WO2007045360A1

WO2007045360A1 - Tube or bottle-like container

Info

Publication number: WO2007045360A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/009644
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hartwig Dauck; Christopher David Emmerson; Christian Nagel
Original assignee: Bayer Cropscience Ag
Priority date: 2005-10-19
Filing date: 2006-10-05
Publication date: 2007-04-26
Also published as: TWI500563B; DE102005050403A1; TW200800740A; AR056698A1

Abstract

In a tube- or bottle-like container (1, 11) for storing at least one medium, having a first and a second end (5, 8, 15, 18), whereby the first end (5, 15) can be provided or is provided with an outlet opening (7, 24) and/or a closure element (6, 16), at least one ticket-like element (2, 12) which can be provided with or is provided with information is provided and is connected to the tube- or bottle-like container (1, 11) essentially in such a way that it cannot be detached or cannot be detached without damage.

Description

Tube- or bottle-like container

The invention relates to a tube- or bottle-like container for storing at least one medium, having a first and a second end, whereby the first end can be provided or is provided with an outlet opening and/or a closure element.

Such containers are known in the prior art, for example for accommodating 10 ml of a liquid medium. They are of small size and are used especially in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry. Such tube- or bottle-like containers are also used for certain adhesives. On account of their small size, however, they do not have much space for applying inscription texts, in contrast to larger tubes or bottles. Especially when using such tubes or bottles for accommodating chemicals, however, longer inscription texts and user instructions are possibly necessary, so that additional brochures in an external packaging for the tube- or bottle-like container are normally provided. An example of such products is vermin killers. However, such multi-page brochures are relatively expensive.

Furthermore, however, despite their small size, some tubes or bottles are not only intended for single use but also partly for multiple use, i.e. the contents of the tubes or bottles are not emptied completely from the tube or the bottle during an application. In this case, it proves to be advantageous if, firstly, a closure is provided for reclosing the outlet opening of the tube or of the bottle and, secondly, the product information is kept in the vicinity of the tube or of the bottle in order to leave any warning instructions which are in the brochures, in particular instructions concerning risk to health, with the product.

WO 2005/042371 A1 discloses a fluid dispenser having a flat casing element partly surrounding said fluid dispenser in order to be able to take hold of it more effectively. On its longitudinal sides, the dispenser has grooves in which the flat casing element engages. On account of the special selection of the groove width and of the wall thickness of the casing element, the latter can be clamped in place in the grooves. The provision of tabs on the outside on the lid of the dispenser is also disclosed, these tabs enclosing the casing element on its outer sides. The fluid dispenser can be separated from the casing element by pushing out the latter.

WO 03/004378 A1 discloses an arrangement having a plurality of containers arranged side by side in a carrier. These containers are arranged inside a cutout of the carrier and are connected to the latter via webs. In order to be able to remove the containers from the carrier, the webs are separated. Each container has a body which can be filled and a filling or emptying opening. The container primarily serves to store cosmetics, cleaning agents or dyes, etc. The carrier can have information or a decorative pattern on its top side.

DE 20 56 245 A1 discloses a display pack in which a label is fixed to an article arranged inside the display pack and to a display panel of the display pack. The article is intended to be removed from the display panel, only part of the label remaining on the display panel and the other part remaining on the article. For this purpose, the label has a folding line of the like for making it easier to separate the one part of the label from the other. Here, only a very small region is provided which remains on the article and serves for the inscription of the article.

The object of the present invention, then, is to develop a tube- or bottle-like container for storing at least one container to the effect that the ease of manipulation and the user safety of such a container is improved compared with the known containers and in particular detailed instructions and information which concern the contents of the container continue to remain available after it has been opened and can be assigned to this container.

The object is achieved for a tube- or bottle-like container according to the preamble of Claim 1 in that at least one ticket-like element which can be or is provided with information is provided and is connected to the tube- or bottle-like container essentially in such a way that it cannot be detached or cannot be detached without damage.

As a result, a tube- or bottle-like container for storing at least one medium is provided in which it is possible to print or put product information text onto the ticket-like element, the ticket-like element remaining connected to the container, so that the product information can be clearly assigned to a specific container. Even after the opening and reclosing of the container, the production information can be kept together with the container. As a result, inadvertent separation of container and ticket-like element with production information can essentially be avoided. On the contrary, the container would have to be deliberately separated from the ticket-like element, connections between ticket-like element and container being provided which essentially cannot be severed or cannot be severed without damage. Product descriptions printed on blister carriers or packages of blister carriers are certainly known from the prior art, for example from DE 88 14 793 U 1 or DE 88 11 942 U 1 and DE 88 11 950 U1. However, only blister carriers with corresponding descriptions on said blister carriers or on additional sheets of a package for the blister carriers are disclosed in these publications. This is therefore not comparable with the provision according to the invention of a tube- or bottle-like container for storing at least one medium, having a ticket-like element to which information concerning the contents of the container can be attached.

The display panel disclosed in DE 20 56 245 A1 is not used for information remaining with the product, but rather is thrown away after the article has been removed. In contrast to the present invention, especially no ticket-like element of larger dimensions is connected to the container in this prior art, but rather only a label of small size is fastened to the container, by adhesion for example. Due to the elongated ticket-like element of larger size according to the invention, it is not only possible to provide an imprint, containing warning instructions for example, on the elongated ticket-like element, but improved ease of manipulation can also be provided by a larger surface which can be taken hold of. In this case, contact with the contents of the container can be avoided very effectively.

According to WO 03/004378 A1 , the connection to the carrier via webs is less robust than the connection provided according to the invention between the ticket- like element and the tube- or bottle-like container in order to avoid inadvertent separation of the container from the ticket-like element. A special advantage of the present invention lies in the fact that contact with the skin of the user can be avoided even in the case of critical media provided inside the container, since the ticket-like element at the same time serves as a grip element, which can be taken hold of. When the container is being opened, the container and the ticket-like element can be taken hold of together and thus a larger manipulating area can be provided. The at least one ticket-like element is therefore advantageously arranged in the area of the second end of the container. In this way, the area for taking hold of on the container becomes larger in this region, so that the container with ticket-like element can be more easily taken hold of.

Furthermore, it proves to be advantageous if the ticket-like element surrounds at least one portion of the tube- or bottle-like container. The ticket-like element can therefore either be fastened only to the second end of the tube- or bottle-like container or can extend even further over the longitudinal extent of the container. An especially good and reliable connection is obtained if the ticket-like element extends over a large part of the longitudinal extent of the tube- or bottle-like container, in particular over more than half the longitudinal extent of the container. In this way, it is possible to squeeze out or empty the container in an especially effective manner, since the ticket-like element can be taken hold of, so that contamination of the hands of the user by the medium arranged in the container can essentially be avoided. In principle, it is also possible for the tube- or bottle like container to be arranged in the area of the ticket-like element or for it to be capable of being arranged therein. To empty the container, a predetermined breaking point or predetermined bending point is preferably provided both on the container and on the ticket-like element in this region in order to permit the opening of the container. The container is opened and the ticket-like element separated by severing the predetermined breaking point or the predetermined bending point.

On the one hand, the ticket-like element can be essentialy continuously fastened on the outside of the tube- or bottle-like container, for example welded or adhesively bonded in place there. Additionally or alternatively, it is possible to connect the tube- or bottle-like container and the ticket-like element only at a few points. The ticket-like element can be advantageously provided with at least one cutout or at least one cutout area in order to be able to insert the tube- or bottle- like container in said ticket-like element. Projecting elements which can be connected to the ticket-like element can then be provided, for example, on the container. Furthermore, it is possible to connect the tube- or bottle-like container to the surface of or to the ticket-like element at least at one point via one or more web-like elements. The connection may on the one hand be effected subsequently after the ticket-like element and the tube- or bottle-like container have been produced, or the container and the ticket-like element are produced in one operation, predetermined breaking points and/or web-like elements being provided between them.

The closure element for closing the first end of the container can preferably be connected to or is preferably connected to a portion of the ticket-like element. Especially when a predetermined breaking point is provided in the region of the ticket-like element, a larger area is then provided which can be taken hold off for detaching the closure element, so that contamination of the hands of the user by the contents of the tube- or bottle-like container can again largely be avoided. Compared with, for example, the prior art according to WO 03/004378 A1 , the present invention has the advantage that, if the outlet opening sinks inside the carrier or a cutout in the latter, as described in WO 03/004378 A1 , the risk of undesirable contact with the contents of the container cannot be ruled out. In contrast, in the present invention, due to the predetermined breaking or bending point advantageously provided along the line of the container opening, one-piece production of ticket-like element and tube- or bottle-like container is possible, then the closure element can be taken hold of in an optimum manner and can be detached from the tube- or bottle-like container without contaminating the hands of the user.

The ticket-like element and the tube- or bottle-like container can be connected after their production, or the tube- or bottle-like container and the ticket-like element can be produced in one operation, predetermined breaking points and/or web-like elements being provided between them. The tube- or bottle-like container is preferably made of a plastic material, in particular polyurethane. However, the container may also be made of another material. A plastic material and/or a paper material is likewise especially suitable for the ticket-like element, the product information accordingly required being applied, for example, to a paper carrier, and the paper carrier subsequently being coated with a plastic coating or laminated in plastic film in order to protect it against damage by chemicals. The ticket-like element therefore possibly being provided as a laminate. The information can be applied to the ticket-like element by, for example, printing, inscribing or in another way, sticking product information onto a ticket-like element in an adhesive manner also being possible.

It also proves to be advantageous for at least one hole or an opening for enabling the tube- or bottle-like container to be suspended to be provided at an end of the ticket-like element which is averted from the tube- or bottle-like container. In this way, individual tube- or bottle-like containers which, without the ticket-like elements, could be put on the market only in additional external packaging, since they are of too small size on their own and normally have to be sold with an information brochure, can be suspended in a space-saving manner on a bar or rail for sale in a salesroom. Therefore no further external packaging is required for the container, so that packing material can be saved in this respect.

It also proves to be advantageous to connect a plurality of containers with ticket- like elements to one another or to provide them connected to one another and/or in such a way that they can be released from one another. During production, predetermined breaking points for the separation may be provided in this case between the individual ticket-like elements, so that mass production of tube- or bottle-like containers with ticket-like elements is easily possible in this way. The ticket-like elements, with the correspondingly desired configuration, the length of which is preferably greater than its width, are produced in one operation, either already together with the tube- or bottle-like container or separately from the latter, the container being connected to the ticket-like element in a subsequent operation. The production of the containers with ticket-like elements is therefore also suitable for mass production, without a great deal of additional work resulting in the process. Instead of the provision of only one ticket-like element per container, a plurality of ticket-like elements may also be provided on said container in principle. Conversely, it is also possible to provide more than one container on a correspondingly designed ticket-like element.

To explain the invention in more detail, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a tube-like container according to the invention with ticket-like element,

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the tube-like container according to Figure

1 during an opening operation,

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the tube-like container according to Figure

1 during the emptying operation,

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a plurality of tube-like containers according to Figure 1 suspended on a bar,

Figure 5 shows a perspective plan view of a second embodiment of a tube-like container according to the invention with ticket-like element made of an essentially rigid material,

Figure 6 to Figure 10 show various views of a third embodiment of a tube-like container according to the invention with ticket-like element,

Figure 11 shows a perspective plan view of a fourth embodiment of a tube- like container according to the invention with ticket-like element,

Figure 12 shows a perspective plan view of the tube-like container according to Figure 11 with detached closure element, Figure 13a shows a plan view of the inscribed ticket-like element with tube- like container according to Figure 11 , and

Figure 13b shows a plan view of the rear side of the tube-like container with ticket-like element according to Figure 13a.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a tube-like container 1 for storing a medium, such as, for example, a liquid, in particular a pesticide. Provided on the tube-like container and connected to it is a ticket-like element 2. The ticket-like element 2 contains an imprint which describes the contents of the tube-like container 1 in more detail. The imprint is designated by the reference numeral 3. Instead of an imprint 3, another inscription of the ticket-like element 2 may also be provided. The ticket-like element 2 is designed with such dimensions that all the requisite details concerning the contents of the tube-like container 1 can be attached thereto. For example, as in the embodiment according to Figure 1 , warning instructions 4 concerning the contents of the container may also be arranged next to the latter on the ticket-like element 2.

The tube-like container 1 is flanked by the ticket-like element 2 along a large part of its longitudinal extent. In this embodiment, the ticket-like element 2 is fastened to the outside of the tube-like container by adhesion. Another type of fastening is of course likewise possible. The tube-like container and the ticket-like element may also be composed of the same material. A casting or blow moulding process, for example, is suitable here.

A narrowing end 5 of the tube-like container 1 is arranged outside the region of the ticket-like element 2. The narrowing end is provided with a closure element 6, which can be removed from this tapered end 5. This operation is indicated in Figure 2. In this case, the ticket-like element 2 can advantageously be taken hold of, so that, despite the small size of the tube-like container, it is possible to readily take a firm hold by taking hold of the ticket-like element 2 and if need be also at the tube-like container 1 , and it is possible to open the tube-like container 1 without any problems. In the process, the closure element 6 can be unscrewed from or twisted off the tapered end 5 of the container. As a result, an outlet opening 7 of the container is opened, so that, by squeezing the tube-like container 1 , its contents can discharge from the outlet opening 7 in a known manner. This is indicated in Figure 3. Here, too, the ticket-like element 2 can advantageously again be taken hold of, so that contamination of the hands of the user by the contents of the container need not be feared. If need be, it is also possible to reclose the outlet opening 7 by the closure element 6. In this case, it proves to be especially advantageous that accurate identification of the contents of the tube- like container 1 is still subsequently possible by means of the ticket-like element 2 connected to the latter or by means of the imprint 3 of said ticket-like element 2 and warning instructions 4.

As can already be seen from Figure 1 , the ticket-like element 2 has an opening 9 at its end 8 opposite the tube-like container 1. This opening 9 may be made for suspending the unit of tube-like container 1 and ticket-like element 2 on a sales bar, as illustrated by the bar 10 in Figure 4. The opening may be provided either in the form of a small hole, as indicated in Figures 1 to 10, or as an elongated hole or a combination of a dot-like and an elongated hole, as indicated for example in Figures 11 to 13b.

The length of the ticket-like element 2 may vary, as may the width of the same. The length and width are adapted to the respective application, that is to say, inter alia, to the extent of the information to be applied to the ticket-like element 2.

Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of a tube-like container 11 according to the invention with a ticket-like element 12. The tube-like container 11 is not firmly connected to the ticket-like element 12 over a large part of its longitudinal extent as is the case in the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 4. On the contrary, the ticket-like element 12 has a cutout 13, inside which the tube-like container 11 lies. The tube-like container 11 is connected to the surface of the ticket-like element 12 via two lateral fastening tabs 14. The two fastening tabs 14 are arranged laterally on the tube-like container 11 in the vicinity of the transition to the tapered end 15 of the container. Also arranged at the tapered end 15 in this embodiment of the container is a closure element 16, which is likewise fastened to the surface of the ticket-like element 12. In this embodiment, the fastening tabs 14 and the closure element 16 are fastened by adhesive spots or welding spots. Another type of connection is in principle also possible, as described further below with reference to Figures 6 to 10.

To open the tube-like container 11 , a predetermined breaking point 17 in the surface of the ticket-like element 12, this predetermined breaking point 17 being designed as a perforation in Figure 5 and being provided in the region of the tapered end 15, is severed, and the closure element 16 together with the detached portion 19 of the ticket-like element 12 is turned in order to open the tube-like container 11. The tube-like container otherwise remains connected to the other portion 20 of the ticket-like element 12 via the fastening tabs 14. The portion 19 of the ticket-like element 12 remains connected to the closure element 16. That end 18 of the tube-like container 11 which is remote from the closure element 16 is not - like the end 8 of the container 1 in the embodiment according to Figure 1 - connected to the ticket-like element 12. Nonetheless, it is in principle possible to provide a connecting tab between this end 18 and the ticket-like element 12 if this is desired. Further fastening tabs may also be provided along the extent of the tube-like container for fastening the same to the ticket-like element.

As can be seen from Figure 5, the ticket-like element 12 may be formed from a firmer material, in particular plastic. However, as is the case in the embodiment according to Figures 1 to 4, a more flexible material, such as paper or card for example, may also be selected, or a thinner plastic material or also another flexible material may be selected. In principle, the use of a combination of several materials, in particular of a laminate, is also possible. The tube-like container is preferably made of a plastic material, in particular polyurethane. Instead of a tube shape, a bottle shape may also be provided. However, this is not shown in the figures.

An embodiment, similar to the embodiment according to Figure 5, of a ticket-like element made of a more robust or more rigid material is shown in Figures 6 to 10. In this case, Figure 6 shows a plan view, Figure 7 shows a side view, Figure 8 shows a bottom view of a tube-like container with ticket-like element, Figure 9 shows a plan view of only the tube-like container and Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a combination of tube-like container and ticket-like element. In contrast to the embodiment according to Figure 5, the fastening tabs 14 of the tube-like container in this embodiment are arranged further away from the predetermined breaking point 17. The tapered end 15 of the tube-like container 11 is not arranged in the portion 19 that can be separated but rather in the portion 20 of the ticket-like element. In the same way as in the embodiment according to Figure 5, however, the cutout 13 is again formed in the ticket-like element 12 in such a way that the inner end 18 which is opposite the closure element 16 of the container lies free in the cutout, that is to say it is not connected to the ticket-like element.

As can be seen from the plan view in Figure 6 and from the bottom view in Figure

8, the ticket-like element 12 has openings 21 which serve to connect the fastening tabs and the closure element to the ticket-like element. For example, pins 22 can be provided on the closure element and the fastening tabs for such a connection, as is indicated in the side view in Figure 7, these pins 22 being inserted into the openings 21. From the underside of the ticket-like element 12, the fastening tabs and the closure element are therefore only partly visible, as can be seen from Figure 8 and Figure 7.

The shape of the tube-like container 11 , of the fastening tabs 14 and of the closure element 16 may vary. Only one possible embodiment is shown in Figure

9. In the embodiment according to Figure 9, the width of the closure element is designed to be exactly the same as the width over the two fastening tabs. In principle, the dimensions here may also be varied.

The embodiment of the tube-like container and of the ticket-like element according to Figures 11 and 12 differs from that according to Figures 6 to 10 only in the different configuration of the opening 23 for hanging the ticket-like element on a rail 10 for example. In Figure 12, the tube-like container 11 is shown opened, it being possible to look into an outlet opening 24 of the tube-like container 11. Depending on its design, the closure element together with the portion 19 can be fitted onto the outlet opening 24 again. For example, for this purpose, the closure element has a projecting pin or device like that for inserting into the outlet opening.

Figures 13a and 13b show a front view or a rear view of the inscribed ticket-like element 12. Inscriptions may be provided on said ticket-like element 12 on the front and rear sides 25, 26 or also only on the front side or only the rear side, in particular in the form of an imprint and/or of laminated information layers.

In addition to the abovedescribed embodiments, shown in the figures, of a tube- like container according to the invention with ticket-like element, numerous further embodiments may be formed in which a respective tube- or bottle-like container is provided with such a ticket-like element, the container and ticket-like element being firmly connected to one another at least at one location and essentially inseparably. In this case, a plurality of ticket-like elements and/or tube-like containers may also be combined with one another and fastened to one another.

List of reference signs

Tube-like container

Ticket-like element

Imprint

Warning instruction tapered end

Closure element

Outlet opening

End

Opening

Bar

Tube-like container

Ticket-like element

Cutout

Fastening tab tapered end

Closure element

Predetermined breaking point

End portion portion

Opening

Outlet opening

Front side

Rear side

Claims

1. Tube- or bottle-like container (1 , 11 ) for storing at least one medium, having a first and a second end (5, 8, 15, 18), whereby the first end (5, 15) can be provided or is provided with an outlet opening (7, 24) and/or a closure element (6, 16), characterized in that at least one ticket-like element (2, 12) which can be or is provided with information is provided and is connected to the tube- or bottle-like container (1 , 11 ) essentially in such a way that it cannot be detached or cannot be detached without damage.

2. Container (1 , 11 ) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the ticket-like element is continuously fastened on the outside of the tube- or bottle-like container, and/or in that the tube- or bottle-like container and the ticket-like element are connected to one another at few points.

3. Container (1 , 11 ) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that projecting elements (14) which can be connected to the ticket-like element are provided on the container.

4. Container (1 , 11 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one ticket-like element (2, 12) is arranged in the area of the second end (8, 18) of the container (1 , 11 ) and surrounds at least one portion of the tube- or bottle-like container (1 , 11 ).

5. Container (1 , 11 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tube- or bottle-like container (1 , 11 ) is arranged or can be arranged in the area of the ticket-like element (2, 12).

6. Container according to Claim 5, characterized in that the ticket-like element (12) is provided with at least one cutout (13) or at least one cutout area for the insertion of the tube- or bottle-like container.

7. Container according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the closure element (16) for closing the first end (15) of the container can be connected to or is connected to a portion (19) of the ticket-like element (2, 12).

8. Container according to Claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the ticket-like element (2, 12) is provided with at least one predetermined breaking point (17) for enabling the container (1 , 11 ) to be opened.

9. Container according to one of Claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the tube- or bottle-like container (1 , 11 ) can be connected to or is connected to the surface of or to the ticket-like element (2, 12) at least at one point (21 ) via one or more web-like elements (14, 16).

10. Container (1 , 11 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ticket-like element (2, 12) and the tube- or bottle-like container (1 , 11 ) are connected after their production, or the tube- or bottle-like container and the ticket-like element are produced in one operation, predetermined breaking points (17) and/or web-like elements (14, 16) being provided between them.

11. Container (1 , 11 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ticket-like element (2, 12) can be printed or inscribed with information (3, 4), in particular product information, or can be provided or is provided with said information in another way.

12. Container (1 , 11 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ticket-like element (2, 12) is made of a paper and/or plastic material, in particular a laminate, and/or in that the tube- or bottle-like container (1 , 11) is made of a plastic material, in particular polyurethane.

13. Container (1 , 11 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one hole or an opening (9, 23) for enabling the tube- or bottle-like container (1 , 11 ) to be suspended is provided at an end of the ticket-like element (2, 12) which is averted from the tube- or bottle-like container (1 , 11 ).

14. Container (1 , 11 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of containers (1 , 11 ) with ticket-like elements (2, 12) can be connected to one another or are connected to one another and/or are provided in such a way that they can be released from one another.