WO2016060607A1

WO2016060607A1 - Self-closing evaporation protection for lid/capsule

Info

Publication number: WO2016060607A1
Application number: PCT/SE2015/051088
Authority: WO
Inventors: Helena KOHLBERG
Original assignee: Vqm, Vision Quest & Management
Priority date: 2014-10-16
Filing date: 2015-10-14
Publication date: 2016-04-21
Also published as: SE540247C2; SE1730125A1

Abstract

Self-closing evaporation protection (10) for lid/capsule/ capsule (16) provided with a snap-lid comprising a membrane constituting a central area with an opening that is limited by leaves (12) with self-locking tabs (14), whereby the membrane is arranged to open when pressurized and let liquid pass through.

Description

SELF-CLOSING EVAPORATION PROTECTION FOR LID/ CAPSULE

Description

The present invention pertains to a self-closing evaporation protection for a lid, or more specifically a construction constituting a self-closing evaporation protection with a locking, for a lid or a capsule with a snap- lid that is used for containers and similar, manufactured in a springy material, that are used to contain a liquid or viscous substances that include agents of volatile character that evaporate in case the lid is left open and thereby makes the content unusable for its intended use. When the container is held in the hand and provided with a lid/snap-lid capsule it is easy to use the content of the same. Containers with lid/snap-lid capsule that are provided with an evaporation protection offers the same degree of simple use of the content, but with the difference that the content does not evaporate in case the user forgets or refrains from closing the snap-lid alternatively that the snap-lid simply breaks or is cut away.

For the cases containers, with lid/snap-lid capsule that are not provided with evaporation protection are left open, volatile agents evaporate with an increasing speed as the content in the container is reduced, related to the use of the liquid and degree of temperature in the room where the container is kept. The higher temperature, the faster evaporation. This takes place as the lid is open without being provided with a self-locking evaporation protection. Provided with such (evaporation protection) the risk for evaporation should disappear during the expected life span of the container with the type of content the self-closing evaporation protection is intended to protect. The invention also has further areas of use and purposes which will be realized by a person skilled in the art.

There are other container lids with a similar solution, but they however differ regarding the placement in the container lid, in addition, they are not directly intended to be used with the type of content as the present invention, they are also not provided with the locking that characterizes this construction. Thereby, they are not the best choice for the practical application intended for this self-locking evaporation protection. Also regarding material selection it is not sure that they meet the

requirements as the material that have to be used for the present invention.

Although a number similar arrangement exist and are previously known, these arrangements do not include the features present for this invention. Features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the same in the following, with preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

A specific feature that is present for this invention is the membrane that partly comprises leaves and a locking arrangement in the form of round tabs provided on each leaf. When a pressure against the membrane is established, it is opened and allows liquid to pass through. As the round tabs are pulled against each other, the leaves bulge outwardly and the tabs form a rose that keeps the membrane together. As the liquid pressure ceases, the membrane is closed again. The number of leaves comprising tabs can vary, however the lower limit seems to be three and an upper limit should not have to be defined since due to productional and functional reasons and of course economic reasons there is a given upper limit when it may be justified to produce a membrane with too many tabs. An optimal number of leaves with lockable tabs should however be five. It is however the leaf, with the lockable tab, as well as how the leaf cooperates with the remaining leaves, regardless of the number, in the membrane that constitutes the evaporation protection that is the invention. The membrane comprises a flange and a central through opening. The flange is provided with leaves and tabs that partly overlap each other so that the membrane becomes self-closing.

The evaporation protection/membrane is intended to be placed, by either mounting on or casting on the inside below the customary opening in the lid/capsule already during manufacture of the type of lid/capsules that is used for the same type of content this invention is intended to be used for. The provider responsible for the content buys containers and capsules from different manufacturers. Depending on the content, the type of container is selected followed by the type of capsule.

The evaporation protection can thus be an independent unit to be mounted on the inside of the lid/capsule or already during manufacture casted in the same.

The evaporation protection/membrane can thus be manufactured with the flange integrated with both leaves and tabs for an effective

manufacturing process.

Furthermore, the evaporation protection can be mounted in a capsule provided with a wafer closure.

The leaves in the evaporation protection/membrane can also be provided with a double tab in case the manufacturing method allows it, see Fig. 14.

One could also describe the round tabs as "pea-shaped". Since the leaves bulge outwardly under pressure the round (pea-shaped) tabs form the leaves outwardly and the tabs adopt a rose appearance, also called a flower/flower cup. The latter denotation probably best corresponds to the description of the same.

The tabs may be substantially round and arranged at the top of a substantially triangular leaf. One edge of the leaf may be arranged substantially in a direction of the tangent of the round tab where the tab connects to the leaf.

The flange may be formed as a shallow cylinder and include a radially inward projection that connects to the leaves. The depth of the cylinder (along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder) may be 2-6 mm, for example 4 mm. The flange may alternatively be shaped as a tube with a polygonal cross-section such as triangular or quadratic. The flange with its radially inward projection may be integrally formed with the leaves and the tabs.

The radially outer part of the flange may thus conform to the shape of the cylinder (or the tube). The radially inner part of the flange may be substantially concentrically disposed within the radially outer part of the flange. The radially inward projection of the flange may for example be formed as a disk with an outer circular edge that connects to the flange and an inner circular edge that connects to the leaves. Fig. 1 shows the evaporation protection 10 with five leaves 12 and tabs 14 in a closed state.

Fig. 2 shows how it looks like in an open state when a pressure against the membrane has been established that brings about an opening of it and thereby allows liquid to pass through. The round tabs 14 form a rose/flower/flower cup under pressure, that keeps the membrane together (see Fig. 10). As the liquid pressure ceases, the membrane is automatically closed again.

Fig. 3 shows the inside of a capsule 16 with snap-lid without an

evaporation protection 10.

Fig.4 shows the same capsule 16 with a mounted self-closing

evaporation protection 10. The evaporation protection 10 is according to this figure placed inside the capsule 16 and fixed as it is screwed onto the bottle. Alternatively, the same is casted to its position already in connection with the manufacture of the capsule 16. The same invention is however present regardless of whether it is mounted or casted to its position or integrated in another type of capsule 16. The evaporation protection 10 can be manufactured in different dimensions depending on the size of the container and thereby on the dimension of the lid/capsule 16 in relation to the evaporation protection 10. In the case a capsule 16 is left with its snap-lid open the content is protected against evaporation due to the self-closing evaporation protection 10. Although the present invention could be reused for the case it is not already casted in connection with the manufacture, it is not likely that this will be done. Probably it will be discarded and recycled together with the container. Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of the capsule 16 where the flange 20 of the evaporation protection encloses the inner collar 18 in the capsule.

Fig. 6 illustrates how the leaves 12 are mounted, the membrane and the flange 20 and how the included parts are related to each other. The lockable tab 14 to the left in the figure corresponds to Fig.7.

Fig. 7 illustrates a leaf 12 with a lockable tab 14 to be mounted in a membrane.

Fig. 8 shows the evaporation protection 10 in an embodiment with six leaves 12 and tabs 14 in a closed state.

Fig. 9 shows the evaporation protection 10 in an embodiment with six leaves 12 and tabs 14 in an open state, under pressure.

Fig. 10 shows a profile view of the evaporation protection 10. The configuration is six leaves 12 and tabs 14 in an open state, under pressure. In Fig. 10, it can be seen how the leaves 12 form a shape resembling a rose or flower/flower cup.

Fig. 11 shows the evaporation protection 10 in a configuration with four leaves 12 and tabs 14 in a closed state.

Fig. 12 shows the evaporation protection 10 in a configuration with four leaves 12 and tabs 14 in open state, under pressure.

Fig. 13 illustrates a leaf 12 with a somewhat rounded left side, instead of a straight as compared with Fig. 7, as well as a lockable tab 14 to be mounted in a membrane.

Fig. 14 illustrates a leaf 12 with somewhat rounded sides, instead of straight as compared with Fig. 7, as well as a lockable double tab 14 to be mounted in a membrane. The evaporation protection 10 with its characteristic membrane, leaves 12 and self-locking tabs 14, according to the present invention can be used for a wide range of different containers. It can further be

manufactured by known conventional methods. The evaporation protection 10 is well suitable for mass production.

The membrane includes a flange 20 with overlapping leaves 12 having self-locking tabs 14. The same flange 20 can after considerations regarding manufacturing processes be integrated with leaves 12 and tabs 14. The membrane is arranged to open and let liquid pass through when a pressure against the membrane is created whereby the membrane bulges outwardly and the tabs are pulled against each other, whereafter the membrane is arranged to close again as the pressure ceases.

The dimensions of the evaporation protection 10 can be varied, for example depending on the size of the opening of the container together with the size and shape of the intended capsule 16.

According to one example, a self-closing evaporation protection 10 for lid/capsule 16 is provided including a membrane comprising a central area with an opening limited by leaves 12, overlapping each other, with self-locking tabs 14, a flange 20 that encloses the central area that cooperates with the shape of the capsule 16, alternatively constitutes a part of the shape of the capsule 16 that also cooperates with such container the manufacturer of the content intends to use together with the capsule 16 provided with the evaporation protection 10. The flange 20 can form a closed curve in a circular shape. The same can however be quadratic or be of further other forms. The number of said leaves 12 with tabs 14 may differ between lids, capsules 16 depending on the shape and size of both the container and the capsule 16. The internal relationships and dimensions should however be upheld regarding size and shape. The opening may be arc- and circle-shaped. The container may however have an opening that is arranged in another form than circular. The central area may be constituted by a membrane. The membrane may be provided with leaves 12. The leaves 12 may be provided with tabs 14 that are self-closing when they cooperate. The flange 20 as well as the membrane with its leaves 12 and tabs 14 may be elastic. The membrane with its leaves 12 and tabs 14 may be manufactured from one or more types of plastic materials.

The embodiments shown here do not limit the area of use of the invention but merely serve as illustration for a here described limited area of use of the invention. Thus, the purpose has been illustrative such that a person skilled in the art can entirely understand the invention and its principles.

The invention is only limited by the presented claims.

Claims

Description

1. Self-closing evaporation protection (10) for lid/capsule/capsule (16) provided with a snap-lid comprising a membrane constituting a central area with an opening that is ch aract e r ized by and limited by leaves (12) with self-locking tabs (14), whereby the membrane is arranged to open when pressurized and let liquid pass through.

2. Self-closing evaporation protection (10) according to claim 1, ch aract e r ized i n t h at the evaporation protection (10) comprises a flange (20) that encloses the central area that cooperates with the shape of the capsule (16), alternatively arranged to constitute a part of the shape of the capsule (16) that is also arranged to cooperate with such container that the manufacturer of the content intends to use together with the capsule (16) provided with the evaporation protection (10).

3. Self-closing evaporation protection (10) according to claim 1 or 2, ch aract e r ized i n t h at the leaves (12) are overlapping each other.

4. Self-closing evaporation protection (10) according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h at the flange (20), that may be integrated with leaves (12) and tabs (14), forms a closed circle, thereby a curve in circular closed form.

5. Self-closing evaporation protection (10) according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h at the number of said leaves (12), with tabs (14) that are of a round shape, may alter between lids, capsules (16) depending on the form and size of both the container and the capsule (16), as well as on what the container is intended to contain.

6. Self-closing evaporation protection (10) according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h at the container, with which the capsule (16) having an evaporation protection (10) is intended to be used, is arranged such that the opening of the container is preferably arc- and circle-formed.

7. Self-closing evaporation protection (10) according to any of the preceding claims ch aract e r ized i n t h at the central area is constituted by a membrane provided with leaves (12) and with these leaves (12) integrated tabs (14) of a round shape.

8. Self-closing evaporation protection (10) according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h at these tab ( 12) - provided leaves (14) are self-closing when they are arranged to

cooperate.

9. Self-closing evaporation protection (10) according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h at the flange (20) , as well as the leaves (12) and tabs (14) are elastic.

10. Self-closing evaporation protection (10) according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n t h at the evaporation protection (10) is manufactured from a plastic material.

11. Container comprising a self-closing evaporation protection (10) ch aract e r ized by any of the preceding claims.

12. Capsule (16) comprising a self-closing evaporation protection (10) ch aract e r ized by any of claims 1 to 10.