Discharging element for discharging substances into a liquid

Abstract

A discharging element for discharging substances into a liquid is disclosed, wherein the discharging element is in the form of a capsule, wherein the capsule casing (1-3) encloses a fillable volume for substances to be discharged, the capsule casing is made of a liquid-tight material and has at least one first opening (7) and at least one second opening (8) which are arranged in such a way that, when liquid flows around the capsule, a greater flow velocity is present at a first opening (7) than at a second opening (8), wherein the first and second opening are connected to one another via the fillable volume, and wherein either the first opening (7) and the second opening (8) are located on one outer surface, or wherein the surface normal of the capsule casing (1-3) at the location of the first opening (7) encloses an angle with the surface normal of the capsule casing at the location of the second opening (8).

Claims

1. A discharging element for discharging substances into a liquid, wherein the discharging element is in the form of a capsule having a capsule casing comprising a closed bottom surface, a top surface, and a closed lateral surface joining the bottom surface and the top surface, wherein the capsule casing (1-3) encloses a fillable volume for substances to be discharged, the capsule casing is made of a liquid-tight material and has at least one first opening (7) and at least one second opening (8) arranged in the top surface and no openings to the fillable volume arranged in the bottom surface or in the lateral surface, wherein the first and second openings are connected to one another via the fillable volume, wherein the first opening (7) and the second opening (8) are arranged in such a way that, when liquid flows around the capsule, a greater flow velocity is present at the first opening (7) than at the second opening (8), and wherein the liquid draws a liquid substance out of the capsule by utilizing the dynamic pressure, and mixes therewith, wherein the capsule is suitable for being arranged in a closure cap which closes a liquid-filled container, and for having liquid from the container flow around the capsule as a result of tilting of the container, wherein the first opening and the second opening (7, 8) have a diameter of 0.001-3 mm, and wherein the fillable volume contains substances to be discharged which are in the form of a liquid.

2. A unit comprising a closure cap for a liquid container and the discharging element according to claim 1, wherein the discharging element is arranged in the closure cap.

3. A unit comprising a closure cap and a discharging element for discharging substances into a liquid, wherein the discharging element is in the form of a capsule having a capsule casing, wherein the capsule casing (1-3) encloses a fillable volume containing substances to be discharged in the form of a liquid, wherein the capsule casing comprises a closed bottom surface without an opening to the fillable volume, a top surface, and a closed lateral surface without an opening to the fillable volume joining the bottom surface and the top surface, wherein the capsule casing is made of a liquid-tight material and has at least one first opening (7) and at least one second opening (8) which are arranged in the top surface in such a way that, when liquid flows around the capsule, a greater flow velocity is present at the first opening (7) than at the second opening (8), and the liquid draws a liquid substance out of the capsule by utilizing the dynamic pressure, and mixes therewith, wherein the first opening and second opening are connected to one another via the fillable volume, and wherein the discharging element is arranged in the closure cap.

4. The unit according to claim 2, wherein a top surface (2) of the capsule is directed toward an outlet opening of the closure cap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention will now be explained in greater detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments. The drawings are given by way of example and are intended to illustrate the concept of the invention, but without limiting it any way.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 shows an axonometric view of a capsule according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the capsule of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a capsule of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4 shows a front view of a first variant of a capsule of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the capsule of FIG. 4 along the section line A-A in FIG. 3;

(8) FIG. 6 shows an axonometric view of an open capsule of FIG. 4, without internal structures;

(9) FIG. 7 shows a rear view of a lower part of a second variant (with internal structures) of a capsule of FIG. 1;

(10) FIG. 8 shows a front view of a lower part of a capsule of FIG. 7;

(11) FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the capsule of FIG. 7 along the section line A-A in FIG. 3;

(12) FIG. 10 shows an axonometric view of an open capsule of FIG. 7;

(13) FIG. 11 shows an axonometric view of a second capsule according to the invention;

(14) FIG. 12 shows a side view of the capsule of FIG. 11;

(15) FIG. 13 shows a plan view of a capsule and a sectional view of the capsule of FIG. 11 along the section line B-B, with internal structures;

(16) FIG. 14 shows a front view of the capsule of FIG. 11;

(17) FIG. 15 shows an axonometric view of an open capsule of FIG. 11, without internal structures;

(18) FIG. 16 shows an axonometric view of an open capsule of FIG. 11, with internal structures;

(19) FIG. 17 shows a rear view of a lower part of a capsule of FIG. 16;

(20) FIG. 18 shows a front view of a lower part of a capsule of FIG. 16;

(21) FIG. 19 shows an axonometric view of a third capsule according to the invention;

(22) FIG. 20 shows a side view of the capsule of FIG. 19;

(23) FIG. 21 shows a plan view of a capsule and a sectional view of the capsule of FIG. 19 along the section line B-B, with internal structures;

(24) FIG. 22 shows a front view of the capsule of FIG. 19;

(25) FIG. 23 shows an axonometric view of an open capsule of FIG. 19, without internal structures;

(26) FIG. 24 shows an axonometric view of an open capsule of FIG. 19, with internal structures;

(27) FIG. 25 shows a rear view of a lower part of a capsule of FIG. 24;

(28) FIG. 26 shows a front view of a lower part of a capsule of FIG. 24; and

(29) FIG. 27 shows a discharging element in a closure cap.

WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

(30) FIG. 1 shows a capsule according to the invention, the capsule casing of which is configured substantially as a straight prism and has a bottom surface 1, a top surface 2, and a lateral surface 3 joining said surfaces. The bottom surface 1 and the top surface 2 are congruent, are oriented parallel to one another and each have the shape of a rectangle, one longer side of which is adjoined by a circle segment. The curved region of the capsule could be supported on a correspondingly shaped inner wall of the closure cap A shown in FIG 27. Likewise, the longer straight side could be supported on a correspondingly shaped inner wall or on correspondingly shaped internal structures of a closure cap A.

(31) The lateral surface 3 is normal to the bottom surface and top surface 1, 2 and consists of one long rectangle 4, two short rectangles 5 and a portion 6 of a cylindrical surface. In the visible short rectangle 5, a first opening 7 is provided close to the bottom surface 1 (at a distance therefrom of approximately two to three times the diameter of the opening 7) and the portion 6 (at a distance of approximately two to three times the diameter of the opening 7 from the bottom surface 1). No opening is provided in the non-visible short rectangle. In the top surface 2, a second opening 8 is provided approximately centrally in the circle segment, at a distance of approximately two to three times the diameter of the opening 8 from the edge where the top surface 2 meets the portion 6. The circle segment of the bottom surface and top surface 1, 2 has approximately half the width of the rectangle of the bottom surface and top surface 1, 2. This width is measured from left to right in FIGS. 1-3. The two openings 7, 8 are of equal size here and are circular in shape.

(32) It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the bottom surface 1 has, inside its outer edge, a lowering toward the outside in the form of a base 9, which runs at a right angle to the rest of the bottom surface 1. Said base 9 serves for inserting the capsule into a depression in a closure cap which corresponds to the base 9.

(33) The plan view of the capsule in FIG. 3 shows the shape of the top surface 2 and the arrangement of the second opening 8 on the top surface. The capsule casing consisting of bottom surface 1, top surface 2 and lateral surface 3 is (apart from the opening 7) symmetrical in relation to a plane which runs normal to the plane of the drawing through the dash-dotted line.

(34) FIGS. 4-6 show a first embodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 1-3, in which no internal structures are provided in the capsule.

(35) FIG. 4 shows the front view of the capsule of FIG. 1, in which the portion 6 of the lateral surface 3 and also the base 9 of the bottom surface 1 are shown.

(36) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the capsule along the section line A-A in FIG. 3. The capsule is formed in two parts, wherein the bottom surface 1 with its base 9 forms the first part and the top surface 2 with the lateral surface 3, that is to say with the long rectangle 4, the two short rectangles 5 and the portion 6 of the cylindrical surface, forms the second part, see in this regard also FIG. 6, which shows the capsule in the open state.

(37) On its side directed toward the interior of the capsule, the bottom surface 1 has a peripheral web 10 which is located inside the outer edge of the bottom surface 1. The distance of the web 10 from the outer edge of the bottom surface 1 is such that the lateral surface 3 of the second part of the capsule ends flush with the outer edge of the bottom surface 1. In the region of the circular outer edge of the bottom surface 1, the web 10 forms the continuation of the wall of the base 9.

(38) The fillable volume of the capsule is created from the sum of the volumes of the upper part, which consists of the top surface 2 and lateral surface 3, and of the lower part, which consists of the bottom surface 1 and the base 9. In FIG. 5, the cross-section of the fillable volume lies within said elements.

(39) FIGS. 7-10 show a second embodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 1-3, in which internal structures are provided in the capsule. FIGS. 7-10 correspond to FIGS. 4-6, but internal structures are provided on the bottom surface 1, that is to say on the first part of the capsule. The second part of the capsule, comprising the top surface 2 and the lateral surface 3, is the same as in FIGS. 4-6.

(40) In FIG. 7, the bottom surface 1 can be seen from the rear, that is to say from the left in FIG. 10. In FIG. 8, the bottom surface 1 can be seen from the front, that is to say from the right in FIG. 10. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the capsule along the section line A-A in FIG. 3. FIG. 10 shows the open capsule.

(41) The internal structures consist of three flat walls 11-13. Two walls 11, 12 run parallel to the long edge of the bottom surface 1. One wall 13 runs normal to the other two walls 11, 12 and adjoins the wall 11 at a right angle thereto.

(42) The wall 11 is arranged parallel to the long straight edge of the bottom surface, at a distance x therefrom. It is shorter than the long straight edge of the bottom surface 1, namely likewise by approximately the distance x at both sides, and is arranged centrally in relation to the long straight edge of the bottom surface 1. Here, the wall 11 forms a straight continuation of the wall of the base 9. The wall 11 is so high that it extends as far as the top surface 2 in the closed state of the capsule.

(43) The wall 12 is arranged parallel to the wall 11, inside the wall 11 and approximately at a distance x therefrom. It is the same width as the wall 11 but is shifted parallel to the long straight edge of the bottom surface 1 right to the boundary of the bottom surface 1 so that the wall 12 in the closed state of the capsule extends as far as the lateral surface 3, namely as far as the short rectangle 5 (not visible in FIG. 10). The wall 12 is so high that, in the closed state of the capsule, it extends from the bottom surface 1, more precisely the bottom surface of the base 9, to the top surface 2.

(44) The wall 13 is arranged normal to the wall 12, approximately at a distance x therefrom, and adjoins the wall 11 at a right angle. The wall 13 is so wide that the wall 13 in the closed state of the capsule extends as far as the lateral surface 3, namely as far as the curved portion 6. The wall 13 is so high that, in the closed state of the capsule, it extends from the bottom surface 1, or the bottom surface of the base 9, to the top surface 2.

(45) The three walls 11-13 thus form a channel having a width that corresponds approximately to the distance x. The channel is closed at the top by the top surface 2 and at the bottom by the bottom surface 1 or the base 9 thereof. Said channel has the form of a labyrinth or two meanders and, in the closed state of the capsule, runs from the first opening 7 first outside of the wall 13 parallel to the wall 13 (between wall and short rectangle 5), then, after changing direction through 90°, outside of the wall 11 along the wall 11 (between wall 11 and long rectangle 4), then, after changing direction through 180°, between the wall 11 and the wall 12, then a further change in direction through 180° takes place along the wall 13, so that the channel finally ends between the wall 12 and the portion 6. The second opening 8 is located in the top surface 2 in this region. In this way, the connecting path that a liquid can take between the first opening 7 and the second opening 8 is significantly lengthened, for instance 2-fold or 4-fold, relative to the direct connection (air route) between the first opening 7 and the second opening 8.

(46) FIG. 11 shows a second capsule according to the invention, which apart from the openings 7, 8 is configured in a manner identical to that in FIGS. 1-10. Everything that has been stated in relation to FIGS. 1-10, apart from that concerning the openings 7, 8, therefore also applies to FIGS. 11-18. While in the first capsule shown in FIGS. 1-10 a total of just two openings are provided, in the second capsule shown in FIG. 11 a total of three openings are provided, all of which are located in one outer surface, namely in the top surface 2. In FIG. 11, no opening is provided in the visible short rectangle 5 or in the non-visible short rectangle or in the long rectangle 4 or in the portion 6 of the cylindrical surface or in the bottom surface 1. The bottom surface 1 and the top surface 2 once again are congruent, are oriented parallel to one another and each have the shape of a rectangle, one longer side of which is adjoined by a circle segment. A second opening 8 is provided approximately centrally in the rectangle (measured along the rectangle 4), namely close to the long rectangle 4 of the lateral surface 3 (in any event closer to the edge where the top surface 2 meets the long rectangle 4 than to the circle segment of the top surface 2). The second opening 8 is located at a distance of approximately two to three times its diameter away from the edge where the top surface 2 meets the long rectangle 4. The circle segment of the bottom surface and top surface 1, 2 has approximately half the width of the rectangle of the bottom surface and top surface 1, 2. This width is measured from left to right in FIGS. 11-13. The second opening 8 is located here in the left-hand third of the imaginary rectangle of the top surface 2, see the bottom part of FIG. 13. Two so-called first openings 7 are located one on each side of the so-called second opening 8, namely at an equal distance from the second opening 8. All three openings 7, 8 are located on a straight line which runs parallel to the long edge of the imaginary rectangle of the top surface 2 or are located parallel to the edge where the top surface 2 meets the long rectangle 4 of the lateral surface 3 or are located normal to the plane of symmetry of the capsule casing, which runs along the dash-dotted line in FIG. 13. The first openings 7 are each located closer than the second opening 8 to the edge formed by the top surface 2 and the short rectangle 5. Each first opening 7 is at the same distance from the edge where the top surface 2 meets the long rectangle 4 and from the edge where the top surface 2 meets the short rectangle 5, here at a distance of approximately two to three times the diameter of the openings 7, 8. Here, all of the openings 7, 8 have the same diameter of approximately 1-1.5 mm.

(47) The top part of FIG. 13 contains a sectional view of one variant of the second capsule with internal structures 11, 12 which are analogous to those of FIG. 9. FIGS. 16-18 also relate to this variant with internal structures, which is similar to the variant of the first capsule with internal structures as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 10. The bottom part of FIG. 13 shows a plan view of the second capsule, which is the same with and without the internal structures of the capsule.

(48) FIG. 14 relating to the second capsule corresponds to FIG. 4 of the first capsule and applies both to the variant with and also to the variant without internal structures. FIG. 15 shows the variant of the second capsule without internal structures. FIG. 15 corresponds to FIG. 6 for the first capsule.

(49) FIG. 19 shows a third capsule according to the invention, which—like the second capsule in FIGS. 11-18—has a total of three openings, all of which are located in the top surface 2. In the third capsule shown in FIGS. 19-26, no openings 7, 8 are provided in the lateral surface 3 or in the bottom surface 1.

(50) The capsule casing of the third capsule is also substantially (apart from the base 9) configured as a straight prism, having a bottom surface 1, a top surface 2, and a lateral surface 3 joining said surfaces. The bottom surface 1 and the top surface 2 are congruent, are oriented parallel to one another and each have approximately the shape of a crescent. The lateral surface 3 is normal to the bottom surface and top surface 1, 2 and consists of an outwardly curved portion 6 of a cylindrical surface, of two short rectangles 5, of an inwardly curved portion 14 of a second cylindrical surface and of two further portions 15 of a third cylindrical surface. The outwardly curved portion 6 has a larger radius than the inwardly curved portion 14. Said two portions substantially define the crescent shape. The radius of the two portions 15 is in this case even greater than that of the portion 6, but the radius could of course also be the same, and this would then correspond to the ideal crescent shape, or else smaller. The mid-point of the radius of portion 6 is located within the capsule. The length of the portion 6 in the circumferential direction of the lateral surface 3 corresponds to approximately 110° of the circular arc length of the portion 6. The portion 6 is adjoined on each side by a short rectangle 5. The two rectangles 5 are parallel to one another and are normal to the straight line on which the openings 7, 8 are located. The two rectangles 5 each cut off an identical-sized sector from the imaginary ideal crescent. Each rectangle 5 is adjoined by a portion 15 that merges in each case into the portion 14 via a rounded corner. In the circumferential direction of the lateral surface 3, the portion 14 here has the length of a semicircle (see FIG. 21).

(51) The outwardly curved portion 6 of the capsule could be supported against a correspondingly shaped inner wall of the closure cap. The portions 15 and/or the portion 14 could also be supported against a correspondingly shaped inner wall or against correspondingly shaped internal structures of a closure cap. In particular, the portion 14 is shaped in such a way that it is placed around or surrounds a valve or a mouthpiece of the closure cap.

(52) The capsule casing of the third capsule is symmetrical in relation to the dash-dotted line in FIG. 21. If the length of the capsule in FIG. 21 is measured from left to right, parallel to the dash-dotted line, from a rounded tip to the apex of the portion 6, this length is approximately equal to the width, measured in FIG. 21 as the distance between the two rectangles 5.

(53) The openings 7, 8 in FIGS. 19-26 are of equal size and are circular, having a diameter of approximately 1-1.5 mm. In the top surface 2, a single second opening 8 is provided approximately centrally, that is to say on the dash-dotted line which represents the plane of symmetry of the capsule. Said second opening is located close to the portion 14, in this case at a distance therefrom of approximately two to three times the diameter of the opening 8. In each case a so-called first opening 7 is located on either side of the second opening 8 on a straight line normal to the dash-dotted line, namely at an equal distance from the second opening 8 and close to the rectangles 5, that is to say once again at a distance of two to three times the diameter of the opening 7 away from the edge of the rectangle 5.

(54) The variant of the third capsule with internal structures 11, 12, 13 is shown in FIGS. 21, 22 and 24-26. Here, the internal structures 11, 12, 13 correspond to the internal structures in FIGS. 7-10 of the first capsule, and the capsule casing of the third capsule having the portions 6 and the short rectangles 5 is also substantially identical to the corresponding elements of the first capsule. In FIG. 25, the bottom surface 1 can be seen from the rear, that is to say from the right in FIG. 24. In FIG. 26, the bottom surface 1 can be seen from the front, that is to say from the left in FIG. 26. The top part of FIG. 21 is a sectional view of the capsule along the section line B-B at the bottom of FIG. 13. FIG. 24 shows the open capsule.

(55) The internal structures consist of three flat walls 11-13. Two walls 11, 12 run normal to the dash-dotted plane of symmetry of the capsule casing in the plan view at the bottom of FIG. 21. One wall 13 runs normal to the other two walls 11, 12 and adjoins the wall 11 at a right angle. The wall 11 is arranged at a very small distance x from the portion 14. It is shorter than the connection between the two rectangles 5, namely likewise by approximately the distance x at both sides, and is arranged centrally in relation to the plane of symmetry. Here, the wall 11 forms a straight continuation of the wall of the base 9. The wall 11 is so high that, in the closed stated of the capsule, it extends as far as the top surface 2.

(56) The wall 12 is arranged parallel to the wall 11, inside the wall 11 and approximately at a distance x therefrom. It is the same width as the wall 11 but is shifted normal to the plane of symmetry of the capsule casing right to the boundary of the bottom surface 1 so that the wall 12 in the closed state of the capsule extends as far as the lateral surface 3, namely as far as the short rectangle 5. The wall 12 is so high that, in the closed state of the capsule, it extends from the bottom surface 1, more precisely the bottom surface of the base 9, to the top surface 2.

(57) The wall 13 is arranged normal to the wall 12, approximately at a distance x therefrom, and adjoins the wall 11 at a right angle. The wall 13 is so wide that the wall 13 in the closed state of the capsule extends as far as the lateral surface 3, namely as far as the curved portion 6. The wall 13 is so high that, in the closed state of the capsule, it extends from the bottom surface 1, or the bottom surface of the base 9, to the top surface 2.

(58) The three walls 11-13 thus form a channel having a width that corresponds approximately to the distance x. The channel is closed at the top by the top surface 2 and at the bottom by the bottom surface 1 or the base 9 thereof. Said channel has the form of a labyrinth or two meanders and, in the closed state of the capsule, runs first outside of the wall 13 parallel to the wall 13 (between wall 13 and short rectangle 5), then, after changing direction through 90°, outside of the wall 11 along the wall 11 (between wall 11 and portion 14), then, after changing direction through 180°, between the wall 11 and the wall 12, then a further change in direction through 180° takes place along the wall 13, so that the channel finally ends between the wall 12 and the portion 6.

(59) The three openings 7, 8 are located in the region of the channel which runs on the outside along the wall 11, namely between the wall 11 and the portion 14. In this way, the connecting path between the fill liquid in the rest of the fill volume and the openings 7, 8 is lengthened, so that not too much fill liquid can be sucked out of the capsule at the same time, or circulating liquid and fill liquid of the capsule cannot mix too much.

(60) Also in the third capsule shown in FIGS. 19-26, the bottom surface 1 has, inside its outer edge, a lowering toward the outside in the form of a base 9, which runs at a right angle to the rest of the bottom surface 1 in order to insert the capsule into a depression in a closure cap which corresponds to the base 9.

(61) The capsule according to the invention is shown to scale in FIGS. 1-10. The length of the capsule, for instance the length of the long rectangle 4, is 15-45 mm, in particular 20-35 mm. The height of the capsule, measured externally from the base 9 to the top surface 2, is 7-30 mm, in particular 10-25 mm. Correspondingly, the openings 7, 8 have a diameter of approximately 1 mm, usually 1-1.5 mm.

(62) The illustration in FIGS. 11-26 is also shown to scale. The second capsule in FIGS. 11-18 has the same dimensions as the first capsule in FIGS. 1-10. The third capsule shown in FIGS. 19-26 in principle likewise has the same dimension between the short rectangles 5 of 15-45 mm, in particular 20-35 mm, and a height from the base 9 to the top surface 2 of 7-30 mm, in particular 10-25 mm.

(63) In principle, the external shape and size of the capsule depends on the accommodating volume of the closure cap. The volume of the discharging element must not be greater than the accommodating volume of the closure cap.

(64) The rate and duration of discharge of the fill liquid into a liquid circulating around the capsule can be adjusted via the shape of the openings 7, 8, the size of the openings 7, 8, the shape and the material of the capsule, and the viscosity of the liquid with which the capsule is filled.

(65) In the illustrated exemplary embodiments, the bottom surface 1, the base 9 thereof, the lateral surface 3 and the top surface 2 have the same wall thickness. The wall thickness is approximately 0.5 to 1.5 mm, in particular 0.7 to 1.2 mm.

(66) For reasons of hygiene, suitable means must be provided for delivering the filled capsules to the end user, which means prevent the ingress of dirt into the capsule or the leakage of fill liquid from the capsule. For instance, the capsule could be wrapped with a film, and/or the openings 7, 8 could be closed by means of adhesive strips.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(67) 1 bottom surface

(68) 2 top surface

(69) 3 lateral surface

(70) 4 long rectangle

(71) 5 short rectangle

(72) 6 portion of a cylindrical surface

(73) 7 first opening

(74) 8 second opening

(75) 9 base

(76) 10 web

(77) 11 wall (internal structures)

(78) 12 wall (internal structures)

(79) 13 wall (internal structures)

(80) 14 portion of a second cylindrical surface

(81) 15 portion of a third cylindrical surface

(82) x distance from wall 11

(83) A closure cap