EP3781000B1 - Closing device for a beverage container - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a closure device for a beverage container. The closure device comprises a closure body and a closure lid, wherein the closure lid is rotatably mounted relative to the closure body between a flow state and a sealing state. A liquid channel of the closure body is free in the flow state and closed in the sealing state.

Such closure devices for beverage containers are already known from the prior art ( EP 0 196 198 A1 , US 4,190,173 A ). EP 0 196 198 A1 discloses a closure device for a beverage container according to the preamble of claim 1.

Closure devices for beverage containers are often complex designs with a large number of functional components and/or rely on complex mechanisms, which makes intuitive handling difficult.

The invention is based on the object of presenting an easy-to-use and easy-to-clean closure device for a beverage container. The task is solved with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

The closure device according to the invention has a guide device between the closure cover and the closure body, the guide device comprising a first preferred position and a second preferred position with which the sealing state and the flow state are defined. The rotating one The bearing between the closure lid and the closure body is designed as a threaded bearing.

Lockable beverage containers have two main states of use, with the container being tightly closed in one state and liquid being able to flow out of the container in the other state. These two states can be recognized by the user of the closure device according to the invention when turning the closure lid using two preferred positions.

First, some terms are explained. Closure body refers to the component of the closure device that fits a lower part of a beverage container and with which an opening of the lower part can be sealed. A liquid channel and/or an air channel can be formed in the closure body.

A component of the closure device which interacts with the closure body is referred to as a closure lid, wherein the closure lid can be rotatably mounted relative to the closure body. The closure lid can seal one or more channels of the closure body in a sealing state and expose one or more channels in a flow state in such a way that liquid can flow out of the beverage container. The beverage container can be attached to the mouth so that the user can drink directly from the beverage container. It is also possible to transfer the liquid from the beverage container into another container.

The sealing state and the flow state can each correspond to an angular position or an angular range of rotation between the closure cover and the closure body centered around this angular position. The angular position to be set for the sealing state can be less than half a turn, for example a quarter of a turn, away from the angular position to be set for the flow state.

A guide device refers to a mechanism that distinguishes one or more angular positions between the closure cover and the closure body and makes them recognizable to the user. An angular position made recognizable in this way is referred to as a preferred position. A first and a second preferred position can each mark an angular position to be set for the sealing state or for the flow state.

A preferred position can be tactilely recognizable; For example, the rotational resistance when leaving the preferred position can be greater than the rotational resistance when reaching the preferred position.

The guide device can be designed as a sliding guide, in which a guide member of the closure lid engages with a guide member of the closure body on the actuation path between the sealing state and the flow state. The guide device can counteract a relative movement between the closure cover and the closure body with a predetermined frictional force, relative to which the preferred position is defined. The friction force can be constant over the actuation path between the sealing state and the flow state. This can apply to both directions of movement of the actuation path. The preferred positions are not part of the operating path in this sense.

The guide device can be designed in such a way that the rotational resistance becomes lower during the transition from the actuation path and to the first preferred position and/or to the second preferred position. On the side facing away from the actuation path, the first preferred position and/or the second preferred position can be limited by a stop of the guide device. The stops can be designed as guide stops or as end stops. An end stop prevents even when using one increased force causes further relative movement between the closure lid and the closure body. A guide stop can be overcome by applying increased force. A guide stop can act on both sides, so that it can be overcome by increased effort both when leaving the preferred position in the direction opposite to the actuation path and when approaching the preferred position from the direction opposite to the actuation path. If a preferred position is overcome by overcoming a guide stop, a movement path can be released along which the closure cover can be separated from the closure body. In one embodiment, the preferred position corresponding to the flow state is limited by a guide stop and the preferred position corresponding to the sealing state is limited by an end stop.

A guide stop can, for example, be designed as a convex curvature with a lower height and/or with gentle flanks; An end stop can, for example, be designed as a convex curvature with a greater height and/or with edges.

The guide device can be designed in such a way that increased resistance has to be overcome during the transition from a preferred position to the actuation path. The force required to overcome the increased resistance may be less than the force required to overcome a guide stop.

A first guide member of the guide device can be designed as a guide surface concentric to the axis of rotation of the closure lid. A portion of the guide surface can define the actuation path. The first preferred position and/or the second preferred position can be designed as sections set back from the guide surface. A stop can be designed as a section that projects relative to the guide surface be. In one embodiment, the guide surface is arranged on the closure body.

The guide surface can be a circumferential surface with respect to the axis of rotation of the closure lid. The guide surface can extend in sections along two circles concentric to the axis of rotation. The radii of the two circles can be identical or different from each other within a section; the radii of the circles can take on different values in different sections.

A preferred position can be defined as a recessed portion of the guide surface. A recessed section can be a concave curvature on a side of the guide surface facing the second guide member, the curvature in cross section being able to be continuous, i.e. with gentle flanks, and/or discontinuous, i.e. with an angular profile. In a preferred embodiment, both the first and second preferred positions are defined as recessed sections of the guide surface.

The second guide member can be designed as a guide body, wherein the guide body can interact with the guide surface. The interaction can take place via a sliding surface of the guide body, whereby the sliding surface can be in contact with the guide surface entirely or over subsections. The sliding surface can be in contact with a flat guide surface or a guide surface that is curved concentrically to the axis of rotation via a first subsection of the sliding surface. Along the rotation path, in the direction of rotation and/or against the direction of rotation, a second subsection of the sliding surface can continuously adjoin the first subsection, with the distance between the sliding surface and the flat or concentrically curved guide surface in the second subsection increasing with increasing distance from the first Continuously enlarge subsection along the rotation path can. A cross section through the sliding surface along the rotation path can, for example, have a V-shape or a Y-shape. The convex curvature of a guide stop can contact the second subsection of the sliding surface of the guide body, wherein further rotation toward the guide stop can shift the surface of the contact from the second subsection into the first subsection.

The rotatable bearing between the closure lid and the closure body is designed as a threaded bearing. The external thread can be formed on the closure cover or on the closure body. The thread can be a right-hand thread or a left-hand thread; in a preferred embodiment the thread is a right-hand thread. Rotating from the preferred position of the sealing state to the preferred position of the flow state can mean unscrewing or screwing in the closure cover relative to the closure body; in a preferred embodiment, the rotation from the sealing state to the flowing state means unscrewing.

The thread pitch is dimensioned such that the guide device is brought axially out of engagement with a rotation angle of no more than 360°. For example, the guide body can pass an end stop axially offset when screwing in and abut the end stop after a complete revolution.

A sealing member of the closure cover can rest sealingly on one or more openings in the closure body in the sealing state and can be axially spaced from these openings in the flow state. The axial distance can be achieved by coupling rotary movement and axial movement in a threaded bearing or be implemented in another way. The sealing member can be made of silicone or rubber, for example. It is advantageous if the closure lid with the sealing member can be produced in a two-component injection molding process. This will be for example possible if a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) is used for the sealing member. The closure body can also be an injection molded part. The closure device as a whole can therefore be composed of two injection molded parts.

The openings in the closure body can belong to an air channel and a liquid channel, whereby the air channel can serve to equalize the pressure when liquid is poured out of the beverage container through the liquid channel. Alternatively or additionally, the sealing member of the closure body can be spaced from one or more openings in the closure body in the flow state in directions perpendicular to the axis of rotation. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing member is spaced axially from the liquid channel and the air channel in the flow state and additionally from the liquid channel along the rotation path.

The closure lid can be completely separable from the closure body. After separation, the closure device can consist of two parts. The separation can, for example, make it easier to clean the closure device. The separation process can be carried out, for example, by pulling on the closure cover, preferably by turning the closure cover out of the actuation path.

The liquid channel and/or the air channel can open into an end surface on the top of the closure body; The top of the closure body refers to the side facing away from the beverage container. The end surface may be curved and/or have an oblique orientation; in a preferred embodiment, the end surface is flat and runs perpendicular to the axis of rotation between the closure cover and the closure body. The closure cover can have a sealing member that matches the end surface, the sealing member being in the sealing state seals the channel mouths in the end surface and allows the closure cover to rotate relative to the closure body.

The end surface can occupy any portion of the top of the closure body. In a preferred embodiment, the end surface is arranged radially outside the guide device. An advantage of the radial arrangement is to ensure enough area for the channel mouths beyond the storage of the closure cap in the axis region; In addition, a radially located opening along a rotation path can, for example, be covered by a sealing member and exposed again.

The guide member of the closure body can be formed at the axial height of the end surface or directly on the end surface. Alternatively, the guide member of the closure body is offset in the axial direction relative to the end surface. In a preferred embodiment, the guide member is set back in the axial direction relative to the end surface, which is equivalent to a displacement towards the underside of the closure body.

The closure body and the closure lid can be made of plastic, for example. Surfaces that are regularly wetted by liquid when using the closure device with a beverage container can be polished smooth; Affected surfaces can be, for example, the underside of the closure body and the inside of the channels.

The closure device according to the invention can be designed to be connected to a lower part of a beverage container. The closure device can comprise a sealing flange with which a liquid-tight closure can be produced between the closure device and the lower part of the beverage container. The lower part can be designed to hold a liquid. For example, the lower part have the shape of a cup with the opening facing upwards. The closure device can comprise a threaded component so that the closure device can be connected to the lower part via a threaded connection. The invention also relates to a beverage container comprising such a lower part and such a closure device.

The beverage container can be a drinking container, in particular in the form of a coffee cup. When the cap is in the flow state, the recess of the cap is aligned with the opening of the liquid channel so that drinking can be done from the liquid channel. At the same time, air enters the interior of the beverage container through the air duct, so that negative pressure in the beverage container is avoided. The wall extending upwards from the closure body serves as a spout through which the beverage container can be placed on the mouth. When sealed, the closure cover seals the liquid channel and the air channel. The beverage container is sealed overall so that no liquid escapes even if the beverage container falls over.

Fig. 1:

einen erfindungsgemäßen Verschlusskörper in einer perspektivischen Ansicht von oben;

Fig. 2:

einen erfindungsgemäßen Verschlusskörper in einer perspektivischen Ansicht von unten;

Fig. 3:

den Verschlusskörper aus Fig. 1 in einer Ansicht von oben;

Fig. 4:

den Verschlussdeckel aus Fig. 2 in einer Ansicht von unten;

Fig. 5:

den Verschlusskörper aus Fig. 1 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung von unten;

Fig. 6:

den Verschlussdeckel aus Fig. 2 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung von oben.

The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings using an advantageous embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1:

a closure body according to the invention in a perspective view from above;

Fig. 2:

a closure body according to the invention in a perspective view from below;

Fig. 3:

the closure body Fig. 1 in a view from above;

Fig. 4:

the cap Fig. 2 in a view from below;

Fig. 5:

the closure body Fig. 1 in a perspective view from below;

Fig. 6:

the cap Fig. 2 in a perspective view from above.

An in Fig. 1 Closure body 14 shown can be connected to its underside via a sealing flange 27 to a lower part of a beverage container, not shown. The outer wall 28 of the closure body can be flush with the outer wall of the beverage container. In the center of the closure body 14 there is an internal thread 30, which leads to an external thread 31 on the underside of a closure cover 15 ( Fig. 2 ) fits.

The closure body 14 has a flat end surface 26 on its upper side, the end surface 26 being delimited on the outside by the outer wall 28 and on the inside by a central recess. The end surface 26 runs perpendicular to an axis of rotation 29 of the bearing between the closure body 14 and the closure cover 15 ( Fig. 2 )) and has two openings that correspond to the mouths of a liquid channel 16 and an air channel 25.

A guide surface 18 is formed in the central recess, which runs perpendicular to the end surface 26 and which is concentric to the axis of rotation 29. A convex curvature of the guide surface 18 with a low height and with gentle flanks defines a guide stop 19. A convex curvature of the guide surface 18 with a greater height and with an angular profile defines an end stop 20. Two concave curvatures define, as recessed sections, a first preferred position 21 and a second preferred position 35 of the guide surface 18. An actuation path of the guide device extends between the first preferred position 21 and the second preferred position 35.

Fig. 2 shows a closure cover 15, which is connected to the closure body 14 via a threaded bearing 30, 31 can. In the flow state, a recess 32 of the closure cover 15 lies above the liquid channel 16 of the closure body 14. The guide body 17 is then in contact with a recessed section 21 of the guide surface 18 via the first section 22 of the sliding surface and can at the same time be in contact with the guide stop via a second subsection 23 19 are in contact; A rotation of the closure cover 15 in the direction of the guide stop 19 brings the subsection 22 of the sliding surface into contact with the guide stop 19 and braces the guide body radially in the direction of the axis of rotation 29, whereby a locally increased rotational resistance arises.

When transitioning from the first preferred position 21 or the second preferred position 35 to the actuation path, a slightly increased rotational resistance must be overcome. The slightly increased rotational resistance is smaller than the rotational resistance that has to be overcome when overcoming the guide stop 19. The distance of the guide surface 18 from the axis of rotation 29 can be dimensioned outside the actuation path so that the tension of the guide member 17 and the rotational resistance associated with it are lower than within the actuation path.

Fig. 3 shows a top view of the top of the closure body 14. By turning the closure cover 15 counterclockwise relative to the closure body 14, the closure device can be brought from the sealing state into the flow state. The recess 32 of the closure cover 15 then lies above the end surface 26 in the left half of the figure; the sealing member 24 lies above the mouths of the liquid channel 16 and the air channel 25; The guide body 17 of the closure cover 15 is in contact with a recessed section 21 of the guide surface 18 via the first subsection 22 of the sliding surface and can abut the end stop 20 laterally.

The top view of the underside of the cap 15 in Fig. 4 clarifies the position of the subsections 22, 23 of the sliding surface on the guide body 17. The sliding surface lies on the side of the guide body 17 facing away from the axis of rotation 29 and resembles an inverted Y in profile. The profile tensions the sliding surface with a perpendicular to the plane of the drawing on.

The underside of the closure body 14 facing the beverage container is in Fig. 5 shown. The closure body 14 is delimited by the sealing flange 27 and the outer wall 28; Inside, the rear mouth of the liquid channel 16 as well as the back 37 of the guide surface 18 and the socket 36 of the internal thread 30 can be seen. The inner surfaces on the underside of the closure body 14 are regularly wetted with liquid when the closure body 14 is used on a beverage container. To reduce the accumulation of contaminants and discoloration, the interior surfaces can be polished smooth.

The top of the closure lid 15 is in the in Fig. 6 The exemplary embodiment shown is provided with handles 33 in order to facilitate twisting relative to the closure body 14.

Claims (13)

1. Closing device for a beverage container, having a closing body (14) and a closing lid (15), wherein the closing lid (15) is mounted so as to be rotatable in relation to the closing body (14) between a flow state and a sealing state, wherein a liquid passage (16) of the closing body (14) is free in the flow state and is closed in the sealing state, having a guide device (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 35) between the closing lid (15) and the closing body (14), wherein the guide device comprises two preferred positions (21, 35) with which the sealing state and the flow state are defined, wherein the rotatable mounting between the closing lid (15) and the closing body (14) is in the form of a threaded mounting (30, 31), characterized in that the thread pitch is dimensioned in such a manner that the guide device (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 35) is disengaged axially by an angle of rotation of not more than 360°.
2. Closing device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the reaching of a preferred position (21, 35) and/or the leaving of a preferred position (21, 35) can be identified by tactile means.
3. Closing device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide device (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 35) is in the form of a sliding guide in which a guide element (17) of the closing lid (15) slides along a guide element (18) of the closing body (14) on an actuation path between the sealing state and the flow state.
4. Closing device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first preferred position (21) is adjacent to a guide stop (19) which can be overcome, and/or in that the second preferred position (35) is adjacent to an end stop (20).
5. Closing device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a first guide element is in the form of a guide surface (18), wherein the guide surface is a circumferential surface and is bounded in one or more angular sections by in each case two circles which are concentric to the axis of rotation (29) of the closing lid.
6. Closing device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the first preferred position (21) and/or the second preferred position (35) are defined by a set-back section of the guide surface (18).
7. Closing device according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the guide device comprises a guide body (17) interacting with the guide surface (18) .
8. Closing device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the guide body (17) comprises a sliding surface which can be in contact with a guide surface (18), which is flat or is curved concentrically to the axis of rotation (29) of the closing lid, via a first subsection (22) of the sliding surface, wherein the distance between the sliding surface and the guide surface (18) is increased continuously in the direction of rotation in a second subsection (23) of the sliding surface, and wherein the sliding surface can be in contact with a guide stop (19) via the second subsection (23).
9. Closing device according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a sealing element (24) of the closing lid (15) is spaced apart axially from an air passage (25) of the closing body (14) in the flow state, and/or in that a sealing element (24) of the closing lid (15) is spaced apart axially from the liquid passage (16) in the flow state.
10. Closing device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the closing lid (15) is completely separable from the closing body (14).
11. Closing device according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the liquid passage (16) and/or the air passage (25) open into an end surface (26) which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation (29) of the closing lid, and in that the closing lid (15) has a sealing element (24) fitting to the end surface (26).
12. Closing device according to Claim 11, characterized in that the end surface (26) is arranged radially outside the guide device (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 35).
13. Closing device according to either of Claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the guide element (18) of the closing body is set back in the axial direction in relation to the end surface (26).

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