US20200017263A1

US20200017263A1 - Closure device for a container

Info

Publication number: US20200017263A1
Application number: US16/491,626
Authority: US
Inventors: Martin Presche
Original assignee: RPC Bramlage GmbH
Current assignee: Gizmo Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2017-03-10
Filing date: 2018-03-08
Publication date: 2020-01-16
Also published as: DE102018105321A1; CA3053692A1; WO2018162636A1; EP3592655A1; BR112019015110A2; ZA201905654B; CN110506009A; JP2020512239A

Abstract

A closure device for a container opening includes a lid element for closing the container opening, a chamber associated with the lid element, and an inner housing, the chamber and the inner housing also having mutually corresponding closure means and opening means which are in interaction with each other such that a discharge opening associated with the chamber as opening means can be released by rotationally moving the closure means connected to the lid element relative to the inner housing such that a medium stored in the chamber can exit into the container. The closure means is a closure pin which is fixedly connected to the chamber and which comprises a vertical extension provided with respect to a rotational axis and that the closure means are formed in the vertical extension, with different areas: a flow-through area and a closure area.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention initially pertains to a closure device for a container with a container opening, wherein the closure device comprises a lid element for closing the container opening, a chamber assigned to the lid element and an inner housing, and wherein the chamber and the inner housing furthermore have closure means and opening means, which correspond to one another and interact with one another in such a way that a discharge opening assigned to the chamber as opening means can be released by rotationally moving the closure means connected to the lid element relative to the inner housing such that a medium stored in the chamber can exit into the container.

PRIOR ART

Closure devices of the aforementioned type are known from the prior art. They serve for closing a container and for simultaneously providing a chamber for the separate storage of liquid or powdery mediums, for example tea essences or the like, such that these mediums do not immediately come in contact with and/or are mixed with the contents of the container, for example water, when the container is filled, but only at the time, at which the closure device is removed from the container. This is typically the time, at which the contents of the container should be consumed.
For example, publication WO 2007/129116 A1 pertains to a closure device of the aforementioned type, which upon opening a container closed with this closure device releases a supplemental liquid located in the chamber into the container. The closure device comprises a lid element, a chamber and an inner housing. The inner housing has a discharge opening, into which a plug element connected to the inner housing engages in a sealing manner. The lid element and the inner housing are connected to one another by means of screw threads, wherein the lid element can be raised relative to the inner housing from a closed position, in which the plug element closes the discharge opening of the chamber, into a discharge position, in which the plug element is at least partially retracted from the discharge opening, in order to thereby produce a passage from the chamber into the main liquid space of the container. In this way, the medium stored in the chamber can exit into the container, where it is mixed with the medium located in the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based on the above-described prior art, the invention aims to disclose a closure device that can be cost-effectively manufactured and at the same time makes it possible to effectively empty the chamber in the course of a removal of the lid element.
According to a first solution, the invention proposes that the closure means is a closure pin that is rigidly connected to the chamber and has a vertical extent with respect to the rotating direction, and in that the closure means is over the vertical extent realized with different regions, namely a flow-through region and a closure region.
The closure means preferably is a closure pin. In this case, the closure region may be realized in the form of a cylindrical part with an outside diameter that corresponds to or slightly exceeds the inside diameter of the opening means, e.g. the discharge opening. The latter particularly is sensible and possible if the opening means consists in this region of an elastic, flexible material, particularly a thermoplastic elastomer.
In contrast, the flow-through region may be a tapered region extending over the entire circumference or only part of the circumference of the closure means. A clearance space is formed when the tapered region protrudes upward from the opening means due to a corresponding rotation of the lid element, wherein a mass contained in the chamber, particularly a liquid, can flow out of the discharge opening through said clearance space. The flow-through region also may extend entirely or partially within the opening means in this case.
The above-defined objective is furthermore attained with a closure device, in which the closure means is a closure pin and the closure pin is connected to the chamber by means of a snap-lock part. The design of the closure means in the form of a closure pin, which is snap-locked to the chamber, makes it possible to manufacture the closure pin of a different material than the chamber. The chamber also may be initially realized open on the side of the closure means in order to thereby simplify its manufacture, e.g. in an injection molding process. The snap-lock connection between the closure means and the chamber may at the same time also be used for producing a seal in the snap-lock region.
With respect to the above-described first solution, in particular, the closure means may alternatively also be realized in the form of a closure pin that is rigidly connected to the chamber.
The discharge opening may selectively also be referred to as closure opening.
The closure means, in this case particularly the closure pin, is arranged on the chamber whereas the opening means, in this case particularly the closure opening or discharge opening, preferably is realized on the inner housing. In a closed position of the closure device, the closure pin closes the closure opening in that it either engages into or covers the closure opening. The closure pin is removed from the closure opening by opening the closure device, i.e. by spacing apart the lid element from the container—and thereby simultaneously displacing the chamber relative to the inner housing—such that the medium contained in the chamber can flow into the container through the closure opening. During the manufacture of the closure device, the chamber advantageously is inserted into the inner housing concentrically, wherein the closure pin is simultaneously displaced into a position, in which it closes the closure opening. Since the closure pin is rigidly connected to the chamber, its position and orientation relative to the chamber are also preserved during the assembly of the closure device such that the closure pin automatically comes in contact with the closure opening due to its position and orientation on the chamber.
According to another inventive solution, it is proposed that the lid element is, relative to the chamber in a removal direction of the lid element, movable relative to the container to a limited degree in a first motion segment of the lid element in the course of a removal of the lid element and motion-coupled to the container in a second motion segment. In this way, the lid element can be lifted off to a certain degree without moving along the container.
The lid element particularly can be rotationally moved relative to the chamber in the first motion segment.
It is furthermore proposed that the lid element preferably can be moved vertically to the chamber in the first motion segment. The chamber therefore remains in its originally assumed position referred to a vertical line while the lid element is raised, for example due to an unscrewing motion.
According to another inventive idea, it is proposed that the opening means has an opening part, which can be moved relative to the chamber during an opening process and forms two circumferential sealing zones, wherein said sealing zones are arranged concentric to one another in a direction extending perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening means relative to the chamber during the opening process.
The opening means respectively can interact with the chamber on the two sealing zones that are arranged concentric to one another. In this respect, it is possible to realize an interaction with a closure pin, which is rigidly connected to the chamber, as well as an additional interaction with a receptacle opening on the chamber for the opening means, which is designed so as to surround the closure pin.
A medium to be discharged from the chamber preferably is under pressure. If the medium is a liquid, a corresponding compressed gas region may be provided for this purpose above a liquid level during the filling process.
A reliable seal, as well as a seal that can be advantageously managed with respect to the manufacturing technology, is particularly important in connection with such pressurized mediums.
Since two concentric sealing zones are formed, two circumferential regions, preferably cylindrical regions, can be suitably encompassed in a sealing manner. This may concern, in particular, a cylindrical inner surface and a cylindrical outer surface of corresponding regions of the chamber, which are encompassed by the opening means in a sealing manner.
The invention also pertains to a closure device for closing a container opening of a container, particularly a beverage bottle, wherein the closure device comprises a lid element, a chamber arranged on the lid element and an inner housing, and wherein the chamber and the inner housing have closure means and opening means, which correspond to one another and interact with one another in such a way that a medium contained in the chamber can exit into the container due to a motion of the lid element relative to the inner housing.
In order to additionally enhance a closure device of the type in question, another solution proposes that the closure means is a closure pin, which is connected to the chamber by means of a snap-lock part and can be removed from a closure opening of the inner housing that forms the opening means by moving the lid element relative to the inner housing.
In this potential embodiment, the closure pin can be manufactured separately of the chamber and accordingly may be initially supplied in the form of a loose part in the course of the assembly of the closure device. This provides advantages with respect to the manufacture, particularly with respect to the material selection. The closure pin therefore may simply consist of a different material, particularly plastic material, than the chamber that ultimately holds the closure pin.
The closure pin preferably is snap-locked to the chamber, e.g. by using a snap-lock part or snap-lock section provided for this purpose. Furthermore, a welded connection or optionally even an adhesive connection may also be used for holding the closure pin on the chamber.
The invention furthermore pertains to a closure device for a container with a container opening, wherein the closure device comprises a lid element for closing the container opening, a chamber arranged on the lid element and an inner housing, wherein the chamber and the inner housing have closure means and opening means, which correspond to one another and interact with one another in such a way that a discharge opening assigned to the chamber can be released by moving the lid element relative to the inner housing such that a medium stored in the chamber can exit into the container, and wherein the lid element furthermore has a thread for unscrewing the closure device from the container.
Closure devices of this type are also known from the initially cited prior art.
In order to develop an alternative closure device of this type, a potential inventive solution proposes that the inner housing has a first output recess, which is during an unscrewing process correspondingly aligned with a second output recess formed on the chamber due to a mere relative rotation between the chamber and the inner housing.
According to the invention, the medium stored in the chamber can only exit into the container through the discharge opening when the output recesses of the inner housing and the chamber are moved into a corresponding position. This can be achieved by simply rotating the lid element relative to the inner housing. One of the output recesses is moved into the corresponding position relative to the other output recess due to this rotation. An axially directed sliding motion may also be superimposed on the rotational motion.
The motion of the lid element, particularly its rotation, preferably is limited by stops.
A discharge path between the chamber and the discharge opening is only produced by displacing one output recess into the corresponding alignment with the other output recess.
In a potential embodiment, the closure device acts functionally identical to a rotary slide valve.
According to another inventive idea, it is in this context proposed that the chamber has a (second) output recess, which opens a discharge path due to an axial relative displacement between the chamber and the inner housing.
In this case, the closure device acts functionally similar to a sliding valve. The output recess of the chamber is axially displaced into a position, in which a flow path from the chamber into the container interior is released, due to the displacement of the lid element relative to the inner housing, particularly a rotational displacement of the lid element.
The output recesses may be realized in the form of channels in the respective components or alternatively in the form of groove-like depressions in the region of the interacting surfaces of the inner housing and the chamber.
In another embodiment, a (second) output recess on the chamber side may be formed in the region of the closure means on the chamber side and a (first) output recess may optionally be formed corresponding thereto in the region of the opening means on the side of the inner housing.
The closure pin may be realized integrally with the chamber. In this respect, it is particularly advantageous to manufacture the chamber including the closure pin by means of a plastic injection molding process such that no separate manufacturing step is required for connecting the closure pin to the chamber. An injection molding process is particularly advantageous in this respect because the chamber is typically manufactured of a plastic such as polybuteneterephthalate (PBT) or even polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE). Due to the integral design of the closure pin on the chamber, the position and orientation of the closure pin relative to the chamber remain constant such that the closure pin reliably reaches a position, in which it closes the closure opening, during the connection of the chamber to the inner housing. In addition to the integral design, however, it is basically also possible to arrange the closure pin on the chamber in a different way. For example, the closure pin may be bonded or welded to the chamber. The closure pin or a section carrying this closure pin may also be snapped on the chamber such that an operationally inseparable snap-lock connection is produced. It is essential to produce the rigid connection between the chamber and the closure pin such that the closure pin cannot be separated from the chamber during the insertion into the closure device.
It is furthermore proposed that the closure pin has a freely projecting closure end that can be inserted into the closure opening. For example, the closure pin may be arranged on the chamber wall in the form of an L-shaped web such that the free closure end points in the direction of the closure opening of the inner housing. If the chamber is realized cylindrically, the end region of the closure pin carrying the closure end is arranged on the longitudinal axis of the chamber. Different designs of the closure pin are basically conceivable. For example, multiple webs arranged in a star-shaped manner may also radially extend from the inner wall of the chamber to the longitudinal axis, wherein the webs carry the end region with the closure end in a star-shaped manner. In this case, the closure pin advantageously is arranged in a portion of the chamber, which is tapered relative to the remaining region of the chamber in the form of a discharge region such that the chamber has a smaller diameter in the region of the closure pin.
In addition, the closure end advantageously has a diameter that essentially corresponds to the inside diameter of the closure opening. In this case, the outside diameter of the closure end and the inside diameter of the closure opening are realized correspondingly such that the closure end can be inserted into the closure opening, if applicable with interposition of a sealing element. Consequently, the closure pin is inserted into the closure opening in the form of a plug. In the alternative instance, in which the closure end is not inserted into the closure opening, but rather closes the closure opening from outside, it is advantageous if the closure end has a correspondingly larger diameter than the closure opening.
It is proposed that a sealing element is assigned to the closure opening and/or the closure pin in order to close the closure opening with the closure pin in a fluid-tight manner. A sealing element for connecting the closure end or closure pin and the closure opening in a fluid-tight manner is advantageous in instances, in which the closure end of the closure pin is arranged in front of the closure opening, as well as in instances, in which the closure end protrudes into or even extends through the closure opening and optionally protrudes from the underside of the closure opening. The sealing element may be advantageously realized in the form of a rubber seal or the like. This sealing element may either be arranged on an edge region of the inner housing that defines the closure opening, on the closure end of the closure pin or on the closure opening and on the closure pin.
A sealing element is advantageously assigned to the inner wall of the closure opening, wherein the inner wall particularly is coated with the sealing material. In this respect, it is proposed to insert the closure end of the closure pin into the closure opening with interposition of the sealing element/the coating. Due to the coating of the inner side of the closure opening with a sealing material, it is possible to realize a sealing element that always maintains its position on the closure opening and thereby contributes to an optimal seal of the closure opening.
It is furthermore proposed that the closure opening is part of a flow channel, the length of which corresponds to at least five times its diameter and to no more than twenty times its diameter. The medium flowing out of the chamber therefore has to flow through the flow channel in order to reach the container. In this way, the medium is not discharged from the chamber in a surge-like manner, but rather over a certain period of time and in the form of a relatively fine jet. This not least promotes the superior miscibility of the medium present in the container with the medium flowing out of the chamber. In this case, the closure end of the closure pin does not have to be inserted into the flow channel over the entire length thereof, but rather may, for example, only be inserted into the flow channel with a longitudinal section of a few millimeters in the region of the closure opening. This simplifies the process of joining the chamber with the inner housing because the closure end or the closure pin does not have to be inserted into the flow channel over a greater length, particularly not over the entire longitudinal extent of the closure pin and/or the flow channel.
It would also be possible that the chamber has an opening on the container side and that a snap-lock part with U-shaped cross section encompasses an opening edge of the opening. The opening edge of the opening preferably is designed for snapping the snap-lock part comprising the closure part thereon. The snap-lock cannot be operationally disengaged.
In addition, the (second) output recess of the chamber may also form a lowermost region of the discharge path in an open state of the closure. Furthermore, the closure means that optionally comprises the output recess preferably can also penetrate into the interior of the container freely, i.e. not directly encompassed by sections of the inner housing, with its free end pointing away from the chamber in the open position of the closure.
In another embodiment, the discharge opening on the inner housing may form a sealing lip that abuts on the closure means of the chamber. If the closure means has a circular-cylindrical design, this sealing lip preferably is provided circumferentially and interacts with the facing outer surface of the closure means in the closed position of the closure, as well as in its open state.
The medium preferably is discharged under pressure when the closure is opened. The sealing lip abutting on the closure means is raised into an open position by the exiting medium. After the chamber has been emptied and the pressure exerted upon the sealing lip has decreased accordingly, the sealing lip once again abuts on the outer surface of the closure means due to its elastic resilience. The arrangement and the effect of the sealing lip counteract an uncontrolled drainage of residual amounts of the medium (dripping).
In another embodiment, the chamber may have a chamber bottom, wherein the chamber bottom may transform into a channel that has a discharge opening. In such an embodiment, the channel bottom preferably is spaced apart from a region of the chamber bottom in the axial direction. This may result in a slope between the chamber bottom and the channel, particularly the channel bottom, wherein said slope is in a potential embodiment formed, if applicable, exclusively by the channel wall that defines the channel bottom in the transition to the chamber bottom.
The channel may be closed in an annular manner, particularly annular with respect to a rotational axis. If applicable, the channel thereby completely surrounds the chamber bottom and at the same time optionally defines this chamber bottom radially outward.
The discharge opening may be formed in a channel bottom and/or in a channel sidewall. In a preferred embodiment, the lowest arrangement possible of the discharge opening is realized if the discharge opening is respectively arranged or formed in the channel bottom. In this case, a center axis of the discharge opening may respectively extend essentially perpendicular to the chamber bottom or to a bottom plane that is aligned transverse to the rotational axis.
If the discharge opening is respectively arranged or formed in the region of the channel sidewall, the discharge flow of the medium from the chamber is directed radially outward starting from the channel. Such a discharge opening preferably is also formed within the axial height of the channel and optionally at least tangent to the channel bottom.
Furthermore, the discharge opening may be arranged in the channel bottom, as well as in the channel sidewall, by optionally providing a discharge opening in the channel bottom and a discharge opening in the channel sidewall. In addition, a discharge opening may—with respect to a cross section—only be provided in a transition region from the channel bottom into the channel sidewall.
Multiple discharge openings may also be formed over the circumference of the channel, namely either only in the region of the channel bottom or only in the region of the channel sidewall, but optionally also alternately in the region of the channel bottom and the channel sidewall.
In a potential embodiment, the chamber bottom may comprise a soft plastic layer, particularly for interacting with the closure means in a sealing manner. The closure means preferably interacts with the soft plastic layer, in particular, in the closed position. In another potential and preferred embodiment, the soft plastic layer extends into the region of the channel, particularly including the region of the discharge opening.
The soft plastic layer furthermore may extend over the channel bottom and/or the channel sidewall.
In this case, the discharge opening optionally may be formed only in the soft plastic layer. Accordingly, the soft plastic layer extends into the region of the discharge opening in this case, preferably such that it completely forms the wall of the discharge opening.
The closure means may penetrate into the discharge opening in a pin-like manner in order to tightly close the discharge opening. In an alternative embodiment, the closure means acts like a slide.
For example, a thermoplastic elastomer may be used for manufacturing the soft plastic layer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a vertical section through a closure device according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows the closure device according to FIG. 1 in an arrangement on a container that concerns the closed position;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail of the region III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows an illustration that corresponds to FIG. 2, but concerns the discharge position;

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged detail of the region V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows an illustration that corresponds to FIG. 2 and concerns a second embodiment;

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged detail of the region VII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows the closure device according to the second embodiment in a discharge position;

FIG. 9 shows an enlarged detail of the region IX in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows an illustration that corresponds to FIG. 9 and concerns an additional alternative embodiment;

FIG. 11 shows an illustration that corresponds to FIG. 2 and concerns an additional alternative embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows an enlarged detail of the region XII in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows the discharge position of the additional embodiment;

FIG. 14 shows an enlarged detail of the region XIV in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows a section that essentially corresponds to FIG. 11 and concerns an additional embodiment;

FIG. 16 shows a section along the line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows an enlarged detail of the region XVII and FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 shows an illustration that corresponds to FIG. 13 and concerns the embodiment according to FIGS. 15 to 17;

FIG. 19 shows an enlarged detail of the region XIX in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 shows a section through a closure device according to an additional embodiment, wherein said section essentially corresponds to FIG. 2 and concerns the closed position;

FIG. 21 shows an enlarged detail of the region XXI in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 shows a section that corresponds to FIG. 20, but concerns the discharge position; and

FIG. 23 shows an enlarged illustration that corresponds to FIG. 21 and concerns the region XXIII in FIG. 22.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A closure device 1 with a chamber 6 having a lower opening is illustrated in the figures and described below, wherein an opening means, which makes it possible to empty the chamber 6, is provided relative to said chamber opening. The opening means specifically consists of an opening part, which in this exemplary embodiment particularly is formed by a sealing element 10. This opening part comprises two circumferential sealing zones, namely a sealing zone, which preferably is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the opening means that interacts with an inner surface of the chamber 6, and another sealing zone, which in comparison is inwardly offset and in the exemplary embodiment interacts with a closure pin 7 that forms a closure means V. The aforementioned sealing zones are arranged concentric to one another in a direction extending perpendicular to the chamber 6—referred to a moving direction R of the opening means during an opening process.
FIG. 2 shows an upper portion of a container 2, in this case a beverage bottle, on the container opening 3 of which a closure device 1 according to a first embodiment is arranged. The closure device 1 is in a position relative to the container 2, in which it closes the container opening 3 in a fluid-tight manner. The closure device 1 is conventionally screwed on the container 2 such that the container opening 3 is closed. In this state, the container can be stored for a prolonged period of time, during which the contents are prevented from escaping from the container 2. In order to open the container 2, the closure device 1 is conventionally unscrewed from the container 2 such that the container opening 3 ultimately is completely exposed.
The closure device 1 comprises a lid element 4, a chamber 6 arranged on the lid element 4 and an inner housing 5. In the—non-restrictive—embodiment shown, the lid element 4 is a plastic lid, for example of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE).
FIGS. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of the closure device 1, in which the chamber 6 is manufactured in the form of a separate part, e.g. in a plastic injection blow molding process. However, the chamber can also be manufactured by using a plastic injection blow-stretch molding process, in which the heated preform is in addition to the normal injection blow molding process (extrusion blow molding process) stretched in the longitudinal direction, for example by using a stretching rod extending through the preform opening, prior to or simultaneously with the blow molding process in order to manufacture hollow bodies of a thermoplastic material. For example, an attainable inflation rate (smallest opening diameter: to largest outside diameter) may be as high as 1:10 in this case.
The thusly manufactured chamber 6 is subsequently snapped to the lid element 4 and accordingly snap-locked thereon.
To this end, a circumferential collar 19 may be provided on the outer side of the wall of the chamber 6 as shown, wherein said collar serves for interacting with a corresponding snap-lock projection 20 of the lid element 4 in an interlocking manner.
For example, flattened regions 21 may be provided over the circumference of the chamber wall and in the corresponding regions of the lid element wall in order to transmit the screw torque during a screw-type actuation of the lid element 4. The chamber 6 is held on the lid element in a rotationally rigid manner. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary longitudinal section through the flattened regions of the closure device 1. In contrast to the other longitudinal sections in FIGS. 1 and 4, this longitudinal section in FIG. 2 is illustrated offset by approximately 90° about the longitudinal axis.
The chamber 6 therefore has a one-piece design with respect to the circumferential chamber wall and the chamber ceiling, as well as the discharge nozzle 13 that is located directly adjacent to the chamber wall in the longitudinal direction and has an opening on the container side.
In this embodiment, the closure means V or the closure pin 7 is respectively snap-locked on the chamber 6, particularly on the discharge nozzle 13. This is realized with the aid of a snap-lock part 22. In a longitudinal section, the latter essentially is realized in a U-shaped manner with a circumferential snap-lock collar 23 that encompasses the free end region of the discharge nozzle 13. In the interlocking position, this snap-lock collar engages behind a correspondingly adapted radial step of the discharge nozzle 13 along the opening edge.
The snap-lock part 22 forms an inner circumferential wall, the inner side of which is supported on the discharge nozzle 13. The closure pin 7 is integrally formed on this wall, for example by means of a cross web arrangement.
The inner housing 5 has a pot-like design with a circumferential pot wall and a collar for being supported on the container edge surrounding the container opening 3.
A circumferential sealing lip 24 is integrally formed on the underside of the inner housing collar. In the assigned position, this sealing lip interacts with the container wall surrounding the container opening 3.
In this case, the inner housing 5 also forms a channel dome 14 on the side of the pot bottom. This channel dome centrally carries a pin-shaped structure with the flow channel 11. This pin-shaped structure with the flow channel 11 may be connected to the channel dome 14 by means of a cross web-like connection that, however, is not illustrated in greater detail.
In the exemplary embodiment shown, particularly the above-described connecting region is spray-coated with the material of the sealing element 10 such that the sealing element 10 essentially extends facing the chamber 6, but also at least partially underneath the dome ceiling.
According to FIG. 1, for example, the sealing element 10 may on the side facing the chamber 6 have a cross section that is tapered in a funnel-shaped manner from radially outside toward the center.
The outside diameter of the sealing element 10 corresponds to that of the channel dome 14 and is furthermore adapted to the clear inside diameter of the snap-lock part 22 carrying the closure pin 7 such that a sealing effect between the sealing element 10 and the inner wall of the chamber 6 or the snap-lock part 22 is respectively achieved in the operative position.
Furthermore, the snap-lock part 22 may also be held on the chamber 6 by means of a welded connection.
In this case, the inner housing 5 is also connected to the chamber wall by means of a thread 15.
In the closed position according to FIG. 2, the closure pin 7 penetrates into the closure opening or discharge opening 8 in order to tightly close the chamber 6.
An axial displacement of the closure pin 7 relative to the inner housing 5 is achieved due to the lid element 4 and thereby the chamber 6, wherein the closure pin 7 releases the closure opening 8 in order to discharge the stored medium from the chamber 6 into the container interior.
The inner housing 5 (initially) is secured against rotating by means of a frictional connection between the sealing lip 24 and the container wall.
FIGS. 6 to 9 show another embodiment. In this case, the chamber 6, particularly the circumferential chamber wall and the chamber ceiling, preferably is realized in the form of an insert part that is spray-coated in order to form the lid element 4. The section of the chamber 6, which essentially forms the discharge nozzle 13 and in this embodiment integrally forms the closure pin 7, preferably can be manufactured separately and ultimately connected to the insert part, preferably by means of a welded connection, in order to form the chamber 6.
The discharge nozzle 13 has a section that is tapered in a funnel-shaped manner and transforms into a cylinder section 25 that carries the closure pin 7 on its end. In this case, the closure pin 7 preferably is also held on the cylinder section 25 by means of a cross web arrangement, wherein the closure pin 7 protrudes over the free end of the cylinder section 25 in the axial direction.
The sealing element 10 on the side of the inner housing has a pot-shaped design with a circumferential sealing wall, the outer side of which abuts on the cylinder section of the discharge nozzle 13.
The closure opening 8 is formed in the sealing pot bottom. The flow channel 11 essentially is formed by the sealing element 10.
On the outer side of its wall and on the underside of the sealing pot bottom, the pot-shaped sealing element 10 is circumferentially covered by a section of the inner housing 5 that has a corresponding pot-like design.
In the closed position according to FIGS. 6 and 7, a seal essentially is produced in two concentric regions. One seal is produced in the region between the cylindrical wall of the discharge nozzle 13 and the circumferential sealing pot wall and another seal is produced in the region of the flow channel 11, in which the relevant circumferential wall of the sealing element 10 abuts on the corresponding outer wall of the closure pin 7.
The closure pin 7 has a (second) output recess 26. This output recess is formed by a longitudinally directed groove that opens toward the circumferential wall surface of the closure pin 7, as well as toward the free end thereof.
In the embodiment shown, the closure pin 7 is completely seated in the flow channel 11 in the closed position. In this case, the output recess 26 extends over an axial length that is shorter than the axial length of the sealing region between the closure pin 7 and the sealing element 10. For example, the output recess 26 extends over half the axial length of the closure pin 7.
The figures only show one output recess 26 in the form of a groove. However, an arrangement of multiple grooves or the like, which are distributed over the circumference, would likewise be conceivable. Furthermore, a circumferential radial constriction may be used for realizing the output recess 26.
Due to the axial displacement of the chamber 6 relative to the inner housing 5, the closure pin 7 is in this case also raised into a position according to FIG. 9, in which the cross-sectionally unaffected region of the closure pin 7, which interacts with the sealing element 10 in a sealing manner, exits the flow channel 11 and the output recess 26 is moved into a position, in which it releases a flow channel between the chamber interior and the flow channel 11. The output recess 26 is raised beyond the plane of the output opening.
According to FIG. 9, it suffices if the closure pin 7 is not completely lifted off the sealing element 10 in this case although such a solution is also possible as illustrated in FIG. 10.
If the closure pin 7 is axially extended downward beyond the inner housing 5, this output recess 26 may furthermore form a lowermost region of the discharge path in the discharge state according to FIG. 9 (see the illustration drawn with dot-dash lines in FIG. 9).
In this embodiment, the closure pin 7 and the inner housing 5 or the sealing element 10 respectively interact in the form of a slide valve.
FIGS. 11 to 14 show an embodiment, in which the closure pin 7 and the sealing element 10 interact in the form of a rotary slide valve.
Based on the fundamental arrangement and design of the closure device 1 in accordance with the above-described exemplary embodiment, the inner housing 5 is in this case not connected to the chamber 6 by means of a thread, but rather by means of a snap-lock connection that preferably allows a rotation of the chamber 6 relative to the inner housing 5 over a predefined angular range.
In this embodiment, the closure pin 7 is permanently seated in the sealing element 10 and accordingly is not axially displaced relative thereto.
In this case, only a displacement of the closure pin 7 relative to the sealing element 10 in the circumferential direction takes place, wherein said displacement preferably is limited to an angle of approximately 180° by means of stops.
Analogous to the above-described exemplary embodiment, the closure pin 7 in this case also has a (second) output recess 26 in the form of a groove that extends in the axial direction on the side of the wall. With respect to a cross section perpendicular to the axial direction, this groove is in the closed position according to FIGS. 11 and 12 aligned such that it is offset by approximately 180° relative to a first output recess 27 on the side of the inner housing. This first output recess 27 preferably is also realized in the form of a groove, particular in the form of a groove that extends in the axial direction and is arranged on the side of the wall of the flow channel 11 formed by the sealing element 10. The output recess 27 approximately extends over half the longitudinal extent of the flow channel 11 starting from the closure opening 8 or the opening plane that is directed toward the chamber 6, respectively.
This accordingly results in a partial radial widening of the channel cross section over its circumference in this region.
A rotational displacement causes the closure pin 7 seated in the sealing element 10 to be turned into the discharge position, in which the output recesses 26 and 27 are moved into a corresponding alignment as illustrated in FIG. 14. The groove-like output recesses therefore overlap in the axial direction such that they form the flow path for discharging the medium located in the chamber 6.
In this embodiment, the inner housing 5 likewise is already axially raised relative to the container opening 3 over the first rotational path of approximately 180° in order to reach the discharge position. The sealing lip 24 has an adequate axial length for generating a sufficiently high holding torque in order to prevent the inner housing 5 from rotating despite this axial displacement in the course of the rotational displacement from the closed position into the discharge position.
A circumferential sealing lip 29 is integrally formed on the inner housing 5 or directly formed by the sealing element 20 in the region of the discharge opening 28. This sealing lip acts against the circumferential surface of the assigned region of the closure pin 7, namely in the closed position, as well as in the open position. In this way, the flow channel 11 is sealed in the discharge position of the closure device 1, which also corresponds to the removed position of the lid. A lid that was removed after the discharge of the medium from the chamber 6 into the container 2 and placed on a work surface therefore cannot lose any residual amount of medium that may still be present in the chamber 6. Soiling of the work surface and the environment is thereby counteracted.
Since the pressure in the chamber 6 is no longer higher than the ambient pressure after the discharge of the medium in the discharge position, such a lip-shaped seal suffices for preventing potential residual amounts from dripping out.
The closure device 1 can be conventionally filled: filling—preassembly—pressurization—assembly.
Furthermore, the inner housing 5 may also be snap-locked on the chamber 6 in the open valve position after the chamber 6 has been filled, wherein the chamber 6 is subsequently pressurized and closed due to a relative rotation between the inner housing 5 and the chamber 6. It is also possible to snap on the inner housing 5 in the closed valve position after the chamber 6 has been filled.
The sealing element 10 is constructed in such a way that it essentially abuts on the closure pin 7 permanently with a prestress in the region of the discharge opening. On the one hand, this prevents anything from depositing in the first output recess 27 between the sealing element 10 and the closure pin 7. On the other hand, the sealing lip 29 can provide an effective drip protection.
In the embodiment shown, the sealing lip 29 has a fluting 30 on the outer side in order to additionally increase the flexibility such that the least resistance possible is generated during the pressurized discharge of the chamber contents.
FIGS. 15 to 19 show another embodiment that essentially is based on the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 11 to 14.
In this case, the chamber 6, the discharge nozzle 13 and the closure pin 7 are also connected to one another in a rotationally rigid manner and rotatable relative to the inner housing 5 as a whole, but rigidly connected to this inner housing in the axial direction.
As in the above-described exemplary embodiment, a preferably outer circumferential bead 9 on the discharge nozzle 13 may in this case also engage into an assigned annular groove 12 of the inner housing 5. This allows the rotational displacement, in particular, of the closure pin relative to the inner housing 5. However, a relative displacement in the axial direction is prevented.
In the previous embodiment, a rotation of the lid element 4 from the closed position in the direction of a lid removal position (initially) causes a rotation of the chamber 6 with the closure pin 7 relative to the inner housing 5 and a superimposed axial displacement of the inner housing 5 and the chamber 6 with the closure pin 7 in the lid removal direction, but only a rotation of the closure pin 7 relative to the inner housing 5 via the chamber 6 without the aforementioned axial displacement can initially be realized in the embodiment according to FIGS. 15 to 19 at the beginning of the rotation of the lid element 4 out of the closed position according to FIG. 15.
An axial displacement of the chamber 6 with the closure pin 7 and the inner housing 5 in the removal direction preferably is prevented until a discharge position illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19 is reached.
This is essentially achieved with a freewheel of the lid element 4 relative to the chamber 6 referred to the axial direction.
To this end, a stopping rib 15, which in the longitudinal section according to FIG. 15 points radially outward in the direction of the inner wall surface of the lid element 4, may be provided on the outer side of the wall of the chamber 6. In the closed position of the lid according to FIG. 15, a driving rib 16, which in the exemplary embodiment shown essentially protrudes radially inward, is provided on the inner side of the wall of the lid element 4 at an axial distance underneath this stopping rib 15.
The axial distance between the driving rib 16 and the stopping rib 15 in the optionally sealed closed position of the lid according to FIG. 15 preferably can be adapted to the axial displacement path of the lid element 4 during a rotation thereof by about 180 degrees. The axial distance therefore may lie between 1 mm and 2.5 mm, for example between 1.6 mm and 1.8 mm.
The chamber 6 is held in the lid element 4 in a rotationally rigid manner, but can be linearly displaced in the lid element 4 in the axial direction by the above-described dimension. To this end, axially extending ribs 31 are provided on the outer side of the wall of the chamber 6 and engaged with correspondingly adapted ribs 32 on the inner side of the wall of the lid element 4, which likewise extend in the axial direction (see FIG. 16).
In this way, the chamber 6 and the elements connected to the chamber 6 can be vertically displaced relative to the lid element 4 and the chamber 6 is at the same time rotationally driven by the lid element 4.
Due to the rotational displacement of the lid element 4 out of the closed position according to FIG. 15 and the correspondingly driven rotation of the chamber 6, the closure pin 7 seated in the sealing element is in this embodiment also turned into the discharge position, in which the output recesses 26 and 27 are moved into a corresponding alignment as illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19. In this case, the groove-like output recesses also overlap in the axial direction and thereby form the flow path for discharging the medium.
No axial displacement of the chamber 6 and of the inner housing 5 takes place in the course of this initial rotational displacement over an exemplary angle of approximately 180 degrees. This axial displacement, particularly for removing the inner housing 5 from the container opening 3, preferably only begins once the discharge position according to FIGS. 18 and 19 is reached by continuing the rotational displacement of the lid element 4 and thereby causing the rib 32 on the side of the lid to act upon the rib 31 on the side of the chamber.
FIGS. 20 to 23 show another embodiment, in which a chamber bottom 33 is formed by the inner housing 5 in the assigned state as it is essentially also the case in the above-described embodiments. With respect to the cross section illustrated in FIG. 20, this chamber bottom extends at an acute angle to the plane aligned with the body axis of the closure device 1.
The chamber bottom 33 transforms into a channel over its entire circumference. With respect to the section illustrated in FIG. 20, this channel is defined by an inner channel sidewall 35 and a radially outer channel sidewall 36, as well as by a channel bottom 37.
The radially inner sidewall 35 transforms into the chamber bottom 33 whereas the radially outer channel sidewall 36 essentially forms the housing wall of the inner housing 5.
A soft plastic layer 38 particularly covers the surface of the channel bottom 37, but preferably also the surface of the radially inner channel sidewall 35 pointing into the channel space and optionally also the surface of the chamber bottom 33 facing the chamber 6 as shown. This soft plastic layer preferably can be manufactured together with the inner housing 5 in a two-component injection molding process. The soft plastic layer 38 may alternatively be manufactured separately in the form of a pot-like part and, for example, snap-locked on the inner side of the inner housing 5.
At least one discharge or closure opening 8 is formed in the region of the channel bottom 37, wherein the opening axis of said discharge or closure opening preferably is directed identically to the body axis of the closure device 1, i.e. essentially aligned along a vertical line in a standing state of the container 2.
The discharge opening 8 is realized in the form of a bore and extends through the hard plastic material in the region of the chamber bottom 33, as well as through the soft material in the region of the soft plastic layer 38.
Analogous to the description of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 19, the closure means and the sealing element in the embodiments according to FIGS. 20 to 23 also interact in the form of a rotary slide valve.
The sealing element 10 is formed by the soft plastic layer 38. The closure means V is in this embodiment essentially realized in a plug-like manner and particularly formed by the wall of the discharge nozzle 13.
The discharge nozzle 13 essentially extends in the form of a circular cylinder, wherein the free annular end, which usually points downward in the operative state, penetrates into the channel 34 of the inner housing 5.
The closure means V, which in this case corresponds to the annular end region of the discharge nozzle 13, is permanently seated in the sealing element 10, in this case the channel 34, and accordingly not displaced relative to the sealing element in the direction of the axis. The closure means V preferably is only displaced relative to the sealing element 10, particularly the soft plastic layer 38, in the circumferential direction, wherein the displacement of the closure means takes place over an angle, for example, of 180° and is limited by stops.
In this case, the closure means V has a (second) output recess 26 in the form of a groove, the edges of which are open radially inward in the direction of the radially inner channel sidewall 35 and axially downward in the direction of the discharge opening 8. In the closed position according to FIGS. 20 and 21, this groove is aligned such that it is offset by approximately 180° relative to a first output recesses 27, which is formed in the region of the channel sidewall 35 in the direction of the channel 34. Accordingly, this groove is formed in the region of the soft plastic layer 38.
This first output recess 27 preferably is also realized in the form of a groove, particularly in the form of a groove extending in the axial direction. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, this first output recess 27 is provided in the transition from the channel sidewall 35 into the chamber bottom 33 and axially spaced apart from the discharge opening 8.
Accordingly, the channel 34 is radially widened in the region of the first output recess 27.
A rotational displacement causes the plug-shaped closure means V seated in the channel 34 to be turned into the discharge position, in which the output recesses 26 and 27 are moved into a corresponding alignment as illustrated in FIG. 23. This means that the groove-like output recesses overlap in the axial direction and the second output recess 26 is assigned to the discharge opening 8 such that the output recesses form the flow path for discharging the medium located in the chamber 6.
The first output recess 27 opens in the axial direction toward the chamber 6.
The preceding explanations serve for elucidating all inventions that are included in this application and respectively enhance the prior art independently with at least the following combinations of characteristic features, namely:
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the closure means is a closure pin 7, which is rigidly connected to the chamber 6 and has a vertical extent with respect to the rotational axis, and in that the closure means is over the vertical extent realized with different regions, namely a flow-through region and a closure region.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the closure means is a closure pin 7, and in that the closure pin 7 is connected to the chamber by means of a snap-lock part 22.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the opening means has an output recess 26, 27 that is designed dependent on the rotating direction.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the inner housing 5 has a (first) output recess, which is during an unscrewing process correspondingly aligned with a (second) output recess formed on the chamber 6 due to a mere relative rotation between the chamber 6 and the inner housing 5.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the (second) output recess (26) is formed on a closure pin 7.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the closure pin 7 is connected to the chamber 6 by means of a snap-lock part 22.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the motion takes place without an axial relative motion between the chamber 6 and the inner housing 5.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the lid element 4 is, relative to the chamber 6 in a removal direction of the lid element 4, movable relative to the container 2 to a limited degree in a first motion segment of the lid element 4 in the course of a removal of the lid element 4 from the container 2 and motion-coupled to the container 2 in a second motion segment.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the motion between the chamber 6 and the inner housing 5 allows a discharge of medium by merely moving the closure means and the opening means relative to one another in a horizontal plane.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the lid element 4 can be rotationally moved relative to the chamber 6 in the first motion segment.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the chamber 6 has a closure part in the form of a closure pin 7, and in that the opening means interact with the closure part.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the closure pin 7 is realized integrally with the chamber 6.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the closure pin 7 has a freely projecting closure end 9 that can be inserted into the closure opening 8.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the closure end 9 has a diameter that essentially corresponds to the inside diameter of the closure opening 8.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that a sealing element 10 is assigned to the closure opening 8 and/or the closure pin 7 in order to close the closure opening 8 with the closure pin 7 in a fluid-tight manner.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that a sealing element 10 is assigned to the inner wall of the closure opening 8, and in that the inner wall is coated with the sealing material in order to form the sealing element 10.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the closure opening 8 is part of a flow channel 11, the length of which corresponds to at least five times its diameter and to no more than twenty times its diameter.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the chamber 6 is arranged concentrically in the inner housing 5, wherein the chamber 6 can be axially displaced within the inner housing 5 due to an opening process of the closure device 1 on the container 2.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the chamber 6 has an opening on the container side, and in that a snap-lock part 22 with U-shaped cross section encompasses an opening edge of the opening.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the (first) output recess 27 of the chamber 6 also forms a lowermost region of the discharge path in an open state of the closure.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the discharge opening on the inner housing 5 forms a sealing lip 29 that abuts on the closure means of the chamber 6.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the chamber 6 has a chamber bottom 33, and in that the chamber bottom 33 transforms into a channel 34 that has a discharge opening 8.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the channel 34 is closed in an annular manner.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the discharge opening 8 is formed in a channel bottom 37 and/or in a channel sidewall 36.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that multiple discharge openings 8 are formed over the circumference of the channel 34.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the chamber bottom 33 comprises a soft plastic layer 38.
A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the discharge opening 8 is only formed in the soft plastic layer 38.
All disclosed characteristic features are essential to the invention (individually, but also in combination with one another). The disclosure content of the associated/attached priority documents (copy of the priority application) is hereby fully incorporated into the disclosure of this application, namely also for the purpose of integrating characteristic features of these documents into claims of the present application. The characteristic features of the dependent claims characterize independent inventive enhancements of the prior art, particularly for submitting divisional applications on the basis of these claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 Closure device
2 Container
3 Container opening
4 Lid element
5 Inner housing
6 Chamber
7 Closure pin
8 Closure opening
9 Bead
10 Sealing element
11 Flow channel
12 Annular groove
13 Discharge nozzle
14 Channel dome
15 Stopping rib
16 Driving rib
17 Thread
18 Thread
19 Collar
20 Snap-lock projection
21 Flattened region
22 Snap-lock part
23 Snap-lock collar
24 Sealing lip
25 Cylinder section
26 Output recess
27 Output recess
28 Discharge opening
29 Sealing lip
30 Fluting
31 Rib
32 Rib
33 Chamber bottom
34 Channel
35 Channel sidewall
36 Channel sidewall
37 Channel bottom
38 Soft plastic layer
V Closure means

Claims

1. A closure device (1) for a container (2) with a container opening (3), wherein the closure device (1) comprises a lid element (4) for closing the container opening (3), a chamber (6) assigned to the lid element (4) and an inner housing (5), and wherein the chamber (6) and the inner housing (5) have closure means and opening means, which correspond to one another and interact with one another in such a way that a discharge opening (8) assigned to the chamber (6) as opening means can be released by rotationally moving the closure means connected to the lid element (4) relative to the inner housing (5) such that a medium stored in the chamber (6) can exit into the container (2), wherein the closure means is a closure pin (7), which is rigidly connected to the chamber (6) and has a vertical extent with respect to a rotational axis, and wherein the the vertical extent comprises a flow-through region and a closure region.

2. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the closure means is a closure pin (7), and wherein the closure pin (7) is connected to the chamber by a snap-lock part (22).

3. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the opening means has an output recess (26, 27) that is designed dependent on the rotating direction and/or wherein the inner housing (5) has a first output recess (27), which is during an unscrewing process correspondingly aligned with a second output recess (26) formed on the chamber (6) due to a relative rotation between the chamber (6) and the inner housing (5) without requiring a relative motion in a direction of the rotational axis and/or wherein the second output recess (26) is formed on a closure pin (7) and/or wherein the closure pin (7) is connected to the chamber (6) by a snap-lock part (22) and/or wherein the motion takes place without an axial relative motion between the chamber (6) and the inner housing (5).

4. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lid element (4) is, relative to the chamber (6) in a removal direction of the lid element (4), movable relative to the container (2) to a limited degree in a first motion segment of the lid element (4) in a course of a removal of the lid element (4) from the container (2) and motion-coupled to the container (2) in a second motion segment.

5. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the motion between the chamber (6) and the inner housing (5) allows a discharge of medium by merely moving the closure means and the opening means relative to one another in a horizontal plane and/or wherein the lid element (4) is configured to be rotationally moved relative to the chamber (6) in the first motion segment and/or wherein the chamber (6) has a closure part in the form of a closure pin (7) and the opening means interact with the closure part and/or wherein the closure pin (7) is formed integrally with the chamber (6).

6. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the closure pin (7) has a freely projecting closure end (9) that is configured to be inserted into the closure opening (8), wherein the closure end (9) preferably has a diameter that essentially corresponds to an inside diameter of the closure opening (8).

7. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein a sealing element (10) is assigned to the closure opening (8) and/or the closure pin (7) in order to close the closure opening (8) with the closure pin (7) in a fluid-tight manner.

8. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein a sealing element (10) is assigned to an inner wall of the closure opening (8) and/or wherein the inner wall is coated with the sealing material in order to form the sealing element (10).

9. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the closure opening (8) is part of a flow channel (11), a length of which corresponds to at least five times its diameter and to no more than twenty times its diameter, and/or wherein the chamber (6) is arranged concentrically in the inner housing (5), wherein the chamber (6) is configured to be axially displaced within the inner housing (5) due to an opening process of the closure device (1) on the container (2), and/or wherein the chamber (6) has an opening on a container side and a snap-lock part (22) with U-shaped cross section encompasses an opening edge of the opening.

10. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first output recess (27) of the chamber (6) also forms a lowermost region of the discharge path in an open state of the closure and/or wherein the discharge opening on the inner housing (5) forms a sealing lip (29) that abuts on the closure means of the chamber (6).

11. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the chamber (6) has a chamber bottom (33), and wherein the chamber bottom (33) transforms into a channel (34) that has a discharge opening (8).

12. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein channel (34) is closed in an annular manner.

13. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the discharge opening (8) is formed in a channel bottom (37) and/or in a channel sidewall (36).

14. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein multiple discharge openings (8) are formed over a circumference of the channel (34).

15. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the chamber bottom (33) comprises a soft plastic layer (38).

16. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the discharge opening (8) is only formed in the soft plastic layer (38).