Container with a Receiving Area and Method for Removing a Substance from the Receiving Area of a Container

Abstract

The invention relates to a container comprising a container body which forms a receiving space for a substance and has a container opening, a sealing element which seals the container opening being provided, the container comprising a releasing device for the substance which has a releasing opening. The container is characterized in that the releasing device comprises a holding body and a sliding body, connecting means of the holding body being arranged on the container body, the sliding body being displaceable from a basic position into an activated position, the sliding body having an insert element which is arranged outside the container opening in a basic position and which protrudes at least in part into the container opening in the activated position, the releasing opening being arranged in the sliding body. The invention further relates to a method for removing a substance from the container.

Claims

1. A container comprising a container body which forms a receiving space for a substance and has a container opening, a sealing element being provided which seals the container opening, said container comprising a releasing device for the substance which has a releasing opening, said releasing device comprising a holding body and a sliding body, said holding body being held on said container body by connecting means, said sliding body being displaceable from a basic position into an activated position, said sliding body having an insert element which is arranged outside said container opening in a basic position and which protrudes at least in part into the container opening in the activated position, said releasing opening being arranged in said sliding body, wherein said sliding body has a separating body formed as a cutting body, which cuts through said sealing element when said sliding body is moved from the basic position into the activated position.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein said releasing device is formed for releasing drop by drop an aqueous and/or alcoholic liquid and has a ventilation opening for continuous releasing drop by drop through said releasing opening.

3. The container according to claim 2 wherein said releasing device has a tubular portion which extends from said ventilation opening towards the container body and forms an elongate duct.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein said separating body has cutting edges.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein said sliding body comprises a base having an edge, said base being connected to an annular portion at said edge, said releasing opening being arranged in the base.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein a tear-off element is provided which secures said sliding body in the basic position, said sliding body only being slidable into the activated position after said tear-off element is removed.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein a fixing element is provided to secure said sliding body in the activated position.

8. The container according claim 1, wherein said holding body comprises a pressure portion which secures and presses said sealing element against said container body.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein a sealing portion is provided which seals off said sliding body from said holding body in the activated position.

10. The container according to claim 8, wherein said pressure portion further comprises an opening having an inner face, said sealing portion engages and comes into sealing contact with said inner face of said opening in the activated position.

11. The container according to claim 9, wherein said sealing portion is arranged on said sliding body and protrudes therefrom towards said holding body.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein a clamping means is arranged between said sliding body and said holding body which transmits a rotational movement of the sliding body to the holding body only in a first direction of rotation, while the clamping means does not transmit a rotational movement of the sliding body to the holding body in an opposite direction of rotation.

13. A method for releasing a substance from a receiving space of a container body of a container having a container opening and a sealing element which seals the container opening, the container having a releasing device for the substance, the releasing device having a holding body and a sliding body, the holding body being held on the container body by connecting means, a releasing opening being arranged in the sliding body, the sliding body having an insert element which is arranged outside the container opening in the basic position and which protrudes at least in part into the container opening in the activated position, the sliding body having a separating body formed as a cutting body, the method comprising the steps of: displacing the sliding body from a basic position into an activated position, protruding the insert element at least in part into the container opening, whereby the separating body cuts through the sealing element releasing a substance from a receiving space through the releasing opening.

14. A container, comprising a container body having a receiving space for a substance and a container opening having an edge; a sealing element arranged at said edge of said container opening; a releasing device, said releasing device comprising a holding body and a sliding body, said holding body being held on said container body by connecting means, said sliding body comprising an insert element, a separating body and a releasing opening, said sliding body being displaceable from a basic position where said insert element is arranged outside of said container opening to an activated position where said insert element protrudes into at least part of the container opening where said separating body cuts through said sealing element to release the substance through the releasing opening.

15. The container of claim 14, wherein said releasing device further comprises a ventilation opening.

16. The container of claim 14, wherein said sliding body further comprises a base having an edge, said base being connected to an annular portion of said sliding body at said edge, said releasing opening being arranged in said base of said sliding body.

17. The container of claim 14, further comprising a tear-off element, said tear -off element arranged between said sliding body and said container.

18. The container of claim 16, further comprising a sealing portion, said sealing portion formed of an annular portion arranged on said base and protruding from said base toward said holding body.

19. The container of claim 16, further comprising a fixing element, said fixing element formed of an inward-facing protrusion on an inner face of said annular portion of said sliding body and an outward-facing protrusion on said holding body when said releasing device is in an activated position.

20. The container of claim 18, wherein said holding body comprises a radially inward facing pressure portion engaging said sealing element on said edge of said container opening, said pressure portion having an opening arranged to be in contact with said sealing portion when said releasing device is in an activated position.

Description

[0036] Further aims, features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention may be derived from the following description of embodiments and from the drawings. All features described and/or visually portrayed, in their own right or in any reasonable combination, form the subject matter of the invention, regardless of how they are combined in individual claims or the dependencies thereof.

[0037] In the drawings:

[0038] FIG. 1a is a side view of the upper portion of a container according to the invention in accordance with a first embodiment;

[0039] FIG. 1b is a longitudinal section through the container of FIG. 1a;

[0040] FIG. 1c is a further longitudinal section through the container of FIG. 1a along a plane offset from the drawing of FIG. 1b;

[0041] FIG. 2a is a side view of the container of FIG. 1a with the tear-off element removed, in the basic position;

[0042] FIG. 2b is a longitudinal section through the container of FIG. 2a;

[0043] FIG. 3a is a side view of the container of FIG. 2a in the activated position;

[0044] FIG. 3b is a longitudinal section through the container of FIG. 3a;

[0045] FIG. 4a is a side view of the container of FIG. 3a with the closure open;

[0046] FIG. 4b is a longitudinal section through the container of FIG. 4a;

[0047] FIG. 5a is a side view of the sliding body of the container of FIG. 1a;

[0048] FIG. 5b is a view from below of the sliding body of FIG. 5a;

[0049] FIG. 6 is a side view of the holding body of the container of FIG. 1a;

[0050] FIG. 7 is a cross section through the sliding body and the holding body of FIG. la;

[0051] FIG. 8a is a side view of the upper portion of a container according to the invention in accordance with a second embodiment;

[0052] FIG. 8b is a longitudinal section through the container of FIG. 8a;

[0053] FIG. 9a is a side view of the container of FIG. 8a with the tear-off element removed, in the basic position;

[0054] FIG. 9b is a longitudinal section through the container of FIG. 9a;

[0055] FIG. 10a is a side view of the container of FIG. 8a in the activated position;

[0056] FIG. 10b is a longitudinal section through the container of FIG. 10a,

[0057] FIG. 11a is a side view of the container of FIG. 10a with the closure open;

[0058] FIG. 11b is a longitudinal section through the container of FIG. 11a;

[0059] FIG. 12a is a side view of the sliding body of the container of FIG. 8a;

[0060] FIG. 12b is a view from below of the sliding body of FIG. 12a;

[0061] FIG. 13 is a side view of the holding body of the container of FIG. 8a;

[0062] FIG. 14 is a longitudinal section through the upper section of a container according to the invention in accordance with a third embodiment, in the basic position;

[0063] FIG. 15a is a longitudinal section through the container of FIG. 14 in the activated position;

[0064] FIG. 15b is a further longitudinal section through the container of FIG. 15a;

[0065] FIG. 15b is a plan view of the container of FIG. 15a with the lid open.

[0066] FIG. 1 to 7 show a container in accordance with a first embodiment, whereas FIG. 8a to 13b show a container 1 in accordance with a second embodiment. FIG. 14 to 15c show a container 1 in accordance with a third embodiment. Since the containers 1, 1 and 1 have a number of correspondences, the same reference numbers are used for parts having the same functions. The description of a feature of one embodiment is thus intended to also apply for the corresponding feature of the other embodiment unless specified otherwise.

[0067] FIG. 1a to 7 show a container 1 comprising a container body 2 which is formed as a container bottle having a bottle neck 3. For reasons of clarity, only the upper region of the container body 2 is shown. The container body 2 has a reduced diameter in the region of the bottle neck 3. The container body 2 forms a receiving space 4 for a substance. The container body 2 has a container opening 5. In particular, the container is suitable for receiving a liquid capable of forming drops.

[0068] A sealing element 6 is provided initially sealing the container opening 5 (cf. FIGS. 1b and 1c). The sealing element 6 comprises a composite material comprising a film. The sealing element 6 is arranged on the edge of the container opening 5.

[0069] The container 1 has a releasing device 7 comprising a releasing opening 8a and a ventilation opening 8b. The releasing device 7 has a holding body 9 and a sliding body 10. The releasing opening 8a and the ventilation opening 8b are configured for releasing drop by drop an particularly aqueous and/or alcoholic liquid.

[0070] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the ventilation opening 8b is arranged centrally in the sliding body 10. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the releasing opening 8a is formed by a plurality of small passages which are arranged in the sliding body 10 around the ventilation opening 8b. In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the releasing opening 8a comprises three small passages. The configuration shown is suitable in particular for releasing aqueous or alcoholic liquids. The releasing opening 8a and the ventilation opening 8b are configured in such a way that an aqueous or alcoholic liquid can be dispensed in individual drops.

[0071] The holding body 9 is held on the container body 2 by connecting means 11 which are formed as a thread.

[0072] FIG. 1a to 1c show the sliding body 10 with a tear-off element 12 which has not yet been removed. The sliding body 10 is in the basic position. So long as the tear-off element 12 is not removed, the sliding body 10 is blocked and cannot be moved into the activated position. Since the container 1 can only be opened after the tear-off element 12 is removed, it is recognizable for the user in a simple manner whether the container 1 has already been opened.

[0073] FIGS. 2a and 2b show the container with the tear-off element 12, the sliding body 10 being in the basic position. Since the tear-off element 12 is removed, the sliding body 10 can be moved towards the container 1 from the basic position shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b into the activated position shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

[0074] It is clearly visible in the drawings that the sliding body 10 has an insert element 13 which is arranged outside of the container opening 5 in the basic position and which protrudes at least in part into the container opening 5 in the activated position, in which case it is inserted in part into the container opening 5. When the sliding body 10 is moved into the activated position, the sealing element 6 is cut through. For this purpose, the sliding body 10 has a separating body 14. The shown separating body 14 has a tip 15 and cutting edges 16 which converge at the tip 15. It can be seen from FIG. 5b that the cutting edges 16 are arranged in a cross shape.

[0075] The separating body 14 and the sealing element 6 are formed in such a way that the separating body 14 cuts through the sealing element 6 in such a way that in the activated position a ventilation passage is formed. This contributes to a consistent releasing of the substance (in particular in drop form), sincewhen releasing the substanceair can easily flow back into the receiving space 4. As shown, the separating body 14 may have a contour which widens from the tip 15 towards the base 22.

[0076] The releasing device 7 (in particular the insert element 13) has a tubular portion 17 which is connected to the ventilation opening 8b. When releasing, the substance exits through the releasing opening 8a, while air flows through the ventilation opening 8b and through the tubular portion 17 into the receiving space 4.

[0077] The releasing device 7 has a sealing portion 18 which seals off the sliding body 10 from the holding body 9 in the activated position. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1a to 7, the sealing portion 18 is formed by a first annular portion 40 which is arranged on the base 22 of the sliding body and protrudes from the base towards a direction of the holding body 9. On the holding body 9, a second annular portion 41 is provided, on which the sealing portion 18 comes into sealing contact in the activated position. In this case, the first annular portion 40 is arranged on the pressure portion 24.

[0078] Furthermore, connecting means 19 are provided to secure the holding body 9 to the container 1. It is clearly visible in FIG. 1c that the connecting means 19 comprise a locking device 20 comprising clamping tabs which are latched with a protrusion 21 on the container body 2.

[0079] The sliding body 10 comprises a base 22 which is connected to an annular portion 23. The base 22 is connected at its peripheral edge to the annular portion 23.

[0080] The holding body 9 has a pressure portion 24 and an annular portion 25. The thread of the connecting means 11 is arranged on the inner face of the annular portion 25. The pressure portion 24 holds the sealing element 6 in its position on the container opening 5 of the container body 2.

[0081] A gripping surface 26 is provided on the outer face of the sliding body 10. In the exemplary embodiment shown, rib-shaped protrusions 42 are arranged on the gripping surface 26.

[0082] A clamping means 27 is arranged between the sliding body 10 and the holding body 9, which only transmits a rotational movement of the sliding body 10 to the holding body 9 in a first direction of rotation. In this connection, it is clearly visible particularly in FIG. 6 that the holding body 9 has protrusions 28 on its periphery. These cooperate with clamping tabs 29, which are formed on the sliding body 10. This can be seen in particular in FIG. 7.

[0083] A closure 30 is arranged on the sliding body 10 via a film hinge 31. In FIG. 1 to 3a the closure 30 is closed, whereas in FIGS. 4a and 4b it is (partially) open.

[0084] A liquid can be released drop by drop from the container 1 by holding the container 1 with the releasing opening 8a downward.

[0085] The embodiment shown in FIG. 8a to 13 of the container 1 largely corresponds to that shown in FIG. 1a to 7. Parts having the same functions are provided with the same reference numbers.

[0086] It is clearly visible in FIGS. 8a and 8b that in the embodiment the gripping surface 26 is arranged closer to the container body 2. The gripping surface 26 comprising the rib-shaped protrusions 42 is thus formed by a portion of the holding body 9. The tear-off element 12 is arranged above the gripping surface 26. In this configuration, the forces for screwing on the releasing device 7 can be introduced directly into the holding body 9.

[0087] In FIGS. 8a and 8b, the releasing device 7 is shown in its basic position, in which the container 2 is sealed by the sealing element 6. The sealing element 6, which may again be a composite element comprising a film, enables in this case a reliable and long-term storage of a substance in the receiving space 4. By selecting the material of the sealing element 6 appropriately, the sealing effect can be adjusted to the substance received in the receiving space 4 in each case. In particular, by selecting a composite material having high diffusion resistance, good long-term sealing can be achieved.

[0088] In FIGS. 9a and 9b, the container 1 is shown with the removed tear-off element in the basic position. The removal of the tear-off element makes it clear to the user that the container 1 is no longer in its original state.

[0089] The releasing device 7 again comprises a holding body 9 and a sliding body 10. The holding body 9 may be moved from the basic position shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b into the activated position shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b by pressing towards the container body 2. In this case, the insert element 13 of the sliding body 10 pierces through the sealing element 6 and protrudes into the container opening 5. The sliding body 10 again has a separating body 14. The separating body 14 and the sealing element 6 are formed in such a way that the separating body 14 cuts through the sealing element 6 in such a way that in the activated position a passage (not shown) is formed between the separating body 14 and the sealing element 6. FIGS. 11a and 11b then show that after the closure 30 is opened, the releasing opening 8a and the ventilation opening 8b have been opened in such a way that the substance can be released from the receiving space 4. For this purpose, it is sufficient to hold the container 1 in such a way that the releasing opening 8a points downwards and the substance is dispensed through the releasing opening 8a. The releasing device 7 is formed in such a way that dosed releasing is possible. In the embodiment shown, the releasing device 7 may be particularly suited for releasing liquids drop by drop, in particular an aqueous and/or alcoholic solution. Appropriate dimensioning of the releasing opening 8a as well as of the ventilation opening 8b and of the tubular portion 17 connected to the ventilation opening 8b contributes to a reliable releasing of the substance.

[0090] FIGS. 12a and 12b show a side view and a view from below of the sliding body 10. Particularly in FIG. 12b, the configuration of the separating body 14 with the rib-shaped cutting edges 16which are again arranged in a cross shapeis clearly visible. The cutting edges 16 converge toward the tip 15. FIG. 12b further shows that displacement ribs 50, the outer contour of which widens towards the base 22, are connected to the cutting edges 16. The displacement ribs 50 are arranged on the outer face of the tubular portion 17.

[0091] FIG. 13 shows the holding body 9 in more detail.

[0092] The embodiment of the container 1 shown in FIG. 14 to 15c largely corresponds to those shown in FIG. 1a to 13. Parts having the same function are again provided with the same reference numbers.

[0093] FIG. 14 shows the upper portion of a container 1. Again, a releasing device 7 comprising a holding body 9 and a sliding body 10 is shown. The holding body 9 is again screwed onto the bottle neck 3 of the container body 2. The releasing device 7 has a tear-off element 12, wherein it is only possible to bring the sliding body 10 into the activated position after the tear-off element 12 is removed.

[0094] FIGS. 15a and 15b show the container 1 of FIG. 14 in the activated position. Longitudinal sections in offset planes are shown in each case. The tear-off element 12 has been removed. The sliding body 10 has been moved towards the container body 2, the separating body 14 having cut through the sealing element 6. It is clearly visible in FIG. 14 that the sealing element 6 was originally formed planar. FIGS. 15a and 15b show that the separating body 14 has deformed and separated up the sealing element in such a way that the passage 43through which the substance reaches the releasing opening 8ahas been formed between the separating body 14 and the sealing element 6.

[0095] In FIG. 14 to 15b, the sealing between the sliding body 10 and the holding body 9 is further clearly visible. Again, a sealing portion 18 is provided on the sliding body 10 which seals off the sliding body 10 from the holding body 9 in the activated position. An opening 44, on which the sealing portion 18 comes into sealing contact, is provided on the holding body 9. The opening 44 is arranged on the pressure portion 24. It is clearly visible in FIGS. 15a and 15b that the sealing portion 18 comes into contact with the inner face of the opening 44. This contributes to a good sealing. In addition, in doing so, the construction height of the releasing device 7 is kept low.

[0096] The sealing between the closure 30 and the sliding body 10 is also clearly visible in FIG. 14 to 15b. A first ring portion 45 is provided on the lid of the closure 30, which is arranged in the ventilation opening 8b in the closed position of the lid. Further, a second ring portion 46 is provided in radial direction further outwards, which is abutted on a portion of the sliding body 10 in the closed position of the lid. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the radially inward-facing face of the second ring portion 46 is abutted on the sliding body 10. The radially outward-facing face of the first ring portion 45 is abutted on the sliding body 10.

[0097] FIGS. 15b and 15c clearly show that the releasing opening 8a has two passages which are arranged in the sliding body 10.