Abstract
The disclosure relates to a closure for a container, including a ring-shaped base element extending around a longitudinal axis and including a first through opening, a ring-shaped rotary element, which can be operatively connected to the base element and can be rotated relative thereto about the longitudinal axis, and at least one closing element. The closing element comprises a first and a second end wherein the first end of the closing element being operatively connected to the base element and the second end of the closing element being operatively connected to the rotary element, and wherein the closing element at least partially closing a closure opening in a rotated state of the rotary element relative to the base element.
Claims
1. A closure for a container, comprising: a. a ring-shaped base element extending around a longitudinal axis having a first through opening, b. a ring-shaped rotary element with a second through opening, the ring-shaped rotary element being operatively connected to the base element and rotatable relative to the base element about the longitudinal axis, and c. at least one closing element having a first end and a second end, wherein i. the at least one closing element is operatively connected at the first end to the base element and at the second end to the rotary element, and wherein ii. a closure opening defined by the at least one closing element is radially constrictable by a displacement of the second end in relation to the first end, and wherein iii. a movable region of the at least one closing element defined by the first end and the second end of the at least one closing element, is arranged inside the first and/or the second through opening.
2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the rotary element is held in a self-inhibiting manner against the base element in a closed state of the closure opening.
3. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the rotary element is displaceable relative to the base element in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
4. The closure according to claim 3, wherein the rotary element comprises a first guide means and/or the base element comprises a second guide means for guiding the rotary element in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
5. The closure according to claim 4, wherein the closure comprises at least one stop for the second guide means in the direction of the longitudinal axis.
6. The closure according to claim 5, wherein the second guide means clampable to the at least one stop.
7. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one closing element is a membrane which is twistable by the rotary movement of the rotary element.
8. The closure according to claim 7, wherein in a closed state of the closure opening, the rotary element rotated by at least 180° relative to the base element.
9. The closure according to claim 7, wherein the membrane has an anti-adhesion coating on at least one side.
10. The closure according to claim 7, wherein the membrane is connected to the base element and/or the rotary element in a force-locking and/or form-fitting manner.
11. The closure according to claim 10, wherein at least one pressing ring is provided for fixing the membrane.
12. The closure according to claim 7, wherein the membrane is held pretensioned in the direction of the longitudinal axis in an open state of the closure.
13. The closure according to claim 7, wherein the closure comprises at least one ventilation channel for pressure equalization in a membrane interspace.
14. The closure according to claim 4, wherein the first and/or the second guide means are interrupted over the circumference by the at least one ventilation channel.
15. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the closure includes a mouthpiece which is operatively connected to the rotary element or to the base element.
16. A container comprising a closure recited in claim 1.
17. The container according to claim 16, wherein the base element is integrally connected to the container.
Description
[0020] Aspects of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the following figures and the associated description. More specifically:
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a first variant of a closure according to the invention with a container in a perspective view in an open state;
[0022] FIG. 2 shows the first variant of the closure with a container according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view in a closed state;
[0023] FIG. 3 shows the closure with the container according to FIG. 1 in a sectional view;
[0024] FIG. 4 shows the closure with the container according to FIG. 1 in an exploded view;
[0025] FIG. 5 shows a second variant of a closure according to the invention with a container in a sectional view;
[0026] FIG. 6 shows the closure with the container according to FIG. 5 in a perspective, partial sectional view;
[0027] FIG. 7 shows a third variant of a closure according to the invention with a container;
[0028] FIG. 8 shows a fourth variant of a closure according to the invention with a container;
[0029] FIG. 9 shows a fifth variant of a closure according to the invention with a container;
[0030] FIG. 10 shows a sixth variant of a closure according to the invention with a container;
[0031] FIG. 11 shows a seventh variant of a closure according to the invention with a container;
[0032] FIG. 12 shows an eighth variant of a closure according to the invention with a container.
[0033] FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 show a first variant of a closure 1 according to the invention with a container 2. The container includes a wall 22 and a bottom 23. The closure 1 includes ring-shaped base element 4 extending around a longitudinal axis 3 and having a first through opening 9, a ring-shaped rotary element 5 operatively connected to the base element 4 and rotatable relative thereto about the longitudinal axis 3 and having a second through opening 10, and a closing element for closing a closure opening 11. In the example shown, the closing element is a tubular, elastic membrane 6, which forms the closure opening 11 in the direction of the longitudinal axis. In a closed state of the closure 1, the closure opening 11 is constricted (see FIG. 2). In an open state, on the other hand, the membrane 6 extends substantially along the first and/or second through opening 9, 10, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, the membrane 6 is operatively connected with a first end 7 to the base element 4 and with a second end 8 to the rotary element 5. When the rotary element 5 is rotated relative to the base element 4, a movable region of the membrane 6, which is delimited by the first and second ends 7, 8, is correspondingly twisted. In the example shown, the membrane 6 is clamped and/or glued by its second end 8 between the rotary element 5 and a mouthpiece 15. The first end 7 of the membrane 6 is clamped and/or glued between the base element 4 and the container 2. The first and the second end 7, 8 each have a thickened portion 20 with a sealing effect. A mouthpiece 15 is placed on the rotary element 5 and can rotate therewith in relation to the base element 4.
[0035] First guide means are arranged on the rotary element 5 in the form of a thread 12 extending around the second through opening 10 at least in some region or regions. On the outside of the base element 4, second guide means 13 in the form of multiple T-slides or a corresponding mating thread 13 are arranged, which are guided in the first guide means 12. When the rotary element 5 is rotated relative to the base element 4 from the open state into the closed state, the second guide means 13 are guided in the first guide means 12, and the rotary element 5 is moved toward the base element 4 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). At the same time, the length of the movable (twistable) region of the membrane 6 in the axial direction decreases when the rotary element 5 is rotated from the open state into the closed state of the closure 1, and the movable region of the membrane 6 is elastically twisted. After a rotation of at least 180°, the closure opening 11 is closed by the membrane 6. In this state, the tension on the membrane 6 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3 is so great that a self-inhibiting occurs between the first and second guide means 12, 13, preventing the membrane 6 from snapping back.
[0036] As can be seen in the exploded view in FIG. 4, the first guide means 12 are interrupted in the circumferential direction. In this case, each of the interruptions forms a ventilation channel 19. This enables pressure equalization in a membrane interspace 18 between the membrane 6 and the base element 4 and/or the rotary element 5.
[0037] FIG. 3 schematically indicates the membrane interspace 18 of the elastically twisted membrane 6′, the volume of which interspace has been increased.
[0038] FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show a second variant of a closure 1 according to the invention with a container 2. The membrane is not shown. The second variant differs from the first variant in that the base element 4 is configured integrally with the container 2. The base element is formed by an (integral) region of the container around a container opening. A first pressing ring 16 clamps the second end of the closing element, or the membrane, between the latter and the rotary element 5. A second pressing ring 17 clamps the first end of the membrane between the latter and the base element 4. A rotation of the rotary element 5 can be carried out, e.g. when the rotary element 5 is raised in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3 against the tension of the membrane. Ventilation channels 19 for the membrane interspace are also provided in this variant. FIG. 6 shows how a ventilation channel 19 in the form of a gap extends between the base element 4 and the rotary element 5. Recesses 21 in the rotary element ensure that the ventilation channel 19 is not closed.
[0039] FIG. 7 to FIG. 12 show further exemplary embodiments of a closure 1 for closing a container 2, with a closing element in the form of at least one cord 29. The at least one cord 29 defines the closure opening 11 of the closure 1, which is formed by a tubular sleeve 27. In these exemplary embodiments, the base element and the mouthpiece are integrally configured with the container. However, it is also conceivable that the base element and the mouthpiece are configured as separate components.
[0040] FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show exemplary embodiments of a closure 1 for closing a container 2, in each case in longitudinal section and in cross section. The container 2 includes a wall 22 and a bottom 23, which surround a filling space 24, and has a central, vertical longitudinal axis 3. The wall 22 includes at the upper end in the region of the integral base element 4, one or more lateral, outwardly continuous openings 26. A sleeve 27 is arranged in an internal space 25 of the container 2 and is leaktightly attached by its edges 37 above and below the openings 26 to the wall 22 or to the (integral) base element 4. In the case shown, the sleeve 27 (in the open state) is arranged substantially concentrically with respect to the wall 22. In FIG. 7, the adjustable ring-shaped rotary element 5, which serves to open and close the closure 1, is arranged radially outside the base element 4. In FIG. 8, the ring-shaped rotary element 5 is arranged in the internal space of the container 2 and within the base element 4, which is operatively connected to an external operating element 28. The rotary element 5 is rigidly connected to the operating element 28 through the openings 26 by means of webs 29. The webs 29 rotate in the same way as the operating element 28 when the latter is rotated.
[0041] In both embodiments, a plurality of cords 29 are arranged radially outside the sleeve 27 in the direction of the longitudinal axis between the edges 37. The cords 29 each have two ends 7, 8. The first end is attached to the base element 4 and the second end is attached to the rotary element 5. I.e. the cords are operatively connected to the rotary element 5 in such a way that by adjusting the rotary element 5 the second end 8 is moved in relation to the first end 7. As a result, the sleeve 27 is elastically constricted radially in the direction of the longitudinal axis 3 and finally pinched shut. The filling space 24 is thus closed in a liquid-tight manner. In these embodiments, three cords 29 are arranged. In the open state, the first and the second ends 7, 8 of each cord 29 preferably span an angle α of approximately 90-120° about the longitudinal axis 3, this angle α becoming greater when the rotary element 5 is rotated. In the fully open state, the sleeve 27 presses the cords 29 arranged on its outside outward by means of its tensioning force. Since the cords 29 are then not tensioned, they allow this. When the operating element 28 is rotated, the rotary element 5 in these examples moves clockwise, although the other direction is, of course, also possible, given an appropriate construction. The further the rotary element 5 is rotated, the greater the angle α that spans each cord 29 about the longitudinal axis 3, with the result that the cords 29 press the sleeve 27 toward the longitudinal axis 3, while the tensioning force of the sleeve 27 constantly counteracts this. Therefore, the closure 1 is not yet closed when the first end 7 and the second end 8 of each cord 29 are opposite one another in the container 2. Only when the angle α is greater than 180°, approximately 200-220°, is the sleeve 27 clamped by the cords 29 in the region of the longitudinal axis 3 in such a way that no more droplets can escape from the filling space 24 (see FIG. 7b and FIG. 8b). The angle of rotation 36 which a user executes by means of the rotation is in this case approximately 80-115°. In these embodiments, the openings 26 are therefore designed as three long, arcuate slots of approximately 110° to the longitudinal axis, thus enabling the webs 30 to be moved within the slots. Connecting regions 31 on the wall 22 or the base element 4 respectively, between the openings 26, rigidly connect the upper region of the container 2, which includes a mouthpiece 15, to the remaining region of the container 2, which includes the bottom 23.
[0042] FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a closure 1 on a container 2. In this embodiment, an operating element 28 is operatively connected to the rotary element 5 in the internal space 25 only through a single opening 26 by a web 30. This opening 26 spans an angle α of, for example, approximately 100-120° to the longitudinal axis 3. The arrangement of the cords 29 and the fastening of their ends 7, 8 correspond to those of FIG. 8. However, since only one opening 26 is provided here, sealing with respect to the outside is simpler. The rotary element 5 is preferably guided in a circumferential groove 32 in the base element 4 in order to maintain its axial position at all times.
[0043] In the embodiment according to FIG. 10, there is likewise only one opening 26. This does not have to be slot-shaped, but is smaller in comparison with the embodiments illustrated hitherto. The operating element 28 is ring-shaped and is operatively connected to the inner rotary element 5. A toothed wheel 33 is arranged in the opening 26, and toothing 34 is attached to the ring-shaped operating element 28 and the rotary element 5, which toothing engages in the toothed wheel 33, with the result that rotation of the ring-shaped operating element 28 inevitably leads to a counter-rotation of the rotary element 5. In this embodiment, the rotary element 5 and/or the annular operating element 28 can be guided in a groove 32 in the wall 22 or in the base element 4. The advantage of this arrangement is that the single opening 26 is smaller than in the other embodiments. In addition, the rotation of the rotary element 5 can be carried out for as long as desired, more than 360° if necessary.
[0044] FIG. 11 shows the same example with three toothed wheels 33 in three openings 26. In both examples according to FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, three cords 29 can be attached to the rotary element 5, as illustrated in FIG. 10, or only one, as illustrated in FIG. 11. In this case, the angle of rotation 36 must be selected correspondingly greater to ensure that the cord spans an angle α about the longitudinal axis 3 of approximately 500-540° when the container 2 is closed in a liquid-tight manner. It is also possible to arrange two cords 29, resulting in better symmetry when the container 2 is worn.
[0045] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 12, the rotary element 5 is of ring-shaped configuration and is held in an external groove in the wall 22 or in the base element 4. This exemplary embodiment has comparatively small openings 26 (through which no webs 30 extend and in which no toothed wheels 33 are arranged). A cord 29 extends through the at least one opening 26, which transmits the action of the rotary element 5 to the internal space 10. For this purpose, a first end 7 of the at least one cord 29 is in each case attached directly to the base element 4, specifically to the wall 22 opposite the opening 26, the cord 29 thereby winding around the sleeve 27 one and a half times. The second end 8 of the single cord 29 is attached to the rotary element 5. When the rotary element 5 is rotated, the cord 29 constricts and elastically squeezes the sleeve 27 toward the longitudinal axis 3. In this example, therefore, only exactly one opening 26 and one cord 29 are provided. The opening 26 only has to be of a size such that the cord 29 can be passed through it.
[0046] In all the embodiments illustrated in FIG. 7-FIG. 12, the number of cords 29 can vary. Depending on the application, an additional locking device 35 can be provided in all embodiments for locking the operating element and/or the rotary element in the closed position, as shown schematically, for example, in FIG. 7d. However, the embodiments can likewise be closable in a self-inhibiting manner, as described above. Furthermore, in all embodiments, the openings can likewise be formed obliquely in the direction of the longitudinal axis, so that, as a result of the rotation of the rotary element, the rotary element can be displaced in the direction of the longitudinal axis with respect to the base element. The openings or the elements extending through the openings can thus serve as first and second guide means, as described above.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0047]
TABLE-US-00001 1 Closure 2 Container 3 Longitudinal axis 4 Base element 5 Rotary element 6 Membrane 7 First end 8 Second end 9 First through opening 10 Second through opening 11 Closure opening 12 First guide means 13 Second guide means 14 Stop 15 Mouthpiece 16 First pressing ring 17 Second pressing ring 18 Membrane interspace 19 Ventilation channel 20 Thickened portion 21 Recess 22 Wall 23 Bottom 24 Filling space 25 Internal space 26 Opening 27 Sleeve 28 Operating element 29 Cord 30 Webs 31 Connection regions 32 Groove 33 Toothed wheel 34 Toothing 35 Locking device 36 Rotation angle 37 Edge
