EP3544901A1

EP3544901A1 - Container with cap

Info

Publication number: EP3544901A1
Application number: EP17801430.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dannielle Paola BORGER; Ingomar Henning; Willem RAMON; Gerrit Jan STEGEMAN; Lenny Marita ELLENKAMP-VAN OLST
Original assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Current assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Priority date: 2016-11-22
Filing date: 2017-11-14
Publication date: 2019-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-14
Also published as: WO2018095770A1; DE102016223043A1; US20190270553A1; EP3544901B1; US11866234B2; US20210339918A1; US11059635B2

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (1) comprising a cylindrical pouring nozzle (7) with an external thread and with a stop; a cap (8) with an internal thread (20) which can be screwed onto the external thread of the pouring nozzle (7) as far as an end position in which the cap (7) bears in the direction of rotation on the stop of the pouring nozzle (7); and a seal (12) made of a material which is softer than a material of the cap (8) and a material of the pouring nozzle (7). The seal (12) is fixedly connected to the cap (8) and has a first sealing element (26) which, with the cap (8) screwed on, is arranged in a radial direction between the cap (8) and pouring nozzle (7) and bears on a lateral surface portion of the pouring nozzle (7).

Description

"Container with attachment"

The invention relates to a container having a cylindrical Ausgießstutzen with an external thread and an attachment with internal thread for screwing onto the pouring spout. The attachment can be screwed to an end position, in which the attachment rests in the direction of rotation on a stop of the pouring spout. In the end position, the attachment takes on a desired orientation, for example to a front side of the container.

From the prior art, a container in the form of a detergent bottle is known, in which for the sealing between the attachment in the form of a screw cap and the

Spout is provided an annular seal. The seal is made of a material that is softer than a material of the attachment and as a material of the pouring spout. The seal is arranged in the axial direction between an end edge of the pour spout and an end-face contact surface of the essay. When screwing the attachment on the pour spout, the soft seal is compressed in the axial direction.

If the bottle with the sealed by the screw cap spout also distributed by electronic commerce (eCommerce), can not be ruled out that the bottle, for example, when delivered by a parcel service for a long time in any position and is, for example, upside down. This places high demands on the seal between screw cap and pouring spout, which does not always fulfill the axial seal described above. Stricter requirements arise from the fact that the bottle is filled with liquid detergent, which usually contains surfactants. The lower surface tension of the liquid increases the risk of leakage. Due to manufacturing tolerances can also not be ruled out that when screwing the essay while the desired end position is reached, but the axial seal is not compressed to the extent necessary in order to seal sufficiently well.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a container with pour spout and essay, which meets high requirements in terms of sealing between pour spout and essay.

The object underlying the invention is achieved with the feature combination according to claim 1. Embodiments of the invention can be taken from the dependent claims to claim 1.

According to the invention, it is provided that the seal has a first sealing element which, when the attachment is screwed on, is arranged in the radial direction between the attachment and the pouring spout is and rests against a lateral surface portion of the pouring spout. The first sealing element can thus also be referred to as a radial sealing element, since it is arranged in the radial direction between the components to be sealed. The first sealing element may for example be designed as a circumferential sealing lip, wherein in profile the sealing lip in the radial direction may have a thickness smaller than 0.5 mm. For example, the thickness of the first sealing element in the radial direction can be 0.2 to 0.4 mm.

The attachment for the Ausgießstutzen may be formed, for example, as a cap to close the pouring spout. In another embodiment, the attachment is designed as a pouring aid. The pouring aid can comprise a special pouring spout, which is intended to facilitate the pouring out of liquid from the container through the pouring spout. The stop of the pouring spout makes it possible to ensure that the spout aid is aligned correctly with the spout to the front and / or to a handle of the container.

Preferably, the spout has an external thread on which an internal thread of another essay can be screwed. This further attachment can be, for example, the closure cap described above. Thus, the cap on the pour spout can be screwed both directly and indirectly over the spout. In the latter case, the spout is screwed onto the spout, on which in turn the cap is screwed. In order also to define an end position of the closure cap relative to the pouring aid, the pouring aid can have a stop, beyond which the closure cap can not be screwed onto the pouring aid.

The attachment may have a substantially cylindrical outer wall and a substantially cylindrical inner wall which delimit a receiving space in the form of a ring cylinder for the pouring spout. The cylindrical outer wall and / or the cylindrical inner wall can have shoulders, conical sections, threads, etc., through which the outer wall or the inner wall deviate from a mathematically exact cylindrical lateral surface. Accordingly, the receiving space does not represent a mathematically exact ring cylinder.

The seal may be arranged in the receiving space at a front end of the receiving space. Preferably, this front end is a

closed end of the recording room. On the opposite side is the

Receiving space open so that when you unscrew the attachment of the pour spout can be moved into the receiving space. When screwed-on attachment in the end position and only one upper end of the pouring spout can protrude into the receiving space.

In one embodiment, the seal and the attachment are firmly connected. Preferably, the firm connection between the seal and essay arises solely in the production of essay and seal, both components can be produced by injection molding and a component can be molded onto the other. The seal can be the first

injection molded on or around which the attachment is sprayed.

The seal may comprise a first leg and a base, wherein the first sealing element is arranged on the first leg and may have a bulge facing the receiving space. The first leg may rest with a rear side on a lateral surface portion of the inner wall of the attachment and be firmly connected thereto. The first leg extends in the axial direction along the lateral surface portion of the inner wall of the essay.

With the attachment attached, the first sealing element closes the given gap between the lateral surface area section of the inner wall of the attachment and the lateral surface section of the pouring spout. The two lateral surface sections are radially opposite. The convex convexity in this case bears against the lateral surface section of the pouring spout. Due to the bulge results in the axial direction, an undercut. This undercut can, as will be described in more detail below, be used to hold the gasket within an injection mold for the attachment in a fixed position during manufacture of the attachment.

In one embodiment, the seal on the base on a second sealing element, which is arranged with screwed-on attachment in the axial direction between the attachment and Ausgießstutzen and rests against an end edge of the pouring spout. Thus, the seal provides for a double seal: on the one hand by the first sealing element which is arranged between two surfaces to be sealed in the radial direction and on the other by the second sealing element which is arranged between two surfaces to be sealed in the axial direction. The thickness of the second sealing element in the axial direction is preferably greater than 0.5 mm. In one embodiment, it is 0.7 to 1.7 mm. Thus, the thickness of the second is preferred

Sealing element in the axial direction greater than the thickness of the first sealing element in the radial direction.

A back of the base may rest against a radial web of the attachment. The preferably circumferential radial web connects in the abovementioned embodiments, which have a ring-cylindrical receiving space, the inner wall and the outer wall of the attachment with each other.

In one embodiment, facing the receiving space facing front sides of the seal are free of production-related surface structures. Such surface structures can

For example, be injection points that may arise during injection molding. The front sides of the seal can thus be particularly smooth, which is conducive to their sealing effect. The preferably one-piece attachment may be made of plastic, preferably polypropylene (PP). For the material of the seal is preferably also a plastic used, here, thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) have proven to be particularly favorable. Although it is provided according to the invention that the material of the seal is softer than the material of the attachment and the material of the pouring spout, but the material of the seal should not be too soft. With Shore A hardnesses of 30 to 90 or 60 to 80 ShA at 23 ° C for the material of the seal good seals are achieved.

At the base of the seal, a groove open to the receiving space can be provided with groove side walls, which diverge in the direction of a groove bottom. In other words, the groove represents a (further) undercut, which serves to hold the seal securely in position by means of a holding element in the manufacture of the article.

In one embodiment, the seal is substantially U-shaped and has a second leg connected by the base to the first leg. Also, the second leg extends in the axial direction. A rear side of the second leg is fixedly connected to a wall portion of the attachment (for example, the outer wall).

On the second leg, a projection directed towards the receiving space can be provided, which generates a (further) undercut in the axial direction.

The undercuts described above provide a firm connection between the seal and a holding device for the seal. The holding device is used in the production of the seal and the preferably temporally downstream production of the essay. The holding device serves as part of an injection mold for the seal. After the injection molding, the seal is set with the aid of the holding device in the injection mold of the attachment. The various undercuts and the U-shape of the seal ensure a tight fit of the seal on the holding device, which simplifies the manufacture of the attachment and the seal. The holding device can at least partially the inner contour of the

Specify the receiving space of the attachment. The holding device may be designed in several parts, so that they can be pulled out of the receiving space after injection molding of the article. Thus, even detached from other features of the invention such as the stop, here discloses a particular embodiment of the seal, which is the fixed

Connection between the seal and retaining element is used to hold, for example, the seal in a further manufacturing step, in particular in a molding of the gasket with another material in position.

Reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the invention is explained in detail. Show it: Figure 1 schematically in section a container with an essay;

Figure 2 is a closure cap in section;

FIG. 3 shows a pouring aid in section;

FIG. 4 shows the closure cap and the pouring aid in section;

Figure 5 enlargement of a seal in the cap;

Figure 6 enlargement of a seal in the Ausgusshilfe; and

Figure 7 shows the seal with an upper part of a pour spout.

Figure 1 shows schematically a container 1 with a base body 2, which has a flattened front side 2a. The main body 2 is almost completely filled with a liquid detergent 3, which can be seen on a level line 5. At an upper end of the base body 2, a tapered region 6 connects, which is conical here and merges into a cylindrical pouring spout 7 with a central axis 4. The main body 2 can also take other forms, for example, in the base body 2, a handle be formed. Also, between the base body 2 and the pouring spout 7 tapered portion 6 does not necessarily have to be conical.

The container 1 further comprises an attachment 8, which has a cylindrical basic shape in the form of an upside-down pot or cup and is seated on the pouring spout 7. The attachment 8 has a cylindrical outer wall 9 and a cylindrical inner wall 10 which delimit a receiving space 1 1. Due to the cylindrical walls 9, 10, the receiving space 1 1 takes the form of a ring cylinder.

In the receiving space 1 1, an annular seal 12 is arranged, which, starting from the central axis 4, is arranged in the radial direction between the inner wall 10 and an upper end of the pouring spout 7. The seal 12 thus seals an annular gap 13 between the inner wall 10 of the attachment 8 and the pouring spout 7. A typical gap for the gap 13 (radial distance between the pouring spout 7 and inner wall 10 is 0.2 to 1.5 mm, preferably 0.2 to 1 mm, more preferably 0.2 to 0.5 mm, in the region of the seal. Accordingly, the gasket 12 is also 0.2 to 1.5 mm, preferably 0.2 to 1 mm, more preferably 0.2 to 0.5 mm thick, which may be compressed or compressed in the seat shown 12 may have in the radial direction a thickness of 0.2 to 1, 5 mm, preferably 0.2 to 1 mm, further preferably 0.2 to 0.5 mm. The receiving space 1 1 is limited at an upper end by a circumferential radial web or connecting ring 14. The radial web 14 connects the outer wall 9 and the inner wall 10 through the radial web 14, the upper end of the receiving space 1 1 is closed.

To remove the liquid detergent 3 from the container 1, the article 8 is deposited from the pouring spout 7. In FIG. 1, no threads are shown with which the attachment 8 can be screwed onto the pouring spout 7.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the attachment 8 is designed as a closure cap 15. The function of the attachment 8 in Figure 1 is to seal the pouring spout so that no detergent 3 inadvertently enters the container 1. In particular, the seal 12 should be designed so that no detergent 3 comes out of the container when the container 1 is lying or upside down and the liquid detergent 3 is present directly on the seal 12.

In one embodiment, the volume of the body is 0.5 to 5 I. Ein

Inner diameter of the cylindrical pouring spout preferably has values between 30 to 50 mm. It should be emphasized at this point that Figure 1 shows the container according to the invention only schematically and the length ratios shown in Figure 1 are not limiting. For example, an axial length of the pour spout may be smaller than the inner diameter (for example 10 to 30 mm). Also, the conical portion 6 may be formed so flat that the pouring spout 7 connects virtually directly to the base body 2.

Components or features which are similar or identical to the components or features designated in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals in the other figures.

Figure 2 shows in section an embodiment of the article 8 also in the form of a

Cap 15 Like the cap 15 in the embodiment of Figure 1, the cap 15 of Figure 2 has the function of a measuring cup or a Dosierkappe, which is clear from two markings 16, 17 (50 ml and 70 ml). To measure, for example, 50 ml, the cap 15 must be rotated starting from the position shown in Figure 2 by 180 ° and the limited by the inner wall 10 metering 18 are filled to the mark 16.

At one of the receiving space 1 1 facing inside 19 of the outer wall 9 is a

Provided internal thread 20, through which the cap 15 of Figure 2 could be screwed to a pouring spout 7 with a corresponding external thread. The pouring spout 7 is equipped with a stop which defines an end position for the attachment in the direction of rotation or screwing-on, beyond which unscrewing is not possible and in which the attachment is aligned correspondingly with respect to the front side 2a. Preferably, the stopper is designed as a stop edge, against which in the end position, a beginning of a thread of the Tower encounters. Thus, there is in the final position in the direction of rotation a positive connection between the attachment and Ausgießstutzen.

In the upper end of the receiving space 1 1 sits the seal 12, here in a particular embodiment. FIG. 5 shows the seal 12 on an enlarged scale, whereupon the circle marked V in FIG. 2 is intended to indicate. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 5, the seal 12 bears directly against the inside of the connecting ring 14. The circumferential seal 12 of Figure 5 is in profile substantially U-shaped and has a first leg 21, a second leg 22 and a base 23 which connects the two legs 21, 22. The first leg 21 rests with a rear side 24 against a lateral surface portion 25 of the inner wall 10. A diameter of the lateral surface portion 25 is larger, preferably by 1 to 4 mm larger than the diameter of remaining portions of the inner wall 10th

On the first or radially inner leg 21, a first sealing element 26 is arranged, which has a convex bulge 27 which is formed in the direction of the inner side 19 of the outer wall 1 1. 5, a first undercut 28 results above the bulge or in the direction of the base 23. The undercut 28 relates to an axial direction, that is to say to a direction parallel to the center axis 4 (see FIG. 1).

At the base 23, a second sealing element 29 is provided with a groove or recess 30. The groove 30 has two in the direction of a groove bottom 31 diverging groove side walls 32, 33, so that the groove 30 is also undercut in the axial direction. At the second or radially outer leg 22, which is shorter than the first leg 21, a directed in the direction of the first leg 21 projection 34 is provided through which an undercut 35 is also given in the axial direction on the second leg 22.

Due to the particular configuration of the seal 12 with the opposing legs 21, 22 and the undercuts 28, 35 and the undercut groove 30 on the base 23, the seal sits 12 after completion of injection molding firmly on a part of the injection molding necessary for the injection molding of the seal on. This part is also referred to below as a holding element. During injection molding of the seal 12, the retaining element defines the inner contour of the seal 12. For the downstream production of the attachment 8, the seal 12 projects with the retaining element into the injection mold for the attachment 8. The material for the attachment 8 is sprayed onto the seal 12. Due to the tightness of the seal 12 on the retaining element, the seal 12 remains in the desired position during injection molding of the attachment 8.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the article 8, but now in the form of a

Spout aid 36. The spout aid 36 is similar in terms of the through the outer wall 9 and

This is apparent from the synopsis of Figures 5 and 6, wherein Figure 6 shows the seal 12 of the pouring aid 36 in an enlargement shows (compare the circle marked with VI in Figure 3). Like the closure cap 15, the pouring aid 36 can also be screwed onto a pouring spout 7 provided with an external thread. Since the closure cap 15 can also be screwed directly onto the pouring spout 7 which has an external thread 38, a container of variable use is thus disclosed. The container comprises the base body 2 with preferably integrally molded portion 6 and pouring spout 7 and the removable

Cap 15 and the removable spout 36. If necessary, the spout 36 can be screwed onto the spout 7, wherein the cap 15 can continue in the same way - but now indirectly via the spout 36 - attach to the spout 7.

Above the radial web 14, a nozzle section 37 is provided with the external thread 38. The dimensioning of the nozzle section 37 and the external thread 38 is selected so that the closure cap 15 can be screwed onto the pouring aid 36. FIG. 4 shows the closure cap 15 and the pouring aid 36 in the screwed-together state. In order to achieve a certain orientation of the closure cap 15 with respect to the pouring aid 36, may be provided on the external thread 38 in a similar manner as in the external thread of the pouring spout 7, a joint edge.

An important feature of the spout aid 36 is the spout marked 39. The spout 39 extends from a lower end formed at one end of the inner wall 10 in the axial direction beyond an upper end edge 40 of the spigot portion 37.

Figure 7, which shows an enlargement of the seal 12, which is encircled in Figure 4 by the circle marked VII, shows the interaction of the seal 12 and the

In principle, the nozzle section 37 could also be replaced by the upper end of the pouring spout 7 of the container 1. Regarding the

Cooperation with the seal 12 Stub portion 37 and pour spout 7 do not differ from each other.

In one embodiment of the invention, the nozzle section 37 is located with a

Jacket surface portion 41 on the one hand with a certain pressure on the bulge 27, so that thus a first seal between the seal 12 carrying cap 15 and the spout 36 is given. The first seal is independent of the end position of the screwing. The first sealing element 26 already unfolds its

(full) effect, when the bulge 27 presses in the radial direction against the nozzle portion 37 and the pouring spout 7. A second seal is made by the interaction of the second sealing element 29 and the upper end edge 40 of the nozzle portion 37. However, acting in the axial direction second sealing member 29 unfolds its effect only when the cap 15 has been screwed completely to the end position on the spout 36 is. Due to manufacturing tolerances, however, the second sealing element can be compressed too little, which impairs the sealing function of the second sealing element 29.

Thus, a two-stage seal is achieved by the embodiment according to the invention, wherein the sealing caused by the first sealing element 26 acts in the radial direction and the seal caused by the second sealing element 29 acts in the axial direction. The material of the seal is softer than the material of the attachment 8 and softer than the material of the pouring 7th

In one embodiment of the invention, the end position of the screwing movement is configured such that a complete sealing effect is achieved even before reaching the end position by the first sealing element 26. Preferably, at the end position in the axial direction, a gap of greater than or equal to 0.15 mm is present between the closure cap 15, which is firmly screwed onto the pouring aid 36, and the frontal edge 40 of the nozzle section 37. As a result, an optimized radial seal is produced via an extended dimensional tolerance, which also has an extended stability against stoppages.

The interaction described here between the nozzle portion 37 of the spout 36 and the seal 12 refers to the connection spout 36 / cap 15. The above statements apply mutatis mutandis to the possible connection between pouring spout 7 and cap 15 and for the possible connection between spout 7 and the spout aid 36.

For the invention, therefore, the sealing by the first sealing element 26 is essential, which acts in the radial direction. The provision of the second sealing element 29, which acts in the axial direction, is thus only one embodiment of the invention. Accordingly, the seal 12 of the particular embodiment, as shown in detail in Figures 5 to 7, in particular with respect to the base, which carries the second sealing element 29, differ. Although the seal in the profile may be U-shaped (two legs extend in the axial direction, the base extends transversely thereto), provision may be made for the provision of a second sealing element 29 or at least its sealing function. In particular, as already stated above, the end position of the attachment 8 defined by the stop (for example in the form of the

Closure cap 15 or the pouring aid 27) on the pouring spout 7 or the end position of the closure cap 15 on the spout aid 27 be defined so that in the end position a gap remains between the upper edge 40 of the spigot portion 37 and the above Closure cap 15 or between an upper edge of the pouring spout 7 and the essay sitting thereon. 8

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 container

2 main body

3 detergents

4 central axis

5 level line

6 area, tapering area

7 pour spouts

8 essay

9 outer wall

10 inner wall

1 1 recording room

12 seal

13 gap

14 Radial / Bonding sig ng

15 cap

16 mark

17 mark

18 dosing space

19 inside

20 internal thread

21 first leg

22 second leg

23 base

24 back side

25 lateral surface section

27 bulge

28 first undercut

29 second sealing element

30 groove

31 groove bottom

32 groove side wall

33 groove side wall

34 advantage

35 second undercut

36 spout aid

37 spigot section

38 external thread

39 spout

40 upper edge

41 lateral surface section

Claims

claims

1. container (1) comprising a cylindrical pouring spout (7) with a

External thread and a stop, an attachment (8) with an internal thread (20) which can be screwed onto the external thread of the pouring spout (7) to an end position in which the attachment (8) in the direction of rotation at the stop of the pouring spout (7 ), a seal (12) made of a material which is softer than a material of the attachment (8) and a material of the pouring spout (7), wherein the seal (12) is fixedly connected to the attachment (8) and a first Sealing element (26) which, with screwed-on attachment (8) in a radial direction between the attachment (8) and

Spout (7) is arranged and on a lateral surface portion of the

Pouring spout (7) is applied.

2. Container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment (8) as a closure cap (15) is formed.

3. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the attachment (8) as a

Spout (36) is formed, which has an external thread (38) on which an internal thread of another attachment can be screwed.

4. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the attachment (8) has a substantially cylindrical outer wall (9) and a substantially cylindrical inner wall (10), for the Ausgießstutzen (7) a Limit receiving space (1 1) in the form of a ring cylinder, wherein the seal (12) in the

Receiving space (1 1) at a front end of the receiving space (1 1) is arranged.

5. Container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the

Seal (12) comprises a first leg (21) and a base (23), wherein the first sealing element (26) on the first leg (21) is arranged and a to

Receiving space facing bulge (27).

6. Container (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the first leg (21) with a rear side (24) on a lateral surface portion (25) of the inner wall (10) of the attachment (8) rests.

7. Container (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the seal (12) on the base (23) has a second sealing element (29) which in the attached attachment (8) in the axial direction between attachment (8). and pouring spout (7) is arranged and abuts against an end-side upper edge of the pouring spout (7).

8. Container (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that a rear side of the second sealing element (29) on a connecting the inner wall and the outer wall radial web (14) of the attachment (8).

9. Container (1) according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that on the base (23) to the receiving space (1 1) open groove (30) with groove side walls (32, 33) is provided, which in the direction of Groove floor (31) diverge.

10. Container (1) according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the

Seal (12) is substantially U-shaped and has a second leg (22) which is connected by the base (23) with the first leg (21).

1 1. Container (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that on the second leg directed to the receiving space projection is provided.

12. Container (1) according to one of claims 4 to 1 1, characterized in that the receiving space (1 1) facing the sealing side of the seal (12) are free of production-related surface structures.