PLASTIC CONTAINER HAVING AN OPENING MEANS

Abstract

A plastic container comprises a container body, a container cover, and an opening element for opening the container cover. A container opening is formed at an upper end of the container body lying opposite the container bottom. The container cover is fastened to the upper border of the container body in order to cover the container opening. The upper border is connected to the container wall at a distance radially outward from an upper edge of the container wall and by a flexible connecting portion, the flexible connecting portion permitting sliding of the upper border relative to the container wall and to the opening element such that the plastic container can be brought from a closed position into an open position.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A plastic container comprising a container body, a container cover and an opening means for opening the container cover; the container body comprises a container wall and a container bottom arranged in a lower region; wherein a container opening is formed at an upper end of the container body lying opposite the container bottom; the container body comprises a circumferential upper border in the upper region; wherein the container cover for covering the container opening is fastened to the upper border of the container body; wherein the upper border is spaced radially outward from an upper edge of the container wall and connected with the container wall by a flexible connecting portion, wherein the flexible connecting portion permits a displacement of the upper border relative to the container wall and to the opening means, so that the plastic container can be brought from a closed position into an open position.

14. The plastic container according to claim 13, wherein the opening means lies below the container cover in the closed position, and is upwardly offset in the opening position, so as to penetrate, cut or press open the container cover.

15. The plastic container according to claim 13, wherein the flexible connecting portion is loop- or U-shaped in design as viewed in cross section in the closed position.

16. The plastic container according to claim 13, wherein the flexible connecting portion is designed as a flexible thin segment.

17. The plastic container according to claim 13, wherein the upper border comprises a wall, which essentially runs parallel to the container wall.

18. The plastic container according to claim 13, wherein the border comprises a radially outwardly directed flange.

19. The plastic container according to claim 13, wherein the upper border is integrally molded onto the container wall by way of the connecting portion.

20. The plastic container according to claim 13, wherein the upper edge of the container wall comprises the opening means.

21. The plastic container according to claim 20, wherein the container cover in the form of a container lid has several flaps, which are designed to be pushed open by the upper edge of the container wall.

22. The plastic container according to claim 13, wherein the container cover is designed as a sealing film, and the opening means is designed as a cutting edge.

23. The plastic container according to claim 13, wherein the upper border has a supporting surface, with which the plastic container can be placed on a mixing container to initiate the displacement over a mixing container opening.

24. The plastic container according to claim 13, wherein the upper border has a peripheral skirt with a thread, preferably a female thread, with which the plastic container can be screwed to a mixing container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0033] The invention will be described in more detail below based on exemplary embodiments in conjunction with their drawing(s). Shown on:

[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plastic container;

[0035] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the plastic container on FIG. 1;

[0036] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the sectional view on FIG. 2;

[0037] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the connecting portion (a) in a closed position and (b) in an open position;

[0038] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the plastic container on FIG. 1, with partially open container cover;

[0039] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a plastic container with sealing film;

[0040] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a plastic container with an opening means with several perforating means and with a sealing film; and

[0041] FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the plastic container from FIG. 7.

WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

[0042] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a plastic container with integrated opening mechanism. FIG. 4 shows a cutout of the plastic container in an open position and a closed position. The plastic container comprises a container body 1 and a container cover 2 (shown partially cut on FIGS. 1 and 2). The container body 1 comprises a container wall 3 with a container bottom 4 at the lower end, and a container opening 5 at the upper end. The container wall 3 has an essentially conical shape. At the upper end, the container wall further comprises a peripherally running upper border 6. In the embodiment shown, the border 6 is designed like a wall 61 extending parallel to the container wall 3, for example which has a height of 5 to 15 mm. At the upper end of the wall 61, the border 6 comprises a radially outwardly directed flange 62, with a peripheral, downwardly directed skirt 63 for reinforcement.

[0043] At the lower end of the wall 61, the border 6 is connected with the container wall 3 by a flexible connecting portion 8. In the depicted embodiment, the flexible connecting portion 8 has a loop- or U-shaped cross section. The container wall 3 and border 6 essentially have the same wall thickness. The connecting portion 8 is thinner in design than the container wall 3 or border 6. The connecting portion 8 is flexible enough that the border 6 can be moved from a closed position (FIG. 4(a)) into an open position (FIG. 4(b)) relative to the container wall 3. Above the attachment point 81 of the flexible connection 8 to the container wall 3, the container wall 3 extends further upward, and at its upper edge 7 forms the opening means 9. The upper edge 7 lies below a plane defined by flange 62.

[0044] The loop- or U-shaped, flexible connecting portion 8 is connected with the two end areas at the container wall 3 or the upper border 6. In the closed position, the two ends are located essentially at the same height. In the open position, they are moved away from each other, and the flexible connecting portion 87 is stretched.

[0045] In the depicted embodiment, the container cover 2 is a container lid 2′ with several flaps 24 for covering the container opening 5, and has a peripheral fastening edge 21. Such a container lid 2′ is described in the Swiss patent application entitled “Capsule with Integrated Dispensing Device” by the same applicant and with the same application date, the contents of which are hereby included in this application. The container lid 2′ can be directly connected with the fastening edge 21 of the boundary 6, or—as in the depicted embodiment—have a continuous, downwardly directed skirt 22 on the peripheral fastening edge 21, with a continuous bead 23 arranged on its outer surface. In order to fasten the container lid 2′, the continuous bead 23 latches into a complementary groove 64 arranged on the interior surface of the wall 61 of the border 6.

[0046] In the depicted embodiment of the container lid 2′, four flaps 24 are formed by continuous slits 25 in the cover surface, and resemble uniform circle segments. These flaps 24 are each connected with the fastening edge 21 of the container lid 2′ by way of a hinge 26, preferably a film hinge. Retaining webs that bridge the slits 25 can be present between the flaps 24, and form predetermined breaking points. Predetermined breaking points in the form of segments are also possible in place of the slits.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the flexible connecting portion 7 (a) in a closed position and (b) in an opening position. In the closed position, the border 6 is in an open position in relation to the container wall 3 or opening means 9, in which the flexible connecting portion 8 has a loop- or U-shaped cross section, and the upper edge 7 of the container wall 3 or opening means 9 is located below a surface defined by the flange. The opening means 9 is here covered by the container lid 2′.

[0048] In order to open the container lid 2′, the border 6 on which the container lid 2′ is fastened is pushed downward along the container axis A in the direction of the container bottom 4. For example, this can be done by having the plastic container with the flange 62, which simultaneously comprises a supporting surface 65, press against the neck of a mixing container. The opening means 9 is here displaced relative to the container lid 2′, and presses open its flaps 24 with the upper edge 7. In the open position, the opening means 9 protrudes over the flange 62 of the border 6. The flexible connecting portion 8, which has a flexible design, is here stretched (see FIG. 4(b)). The maximum displacement here corresponds to roughly the length of the connecting portion 8 or twice the length of a leg of the U-shape.

[0049] The film hinges 26 on the container lid 2′, which each retain the flaps 24 on the container lid 2′, can be arc-shaped in design (see FIG. 1). As a result, a restoring force acts on the flap 24 with the flap 24 swiveled out, i.e., in the open position. If the opening means 9 is retracted again, the flaps 24 also close, at least partially.

[0050] The container bottom 4 is outwardly curved in the depicted embodiment. A skirt 31 that protrudes over the container bottom 4 is formed at the lower end of the container wall 3.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows the plastic container on FIG. 1 with a partially open container lid 2′. The flaps 24 are here outwardly swiveled around the film hinges.

[0052] FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of a plastic container with a sealing film 2″ as the container cover 2. The sealing film 2″ is fastened to the upper border 6, e.g., by being welded to the flange of the border 6.

[0053] The opening means 9 can be designed as a cutting edge, e.g., in that the upper edge 7 of the container body 1 or container wall 3 comprises the cutting edge. A relative displacement of the cutting edge from the closed position of the plastic container into its open position causes the sealing film 2″ to be cut.

[0054] FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 also show a plastic container with a sealing film 2″ in a perspective view and in a detailed view, wherein FIG. 7 does not depict the sealing film 2″. In contrast to the plastic container on FIG. 6, the opening means 9 is provided with at least one piercing means 10. The opening means 9 is designed in such a way as to be operatively connected with the container wall 3. A relative displacement of the piercing means 10 from the closed position of the plastic container into its opening position causes the sealing film 2″ to be pierced.

[0055] In the depicted embodiment, the opening means 9 rests on the upper edge 7 of the container wall 3. It can also be fastened to the container wall 3, e.g., by latching means.

[0056] For example, the opening means 9 can be designed as a filter plate with filter openings 11. The filter openings can be covered with a filter paper.

REFERENCE LIST

[0057] 1 Container body [0058] 2 Container cover [0059] 2′ Container lid [0060] 2″ Sealing film [0061] 21 Fastening edge [0062] 22 Skirt [0063] 23 Bead [0064] 24 Flaps [0065] 25 Slits [0066] 26 Hinge, film hinge [0067] 3 Container wall [0068] 31 Skirt [0069] 4 Container bottom [0070] 5 Container opening [0071] 6 Border [0072] 61 Wall [0073] 62 Flange [0074] 63 Skirt [0075] 64 Groove [0076] 65 Supporting surface [0077] 7 Upper edge [0078] 8 Flexible connecting portion [0079] 9 Opening means [0080] 10 Piercing means [0081] 11 Filter openings [0082] A Container axis