed against one another via the fastening flange 25 "or the groove 25', so that the contact surfaces reliably abut one another in the connected state.

An analogous effect is achieved in the area of the lower container opening 4 with the aid of the insert 6. For this purpose, the insert 6 has a groove 26 'in the region of a fastening flange 26 ″ on the underside (see FIG. Fig. 14 ), which in the connected state is arranged substantially congruently with an edge of the lower container opening 4. When connecting the connector 8 and the container 2 - with the interposition of the insert 6 - the insert 6 thus yields resiliently in the region of the groove 26 ', so that the pretension thus generated in the Fig. 14 Connected position shown, the contact surfaces 11 'of the webs 11 and locking elements 10 are pressed together via the mounting flange 26 "or the groove 26'.

In Fig. 13 it can further be seen that the cylindrical section 25 has at its lower end a tapering inward-facing circumferential sealing lip 27 which tapers towards a free end and which, under pretension, bears sealingly against the outer surface of the bottle body 2 in the upper end section. If the pressure difference between the interior in the container 1 and the external environment should increase, the sealing lip 27 is thus pressed with increased contact pressure onto the outer surface of the bottle body 2, so that the sealing effect depends on the pressure difference between the interior in the container 1 and the ambient pressure elevated.

Furthermore, it can be seen that the cylindrical end section 25 has an upwardly projecting circumferential web 28. This circumferential web 28 is essentially provided in order to interact with a web or web sections 29 on the underside of a cover section 30 of the cap 6. As in Fig. 21 23 can be seen that the downwardly projecting web sections 29 of the cover section 30 of the cap 6 are interrupted - in particular for demolding purposes - so that in the exemplary embodiment shown there are four essentially circular segment-shaped web sections 29 which engage behind the projecting web 28 on the suction cup 5, so that a Unintentional pulling out of the suction device 5 in the connected state between the container 2 and the cap 6 is not possible even with a relatively low contact pressure between the cap 6 and container 2 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2 '.

In 21 and 23 are adjacent to the web sections 29 in the transition region between the underside of the lid section 30 and the inner wall 19 distributed over the circumference, four knob-like projections 31 being provided four times in the exemplary embodiment shown. These projections 31 are provided for this to center the bottle teat 5, ie in spite of the wall 19 deviating from a circular shape, to reliably position the teat 5 in the center. Corresponding projections 31 are also, as in 9 and 10 can be seen, provided for centering or exact positioning of the insert 7 in the bottom cap 8.

The in Fig. 17 Insert 7 shown to form an air inlet valve together with the bottom cap 8 has - as in particular in Fig. 4 seen - also on a cylindrical end portion 26, which has a larger inner diameter than the bottle body 2 in the region of the lower container opening 4 on the outer surface. Corresponding to the bottle teat 5, the end section 26 has an inwardly projecting, circumferential sealing lip 27 which tapers towards its free end and which bears sealingly against the outer surface of the bottle body 2 under prestress. This results in the sealing principle already described in connection with the bottle teat 5.

In Fig. 14 it can also be seen that the insert 6 has a sealing lip 32 which, when there is a negative pressure inside the container 2, allows air to enter but prevents liquid from escaping. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sealing lip 32 bears against an annular upper platform 34 of an inwardly projecting dome-shaped indentation 33 of the base cap 8. As an alternative to the shown sealing contact of this circumferential sealing lip 32 on the platform 34, however, it is also possible to place a sealing lip in the lower bottom portion of the bottom cap 8 outside the dome-shaped indentation 33, as well as a sealing contact on the outside of the entire calotte-shaped indentation 33 of the bottom cap 8 .

In Fig. 27 An alternative exemplary embodiment is shown, which largely corresponds to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS 1 to 13 corresponds, but in this embodiment, the opening 13 'of the end portion 13 of the respective groove 12 is provided with a stop 35. In this exemplary embodiment, the stop 35 is thus - in contrast to those described above Exemplary embodiments - a connection of the connection parts 6, 8 to the container 1 by means of a plug-in / rotary connection is not possible, but a connection between the connection parts 6, 8 and the container 1 is only possible via a snap connection. A loosening of the connection is of course again possible - as described above - by means of a rotary movement, the respective latching element 10 being removed from the respective groove 12 via the opening 13 '. Since the stop 35 is to be overcome here, it is advantageous if the stop 35 has a run-up ramp directed towards the groove 12 in order to facilitate the removal of the respective latching element 10 from the end section 13. The other flank of the stop 35, on the other hand, is advantageously arranged essentially at a 90 ° angle to the groove base in order to prevent unwanted connection by means of a rotary movement.

The invention has been described below in connection with a bottle container, in particular a baby bottle. Of course, the container 1 according to the invention or the attachment of a connecting part 6, 8, which can be used in a reliable manner via a snap connection, also in connection with other containers such as breast pumps, generally storage or transport containers or other food packaging and the like, as well as containers in general.

Claims (23)

1. Container (1) comprising at least one connection opening (3, 4) and at least one connection part (6, 8), with grooves (12) and latching elements (10) being provided as interacting connecting elements for connecting the container (1) and the connection part (6, 8), and, in the connected state, each latching element (10) being arranged in a receiving portion (14) of a groove (12), which portion is arranged substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis (2') of the container (1), characterised in that the container (1) and the connection part (6, 8) have run-on elements (9a, 9b) with run-on surfaces (9c) that extend obliquely to the longitudinal axis (2') of the container, which elements interact by means of a rotational movement between the container (1) and the connection part (6, 8) in such a way that the latching elements (10) can be moved out of the receiving portion (14) of the relevant groove (12) and, in a rotated position, the latching connection between the container (1) and the connection part (6, 8) is released.
2. Container (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that a guide element (15) which prevents the connection part (6, 8) and the container (1) from being brought together in the direction of the longitudinal axis (2') is provided in a portion between adjacent grooves (12) or in an end portion (13) of the grooves (12), such that the connection part (6, 8) and the container (1) are rotated with respect to one another when the connection part (6, 8) and the container (1) are brought together in the direction of the longitudinal axis (2') of the container (1).
3. Container (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that, when the connection part (6, 8) and the container (1) are brought together in the direction of the longitudinal axis (2') in an aligned orientation, the run-on element (9b) of the connection part (6, 8) interacts with the guide element (15) of the container in such a way that the connection part (6, 8) and the container (1) are rotated.
4. Container (1) according to either claim 2 or claim 3, characterised in that the guide element (15) has at least one guide flank (17) extending obliquely to the longitudinal axis (2') of the container (1).
5. Container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that contact surfaces (11', 12') of the latching elements (10) and/or the grooves (12) have an undercut, at least in portions.
6. Container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the grooves (12) comprise a ramp-shaped end portion (13) which connects the receiving portion (14) of the relevant groove to a portion between two grooves that is flush with the remaining outer surface of the container in the lead-in region.
7. Container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the latching elements (10) are resiliently mounted.
8. Container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the grooves (12) are arranged on the outside of a cylindrical lateral surface of the container (1) and the latching elements (10) are arranged on the inside of wall portions (19) of the connection part (6, 8), the connecting lines of which portions, in their relaxed position, have a course deviating from a circular shape, the wall portions (19) being elastically deformable in such a way that the latching elements (10) can each be snapped on over the strip (11).
9. Container (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that, apart from wall portions (19) carrying the latching elements (10), the connection part (6, 8) has a rotationally symmetrical circumferential wall (20).
10. Container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the interacting connecting elements have grooves in the manner of a bayonet lock, it being possible for the latching elements (10) to be snapped into the closed position substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis (2') of the container (1) over a strip (11) adjoining the relevant groove (12), and to be removed from the relevant groove (12) via an opening (13').
11. Container (1) according to claim 10, characterised in that, as an alternative to a snap connection, the interacting connecting elements can be interconnected by means of an insertion/rotational movement, it being possible to insert the latching element (10) into the receiving portion (14) of the relevant groove (12) in each case via the opening (13').
12. Container (1) according to either claim 10 or claim 11, characterised in that each opening (13') has a stop (35) which prevents insertion of a latching element (10).
13. Container (1) according to any of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the guide element (15), viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis (2') of the container (1), has a tip (15') which is preferably rounded and to which guide flanks (17) are adjoined on both sides, one guide flank (17) in each case leading into the strip (11) adjoining the groove (12) and the other guide flank (17) in each case ending adjacent to an opening (13').
14. Container (1) according to either claim 12 or claim 13, characterised in that the latching elements (10) substantially have the shape of a triangle with a preferably rounded tip (10'), the tip (10') contacting the tip (15') of the guide element (15) when the connection part is brought closer (6, 8) to the container with a corresponding rotational orientation.
15. Container (1) according to any of claims 10 to 14, characterised in that, starting from the opening (13'), each groove (12) has an end portion (13a) which extends in such a way that a latching element (10) received therein is guided obliquely to an orthogonal plane towards the longitudinal axis (2') of the container (1), and which leads into the receiving portion (14), which is delimited on one side by the strip (11) which preferably extends along an orthogonal plane to the longitudinal axis (2') of the container (1).
16. Container (1) according to any of claims 10 to 15, characterised in that the strip (11) delimiting the groove (12) has a recess (13") in a portion that adjoins the opening (13') of an adjacent groove (12), on the side from which the connection part (6, 8) is advanced for connection to the container (1).
17. Container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 16, characterised in that a securing strip (16) which extends transversely to the longitudinal extension of the groove is provided in the transition region between the end portion and the receiving portion (13, 14) of each groove (12).
18. Container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 17, characterised in that a bottle body (2) is provided as the container (1) and a covering cap (6) for fastening a bottle teat (5) is provided as the connection part.
19. Container (1) according to claim 18, characterised in that the bottle body (2) has two opposite connection openings (3, 4), with an upper connection opening (3) for fastening the bottle teat (5) and a bottom connection opening (4) for fastening a connection part designed as a bottom cap (8) having an air inlet valve.
20. Container (1) according to either claim 18 or claim 19, characterised in that an annular cover portion (30) of the covering cap (6) comprises a projecting strip (29), preferably divided into four portions, on an underside that faces the container (1) in the assembled position.
21. Bottle teat (5) comprising a container (1) according to any of claims 1 to 20, the bottle teat (5) having, in an end portion opposite a suction opening, a cylindrical portion (25) having a slightly larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the container (1) adjacent to the upper connection opening (3), the cylindrical portion (25) having an inwardly projecting sealing lip (27) at the end, characterised in that, in the flange-shaped end portion opposite the suction opening on the upper side facing the suction opening, the bottle teat (5) has a groove-shaped recess (25') which extends in accordance with an edge of the upper connection opening (3) of the container (1).
22. Bottle teat (5) according to claim 21, characterised in that the cylindrical portion (25) has a circumferential, preferably annular, strip (28) which projects upwards towards the suction opening.
23. Insert (7) comprising a container according to any of claims 1 to 20, characterised in that, in an outer end portion, the insert (7) has a cylindrical portion (26) having a slightly larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the container (1) adjacent to the bottom connection opening (4), the cylindrical portion (26) having an inwardly projecting sealing lip (27) at the end and the insert (7) having, in a bottom, flange-shaped end portion on the underside that faces a connection part (8) during use, a groove-shaped recess (26') which extends in accordance with an edge of a lower connection opening (4) of the container (1).

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