Packaging System For At Least One Product Preparation Component, And Corresponding Method For Handling The Product Preparation Component

Abstract

A packaging system for at least one product preparation component is disclosed. Said packaging system having a first container for storing a first product preparation component, a second container for storing at least one other product preparation component, and a closure device sealing off an opening of the first container from the surroundings by way of a closure element having a coupling device in order to couple the second container to the closure device and establishes a fluidic connection between the first container and the second container. Additionally, a method for handling at least one product preparation component is disclosed. The method ensures a reliable packaging system which allows a user-friendly handling of the contained product preparation components. This is achieved in that the closure element and the coupling device are joined together as separate components in a non-releasable manner to form the closure device.

Claims

1. A packaging system for at least one product preparation component, comprising a first container for storing a first product preparation component, a second container for optionally storing at least one other product preparation component, and a closure device which seals off an opening of the first container from the surroundings by means of a closure element and has a coupling device in order to couple the second container to the closure device and in order to establish a fluidic connection between the first container and the second container, wherein the closure element and the coupling device are joined together as separate components in a non-releasable manner in order to form the closure device.

2. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein the closure element, excluding its destruction, is connected to the first container in a non-releasable manner by means of a fastening sleeve.

3. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein the closure element comprises a cap which, in the initial state of the closure device, is connected to the fastening sleeve of the closure element via a predetermined breaking point.

4. The packaging system according to claim 3, wherein the cap is arranged to be shiftable relative to the coupling device axially with respect to an axis of the closure device, and to be secured against rotation about the axis.

5. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device has a thread for screwing to the second container.

6. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein the fastening sleeve and the coupling device each have at least one mutually corresponding rotation stop element which allows the relative rotation of the fastening sleeve and the coupling device about the axis of the closure device only until the corresponding rotation stop elements abut one another.

7. The packaging system according to claim 6, wherein either the fastening sleeve or the coupling device has at least two rotation stop elements which interact with the at least one corresponding rotation stop element of the coupling device or the fastening sleeve in such a way that an initial stop and an end stop for the relative rotation between the fastening sleeve and the coupling device about the axis of the closure device is formed.

8. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein the cap is connected to the first container via a thread which has a rotational direction counter to that of the thread of the coupling device.

9. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein the cap has a pot-like basic structure, at least one opening being provided in the circumferential wall of the cap.

10. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein another product preparation component is stored in the second container to mix the first product preparation component with the at least one other product preparation component after the second container has been coupled to the first container by means of the closure device.

11. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein the closure device can be coupled to the second container in a liquid-tight manner.

12. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein the closure device has at least one sealing element to ensure a liquid-tight connection to the first and/or second container.

13. A method for transferring at least one product preparation component from a first container to a second container using a packaging system according to claim 1, characterized by the following method steps: a. attaching the first container to the second container by means of the closure device by bringing corresponding threads on the coupling device and on the second container into engagement, b. screwing the closure device to the second container by means of the coupling device up to the coupling end position between the coupling device and the second container, c. continuing the relative rotation between the first container or the closure element and the second container, the cap which is arranged to be secured against rotation relative to the coupling device being separated from the closure element at the predetermined breaking point, d. further continuing the relative rotation between the first container or the closure element and the second container, the separated cap being connected to the first container by means of a thread which has a rotational direction counter to that of the thread of the coupling device, and the cap thus being unscrewed from the first container, e. forming a fluidic connection between the first and second container via at least one cleared opening in a circumferential wall of the pot-like, at least partially unscrewed cap, f. transferring the product preparation component from the first to the second container.

14. A method for mixing a multi-component product preparation using a packaging system according to claim 1 comprising a first container for storing a first product preparation component and a second container for storing at least one other product preparation component, characterized by the following method steps: a. attaching the first container to the second container by means of the closure device by bringing corresponding threads on the coupling device and on the second container into engagement, b. screwing the closure device to the second container by means of the coupling device up to the coupling end position between the coupling device and the second container, c. continuing the relative rotation between the first container or the closure element and the second container, the cap which is arranged to be secured against rotation relative to the coupling device being separated from the closure element at the predetermined breaking point, d. further continuing the relative rotation between the first container or the closure element and the second container, the separated cap being connected to the first container by means of a thread which has a rotational direction counter to that of the thread of the coupling device, and the cap thus being unscrewed from the first container, e. forming a fluidic connection between the first and second container via at least one cleared opening in a circumferential wall of the pot-like, at least partially unscrewed cap, f. transferring the first product preparation component from the first to the second container, g. mixing the two product preparation components in the first and/or second container.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the method steps a-e for coupling the two containers can be carried out reversibly, such that the two containers can be analogously decoupled again when the relative rotational direction is reversed according to method steps e-a.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the relative rotation between the fastening sleeve and the coupling device about the axis of the closure device is limited to a range of rotation of less than 360° by mutually corresponding rotation stop elements being provided on the fastening sleeve and the coupling device, which rotation stop elements allow a relative rotation only between an initial stop position and an end stop position of the corresponding rotation stop elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Other features of the invention are also explained below with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the individual components of the packaging system in a perspective view;

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the closure device according to FIG. 1 in two perspective views;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows the closure device according to FIG. 1 in two different operating states in two sectional views;

[0032] FIG. 4 shows the packaging system according to FIG. 1 in two different operating states in two sectional views.

[0033] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 illustrates a packaging system 1 comprising a first container 10 for storing a first product preparation component (not shown here) and a second container 20 for optionally storing at least one other, second product preparation component (not shown here either). The packaging system 1 shown is used for the controlled and safe transfer of the first product preparation component from the first container 10 to the second container 20. If there is another, second product preparation component in the second container 20, the two product preparation components can also advantageously be mixed to form a multi-component product preparation.

[0034] In addition to the two containers 10, 20, the packaging system 1 also comprises a multifunctional closure device 3 which seals off the first container 10 from the surroundings in the initial state by means of a closure element 40. For the reliable closure of the first container 10, the closure element 40 first comprises a fastening sleeve 41 which, in the ready-to-use state, is connected to the first container 10 in a non-destructive and non-releasable manner. For this purpose, the fastening sleeve 41 is preferably snap-fitted to the first container 10, or is both screwed and snap-fitted. In any case, the fastening sleeve 41, which is non-releasably connected to the first container 10, is secured to the first container 10 so as to be axially and rotationally fixed with respect to an axis 4 of the closure device 3. In addition to the fastening sleeve 41, the closure element 40 has a substantially pot-shaped cap 45 which, in the ready-to-use state, seals off an opening 11 in the first container 10. For this purpose, the cap 45 has a bottom wall 47 comprising an annular sealing plug 48 which is able to close the opening 11 of the first container 10 with a precise fit. This reliably prevents undesired escape of the first product preparation component from the first container into the surroundings.

[0035] The closure device 3 also has a coupling device 30 in order to couple the second container 20 to the closure device 3 and thus indirectly to the first container 10 and in order to establish a fluidic connection between the first container 10 and the second container 20 with the interposition of the closure device 3. For this purpose, the coupling device 30 has an annular basic structure with a thread 31 which is intended to engage with a corresponding thread 21 on the second container 20. The coupling device 30 also has an inner sleeve 32 which can interact with the cap 45 in an interlocking manner.

[0036] In principle, the two components of the closure device 3, namely the closure element 40 and the coupling device 30, are initially designed as separate components, which has the advantage that they can easily be manufactured independently of one another, for example by means of injection molding. When used, the closure element 40 and the coupling device 30 are joined together in a non-destructive and non-releasable manner to form the closure device 3. This is preferably done by means of a snap connection, in which the closure element 40 and the coupling device 30 are axially snap-fitted to one another. After snap-fitting, the closure element 40 and the coupling device 30, as can also be seen in FIGS. 2-4 in particular, are non-releasably joined together to form the closure device 3, so that the closure device 3 can subsequently be handled very easily. At the same time, the closure element 40 and the coupling device 30 are joined within the closure device 3 in such a way that a limited relative rotation of the closure element 40 and coupling device 30 about the axis 4 is possible in principle. For this purpose, mutually corresponding rotation stop elements 33, 43 are provided on the closure element 40 and on the coupling device 30, which elements, when they interact, limit the relative rotation between the closure element 40 and the coupling device 30 to a rotation angle range of less than 360° during use. This corresponds to a range of rotation of less than a full revolution. In this case, the rotation stop elements 33, 43 are preferably designed as radial ribs or projections, but can also have any other suitable geometric design. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, as in the embodiment shown (see FIG. 2), a plurality of rotation stop elements 33, 43 is distributed over the circumference of the closure element 40 and/or the coupling device 30. As a result, the rotation angle range for the relative rotation between the closure element 40 and the coupling device 30 is limited even further, for example to rotation angle range of up to 180°, particularly preferably of up to 90°. The desired degree of permitted relative rotation between the closure element 40 and the coupling device 30 can thus be set in a very targeted manner via the position of the rotation stop elements 33, 43 distributed on the circumference. Above all, the interaction of several rotation stop elements 33, 43 distributed around the circumference allows the initial stop and end stop positions between the closure element 40 and the coupling device 30 to be fixed in a defined manner. This means that the defined relative rotation between the closure element 40 and the coupling device 30 is limited to a set, limited rotation angle range between the initial rotation stop and end rotation stop.

[0037] As already mentioned, in the initial state of the packaging system 1, the closure device 3 is non-releasably attached to the first container 10, which is filled with the first product preparation component. Furthermore, in this initial state, as can be seen from FIG. 2, the closure element 40 and the coupling device 30 are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that the cap 45 extends into the inner sleeve 32 of the coupling device 30 in an interlocking manner. As a result, the cap 45 is fixed on the coupling device 30 so as to be secured against rotation about the closure device axis 4, such that the cap 45 follows every rotation of the coupling device 30 about the axis 4.

[0038] Furthermore, the cap 45 has a substantially pot-shaped basic structure, specifically comprising a bottom wall 47 which, in the initial state, covers the opening 11 of the first container 10, and a circumferential wall 49 which extends around the axis 4. A plurality of radially oriented openings 51 is provided in the circumferential wall 49 (three in the present embodiment), such that the bottom wall 48 is integrally connected to the circumferential wall 49 via three bridges 50. Furthermore, the cap 45 is integrally connected to the fastening sleeve 41 via a predetermined breaking point 52 in the initial state. In the present embodiment, the predetermined breaking point 52 comprises a plurality of point-like connecting bridges which are distributed over the cap circumference and each extend between the fastening sleeve 41 and the cap circumferential wall 49. Of course, other suitable designs of the predetermined breaking point are also conceivable within the meaning of the invention.

[0039] To improve the sealing effect, the closure device 3 preferably comprises at least one sealing element 34, 48, 53, 54, which acts within the closure device 3 itself or between the closure device and the first and/or second container 10, 20. In the embodiment of the closure device 3 shown in FIGS. 1-4, a plurality of sealing elements 34, 48, 53, 54 is provided, which elements are preferably designed as sealing lips, sealing rings, annular sealing plugs, or the like. These sealing elements 34, 48, 53, 54 jointly prevent the undesired escape of a product preparation component from one of the containers 10, 20 into the surroundings, and form a barrier to prevent environmental influences, such as atmospheric oxygen and air humidity, from adversely affecting the product preparation components.

[0040] In general, such a substantially closed packaging system 1 can be used in a particularly versatile manner for storing and handling a wide variety of product preparation components or other chemical substances. In particular, the packaging system 1 allows the user to handle the product preparation components in the container in a completely contact-free manner. Essentially, the packaging system 1 allows both the user-friendly transfer of a first product preparation component from the first container 10 to a second container 20 and the optional subsequent mixing of the first product preparation component with another, second product preparation component originally contained in the second container 20. The two essential handling alternatives of the packaging system 1 are explained below in more detail, although the embodiment of a packaging system 1 shown is preferably designed for mixing of a multi-component product preparation.

[0041] The process of the container coupling for handling the first product preparation component stored at least in the first container 10 is primarily illustrated in FIGS. 3-4. To couple the two containers 10, 20, the first container 10 with the closure device 3 non-releasably attached thereto is first placed upside-down on the second container 20. This can be seen at least in principle from FIG. 4 (left-hand illustration). In this initial state, the cap 45 is completely screwed onto the first container 10 via the mutual threaded connection 12, 46, so that the opening 11 of the first container 10 is sealed off by means of the annular sealing plug 48. At the same time, the mutually corresponding threads 21, 31 on the second container 20 and on the coupling device 30 are attached to one another. The first container 10 is then rotated together with the closure device 3 in a clockwise direction relative to the second container 20. The coupling device 30 is screwed via the thread 31 thereof (which is clockwise in this embodiment) onto the corresponding thread 21 on the second container 20. At this stage, there is no relative rotation between the closure element 40 and the coupling device 30, since a relative rotation in this rotational direction is prevented by the corresponding interaction of corresponding rotation stop elements 33, 43. The relative rotation between the first container 10 or the closure device 3 and the second container 20 is continued until a coupling end position is reached, which is illustrated in the left-hand illustration in FIG. 4. The coupling device 30 is then completely screwed onto the second container 20 so that it is no longer possible to turn the coupling device 30 clockwise and the coupling device 30 forms a stationary structural unit with the second container 20, at least at this stage. In this coupling end position, the coupling device 30 thus follows the further movement of the second container 20 in the course of the continuation of the container coupling. After reaching the coupling end position, in which the two containers 10, 20 are fundamentally coupled to one another, but there is still no fluidic connection between the containers 1, 20, the relative rotation between the first container 10 or the closure device 3 and the second container 20 in the clockwise direction, which has already been used to screw on the closure device 3, is continued. This means that the first container 10, together with the closure element 40, is further rotated relative to the second container 20 while maintaining the clockwise screwing direction of the coupling device 30. In the course of this continued rotary movement, the cap 45, which is initially connected to the fastening sleeve 41 via the predetermined breaking point 52 and which is arranged so as to be secured against rotation relative to the coupling device 30, is separated from the closure element 40 or the fastening sleeve 41 at the predetermined breaking point 52. The separation of the cap 45 at the predetermined breaking point 52 takes place here due to the fact that, with continued relative rotation between the two coupled containers 10, 20, the fastening sleeve 41 follows the rotary movement of the first container 10, while the coupling device 30, together with the cap 45, follows the rotary movement of the second container 20. When a defined torque threshold is exceeded, this leads to the predetermined breaking point 52 being broken. In this context, it should be noted that the torque required to break the predetermined breaking point 52 is always greater than the torque required to screw the coupling device 30 onto the second container 20. This is the only way to maintain the desired sequence of the individual method steps when coupling the two containers 10, 20.

[0042] After the cap 45 has been separated from the fastening sleeve 41, the relative rotation between the first container 10 with the fastening sleeve 41 and the second container 20 with the coupling device 30 is continued while maintaining the previous rotational direction. The now-separated cap 45 is connected to a corresponding thread 12 on the first container 10 by means of a thread 46, the corresponding threads 12, 46 on the first container 10 and the cap 45 having a rotational direction that is contradirectional to that of the corresponding threads 21, 31 on the second container 20 or the coupling device 30. The cap 45 is thus simultaneously unscrewed from the first container 10 when the relative rotation between the two containers 10, 20 continues and as a result of the contradirectional cap thread. For example, mutually corresponding threads 21, 31 on the second container 20 and on the coupling device 30 are designed to be clockwise, while the mutually corresponding threads 12, 46 on the first container 10 and the cap 45 are designed to be counterclockwise. Of course, the opposite rotational direction is also conceivable for the respective threads 21, 31, 12, 46, but it is crucial for the mutually corresponding thread pairs 21, 31, 12, 46 to be oriented in opposite directions to one another. As a result of the continued relative rotation, the cap 45 is now unscrewed from the first container 10 at least to the extent that at least one opening 51 in a circumferential wall 49 of the pot-like cap 45 is cleared. A plurality of openings 51 is preferably distributed over the circumference of the circumferential wall; in the present embodiment, three openings 51 are formed in the cap circumferential wall 49. Since they overlap with the opening 11 of the first container 10, these cap openings 51 bring about a fluidic connection between the first container 10 and the second container 20. This state, with the fluidic connection established between the containers 10, 20, is illustrated in particular by FIGS. 3-4, in each case on the right-hand side. After the fluidic connection between the two containers 10, 20 has been set, the transfer of the at least one product preparation component from the first container 10 to the second container 20 can then also take place. Such a transfer of the free-flowing and/or pourable product preparation component (not shown here) preferably takes place as a result of gravity, the first container 10 being arranged on top when the containers are coupled. In addition, the product transfer, especially in the case of a flexibly designed first container 10, can be supported by the action of external forces on the first container 10. This preferably applies to first containers 10 which are designed in the shape of a tube or pouch.

[0043] The above-described method for handling the packaging system 1 according to the invention also reveals its decisive advantage. Due to the closed structure of the packaging system 1 with respect to the surroundings, safe handling of the product preparation components contained in the containers 10, 20 can be guaranteed under all circumstances. Manual removal of the contents from the first container 10 alone is therefore not possible because of the closure device 3, which is fastened in a non-destructive and non-releasable manner. Instead, in the initial state of the first container 10, the cap 45 (as can be seen in FIG. 2) is protected from manual access from the outside because it is interlocking embedded in the inner sleeve 32 of the coupling device 30. The cap 45 consequently cannot be released from the first container 10 without the closure device 3 interacting with the associated second container 20. Due to the interaction described above, the cap 45 can only be released from the opening 11 of the first container 10 in the event of coupling with the associated second container 20. A fluidic connection of the first container 10 is thus exclusively limited to the corresponding second container 20. An undesired fluidic connection between the first container 10 and the surroundings is precluded by the specific design of the packaging system. The packaging system 1 is thus not only advantageously tamper-proof, but also brings about the transfer of the product preparation components only within the closed packaging system 1. In this way, for example, undesirable spillage of substances during the transfer from one container to another can be avoided. Ultimately, the closed packaging system 1 prevents any contact between the user and the product preparation components contained therein in every use state.

[0044] The procedure described above for coupling the two containers 10, 20 and for establishing a fluidic connection between the containers 10, 20 by opening the cap 45 is not solely for transferring a first product preparation component from the first container 10 to the second container 20. It is alternatively conceivable to also use the packaging system described above for mixing a multi-component product preparation. For this purpose, a first product preparation component is initially stored in the first container 10, while at least one other product preparation component is stored in the second container 20. In the initial state, the second container 20 is preferably closed off from the surroundings by means of a removable closure (not shown here). If the two containers 10, 20 are coupled to one another according to the method explained above and the corresponding fluidic connection is established, the first product preparation component can generally be combined with the other product preparation component in the second container 20. The first product preparation component is transferred from the first container 10 to the second container 20 as described. The two product preparation components can then be mixed with one another within the coupled and fluidically connected containers 10, 20. For this purpose, the entire packaging system 1 with the coupled containers 10, 20 is preferably shaken, tilted, or similarly moved in order to mix the two product preparation components to form a multi-component product preparation that is as homogeneous as possible by means of the movement dynamics. Ideally, the fluidic connection between the containers 10, 20 is maintained during the mixing process, which increases the available mixing space and ensures that both product preparation components are used in their full amount to produce the product preparation mixture.

[0045] In the use state of the packaging system 1 with coupled containers 10, 20 and the fluidic connection established between the containers, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-4 (right-hand illustration in each case), it can also be seen that the cap 45 is not fully released from the first container 10. The cap 45 is only released to the extent that the cap openings 51 are radially cleared in order to set the fluidic connection between the containers 10, 20. In this cap position, the cap thread 46 is still in engagement with the corresponding thread 12 on the first container 10. This cap position is preferably deliberately set above the aforementioned rotation stop elements 33, 43 on the coupling device 30 and the closure element 40. The basic interaction between the initial stop position and end stop position for the relative rotation defined by the rotation stop elements 33, 43 and the associated open and closed position of the cap 45 has already been explained above. In particular, due to their interaction, the corresponding rotation stop elements 33, 43 define an end stop for the relative rotation between the coupling device 30 and the closure element 40. Due to the fixed connection of the coupling device 30 and the second container 20 and of the closure element 40 and the first container 10 at this stage, this also brings about an end stop for the relative rotation between the containers 10, 20. In particular, this end stop, with the cap 45 correspondingly only partially released from the first container, offers the advantage that all essential method steps for coupling the containers 10, 20 and for establishing the fluidic connection between the containers 10, 20 can be reversible. When the first relative rotational direction which is used to couple the two containers 10, 20 is reversed, the two containers 10, 20 can analogously be decoupled again in the reverse order of the corresponding individual method steps already described above. In principle, a reversal of the relative rotational direction between the two coupled and fluidically connected containers 10, 20 initially results in the cap 45 being tightened on the first container 10. At the same time, the axial movement of the cap 45 relative to the first container 10 closes the openings 51 in the cap circumferential wall 49, whereby the fluidic connection between the two containers 10, 20 is removed and the first container 10 is immediately closed again. In this context, it can be ensured by appropriately designing the respective thread parameters between the cap 45 and the first container 10 and between the coupling device 30 and the second container 20 that the torque required to tighten the cap 45 is set to be less than the torque required to unscrew the coupling device 30. When the cap 45 is completely screwed onto the first container 10, the coupling device 30 is unscrewed from the second container 20, specifically until the coupling device 30 can be completely released from the second container 20 again, when the reverse relative rotation is continued. Such a reversible method opens up the possibility of repeating the coupling process, the fluidic connection process, the transfer of a product preparation component, and optionally the mixing of a plurality of product preparation components by means of the packaging system 1 according to the invention as often as desired. Furthermore, with appropriately finely divided control of the opening and closing process of the cap 45, the amount of transferred product preparation component can be influenced in a targeted manner, so that essentially a type of metering system for the first product preparation component is brought about by means of the packaging system. This advantageously results in expanded fields of application for such a packaging system 1. For example, it is conceivable to dispense only a certain amount of the product preparation component from the first container 10 into the second container 20 during each coupling process. In this way, depending on the use, defined discharge quantities of the product preparation component can also be metered from the first container. In any case, such a reversible sequence of the aforementioned method steps is possible both with a transfer method and with a mixing method.

[0046] In principle, the method described above is suitable for handling almost all conceivable free-flowing and/or pourable product preparation components within the meaning of the invention. However, due to the closed functionality of the packaging system 1 with the possibility of product transfer only after the two associated containers 10, 20 have been properly coupled, it is particularly advantageous to use it in connection with highly chemically reactive substances or substances which, considered individually, may be hazardous. The method described above can also be used universally in a wide variety of fields of application. Purely by way of example, the transfer method according to the invention could be advantageously used, inter alia, with any type of substance addition, with refilling processes from refill containers, with the addition of additives and with comparable substance transfer processes.

[0047] Furthermore, the specific design of the closed packaging system 1 ensures particularly safe handling of the individual product preparation components, which may not be uncritical for the user, in the event that a multi-component product preparation mixture is produced. In principle, the above-described mixing method is suitable for handling a large number of different product preparation components that are to be further processed to form a mixture. Above all, such a mixing method is useful for individual product preparation components which are highly chemically reactive with one another and which have to be kept separate from one another until they are actually used. Multi-component cosmetic products, such as hair coloring products, are examples of such uses. Even substances which, considered individually, may be hazardous, can be advantageously and safely handled by means of the mixing method due to the closed design of the packaging system. The mixing method described above can also be used universally in a wide variety of fields of application.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0048] 1 packaging system
3 closure device
4 axis
10 first container
11 opening
12 thread
20 second container
21 thread
30 coupling device
31 thread
32 inner sleeve
33 rotation stop element
34 sealing element
40 closure element
41 fastening sleeve
43 rotation stop element
45 cap
46 thread
47 bottom wall
48 sealing plug
49 circumferential wall
50 bridge
51 opening
52 predetermined breaking point
53 sealing element
54 sealing element