CLOSURE DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER

Abstract

A closure device for a container having a container opening has a lid element for closing the container opening, a chamber associated with the lid element, and an inner housing. The chamber and the inner housing also have closure and opening devices corresponding to one another and which interact with one another so that a fluid housed in the chamber can exit into the container due to a movement of the lid element relative to the inner housing. The chamber has a free-projecting closure edge annularly surrounding a central axis of the chamber which, when in use, is positioned in the inner part of the container, and which interacts with the inner housing in the closed state. The inner housing forms a chamber base delimited by the closure edge. The chamber base is formed such that it slopes towards a free end of the closure edge.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A closure device (1) for a container (5) having a container opening (6); wherein the closure device (1) has a lid element (7) for closing the container opening (6), a chamber (2) associated with the lid element (7) and an inner housing (8); wherein the chamber (2) and the inner housing (8) furthermore have closure means and opening means that correspond to one another and interact with one another in such a way that a medium (M) housed in the chamber (2) can exit into the container (5) due to a movement of the lid element (7) relative to the inner housing (8); wherein the chamber (2) furthermore has a free edge region that in the usage state points into a container interior and annularly extends around a central axis (x) of the chamber (2); wherein said free edge region has a closure edge (12) that in the closed state interacts with the inner housing (8) in a closing manner; wherein the inner housing (8) forms a chamber base (18) that is delimited by the closure edge (12) and the chamber base (18) is formed such that it slopes toward a free end of the closure edge (12); and wherein the chamber base (18) is realized in the form of an oblique plane that in a cross section extends beyond the central axis (x).

12. A closure device (1) for a container (5) having a container opening (6); wherein the closure device (1) has a lid element (7) for closing the container opening (6), a chamber (2) associated with the lid element (7) and an inner housing (8); wherein the chamber (2) and the inner housing (8) furthermore have closure means and opening means that correspond to one another and interact with one another in such a way that a medium (M) housed in the chamber (2) can exit into the container (5) due to a movement of the lid element (7) relative to the inner housing (8); wherein the chamber (2) furthermore has a free edge region that in the usage state points into a container interior and annularly extends around a central axis (x) of the chamber (2); wherein said free edge region has a closure edge (12) that in the closed state interacts with the inner housing (8) in a closing manner; wherein the inner housing (8) forms a chamber base (18) that is delimited by the closure edge (12) and the chamber base (18) is formed such that it slopes toward a free end of the closure edge (12); wherein the opening means comprises an opening part that is formed by a sealing element (3) in the form of a soft plastic layer (24); wherein the sealing element (3) comprises two circumferential sealing zones, namely a sealing zone that is formed on a circumferential surface of the opening means that interacts with a facing surface of the chamber (2), as well as a sealing zone that is radially offset relative thereto and can interact with a closure means (V); wherein the sealing zones are arranged concentric to one another in a direction extending perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening means relative to the chamber (2) when the closure device is opened; wherein the closure edge (12) has a circumferential catch bead (22) that protrudes radially outward and in the closed position engages into a correspondingly positioned circumferential depression (23) in the region of the pot wall (13) or wherein the soft plastic layer (24) has an altogether pot-shaped design, wherein the soft plastic layer overlaps in the usage position of the closure device (1) a dome-like elevation of the inner housing (8) in the region of the pot base (14) and optionally an oblique chamber base (18), and wherein the soft plastic layer also circumferentially overlaps the inner pot wall (17) connected to the chamber base and at least the pot base (14).

13. A closure device (1) for a container (5) having a container opening (6); wherein the closure device (1) has a lid element (7) for closing the container opening (6), a chamber (2) associated with the lid element (7) and an inner housing (8); wherein the chamber (2) and the inner housing (8) furthermore have closure means and opening means that correspond to one another and interact with one another in such a way that a medium (M) housed in the chamber (2) can exit into the container (5) due to a movement of the lid element (7) relative to the inner housing (8); wherein the chamber (2) furthermore has a free edge region that in the usage state points into a container interior and annularly extends around a central axis (x) of the chamber (2); wherein said free edge region has a closure edge (12) that in the closed state interacts with the inner housing (8) in a closing manner; wherein the inner housing (8) has an essentially pot-like design with a circumferential pot wall (13), a chamber base (18) that is delimited by the closure edge (12) and a collar (15) for being supported on a container edge surrounding the container opening (6); wherein the chamber base (18) is formed such that it slopes toward a free end of the closure edge (12), wherein the closure edge (12) is made of a soft plastic material and simultaneously forms a sealing element (3); and wherein the closure edge (12) interacts in a sealing manner with the pot wall (13) and the inner pot wall (17) in the closed position.

14. The closure device according to claim 12, wherein the chamber base (18) is realized in the form of an oblique plane that in a cross section extends beyond the central axis (x).

15. The closure device according to claim 12, wherein the chamber base (18) is realized with a conical cross section and has an apex (20).

16. The closure device according to claim 15, wherein the center axis (x) of the chamber (2) extends through the chamber base (18) in the apex (20).

17. The closure device according to claim 11, wherein the chamber base (18) associated with the free end of the closure edge (12) transforms into a channel (19) that has a discharge opening (21).

18. The closure device according to claim 17, wherein the channel (19) is realized in an annularly closed manner.

19. The closure device according to claim 17, wherein the discharge opening (21) is formed in a channel base.

20. The closure device according to claim 17, wherein the discharge opening (21) is formed in a channel sidewall.

21. The closure device according to claim 11, wherein the chamber base (18) has a soft plastic layer (24).

22. The closure device according to claim 17, wherein the discharge opening (21) is formed in the soft plastic layer (24) only.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments. In the drawings:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an exploded vertical representation of a closure device according to a first embodiment;

[0030] FIG. 2 shows the closure device according to FIG. 1 in its arrangement on a container concerning the closed position;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail of the region III in

[0032] FIG. 2;

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a representation that corresponds to FIG. 2 and concerns the discharge position;

[0034] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged detail of the region V in FIG. 4;

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a representation that corresponds to FIG. 2 and concerns a second embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged detail of the region VII in FIG. 6;

[0037] FIG. 8 shows the closure device according to the second embodiment in the discharge position;

[0038] FIG. 9 shows an enlarged detail of the region IX in FIG. 8;

[0039] FIG. 10 shows another representation that corresponds to FIG. 2 and concerns a third embodiment;

[0040] FIG. 11 shows an enlarged detail of the region XI in FIG. 10;

[0041] FIG. 12 shows a representation that corresponds to FIG. 11, but concerns the discharge position;

[0042] FIG. 13 shows a fourth embodiment of a closure device in the form of a representation according to FIG. 2;

[0043] FIG. 14 shows an enlarged detail of the region XIV in FIG. 13;

[0044] FIG. 15 shows a representation that corresponds to FIG. 14, but concerns the discharge position;

[0045] FIG. 16 shows a sectional representation that corresponds to FIG. 2 and concerns another embodiment;

[0046] FIG. 17 shows an enlarged detail of the region XVII in FIG. 16;

[0047] FIG. 18 shows a representation that corresponds to FIG. 17 and concerns the discharge position;

[0048] FIG. 19 shows an enlarged representation according to FIG. 16 concerning another embodiment in the closed position; and

[0049] FIG. 20 shows a representation that corresponds to Figure XIX and concerns the discharge position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0050] Different embodiments of a closure device 1 with a chamber 2 having a lower opening are illustrated and described, wherein opening means that make it possible to empty the chamber 2 are provided relative to said lower opening. The opening means specifically consist of an opening part that may be formed, in particular, by a sealing element 3 in the form of a soft plastic layer 24 in the exemplary embodiments shown. This opening part may comprise two circumferential sealing zones, namely a sealing zone that preferably is formed on a circumferential surface of the opening means that interacts with a facing surface of the chamber 2, as well as a sealing zone that is offset relative thereto, e.g. radially, and can interact with a closure means V in the exemplary embodiments. The aforementioned sealing zones may be arranged concentric to one another in a direction extending perpendicular referred to a moving direction of the opening means relative to the chamber 2 when the closure device is opened.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows an upper section of a container 5 in the form of a beverage bottle, on the container opening 6 of which a closure device 1 according to a first embodiment is arranged. The closure device 1 is positioned relative to the container 5 such that it closes the container opening 6 in a fluid-tight manner. The closure device 1 typically is screwed onto the container 5 such that the container opening 6 is closed. In this state, the container 5 can be stored for a prolonged period of time without allowing the contents to escape from the container 5. The container 5 is opened by conventionally unscrewing the closure device 1 from the container 5 such that the container opening 6 ultimately is completely exposed.

[0052] The closure device 1 has a lid element 7, the chamber 2 arranged on the lid element 7 and an inner housing 8. In thenon-restrictiveembodiments shown, the lid element 7 is a plastic lid or a lid-like collar, e.g. of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE).

[0053] FIGS. 1 to 9 and 13 to 15 show embodiments of the closure device 1, in which the chamber 2 is produced in the form of a separate part, e.g. in a plastic injection moulding process or a plastic blow moulding process.

[0054] The chamber may also be produced by utilizing a plastic injection stretch blow moulding process, in which the heated preform is additionally stretched in the longitudinal direction, e.g. by utilizing a stretching rod guided through the preform opening, prior to or simultaneously with the conventional injection blow moulding process (extrusion blow moulding) in order to produce a hollow bodies of a thermoplastic. For example, an attainable blow-up rate (smallest opening diameter: largest outside diameter) may be as high as 1:10 in this case.

[0055] The thusly produced chamber 2 is connected to the lid element 4 in a closing manner, e.g. percussively or by means of a catch mechanism, or adhesively connected to the lid element 4, e.g. as a result of a welding process (in this respect, see the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 1 to 5). The chamber 2 may be partially exposed toward the outside such that it essentially forms the corresponding outside contour of the closure device together with the lid element 7.

[0056] In order to realize a potential catch mechanism, examples of which are illustrated in the embodiment according to FIGS. 6 to 9, a circumferential collar 9 may be provided on the outer wall of the chamber 2 in order to interact with a corresponding catch projection 10 of the lid element 7 in an interlocking manner.

[0057] For example, flattenings may be provided over the circumference of the chamber wall and in the corresponding regions of the lid element wall in order to transmit the screw torque during a screw-type actuation of the lid element 7. In this case, the chamber 2 is held on the lid element 7 in a rotationally rigid manner.

[0058] FIGS. 10 to 12 show an integral design of the chamber 2 and the lid element 7.

[0059] The chamber 2 may also be realized integrally with respect to the circumferential chamber wall 11 and the chamber ceiling.

[0060] The closure means V preferably is formed on the chamber 2, particularly on the chamber wall 11. The circumferential chamber wall 11, which annularly extends around the central axis x of the chamber 2, points in the direction of the container interior with its free end when the closure device 1 is in use. The free edge region forms a circumferential closure edge 12. This closure edge 12 forms the closure means V.

[0061] The closure edge 12 may be realized integrally with the chamber wall 11 and made of the same material, in this case preferably of a hard plastic. According to the embodiment in FIGS. 10 to 12, the closure edge 12 may alternatively also be made of a soft plastic material, e.g. a thermoplastic elastomer. For example, such a soft plastic closure edge may be produced in a 2-component injection moulding process together with the chamber wall 11 and optionally with the entire chamber or even with the lid element 7.

[0062] The inner housing 8 essentially has a pot-like design with a circumferential pot wall 13, a pot base 14 and a collar 15 for being supported on the container edge surrounding the container opening 6.

[0063] A circumferential sealing lip 16 may be integrally formed onto the underside of the inner housing collar 15 (see FIG. 13). This sealing lip interacts with the container wall surrounding the container opening 6 in the associated position.

[0064] On the side of the pot base, the inner housing 8 forms a central region that preferably extends concentric to the central axis x and is elevated relative to the plane of the pot base 14, wherein said central region has a circumferential inner pot wall 17 and a pot base section, which is carried by the inner pot wall 17 and forms a chamber base 18.

[0065] According to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 15, 19 and 20, a channel 19 extending circumferentially with respect to the central axis x may be formed between the inner pot wall 17 and the radially outer pot wall 13.

[0066] According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 16 to 18, the chamber base 18 may alternatively transform directly into the pot base 14 and the pot wall 13 connected thereto. Accordingly, no inner pot wall in that sense is formed in this case. The channel 19 is formed as a result of a radially outer delimitation by the pot wall 13 and a radially inner delimitation by the chamber base 18 in this case.

[0067] With respect to a cross-sectional representation, e.g. according to FIG. 2 or also according to FIG. 16, the chamber base 18 is formed such that it slopes toward a free end of the closure edge 12. According to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 15, for example, the chamber base 18 is realized in the form of an oblique plane, which in a cross section extends beyond the central axis x. In this case, the central axis x preferably extends centrally through the chamber base 18.

[0068] Furthermore, the chamber base 18 may include an acute angle of approximately 30 to 60 degrees or approximately 45 degrees with the central axis x. According to the sectional representations, the chamber base 18 extends along a continuous straight line under inclusion of this angle . This results in a surface that obliquely extends in the direction of the channel 19, which essentially delimits the chamber base 18.

[0069] According to the illustrations in FIGS. 16 to 20, the chamber base 18 may in a cross section also have a roof-shaped design, particularly the shape of a pointed cone. In this case, the resulting apex 20 points in the direction of the chamber interior and the central axis x extends through said apex. Starting from the apex 20, the chamber base 18 extends radially outward in the direction of the channel 19 in a uniformly sloped manner over its circumference. An acute angle of approximately 30 to 45 degrees may also be included in this case.

[0070] A discharge opening 21 for the medium M stored in the chamber 2 is provided in the region of the channel 19. This discharge opening may be arranged such that it extends through the pot base 14 and accordingly have an opening axis y that essentially extends in the same direction as the central axis x, e.g. as illustrated in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5.

[0071] Multiple bore-shaped discharge openings 21 of this type may be provided in the pot base 14 in the circumferential direction.

[0072] Alternatively, a discharge opening 21 (optionally also multiple discharge openings 21 over the circumference) associated with the channel 19 may be formed in the pot wall 13 and accordingly have an opening axis y that extends transverse to the central axis x.

[0073] The discharge opening 21 opens in the direction of the container interior.

[0074] The pot base 14 forms a channel base in the region of the channel 19 whereas the circumferential pot wall 13 of the inner housing 8 forms an outer channel sidewall in the region of the channel 19.

[0075] The discharge opening 21 can be valved off by the closure edge 12 of the chamber wall 11. Accordingly, the closure edge 12 represents the closure means V for closing or releasing the flow path of the medium M from the chamber 2 into the container interior.

[0076] The closure edge 12 is at least in the closed position seated in the channel 19 of the inner housing 8 such that it closes the discharge opening 21. In this context, it is preferred that the closure edge is completely seated in the channel 19 over its circumference.

[0077] The closed position particularly is sealed. This is achieved with the sealing element 3, which particularly acts between the closure edge 12 or the chamber wall 11 and the pot wall 13 or the channel sidewall and/or the inner pot wall 17 and/or the pot base 14 or the channel base.

[0078] According to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12 and 16 to 20, the closure edge 12 made of a soft plastic material may simultaneously form the sealing element 3. In the closed position, the closure edge 12 interacts in a sealing manner with the pot wall 13 and the inner pot wall 17, as well as optionally with the pot base 14 (e.g. see FIG. 11).

[0079] In order to secure the closed position, a thusly formed (soft) closure edge 12 may have a circumferential catch bead 22 that protrudes radially outward, e.g. as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, wherein said catch bead engages into a correspondingly positioned circumferential depression 23 in the region of the pot wall 13 in the closed position. The catch position can be overcome as a result of the elastic properties in the region of the catch bead 22 (e.g. compare to FIG. 12).

[0080] The other embodiments show a sealing element 3 in the form of a soft plastic layer 24, which according to the illustration in FIG. 1 has an altogether pot-shaped design. In the usage position of the closure device 1, this soft plastic layer 24 covers the dome-like elevation of the inner housing 8 in the region of the pot base 14 and correspondingly overlaps the preferably oblique chamber base 18, wherein the soft plastic layer also circumferentially overlaps the inner pot wall 17 connected to the chamber base and at least the pot base 14. The outer channel sidewall may also be covered by such a soft plastic layer 24.

[0081] The soft plastic layer 24 may be injection-moulded onto the inner housing 8, wherein an elastic, flexible material such as a thermoplastic elastomer is also chosen with respect to the soft plastic layer 24 in this case.

[0082] The soft plastic layer 24 may also be a part that is produced separately and can be fixed on the inner housing 8, for example, by means of a catch mechanism.

[0083] The soft plastic layer 24 may have tabs 25, which extend beyond the chamber base 18 and in the usage position abut on the facing inner surface of the chamber wall 11, in the region in which it covers the chamber base 18.

[0084] Furthermore, an arbor 26 in the form of a truncated circular cylinder that points into the chamber interior may be integrally formed onto the section of the soft plastic layer 24 covering the chamber base 18 concentric to the central axis x. Such an arbor may be advantageous with respect to the outflow of the medium M from the chamber 2. In addition, the use of the arbor 26 allows a simple installation of the soft plastic layer 24 in the inner housing 8.

[0085] If an essentially pot-like soft plastic layer 24 in the form of an insert is arranged in the inner housing 8, the chamber wall 11 directly interacts with the soft plastic layer 24 with its closure edge 12, which is made of the same material as the chamber wall and accordingly harder than the soft plastic layer 24. In the closed position, in which the discharge opening 21 particularly is closed by the closure edge 12, the soft plastic layer 24 abuts on the end face of the closure edge 12 at least with its section on the side of the pot base and the section of the soft plastic layer 24 overlapping the inner pot wall 17 abuts on the facing inner wall surface of the closure edge 12. The pot wall 13 may potentially also be covered, in which case the corresponding soft plastic layer may furthermore interact with the respective outer wall surface of the chamber wall 11 and of the closure edge 12 in a sealing manner.

[0086] An interlock may also be produced in the closed position in such an embodiment. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9, for example, the closure edge 12 has a circumferentialand in this case hardcatch bead 22 that interacts with a correspondingly positioned circumferential depression 23 in the soft plastic layer 24.

[0087] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12 and 16 to 20, an axial displacement of the chamber wall 11 and therefore of the closure edge 12 forming the closure means V relative to the inner housing 8 is achieved as a result of the lid element 7 and thereby the chamber 2, wherein the closure edge 12 releases the discharge opening in order to discharge the stored medium M from the chamber 2 into the container interior (compare to FIGS. 5, 9, 12, 17 and 20).

[0088] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 13 to 15, the chamber 6 and therefore its chamber wall 11 with the closure edge 12 are rotated about the central axis x by the lid element 7, preferably without a linear displacement in the orientation of the central axis x. The closure edge 12 is permanently seated in the sealing element 3 and therefore permanently seated in the channel 19, which is essentially lined by the soft plastic layer 24, during this rotational displacement of the closure edge 12 relative to the inner housing 8.

[0089] The rotational displacement of the closure edge 12or the entire chamber 2in the circumferential direction preferably is limited by means of stops. As an example, the rotation preferably is limited to 180 by means of stops.

[0090] On the inner side of its wall, the closure edge 12 has a groove 27 that is open toward the end face and toward the inner side of the wall. In the closed position according to the illustrations in FIGS. 13 and 14, this groove is with respect to the center axis x offset by approximately 180 relative to the discharge opening 21 on the side of the inner housing, which in this case also is essentially formed by the soft plastic layer 24 only.

[0091] The groove 27 of the closure edge 12 is in the closed position also circumferentially offset by approximately 180 relative to a groove 28 that essentially extends in the axial direction and is formed in the soft plastic layer 24 in the region of the transition from the section covering the inner pot wall 17 into the section covering the chamber base 18. The groove 28 is opened in the direction toward the chamber interior, as well as radially outward in the direction toward the chamber wall 11.

[0092] The closure edge 12 seated in the channel 19 is rotated into the discharge position as a result of a rotational displacement, wherein the groove 27 of the closure edge 12 and the groove 28 of the soft plastic layer 24 are in said discharge position correspondingly aligned as illustrated in FIG. 15. The groove-like recesses are therefore superimposed in the axial direction such that they form the flow path for discharging the medium M located in the chamber 2.

[0093] The preceding explanations serve for elucidating all inventions that are included in this application and respectively enhance the prior art independently with at least the following combinations of characteristics, wherein two, more or all of these combinations of characteristics may also be combined with one another, namely:

[0094] A closure device 1, which is characterized in that the chamber base 18 is formed such that it slopes toward a free end of the closure edge 12.

[0095] A closure device, which is characterized in that the chamber base 18 is realized in the form of an oblique plane that in a cross section extends beyond the central axis x.

[0096] A closure device, which is characterized in that the chamber base 18 is realized with a conical cross section and has an apex 20.

[0097] A closure device, which is characterized in that the center axis x of the chamber 2 extends through the chamber base 18 in the apex 20.

[0098] A closure device, which is characterized in that the chamber base 18 associated with the free end of the closure edge 12 transforms into a channel 19 that has a discharge opening 21.

[0099] A closure device, which is characterized in that the channel 19 is realized in an annularly closed manner.

[0100] A closure device, which is characterized in that the discharge opening 21 is formed in a channel base.

[0101] A closure device, which is characterized in that the discharge opening is formed in a channel sidewall.

[0102] A closure device, which is characterized in that multiple discharge openings 21 are formed over the circumference of the channel 19.

[0103] A closure device, which is characterized in that the discharge opening 21 can be valved off by the closure edge 12.

[0104] A closure device, which is characterized in that the chamber base 18 has a soft plastic layer 24.

[0105] A closure device, which is characterized in that the discharge opening 21 is formed in the soft plastic layer 24 only.

[0106] All disclosed characteristics are essential to the invention (individually, but also in combination with one another). The disclosure of the associated/attached priority documents (copy of the priority application) is hereby fully incorporated into the disclosure content of this application, namely also for the purpose of integrating characteristics of these documents into claims of the present application. The characteristics of the dependent claims also characterize independent inventive enhancements of the prior art without the characteristics of a claim to which they refer, particularly for submitting divisional applications on the basis of these claims. The invention specified in each claim may additionally comprise one or more of the characteristics that were disclosed in the preceding description and, in particular, are identified by reference symbols and/or included in the list of reference symbols. The invention also concerns design variations, in which individual characteristics cited in the preceding description are not realized, particularly as far as they are obviously dispensable for the respective intended use or can be replaced with other, identically acting technical means.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0107] 1 Closure device [0108] 2 Chamber [0109] 3 Sealing element [0110] 4 [0111] 5 Container [0112] 6 Container opening [0113] 7 Lid element [0114] 8 Inner housing [0115] 9 Collar [0116] 10 Catch projection [0117] 11 Chamber wall [0118] 12 Closure edge [0119] 13 Pot wall [0120] 14 Pot base [0121] 15 Collar [0122] 16 Sealing lip [0123] 17 Inner pot wall [0124] 18 Chamber base [0125] 19 Channel [0126] 20 Apex [0127] 21 Discharge opening [0128] 22 Catch bead [0129] 23 Depression [0130] 24 Soft plastic layer [0131] 25 Tab [0132] 26 Arbor [0133] 27 Groove [0134] 28 Groove [0135] x Central axis [0136] Y Opening axis [0137] M Medium [0138] V Closure means [0139] Angle