WO2016075027A1

WO2016075027A1 - Closure device and container

Info

Publication number: WO2016075027A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/075841
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karel Golta; Martin Zethoff; Ingomar Henning; Ralph Butter-Jentsch; Carsten Bertram
Original assignee: Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa
Priority date: 2014-11-12
Filing date: 2015-11-05
Publication date: 2016-05-19
Also published as: DE102014223029A1; CA2967113A1; EP3218280A1; US20170334615A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure device (1) comprising a frame (10) which defines an opening (15), a lid (30) which covers the opening (15) and which is coupled to the frame (10) in a pivotal manner about a pivot axis (3), and a first locking means (50) and at least one second locking means (70), each of which has a latching hook and an undercut and which are used to hold the lid (10) in a closed position. According to the invention, when the lid (10) is in the closed position, the latching hook (52) and the undercut (56) of the first locking means (50) are arranged between a first outer edge (4) of the closure device (1) and the opening (15). An upper border (12) of the first outer edge (4) lies over an upper end (59) of the latching hook (52), and the first outer edge (4) is designed to protect the latching hook (52) from an unintentional actuation due to laterally pressing on the closure device (1) from the outside. The invention also relates to a container (4) comprising such a closure device (1).

Description

Closure device and container

The invention relates to a closure device comprising a frame defining an opening, a lid covering the opening, which is pivotally coupled to the frame about a pivot axis, and a first locking means and at least one second locking means, each having a latching hook and an undercut and serve to hold the lid in a closed position or position. Furthermore, the invention relates to a container with such a closure device.

It is customary today to use active substances, for example from the group of laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, agricultural auxiliaries, building materials, dyes, adhesives or foodstuffs, in a free-flowing or pourable form or else as predosed quantities, which are e.g. be stored as pre-dosed units in a container. In the field of storage of commercial quantities of these active substances are

Plastic container, which may be transparent, inter alia, known.

These containers have said closure device, wherein the frame of the

Closure device is attached to the container or may be integrally formed thereon. By the lid of the closure device, the container can then close accordingly.

The locking means are intended to hold the lid in the closed position on the frame, even if external, unintentional forces act on the frame or on the lid. These forces can elastically deform the closure device and in the worst case the

Open closure device undesirable. Such forces can z. B. occur during transport or in the context of mishandling, for example, if a child tries to open the lid in an unintended manner. In this respect, there is a need, on the one hand interpret the closed position of the closure device safely, on the other hand, the

intended opening of the closure device is not unnecessarily difficult. For this purpose, the locking means must be easy to operate in order to open the lid in a planned manner.

From WO 2014/1 1 1284 A1 discloses a closure device with lid and frame is known, wherein the lid is held in a closed position or position by two arranged on one side of the closure device locking means, each having a lid portion and a frame portion. The first closing means may be due to lateral pressure the associated frame portion are opened, while the second closing means can also be opened by lateral pressure on the associated lid portion. Although the locking means have a certain distance from each other, but can not be excluded in unfavorable case by a lateral pressure on the entire side of the closure device, an improper opening of the closure device

The invention is based on the object to provide a closure device with lid, frame and at least two locking means, which provides good protection against accidental opening of the lid, but at the same time easy to handle and easy

is intended to open.

The object of the invention is based with the feature combination according to

Claim 1 solved. Embodiments of the invention can be taken from the subclaims.

The closure device according to the invention is characterized in that in the closed position of the lid latching hook and undercut of the first locking means between a first outer edge of the closure device and the opening is arranged, wherein an upper edge of the first outer edge is above the upper end of the latching hook and wherein the first Outer edge is designed to protect the locking hook against improper operation by lateral pressure from the outside on the closure device. It is thus not possible to open from the outside by a lateral pressure on the outer edge of the first locking means. This reduces the risk that the closure device will be opened unintentionally.

The fact that the upper end does not protrude beyond the first outer edge, there is also no attack surface on which a lateral pressure (parallel to the plane of the opening) can engage the latching hook. If the force vector of lateral pressure is in a plane that is above the upper edge of the first outer edge, the latching hook remains unaffected. If the force vector lies below the upper edge of the first outer edge, the first outer edge provides protection for the latching hook.

In one embodiment, the first locking means on an upwardly open recessed grip for a finger. The grip recess thus makes it possible to actuate the upper end of the latching hook with the finger from above. The force required for the actuation of the latching hook (the release of the latching hook from the position in which it engages behind the undercut) is effected by the finger set from above into the recessed grip. The finger exerts no force acting laterally from the outside on the first outer edge.

The recessed grip can have a bowl depth of 5 to 15 millimeters (as a cavity depth, the distance between an upper edge of the recessed grip and the lowest point of a tray floor be understood). The recessed grip offers enough space, even for a finger with a longer fingernail, to be able to operate the locking hook safely.

The recessed grip is expedient only so large to allow the fingertip, but not larger objects to grab the locking hook or to be able to operate. Seen from above, the recessed grip should therefore have a plane surface of less than 3 cm ² . The volume of the recessed grip is preferably less than 2 cm ³ . Preferably, the recessed grip on rounded boundary walls.

The first outer edge may be disposed on a side of the opening opposite the pivot axis. Preferably, the latching hook of the first locking means can be moved from an interlocking position with the undercut by a movement in the direction of the pivot axis. The force which actuates the latching hook can also have a component through which the lid, which is then no longer locked by the first locking means, moves around the

Swivel axis can be opened. The upper end of the latching hook is designed so that in the latch hook a force can be introduced to pivot the lid from the closed position.

The latching hook and the undercut of the second locking means may be connected to a second

Be arranged outside edge, which abuts the first outer edge. If it is a substantially rectangular closure device, then the first outer edge and the second outer edge at an angle of 90 degrees. The first outer edge and the second outer edge form a common corner of the closure device.

Furthermore, a third locking means can be provided with latching hook and undercut, which are arranged on a third outer edge, which also abuts on the first outer edge. If a rectangular closure device is assumed again, the third outer edge extends parallel to the second outer edge and perpendicular to the first outer edge. The third outer edge and the first outer edge form another corner of the closure device.

In one embodiment, the second locking means and / or the third locking means can be opened by lateral pressure from the outside on the closure device. Thus, the second locking means and the third locking means differ from the first locking means, which can not be opened according to the invention by lateral pressure from the outside on the closure device. Only when all the locking means are open at the same time, the lid can be pivoted from the closed position, so as to release the opening of the closure device. Preferably, the first locking means, the second locking means and the third locking means are arranged so that they can be actuated simultaneously by only one hand of an adult human. For example, can be exerted by the thumb of a left hand, a lateral pressure on the second locking means, wherein at the same time in the opposite direction, a lateral pressure on the third locking means by the middle finger of the left hand is exercised. The index finger of the left hand located between thumb and middle finger can actuate the latching hook of the first locking means, so that all three locking means can be opened simultaneously by one hand by the lateral pressure from the outside by thumb and middle finger and by the operation by the index finger. The right hand can fix the container, which is connected to the frame.

The first locking means, the second locking means and the third locking means may each comprise a cover portion, wherein the respective locking means can be opened by a force introduced on the cover portion. In the execution, in which the second and third

Locking means by thumb and middle finger and the first locking means by the index finger of a hand can open, this has the advantage that a force can be exerted by the thumb, middle finger and forefinger on the lid, with which not only the locking means are opened or in one not locked position are held, but also the lid can be pivoted from the closed position.

The second locking means and the third locking means may be equidistant from the first outer edge. This leads to a symmetrical construction of the

Closure device. Also, therefore, lateral, external forces can be exerted on the second locking means and the third locking means without lateral displacement. The lateral forces on the second and third locking means can be applied torque-free.

Frame and container are preferably formed in several pieces, but may also be integrally formed. The lid and the frame can be designed as a one-piece component. Frame and cover can be pivotally connected to each other via at least one hinge about the pivot axis. The closure device can thus be produced in an injection mold as an inexpensive plastic part. But cover and frame can also be in a multi-part design made of the same or different plastic.

As plastic any suitable plastic material can be used, preferably plastics are selected from the group of polyolefins. Particularly preferred are the following plastics from the class of polypropylenes; Polyethylene; Polypropylene-containing blends; Polyethylene-containing blends; Polypropylene-containing co-polymers and / or random co-polymers; Polyethylene-containing co-polymers

The first outer edge, which protects the first locking means against unintentional opening by external lateral pressure, can be formed exclusively by the frame. This means that the first outer edge only has a frame portion and no lid portion. In contrast, the second and / or third outer edge may have a frame portion and a lid portion. In this case, for example, the second outer edge is partially formed by the frame and partially by the lid. The frame may have inner walls delimiting the opening against which outer walls of a lower or higher stepped inner part of the lid rest in the closed position of the lid. The inner walls may be formed substantially perpendicular or slightly inclined with respect to the plane of the opening. The orientation or inclination of the outer walls can correspond with the orientation / inclination of the inner walls. In the system of the opening bounding inner walls and the outer walls of the inner part of the lid, a small clearance (for example, 0.3 millimeters) may be provided. That is, in the closed position of the lid, there is a clearance between the inner wall of the frame and the outer wall of the inner part of said 0.3 mm.

The closure device is preferably used for a container for detergents and cleaners. Thus, a container with detergent and cleaning agent and with a

Closure device disclosed, the latter according to those described here

Embodiments may be executed. The washing and / or cleaning agents may be pre-portioned detergents and / or cleaners which measure at least one lateral dimension equal to or more than 31.7 mm and preferably not in a cylinder according to ISO standard 8124-1 (second edition, dated 2009 -03-15), 5.2 and thus pass the "small parts test".

Reference to the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the invention is explained in detail. Show it:

1 shows schematically a container with a closure device according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the closure device according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section along the line II-II in Figure 2;

FIG. 4 shows the closure device of FIG. 2 in the closed position of a lid in plan view;

Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4;

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view of a first locking means; and

Figure 7 in detail sectional view of a second locking means.

Figure 1 shows schematically a closure device, which is designated in its entirety by 1. The closure device 1 comprises a frame 10 and a lid 30. The frame 10 and the lid 30 are integrally formed and connected to each other via a film hinge 2. The film hinge 2 defines a pivot axis 3, by which the cover 30 can be pivoted relative to the frame 10. In the illustration of Figure 1, the lid 30 is in a closed position or position.

The frame 30 is attached to an upwardly open, cuboid container 4. The lid 30 can only be pivoted from its closed position about the pivot axis 3 when all three locking means 50, 70, 90 are opened simultaneously or are held in an unlocked position. The second locking means 70, which is shown here only simplified, can be opened by a lateral pressure 71. The corresponding force 71 acts from the outside on the closure device. The same applies mutatis mutandis to the third locking means 90. This can also be opened by a lateral pressure acting on the closure device 1 from the outside, or keep it in the unlocked position. The lateral pressure 71 and the lateral pressure 91 should lie on one axis and act in the opposite direction.

In contrast to the locking means 70, 90, the first locking means 50 can not be opened by a lateral pressure, which acts on the closure device 1 from the outside. The first locking means 50 has an upwardly open handle or finger recess 51 into which a finger a human hand. The finger can move in the direction of the pivot axis 3 a latching hook 52, so that the locking action of the first locking means 50 is released. The force acting on the latching hook 52 is indicated by the arrow 53.

A first outer edge 4 of the closure device 1 is designed so that a lateral pressure or a lateral force on the closure device 1 from the outside can not cause an unlocking of the first locking means 50. The outer edge 4 is formed by the frame 10. It therefore has only a frame portion 1 1 (and no lid portion). The frame portion 1 1 forms an upper edge 12 of the first outer edge 4.

The upper edge 12 lies in a plane which is located above the latching hook 52. In other words, the latching hook 52 does not project beyond the first outer edge in the vertical direction.

The distance of the locking means 70, 90 (for example 7 to 10 cm) is dimensioned so that the thumb, for example, a left hand of a user and a middle finger of the same hand on the locking means 70, 90 in the manner shown in Figure 1 (see arrows 71 , 91). The index finger located between the thumb and the middle finger is then inserted into the recessed grip 51 in order to actuate the latching hook 52. Thus, all locking means 50, 70, 90 can be operated simultaneously with one hand. A distance between the first locking means 50 and the second locking means 70 (or the third locking means) is preferably 4 to 7 cm.

Characterized in that the thumb engages a lid portion 72 of the second locking means 70 and the middle finger on a cover portion 92 of the third locking means 90, the lid 30 is held firmly by the lateral pressure 71 and the oppositely acting lateral pressure 91. Also, the latching hook 52 forms part of a lid portion 54 of the first

Locking means 50, so that upon actuation of the locking means 50, 70, 90 of the cover 30 at three points (cover portion 72, cover portion 92 and cover portion 54) is fixed. Thus, not only the locking means 50, 70, 90 unlock with the user's left hand, but after the unlocking, the cover 30 can pivot about the pivot axis 3 upwards. The right hand of the user can embrace the container 4 to hold the container and the frame 10 when opening the lid.

A second outer edge 5 of the closure device 1 has a lid portion 31 and a frame portion 13. The lid portion 31 defines an upper edge 32 of the second outer edge 5. The second outer edge 5 and the first outer edge 4 are perpendicular to each other and form a common corner 6. Parallel to the second outer edge 5 extends a third outer edge 7, which also has a lid portion 33 and a concealed in the representation of Figure 1 frame portion 14 has. The third outer edge 7 and the first outer edge 4 form a right angle and have a common corner 8. In the following figures, features or components which are similar or identical to the features or components of the figure are given the same reference numerals.

FIGS. 2 and 5 show a preferred embodiment of the invention

Closure device 1. FIGS. 6 and 7 show details of this closure device 1 on a larger scale.

Figure 2 shows the closure device 1 with a lid 30 opened. The frame 10 defines an opening 15 which, when in the closed position, is covered by the lid 30. The opening 15 is bounded by inner walls 16, which join together to form a peripheral edge. In particular, Figure 3, which shows a longitudinal section along the line II to II in Figure 2, it can be seen that the inner walls 16 extend substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the opening 15 is located.

The lid 30 has a deeper drawn inner part 35, the outer walls 36 provided free of play or with a small clearance facing the inner walls 16 of the opening 15 when the lid is in the closed position.

FIG. 2 furthermore shows a frame section 55 of the first locking means 50 which, in addition to the grip recess 51, has an undercut 56 behind which the latching hook 52 engages in the locked position of the first locking means 50. In addition, Figure 2 shows a frame portion 73 of the second locking means 70. The frame portion 73 includes an undercut 74, which with a

Latch hook 75 cooperates as part of the lid portion 72 of the second locking means 70. The third locking means 90 is constructed like the second locking means 70. This also has a frame portion 93 with undercut 94, which cooperates with a latching hook 95. The latch hook 95 is part of the frame portion 92 of the third locking means 90 and part of the lid 30th

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the closure device 1 with the cover 30 closed. FIG. 5 shows a side view of the closure device 1 shown in FIG.

Within a rectangle in Figure 5, an engagement surface 76 of the third locking means 70 is shown. It serves as a support for a finger to exert pressure on the latching hook 75 laterally from the outside.

Figure 6 shows in section the first locking means 50 in a detailed view. A substantially vertically extending boundary wall 57 of the recessed grip 51 merges at its upper end into the undercut 56. The latching hook 52 has a locking surface 58 which faces the undercut 56 and engages behind it. Between the undercut 56 and the locking surface 58 is given a game. An upper end 59 of the latching hook 52 is formed as an actuating tab. If the upper end or the actuating tab 59 is pressed in the illustration of FIG. 6 by a finger located in the recessed grip 51 to the left or in the direction of the pivot axis 3, the latching hook 52 is pushed out of the position shown in FIG a pivot axis 60 pivoted counterclockwise, so that the locking surface 58, the undercut 56 no longer engages behind. The first locking means 50 is then no longer in the locked position, so that - first regardless of the other locking means 70, 90 - the lid 30 can be folded up.

An opening of the container 4 and a folding up of the lid 30 is only possible if, in addition to the unlocked locking means 50, the two further locking means 70, 90 are unlocked. FIG. 7, which shows the section along the line VII-VII in FIG. 4, illustrates the construction of the third locking means 90. The force 91 required for unlocking the third locking means 90 is introduced into the locking hook 95 via an engagement surface 96. The latching hook 95 is in the representation of Figure 7 to the right (or in the direction of the opposite

Arretiermittels 70) shifted so that it no longer engages behind the undercut 94. At an open end of the undercut 94 has a small, downwardly directed barbs 97, through which the risk of improper Entriegeins of the locking means 90 is reduced.

If, in addition to the first locking means 50, the third locking means 90 and the second

Locking means 70, which can be unlocked as the third lock 90 operated, the lid 30 can be folded around the pivot axis 3 upwards to open the container 4. Only by the uniform actuation of all three locking means 50, 70, 90 thus the container 4 can be opened. The locking means 50, 70, 90 are arranged and spaced from each other so that they can be operated by means of a hand of an adult or by means of the fingers of such a hand. Since the first locking means 50 can not be opened from the outside or from a force acting on the outer edges 4, 5, 7 of the closure device 1 force, but only by a finger or similar filigree object, which is located in the grip 51, is a accidental opening of the container 4 practically impossible.

FIG. 7 also shows one of the grippers 17, which are arranged on an inner side of the outer edges 4, 5, 7. The grippers 7 serve to lock the frame 10 with the container 4. The gripper faces a reinforcing rib 18. It serves to stiffen the frame and as an abutment of an upper edge of the container 4. The upper edge is, when the frame 10 is clipped onto the container 4, between the gripper 17 and a rounded contact surface 19 of the reinforcing rib 18th LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

closure device

2 movie hinge

3 pivot axis

4 First outer edge

5 Second outer edge

6 corner

7 Third outer edge

8 corner

10 frames

1 1 frame section

12 upper edge

13 frame section

14 frame section

15 opening

16 inner wall

17 grippers

18 reinforcement rib

19 contact surface

30 lids

31 cover section

32 upper edge

33 cover section

34 upper edge

35 inner part

36 outer wall

50 First locking means

51 recessed grip or finger recess

52 snap hooks

53 power (arrow)

54 cover section

55 frame section

56 undercut

57 boundary wall

58 locking surface Operating tab (upper end) Swivel axis Second locking means

Lateral pressure (lateral force) cover section

frame section

undercut

latch hook

Attack area Third locking means

Lateral pressure (lateral force) cover section

frame section

undercut

latch hook

attack surface

barb

Claims

claims

1. Closure device (1) comprising

a frame (10) defining an aperture (15),

a cover (30) covering the opening (15) and pivotally coupled to the frame (10) via a pivot axis (3),

a first locking means (50) and at least one second locking means (70) each having a latching hook and an undercut and serving to hold the lid (10) in a closed position,

characterized in that in the closed position of the cover (10) latching hook (52) and undercut (56) of the first locking means (50) between a first outer edge (4) of the closure device (1) and the opening (15) is arranged, wherein a upper edge (12) of the first outer edge (4) over an upper end (59) of the latching hook (52) and wherein the first outer edge (4) is designed, the latching hook (52) against an unintentional actuation by lateral pressure from the outside the

Closure device (1) to protect.

2. Closure device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first locking means (50) has an upwardly open recessed grip (51) for a finger.

3. Closure device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the first outer edge (4) on one of the pivot axis (3) opposite side of the opening (15) is arranged.

4. Closure device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the latching hook (75) and undercut (74) of the second locking means (70) at a second outer edge (5) are arranged, which on the first outer edge ( 4).

5. Closure device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a third locking means (90) with latching hook (95) and undercut (94) is provided, which are arranged on a third outer edge (7) on the first outer edge (4) abuts.

6. Closure device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second locking means (70) and / or the third locking means (90) can be opened by lateral pressure from the outside on the closure device (1).

7. Closure device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the first locking means (50), the second locking means (70) and the third locking means (90) each have a cover portion (52, 72, 92), wherein one on the

Cover portion (52, 72, 92) initiated force, the respective locking means (50, 70, 90) can be opened.

8. Closure device (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the second locking means (70) and the third locking means (90) to the first

External edge (4) have an equal distance.

9. Closure device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the frame (20) and the cover (30) by a film hinge (2) around the

Swivel axis (3) are pivotally connected together.

10. Closure device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first outer edge (4) only by a frame portion (1 1) is formed.

1 1. A closure device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in that the second outer edge (5) and / or third outer edge (7) has a frame portion (13, 14) and a lid portion (31, 33).

12. Closure device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, characterized in that the frame (10) has the opening (15) delimiting inner walls (16) on which in the closed position of the lid (30) outer walls (36). a lower or higher remote inner part (35) abut.

13. Container with a closure device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12.