Spout with final zone

Abstract

A spout for a container, wherein the spout includes a spout body and a spout counterpart. The spout body has a first zone, and the spout counterpart has a final zone. In the final position of the spout, an outlet opening arranged on the spout is open, providing a liquid communication through the spout body to and through the outlet opening. The final zone features a first subzone and a second subzone, arranged free of mutual overlap, allowing the spout to be arranged in its final position in two different configurations: a first configuration of the final position, where a reference subzone of the first zone is arranged to physically interact with the first subzone, and a second configuration of the final position, where the reference subzone is arranged to physically interact with the second subzone.

Claims

1. A spout for a container, wherein the spout comprises a spout body and a spout counterpart, and wherein the spout body features a container fastening part, and wherein the spout body comprises a first zone being an integral part undetachable from the spout body, and wherein the spout counterpart comprises a final zone being an integral part undetachable from the spout counterpart, and wherein the spout body and the spout counterpart are spatially arrangeable with respect to each other in a final position of the spout, wherein in the final position of the spout, the first zone of the spout body is arranged to physically interact with the final zone of the spout counterpart, and wherein in the final position of the spout, an outlet opening arranged on the spout is open, providing a liquid communication through the spout body to and through the outlet opening, wherein the spout features a final configuration stopper and wherein the final zone of the spout counterpart features a first subzone and a second subzone, the first subzone being arranged free of mutual overlap with the second subzone, allowing the spout to be arranged in the final position in two different configurations: a first configuration of the final position, where a reference subzone of the first zone of the spout body is arranged to physically interact with the first subzone of the final zone of the spout counterpart, and the final configuration stopper is arranged to provide physical resistance against a movement of the reference subzone of the first zone of the spout body from the first subzone of the final zone of the spout counterpart to the second subzone of the final zone of the spout counterpart, and a second configuration of the final position, where the reference subzone of the first zone of the spout body is arranged to physically interact with the second subzone of the final zone of the spout counterpart, and the final configuration stopper is arranged to provide physical resistance against a movement of the reference subzone of the first zone of the spout body from the second subzone of the final zone of the spout counterpart to the first subzone of the final zone of the spout counterpart, wherein the spout counterpart features a functional element in fluid communication with the outlet opening of the spout counterpart, the functional element being arranged downstream of the outlet opening with regard to a stream direction of the fluid communication from the spout body to the outlet opening, wherein the functional element, in the final position of the spout, is arranged to influence the liquid communication downstream of the outlet opening.

2. The spout according to claim 1, wherein the functional element is arranged to add a substance into the liquid communication in the final position of the spout.

3. The spout according to claim 2, wherein the functional element is a mixing unit comprising a liquid duct in liquid communication with the liquid communication through the spout, a diluent inlet with a diluent duct, and a mixing chamber for mixing the liquid with the diluent, wherein the diluent duct is positioned relatively to the liquid duct for a diluent stream to intersect a liquid stream before or at the mixing chamber.

4. The spout according to claim 1, wherein the spout counterpart comprises a loading zone being an integral part undetachable from the spout counterpart, wherein the spout body and the spout counterpart are spatially arrangeable with respect to each other in a loading position of the spout, wherein in the loading position of the spout, the first zone of the spout body is arranged to physically interact with the loading zone of the spout counterpart, and wherein in the loading position of the spout, the reference subzone of the first zone of the spout body is able to be repositioned from a first position in the loading zone leading to the first configuration of the final position to a second position in the loading zone leading to the second configuration of the final position.

5. The spout according to claim 4, wherein the spout features a barrier arranged along a movement path of the spout body from the loading position to the final position, and the barrier is arranged to provide physical resistance against a movement of the spout body from the loading position to the final position at least until the spout has been in the final position at least once.

6. The spout according to claim 5, wherein, if the spout is in the loading position, the spout features a loading zone stopper that is arranged to provide physical resistance against a movement of the reference subzone of the first zone of the spout body beyond the loading zone of the spout counterpart, with an exception of the loading zone stopper being arranged to provide no physical resistance against a movement from the loading zone to the final zone.

7. The spout according to claim 6, wherein the barrier is arranged to provide a physical resistance against a movement which is lower than the physical resistance of the loading zone stopper.

8. The spout according to claim 4, wherein, if the spout is in the loading position, the spout is arranged to provide physical resistance against any movement of the reference subzone of the first zone of the spout body beyond the loading zone of the spout counterpart, with exception of a movement from the loading zone to the final zone.

9. The spout according claim 5, wherein the spout features a loading configuration stopper and wherein the loading zone of the spout counterpart features a first subzone and a second subzone, the first subzone of the loading zone being arranged free of mutual overlap with the second subzone of the loading zone, allowing the spout to be arranged in the loading position in two different loading configurations: a first loading configuration of the loading position, where the reference subzone of the first zone of the spout body is arranged to physically interact with the first subzone of the loading zone of the spout counterpart, and the loading configuration stopper is arranged to provide physical resistance against a movement of the reference subzone of the first zone of the spout body from the first subzone of the loading zone of the spout counterpart to the second subzone of the loading zone of the spout counterpart, and a second loading configuration of the loading position, where the reference subzone of the first zone of the spout body is arranged to physically interact with the second subzone of the loading zone of the spout counterpart, and the loading configuration stopper is arranged to provide physical resistance against a movement of the reference subzone of the first zone of the spout body from the second subzone of the loading zone of the spout counterpart to the first subzone of the loading zone of the spout counterpart, wherein the spout in the first loading configuration of the loading position is arranged to be moved to the first configuration of the final position if overcoming the physical resistance of the barrier, and is arranged to be prevented to be moved to the second configuration of the final position if overcoming the physical resistance of the barrier.

10. The spout according to claim 1, wherein the spout features a final zone stopper that is arranged to provide physical resistance against a movement of the reference subzone of the first zone of the spout body beyond the final zone of the spout counterpart, if the spout is in the final position.

11. The spout according to claim 10, wherein, if the spout is in the final position, the spout is arranged to provide physical resistance against any movement of the reference subzone of the first zone of the spout body beyond the final zone of the spout counterpart.

12. The spout according to claim 1, wherein the first zone of the spout body and the final zone of the spout counterpart feature guiding components defining a helical movement path of the spout body relative to the spout counterpart in a movement into the final position of the spout.

13. The spout according claim 1, wherein the spout features a spout seal arranged at the spout to prevent the fluid communication to and/or through the outlet opening at least until the spout has been in the final position at least once.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The subject matter of the invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a spout body in perspective view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the spout body from FIG. 1 in top view;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the spout body from FIG. 1 in side view;

(5) FIG. 4 schematically shows a spout counterpart in perspective view;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the spout counterpart from FIG. 4 in top view;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the spout counterpart from FIG. 4 in side view;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a cut through the spout counterpart from FIG. 4 in the same side view as FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 schematically shows the spout body from FIG. 1 with the spout counterpart from FIG. 4 in the final position in the first configuration in top view;

(10) FIG. 9 shows the spout from FIG. 8 in perspective view;

(11) FIG. 10 schematically shows the spout body from FIG. 1 with the spout counterpart from FIG. 4 in the final position in the second configuration in top view;

(12) FIG. 11 shows the spout from FIG. 10 in perspective view;

(13) FIG. 12 schematically shows a spout counterpart without a functional element, like in FIG. 4 in perspective view;

(14) FIG. 13 shows the spout counterpart from FIG. 12 in top view;

(15) FIG. 14 shows the spout counterpart from FIG. 12 in side view;

(16) FIG. 15 schematically shows a strongly simplified arrangement of zones, barriers and stoppers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(17) In principle, identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

(18) The described orientations and indicated directions in the text below refer to a paper surface for the case that the drawings are printed on paper. For example, “on top” or “higher” means being situated close or closer to a top edge of the paper with the drawing. In an analogue manner, “right” means close or closer to a right edge of the paper with the drawing.

(19) FIG. 1 schematically shows a spout body 1 in perspective view. FIG. 2 shows the same spout body 1 as in FIG. 1 but in top view, and FIG. 3 shows the same spout body 1 as in FIGS. 1 and 2 in side view.

(20) The spout body 1 is produced from plastic and features essentially a shape of a hollow cylinder with some elements added on an outside of the hollow cylinder. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the spout body 1 features at the top end of its hollow cylinder a container fastening part 3. The container fastening part 3 is an element featuring a surface where according surfaces of a container can be fixed, preferably by plastic welding in the case of a plastic container.

(21) The container fastening part 3 features two triangular shaped protrusions extending radially from the hollow cylinder of the spout body 1. As shown in FIG. 2, a tip of each triangular shaped protrusion points away from the spout body 1, once to the right side and once to the left side. In other words, the container fastening part 3 features two spike shaped protrusions which are arranged on the spout body 1 in a symmetric manner (rotation symmetric for rotations of 180 degrees).

(22) The spout body 1 features at the lower end of its hollow cylinder a tightness zone 8, and adjacent on top of it the first zone 4, as best seen in FIG. 3. The tightness zone 8 tightens the spout body 1 against the spout counterpart 2 when the spout is in its final position, and therefore a water tight fluid communication through the spout is created. The tightness zone 8 features two tightness elements in radial direction and one tightness element in axial direction (with respect to the essentially hollow cylinder shape of the spout body 1). A part of the outlet opening 7 of the spout is the empty inner part of the essentially hollow cylinder shaped spout body 1. In the region of the tightness zone 8, a seal 9 seals the empty inner part of the hollow cylinder shaped spout body 1.

(23) The spout body 1 features four final configurations stoppers 20 and four protrusions 23. The final configurations stoppers 20 are positioned like in a ring around the hollow spout body, with an equidistant positioning (rotation symmetric for rotations of 90 degrees). The protrusions 23 are positioned the same way as the final configuration stoppers 20 (like in a ring and rotation symmetric for rotations of 90 degrees). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the final configuration stoppers 20 are positioned below the container fastening part 3, and the protrusions 23 below the final configuration stoppers 20. The protrusions 23 are positioned in the first zone 4. One of the protrusions 23 is the reference subzone 10 of the spout body 1.

(24) FIG. 4 schematically shows a spout counterpart 2 in perspective view. FIG. 5 shows the same spout counterpart 2 as in FIG. 4 but in top view, and FIG. 6 shows the same spout counterpart 2 as in FIGS. 4 and 5 in side view. FIG. 7 shows a cut through the spout counterpart 2 from FIG. 4 in the same side view as FIG. 6.

(25) The spout counterpart 2 is produced from plastic and features essentially a shape of a hollow cylinder in the region of its loading zone 5 and its final zone 6 (as best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7), with some elements added on an inside of the hollow cylinder in these regions. In FIGS. 4, 6 and 7, the loading zone 5 is at the top end of the hollow cylinder shape of the spout counterpart 2. The final zone 6 is positioned below the loading zone 5 in these figures, and a functional element 30 is positioned below the loading zone 5 (and below the hollow cylinder shaped part of the spout counterpart 2—the functional element 30 is not essentially shaped as a hollow cylinder).

(26) FIG. 5 shows in top view at an end of the hollow cylinder shaped part of the spout counterpart that the outlet opening 7 is an opening arranged asymmetrically in the hollow cylinder shape. The outlet opening 7 is shifted to the top and to the right with respect to a longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder part of the spout counterpart 2. The outlet opening 7 is also tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder part, as seen in FIG. 7.

(27) The outlet opening 7 leads to a liquid duct 31 of the functional element 30 of the spout counterpart 2. The liquid duct 31 is therefore arranged downstream of the outlet opening 7. The liquid duct 31 ends up in a mixing chamber 33, and also a diluent duct 32 ends up in the mixing chamber 33 (best seen in FIG. 7). A diluent stream from the diluent duct 32 intersects with a liquid stream from the liquid duct 31 at the mixing chamber 33.

(28) The spout counterpart 2 features two seal openers 26 arranged at the lower end of the hollow cylinder part of the spout counterpart 2 in FIG. 7. They point upwards and are shaped in a manner to cut and shear open the seal 9 of the spout body 1 once the spout is moved into is final position.

(29) The spout counterpart 2 further includes four final configuration stoppers 20 which in order to work as final configurations stoppers interact with the final configuration stoppers 20 of the spout body 1. Also shown in FIG. 5 are elements functioning as barrier 25, i.e., they have to be overcome by the reference zone 10 of the spout body 1 in order to change from the loading position to the final position.

(30) As the spout body 1 is rotation symmetric with respect to a rotation of 180 degrees, the reference zone 10 of the spout body 1 can end up in two zones arranged opposite to each other on the spout counterpart 2 while being in the same configuration. Therefore, FIG. 5 shows two first subzones 11 of the final zone 6 of the spout counterpart 2, and these two first subzones 11 are situated opposite to each other. The same goes for the two second subzones 12 of the final zone 6 of the spout counterpart 2. These two second subzones 12 of the final zone 6 are lying between the two first subzones 11 of the final zone 6. Each one of these four subzones 11, 12 of the final zone 6 extend over a quarter of a circumference of the hollow cylinder shape of the spout counterpart 2. If the reference subzone 10 of the spout body 1 is in physical interaction with one of the two first subzones 11 of the final zone 6 of the spout counterpart 2, then the spout in its final position is in its first configuration. The same is valid in an analog manner for the second subzones 12 and the second configuration.

(31) Also visible in FIG. 7 are guiding elements 22, allowing to move the spout body 1 in a rotational, screwing like movement relative to the spout counterpart 2.

(32) FIG. 8 schematically shows the spout body 1 from FIG. 1 with the spout counterpart 2 from FIG. 4 in the final position in the first configuration in top view, and FIG. 9 shows the same in perspective view.

(33) FIG. 10 on the other hand schematically shows the spout body 1 from FIG. 1 with the spout counterpart 2 from FIG. 4 in the final position in the second configuration in top view (and FIG. 11 shows the same in perspective view).

(34) The spout counterpart 2 in FIGS. 8 and 10 are drawn in the exactly the same orientation (the same goes for FIGS. 9 and 11). The spout body 1 on the other hand is rotated around 90 degrees between the two different configurations of the final position, as seen by the orientation of the container fastening part 3 of the spout body 1 when comparing FIGS. 8 and 10 (or 9 and 11).

(35) The spout consisting of spout body 1 and spout counterpart 2 is used in one embodiment to be plastic welded to container which is a flexible plastic pouch containing liquid soap. The soap container is used in a hand washing device, so the spout with its functional element 30 is connected to the washing device, and the washing device features therefore a receptacle to be connected to the spout. As the washing device exists in two different embodiments named first type and second type, the soap container is placed, for example due to spatial restrictions and/or due to a specific type of integration (for example, due to different receptacles) in different ways in the respective washing devices. Therefore, the spout needs to be for example oriented in different ways for the different types of the washing station: either the spikes of the container fastening part 3 pointing to the right and to the left as in the first configuration of the final position shown in FIG. 8, or the spikes of the container fastening part 3 pointing upwards and downwards as in the second configuration of the final position shown in FIG. 10.

(36) Advantageously, the same container with the same spout can be used for both types of washing devices due to the two different configurations.

(37) The spout counterpart 2 in the FIGS. 4 to 7 (and also in FIGS. 8 to 11 shown together with the spout body 1) includes the functional element 30. An analogue spout counterpart 2b without any functional element is shown in FIGS. 12 to 14. Besides that the spout counterpart 2b in FIG. 12 is realized without a functional element, it is the same as the spout counterpart 2 in FIG. 4. The same goes for FIG. 13 with respect to FIG. 5 and for FIG. 14 with respect to FIG. 6.

(38) FIG. 15 schematically shows a strongly simplified arrangement of zones, barriers and stoppers in order to better illustrate their functioning. FIG. 15 shows selected parts of a spout in side view. The spout body 101 features a reference subzone 110 within the first zone 104 of the spout body 101. In FIG. 15, the spout body 101 is shown separated from the spout counterpart 102 and arranged on top of it. The reference subzone 110 can be arranged as shown in solid lines in FIG. 15—in this position, a downwards movement of the spout body 1 would eventually bring the spout in a first configuration of the final position. The reference subzone 110 would then be arranged in FIG. 15 within the first subzone 111 of the final zone 106 of the spout counterpart 102.

(39) The reference subzone 110 can be also arranged as shown in interrupted lines in FIG. 15 (in a position on right hand side of the position described above)—in this position, a downwards movement of the spout body 1 would eventually bring the spout in a second configuration of the final position. The reference subzone 110 would then be arranged in FIG. 15 within the second subzone 112 of the final zone 106 of the spout counterpart 102.

(40) The spout counterpart 102 features a loading zone 105, a final zone 106 below the loading zone 105 and a barrier 125 between the loading zone 105 and the final zone 106. Within the loading zone 106, the first subzone 111 of the final zone 106 is separated from the second subzone 112 of the final zone 106 by the final configuration stopper 120. The final configuration stopper 120 prevents the reference subzone 110 to move directly from the first subzone 111 of the final zone 106 to the second subzone 112 of the final zone 106 and vice versa.

(41) Around the first subzone 111 and the second subzone 112 of the final zone 106 extends a final zone stopper 121. The final zone stopper 121 prevents the reference subzone 110 to leave the final zone 106 with exception when leaving through the barrier 125.

(42) The loading zone 105 of the spout counterpart 102 features a first subzone 113 of the loading zone 105 which is separated from a second subzone 114 of the loading zone 105 by a loading configuration stopper 140. The loading configuration stopper 140 has the same function for the loading zone 105 as the final configuration stopper 120 for the final zone: the loading configuration stopper 140 prevents the reference subzone 110 to move directly from the first subzone 113 of the loading zone 105 to the second subzone 114 of the loading zone 105 and vice versa.

(43) A loading zone barrier 141 is positioned directly on top of the first subzone 113 of the loading zone 105 and the second subzone 114 of the loading zone 105. The loading zone barrier 141 separates the first subzone 113 and second subzone 114 of the loading zone 105 from a switching subzone 115 of the loading zone 105. The loading zone barrier 141 is arranged to word in an analogue manner as the barrier 125 between loading zone 105 and final zone 106, but now between the switching subzone 115 on one hand and the first subzone 113 and the second subzone 114 of the loading zone 106 on the other hand. In the switching subzone 115, the reference subzone 110 can be brought into different positions which either allow the reference subzone 110 to be moved into the first subzone 113 or the second subzone 114 of the loading zone 105.

(44) While the invention has been described in present embodiments, it is distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the claims.