CAPSULE HAVING AN INTEGRATED DISPENSING DEVICE

Abstract

A plastic capsule has an integrated dispensing device for a substrate accommodated in the plastic capsule. The capsule comprises a capsule body, an opening element and a capsule cover. The capsule body and the capsule cover define a capsule interior for the substrate, in which the opening element is arranged in such a way that the opening element can be moved toward the capsule cover. The capsule cover can be brought from a closed state into an open state by the opening element. The capsule cover has a peripheral fastening edge and a plurality of flaps, which are connected to the fastening edge by one hinge each, in particular a film hinge, the movement of the opening element toward the capsule cover causing a deflection of the flaps around the respective hinges.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A plastic capsule with an integrated dispensing device for a substrate received in the plastic capsule, comprising a capsule body, an opening element and a capsule cover, wherein the capsule body and capsule cover define a capsule interior for the substrate, in which the opening element is arranged so that the opening element is movable in the direction of the capsule cover; and wherein the capsule cover can be brought from a closed state into an open state by way of the opening element; wherein the capsule cover has a peripheral fastening edge and several flaps connected with the fastening edge by a respective hinge, in particular a film hinge, wherein the movement of the opening element in the direction of the capsule cover deflects the flaps around the respective hinge.

17. The plastic capsule according to claim 16, wherein the several flaps are formed by slits in the capsule cover.

18. The plastic capsule according to claim 16, wherein the flaps form at least three uniform circle segments of the capsule cover.

19. The plastic capsule according to claim 16, wherein the hinge is designed in such a way that a restoring force acts on the flap in the open state of the capsule cover.

20. The plastic capsule according to claim 16, wherein the hinge takes the form of an arc, in particular a circular arc.

21. The plastic capsule according to claim 16, wherein the opening element has at least one stop surface, which upon activation of the opening element presses against the several flaps, and causes the flaps to swivel out.

22. The plastic capsule according to claim 21, wherein a stop surface is annularly shaped, or several stop surfaces are annularly arranged.

23. The plastic capsule according to claim 22, wherein the annular stop surface is arranged offset radially inward in relation to the several film hinges, or the several annularly arranged stop surfaces are each arranged offset radially inward in relation to the several film hinges.

24. The plastic capsule according to claim 16, wherein the capsule body has a capsule wall with an upper capsule edge that forms a capsule opening and a lower capsule bottom.

25. The plastic capsule according to claim 24, wherein the capsule bottom is designed as an outwardly curved and inward pushable membrane, which is operatively connected with the opening element.

26. The plastic capsule according to claim 16, wherein the capsule body has a skirt that circles around and protrudes over the capsule bottom.

27. The plastic capsule according to claim 24, wherein the capsule bottom and opening element are connected with each other via respective coupling parts.

28. The plastic capsule according to claim 16, wherein the capsule cover is retained on an interior surface in the area of the upper capsule edge, and a planar surface of the capsule cover aligns flush with the upper capsule edge.

29. The plastic capsule according to claim 16, wherein the capsule edge has an outwardly directed flange, to which a sealing film is preferably fastened.

30. The plastic capsule according to claim 16, wherein the opening element is designed as an ejector, which preferably has several arms uniformly arranged around a longitudinal axis of the ejector, wherein the several arms are preferably connected with each other at the ends facing the capsule cover via a ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] The invention will be described in more detail below based on exemplary embodiments in conjunction with their drawing(s). Shown on:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plastic capsule with integrated dispensing device;

[0028] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the plastic capsule on FIG. 1, additionally with sealing film and protective cover;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the plastic capsule on FIG. 1, additionally with sealing film and protective cover;

[0030] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the dispensing device of the plastic capsule on FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a capsule cover with flaps in the closed state (FIG. 5(a)) and in the open state (FIG. 5(b));

[0032] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the dispensing device in the open state; and

[0033] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a plastic capsule with an additional embodiment of the dispensing device.

WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a plastic capsule with integrated dispensing device. FIGS. 2 and 3 show an exploded view or a sectional view of the plastic capsule on FIG. 1. In the depicted embodiment, the plastic capsule 1 comprises a capsule body 10, an opening means 20 or an ejector 20′, a capsule cover 30, a sealing film 30 and an optional protective cover 50. The sealing film 40 and protective cover 50 are not shown on FIG. 1. FIG. 4 only shows an exploded view of an ejector 20′ and a capsule cover 30, which comprise parts of the dispensing device. FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) show the capsule cover 30 in the closed state or the flaps 34 in a closed position (a) and in an open state or the flaps 34 in an open position (b). FIG. 6 shows the ejector 20′ and an open capsule cover 30.

[0035] The capsule body 10 has an essentially conical capsule wall 11 with an upper capsule edge 13 forming a capsule opening 12 and a capsule bottom 14 arranged at the narrower, lower end of the capsule wall 11. The capsule bottom 14 can be rearwardly offset relative to the lower end of the capsule wall 11, so that it is surrounded by a continuous skirt 15 that protrudes over the capsule bottom 14. The capsule wall 11 and capsule bottom 14 comprise a capsule interior 16, which is additionally bordered by the capsule cover 30.

[0036] An ejector 20′ is movably arranged in the capsule interior 16 in such a way that it can be moved along its longitudinal axis in the direction of a capsule cover 30 that covers the capsule opening 12. The ejector 20′ and capsule cover 30 together comprise parts of the integrated dispensing device.

[0037] The capsule cover 30 for covering the capsule opening has a peripheral fastening edge 31. The capsule cover 30 can be fastened with the fastening edge directly to the upper end of the capsule wall 11, or—as in the depicted embodiment—have a continuous skirt 32 at the peripheral fastening edge 31 with a continuous bead 33 arranged on the peripheral outer surface. In order to fasten the capsule cover 30, the continuous bead 33 latches into a complementary groove 111 arranged on the interior surface of the capsule wall 11.

[0038] In the depicted embodiment of the capsule cover 30, four flaps 34 resembling uniform circle segments are formed by continuous slits 35 in the cover surface. These flaps 34 are each connected with the fastening edge 31 of the capsule cover 30 by way of a hinge 36, preferably a film hinge. Retaining webs that bridge the slits can be present between the flaps 34, and form predetermined breaking points.

[0039] The film hinges 36, which each retain the flaps 34 on the capsule cover 30, are arc-shaped in design. As a result, a restoring force acts on the flap 34 with the flap swiveled out, i.e., in the open position. If the ejector 20′ is retracted again, the flaps 34 also close, at least partially.

[0040] In the depicted embodiment, the ejector 20′ has three legs 21, which are connected with each other at an upper, additional end of the ejector 20′ by way of a continuous ring 22. This ring 22 forms an annular stop surface 23 for pressing open the flaps 34 of the capsule cover 30. The stop surface 23 is radially inwardly offset by distance a (FIG. 3) in relation to the annularly arranged film hinges 36 of the capsule cover 36. This distance a between the hinge 36 and stop area on the flaps 34 is selected in such a way that, while the lever effect of the stop surface 23 on the flap 34 is high enough to deflect the flaps 34, already a slight movement by the ejector 20′ in the direction of the capsule cover 30 causes a deflection of the flaps by approximately 90°, preferably by at least 60°, in relation to the planar initial position.

[0041] If the stop surface and radially outer edge of the flaps are annular in design, an outer radius of the stop surface can measure roughly 97% of the radius of the outer edge of the flaps.

[0042] The arms are connected with a connecting part at the lower end of the ejector 20′. As in the depicted embodiment, the connecting part can be designed like a coupling part 24, with which the ejector 20′ is fastened to a complementary coupling part 141 on the interior side of the capsule bottom 14. In this way, the ejector 20′ can be retracted back into the initial position by virtue of the curved capsule bottom bulging outwardly again after released.

[0043] The upper capsule edge 13 can further have a peripherally outwardly directed flange 131, on which a sealing film can be fastened. The flange 131 can also have a downwardly bent, continuous skirt 132 at the peripheral end. The flange can also be provided with a seal. The plastic capsule can be tightly held on a mixing container with the flange.

[0044] All parts of the capsule can be fabricated via injection molding technology. The capsule body preferably has a so-called barrier layer or gas barrier, so as to protect the substrate, e.g., against oxygen. For example, a capsule body with integrated barrier layer can be fabricated in a single step via co-injection.

[0045] The plastic capsule can further have an optional protective cover 50, which can be fastened via the capsule edge or the flange. This protective cover is only shown on FIG. 2.

[0046] In order to open the capsule, any sealing film 40 that might be present is first pulled off. The ejector 20′ is activated by pressing in the flexible, curved capsule bottom 14, either by hand or with a device provided for this purpose. In the process, the ejector 20′ moves in the direction of the capsule cover 30, and the stop surfaces 24 of the ejector 20′ press the flaps 34 to the outside, in that the latter each swivel out around the hinges 36. The flaps 34 move from a closed position (FIG. 5(a)) into an open position (FIG. 5(b) and FIG. 6).

[0047] FIG. 7 shows a plastic capsule, whose ejector 20′ has four arms 21, as opposed to the ejector 20′ of the plastic capsule on FIGS. 1 to 6. The ring 22 is rearwardly offset relative to the end of the arms facing the capsule cover, so that each arm 21 forms a partial stop surface 23a. The ejector 20′ and capsule cover 30 are aligned relative to each other in such a way that each arm 21 can press open a respective flap 34a. To this end, the interior side of each flap 34a can have a guide, e.g., in the form of molded on guide ribs 37, along which the cover-side end of the arm can be guided.

REFERENCE LIST

[0048] 1 Plastic capsule

[0049] 10 Capsule body

[0050] 11 Capsule wall

[0051] 111 Groove

[0052] 12 Capsule opening

[0053] 13 Capsule edge

[0054] 131 Flange

[0055] 132 Skirt

[0056] 14 Capsule bottom

[0057] 141 Coupling part

[0058] 15 Continuous skirt

[0059] 16 Capsule interior

[0060] 20 Opening means

[0061] 20′ Ejector

[0062] 21 Arm

[0063] 22 Ring

[0064] 23, 23a Stop surface

[0065] 24 Coupling part

[0066] 30 Capsule cover

[0067] 31 Fastening edge

[0068] 32 Skirt

[0069] 33 Bead

[0070] 34, 34a Flap

[0071] 35 Slit

[0072] 36 Hinge/film hinge

[0073] 37 Guide ribs

[0074] 40 Sealing film

[0075] 50 Protective cover