Closure device for a container

Abstract

A closure device for closing a container opening of a container, in particular a beverage bottle, has a cover element, a chamber arranged on the cover element and an inner housing. The chamber and the inner housing have closing and opening devices which correspond to one another and interact with one another in such a way that a medium contained in the chamber can move into the container as a result of a movement of the cover element relative to the inner housing. In order to further improve the closure device in particular with regard to a favorable producibility, the chamber, which is designed to be closed except for an opening on the container side, is retained in the cover element in a latching manner.

Claims

1. A closure device (1) for closing a container opening (3) of a container (2), particularly a beverage bottle, wherein the closure device (1) has a cover element (4), a chamber (6) arranged on the cover element (4) and an inner housing (5), wherein the chamber (6) has a closing means and the inner housing (5) has an opening means, wherein the closing and opening means which correspond to one another and move relative to one another in such a way that a medium (M) contained in the chamber (6) can exit into the container (2) as a result of a movement of the cover element (4) relative to the inner housing (5), and wherein the chamber (6), which is designed to be completely closed except for an opening (15) on a container side, is retained in the cover element (4) in a latching manner, wherein a circumferential latching bead (9) is formed on an outer side of the chamber wall in order to interact with the cover element in the latching manner, wherein the closure device is configured to be screwed onto the container, and off of the container to completely expose the container opening, and wherein the opening means comprises a sealing element having two circumferential sealing zones, with a first one of the sealing zones being disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the opening means, interacting with an inner surface of the chamber, and the other one of the sealing zones being inwardly offset relative to the first sealing zone and interacting with the closing means of the chamber.

2. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber (6) has a region (A) with a smaller diameter and a region (B) with a larger diameter, wherein the region (B) with the larger diameter is spaced apart farther from the opening (15) than the region (A), and wherein the region (B) with the larger diameter including a ceiling (14) is formed integrally with the region (A) with the smaller diameter.

3. The closure device according to claim 2, wherein the cover element (4) has a latching collar (23) for interacting with the latching bead (9) on the side of the chamber wall.

4. The closure device according to claim 3, wherein the latching collar (23) is penetrated by the region (A) of the chamber (6) with the smaller diameter, wherein a clear cross-sectional area of the latching collar (23), through which the region (A) with the smaller diameter extends, has a smaller diameter than the region (B) of the chamber (6) with the larger diameter.

5. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber (6) is positively secured on the cover element (4) about a longitudinal axis (x) that penetrates the opening (15) on the container side in an emptying direction (E) of the chamber (6).

6. The closure device according to claim 2, wherein the region (B) with the larger diameter has a maximum extent (b) transverse to a longitudinal axis (x), which approximately corresponds to between 1.5-times and 2-times, a maximum extent (a) of the region (A) with the smaller diameter in the same direction.

7. The closure device according to claim 6, wherein a length of the regions (A) and (B) in the axial direction is approximately chosen identical, wherein an axial length of a partial region approximately corresponds to the extent (b).

8. The closure device according to claim 6, wherein the maximum extent of the region (B) with the larger diameter corresponds to between 1.6 and 1.8 times the maximum extent (a) of the region (A) with the smaller diameter in the same direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings that, however, merely show exemplary embodiments. A component, which is described with reference to one of the exemplary embodiments and not replaced with a different component in another exemplary embodiment, is therefore also described as a potentially existing component in this other exemplary embodiment. In the respective drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a vertical section through a closure device concerning a first embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the closure device according to FIG. 1 in its arrangement on a container concerning the closed position;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail of the region III in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a section along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a representation that essentially corresponds to FIG. 2, but concerns the discharge position;

(7) FIG. 6 shows an enlarged detail of the region VI in FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 shows the tank of the closure device in the form of a perspective individual representation;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a sectional representation according to FIG. 1 concerning a second embodiment;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a representation that essentially corresponds to FIG. 2, but concerns the embodiment according to FIG. 8;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment in the form of a sectional representation according to FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a fourth embodiment in the form of a sectional representation according to FIG. 9; and

(13) FIG. 12 shows a sectional representation according to FIG. 9 concerning a fifth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(14) A closure device 1 with a chamber 6 having a lower opening is illustrated and described, wherein opening means, which make it possible to empty the chamber 6, are provided relative to said opening.

(15) The opening means particularly consist of an opening part, which in the exemplary embodiment is specifically realized in the form of a sealing element 10. This opening part has two circumferential sealing zones. One sealing zone preferably is realized on an outer circumferential surface of the opening means, which furthermore interacts with an inner surface of the chamber 6. Another sealing zone is realized such that it is inwardly offset relative to the aforementioned sealing zone and interacts with a closure pin 7 in the exemplary embodiment.

(16) The aforementioned sealing zones are arranged concentrically relative to the chamber 6 in a perpendicular direction—referred to an emptying direction E when the opening means is opened.

(17) The illustrations in FIGS. 1 to 7 show a first embodiment of an upper partial region of a container 2, in this case a beverage bottle, on the container opening 3 of which a closure device 1 is arranged. This closure device 1 is positioned relative to the container 2 such that it seals the container opening 3 in a fluid-tight manner.

(18) The closure device 1 is conventionally screwed on the container 2 such that the container opening 3 is sealed. In this state, the container 2 can be stored over a prolonged period of time without allowing the contents to escape from the container 2. In order to open the container 2, the closure device 1 is conventionally unscrewed from the container 2 such that the container opening 3 ultimately is completely exposed.

(19) The closure device 1 has a cover element 4, a chamber 6 arranged on the cover element 4 and an inner housing 5. In the—non-restrictive—embodiment shown, the cover element 4 is a plastic lid, e.g. of polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE).

(20) The chamber 6 preferably can be produced in the form of a part that is realized separately of the cover element 4 and consists, e.g., of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It is preferably produced in a plastic injection stretch blow moulding process, or alternatively in a plastic injection blow moulding process.

(21) The chamber 6 is essentially composed of a region A with a smaller diameter and a region B with a larger diameter. These two regions A and B are arranged axially behind one another with respect to a longitudinal axis x, which in the associated position is oriented in the emptying direction E.

(22) The region B with the larger diameter has a maximum extent b transverse to the longitudinal axis x, which approximately corresponds to between 1.5-times and 2-times, e.g. between 1.6-times and 1.8-times, the maximum extent a of the region A with the smaller diameter in the same direction. The extents a and b refer to the clear length transverse to the longitudinal axis x within the chamber 6, i.e. measured up to the inner wall side of the chamber 6.

(23) The length of the regions A and B in the axial direction is approximately chosen identical, wherein the axial length of a partial region may according to the embodiment shown approximately correspond to the extent b.

(24) Furthermore, the regions A and B are initially and essentially chosen circularly with respect to a cross section transverse to the longitudinal axis x. The region A with the smaller diameter, in particular, preferably does not deviate from this cross-sectional circular shape.

(25) In contrast, the region B with the larger diameter has flattenings 12, which approximately lie diametrically opposite of one another, in the exemplary embodiment shown. With respect to the aforementioned cross section, these flattenings extend in an approximately secant-like manner to the otherwise circular circumference.

(26) The flattenings extend over nearly the entire axial length of the region B with the larger diameter.

(27) Inner flattenings 13 of essentially identical shape are formed corresponding to the flattenings 12 in the region of the cover element 4. The further cross-sectional shape of the cover element 4 in the section encompassing the chamber wall in the region B corresponds to the segmental extent of the chamber wall.

(28) The regions A and B are realized integrally and made of the same material. The transition area from the region B with the larger diameter into the region A with the smaller diameter is realized in a funnel-shaped manner up to the region A with the smaller diameter.

(29) The region B with the larger diameter forms a ceiling 14 on the side facing away from the region A with the smaller diameter. This ceiling is also realized integrally with the chamber wall and made of the same material as the chamber wall.

(30) Accordingly, the chamber 6 is realized in a closed manner except for an opening 15 on the container side.

(31) A circumferential shoulder 16 is integrally formed on the outer wall side of the region A with the smaller diameter. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, this shoulder may extend transverse to the longitudinal axis x in a disk-like manner.

(32) The shoulder 16 serves for fixing the chamber 6 in the cover element 4 in a latching manner, wherein the shoulder 16 engages behind a counterlatch 17 formed on the inner wall side of the cover element 4 in the latched and fixed position according to the illustration in FIG. 1.

(33) In this latched and fixed position, the chamber 6 essentially is captured in the axial direction between the counterlatch 17 of the cover element 4 and a ceiling section of the cover element 4. Furthermore, the chamber 6 is accommodated in the cover element 4 in a rotationally secured manner, namely as a result of the interaction between the flattenings 12 and the inner flattenings 13.

(34) This rotational security may also be achieved with other geometric outline shapes of the chamber 6 and the cover element 4 in the interacting region as long as this outline shape deviates from a strict circular shape.

(35) For example, only one flattening 12 and one corresponding inner flattening 13 may be provided, but it would also be possible to provide a plurality of respective flattenings.

(36) A closure pin 7 is retained in a latching manner on the chamber 6, particularly on the region A with the smaller diameter that forms a discharge nozzle. A latching part 18 is used for this purpose. The latter is with respect to a longitudinal section essentially realized in a U-shaped manner with a circumferential latching collar 19 that encompasses the free end region of the discharge nozzle. In the latched and fixed position, this latching collar engages behind a correspondingly adapted radial step of the discharge nozzle along the opening edge.

(37) The latching part 18 forms an inner circumferential wall that is supported on the inner wall side of the region A with the smaller diameter. The closure pin 7 is integrally formed on this wall, e.g. by means of a cruciform web arrangement.

(38) The inner housing 5 has a pot-like design with a circumferential pot wall and a collar for being supported on the container edge surrounding the container opening 3.

(39) A circumferential sealing lip 20 is integrally formed on the underside of the inner housing collar. In the associated position, this sealing lip interacts with the container wall surrounding the container opening 3.

(40) The inner housing 5 forms a channel dome 21 on the side of the pot base. This channel dome centrally carries a pin-shaped formation with a flow channel 11 extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis x. This pin-shaped formation with the flow channel 11 may be connected to the channel dome 21 by means of a cruciform web-like connection, but this aspect is not illustrated in greater detail in the drawings.

(41) In the exemplary embodiment shown, the material of a sealing element 10 is injection-moulded, in particular, around the above-described connecting region such that the sealing element 10 essentially extends facing the chamber 6, but also at least partially underneath the dome ceiling.

(42) The sealing element 10 may on the side facing the chamber 6 be cross-sectionally tapered from radially outside toward the center in a funnel-shaped manner.

(43) The outside diameter of the sealing element 10 corresponds to that of the channel dome 21 and is furthermore adapted to the clear inside diameter of the latching part 18 carrying the closure pin 7 such that a sealing effect between the sealing element 10 and the inner wall of the chamber 6 or the latching part 18 is achieved in the usage position.

(44) The latching part 18 may furthermore also be retained on the chamber 6 by means of welding.

(45) The inner housing 5 is connected to the chamber wall by means of a thread 22.

(46) In the closed position according to FIG. 2, the closure pin 7 penetrates into the closure opening 8 in order to close the chamber 6 in a sealing manner.

(47) An axial displacement of the closure pin 7 relative to the inner housing 5 is achieved as a result of the cover element 4 and thereby the chamber 6, wherein the closure pin 7 releases the closure opening 8 in order to discharge the stored medium from the chamber 6 into the container interior.

(48) The inner housing 5 (initially) is rotationally secured by means of a frictional engagement between the sealing lip 20 and the container wall.

(49) FIGS. 8 to 12 show alternative embodiments, in which a latching bead 9 is formed circumferentially—with respect to the longitudinal axis x—on the outer wall side of the region A of the chamber 6 with the smaller diameter, wherein said latching bead serves for interacting with a latching collar 23 of the cover element 4 in a latching manner. The latching collar 23 accordingly forms the counterlatch 17.

(50) The latching collar 23 preferably can be formed on a collar 25 that circumferentially extends transverse to the longitudinal axis x and starts on the inner side of the cover element wall 24, wherein said collar centrally leaves a through-opening for the region A of the chamber 6 with the smaller diameter. The collar 25 provides a supporting surface for the chamber 6 in the region of the transition from the region B with the larger diameter into the region A with the smaller diameter.

(51) The circumferential edge of the through-opening, which directly interacts with the latching bead 9, is curved in the inserting direction—which in the exemplary embodiment corresponds to the emptying direction E.

(52) According to the illustrations in FIGS. 10 to 12, a supporting shoulder 26 may furthermore be formed on the chamber wall such that it is axially spaced apart from the latching bead 9, wherein said supporting shoulder essentially rests on the supporting surface of the latching collar 23 in the latched and retained position of the chamber 6 on the cover element 4. The latching collar 23 may thereby be captured in the axial direction between the latching bead 9 and the supporting shoulder 26 in the latched and retained position.

(53) The figures furthermore show that the ceiling 14 of the chamber 6 may be exposed in the latched and retained position and accordingly not overlapped by a cover element section in this case. The ceiling 14 and optionally also a partial section of the circumferential chamber wall 27, particularly of the region B with the larger diameter, is visible to the user, wherein the cover element wall 24 encompassing this chamber wall 27 extends for this purpose over a shorter length in the axial direction than the encompassed region B with the larger diameter.

(54) In this case, the axial length of the chamber wall 27 in the region B of the chamber with the larger diameter may approximately correspond to between 0.15-times and 10-times the length of the cover element wall 24 in the same direction starting from the supporting shoulder 26.

(55) This embodiment provides a view into the chamber interior, particularly in connection with a potential transparent or partially transparent design of the chamber wall 27.

(56) Alternatively or additionally to the above-described design, a window-like opening 28 may also be provided in the cover element wall 24 for this purpose.

(57) 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, namely:

(58) A closure device, which is characterized in that the chamber 6, which is designed to be closed except for an opening 15 on the container side, is retained in the cover element 4 in a latching manner.

(59) A closure device, which is characterized in that the chamber 6 has a region A with a smaller diameter and a region B with a larger diameter, wherein the region B with the larger diameter is spaced apart farther from the opening 15 and the region B with the larger diameter including a ceiling 14 is formed integrally with the region A with the smaller diameter.

(60) A closure device, which is characterized in that a shoulder 16 is formed on the outer side of the chamber wall.

(61) A closure device, which is characterized in that a circumferential latching bead 9 is formed on the outer side of the chamber wall 27 in order to interact with the cover element 4 in a latching manner.

(62) A closure device, which is characterized in that the cover element 4 has a latching collar 23 for interacting with the shoulder 16 or the latching bead 9 on the side of the chamber wall.

(63) A closure device, which is characterized in that the latching collar 23 is penetrated by the region A of the chamber 6 with the smaller diameter, wherein the clear cross-sectional area of the latching collar 23, through which the region A with the smaller diameter extends, has a smaller diameter than the region B of the chamber 6 with the larger diameter.

(64) A closure device, which is characterized in that the chamber 6 is positively secured on the cover element 4 about a longitudinal axis x that penetrates the opening 15 on the container side in an emptying direction E of the chamber 6.

(65) A closure device, which is characterized in that the chamber is positively secured by means of one or more flattenings 12, which are formed in an outer surface and extend in the longitudinal direction of the chamber 6 over one-fifth or more of the dimension of the region B with the larger diameter, wherein said flattenings interact with an identically shaped inner flattening 13 of the cover element 4.

(66) All disclosed characteristics are essential to the invention (individually, but also in combination with one another). The disclosure content of the associated/attached priority documents (copy of the priority application) is hereby fully incorporated into the disclosure 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 characterize independent inventive enhancements of the prior art, particularly for submitting divisional applications on the basis of these claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(67) TABLE-US-00001 1 Closure device 2 Container 3 Container opening 4 Cover element 5 Inner housing 6 Chamber 7 Closure pin 8 Closure opening 9 Latching bead 10 Sealing element 11 Flow channel 12 Flattening 13 Inner flattening 14 Ceiling 15 Opening 16 Shoulder 17 Counterlatch 18 Latching part 19 Latching collar 20 Sealing lip 21 Channel dome 22 Thread 23 Latching collar 24 Cover element wall 25 Collar 26 Supporting shoulder 27 Chamber wall 28 Opening A Region B Region E Emptying direction M Medium a Extent b Extent x Longitudinal axis