CONTAINER CLOSURE

Abstract

The invention relates to a container produced from a plastic material in extrusion blow molds, comprising a container body, having a first end, and a second end substantially opposite the first end, a first and second sealing surface formed on the inner wall of the first end, wherein the first and second sealing surfaces surround a filling opening and can be connected to one another in a fluid-tight manner, and a container base having a standing surface formed at the second end. A pouring element is formed on the container at the first end below the first and second sealing surfaces.

Claims

1. A container produced from a plastic material, especially in extrusion blow molds, comprising: a container body having a first end and a second end substantially opposite the first end: a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface formed on the an inner wall of the first end, wherein the first and second sealing surface surfaces surround a filling opening and are configured to be connected to one another in a fluid-tight manner; a container base having forming a standing surface at the second end; and a pouring element is formed on the container body at the first end below the first and second sealing surfaces.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the pouring element is blow molded together with the container.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sealing surfaces form a seam with a long side and a first and second seam end when the sealing surfaces are connected in the fluid-tight manner, and wherein a first and a second shoulder are formed on the container adjacent to the long side of the seam.

4. The container according to claim 3, wherein the pouring element is formed below the long side of the seam.

5. The container according to claim 3, wherein the pouring element is formed below the first or second seam end.

6. The container according to claim 3, wherein the first shoulder is longer than the second shoulder and the pouring element is formed on the first shoulder.

7. The container according to claim 3, wherein the container base has a shape of an ellipse with a main axis and a secondary axis, whereby the container has two opposing long sides and two opposing short sides.

8. The container according to claim 7, wherein the seam is oriented parallel to the main axis.

9. The container according to claim 7, wherein the seam is oriented parallel to the secondary axis.

10. The container according to claim 7, wherein the pouring element is formed on one of the short sides.

11. The container according to claim 7, wherein the pouring element is formed on one of the long sides.

12. The container according to claim 1, wherein the pouring element has a height, so that in a top view of the container the pouring element is within contours of the container base.

13. The container according to claim 1, wherein the pouring element has a neck, a cap and a pour opening, wherein the cap closes the pour opening.

14. The container according to claim 13, further comprising a cutting line formed at the neck.

15. The container according to claim 13, wherein the cap is connected to the container body by a holding strip.

16. The container according to claim 1, wherein the pouring element is olive-shaped in cross-section.

17. The container according to claim 1, wherein the pouring element is teardrop-shaped in cross-section.

18. The container according to claim 1, wherein a teardrop-shaped base is formed at a transition from the pouring element to the container body.

19. The container according to claim 1, wherein the pouring element has a pyramid shape, wherein one side of the pyramid shape is a cut-off cap.

20. The container according to claim 18, wherein the cut-off cap has a truncated cone shape.

21. The container according to claim 3, wherein the pouring element adjoins the long side of the seam or projects into the seam.

22. The container according claim 2, wherein the pouring element has a lens-shaped projection.

23. The container according to claim 2, further comprising a pair of lens-shaped projections, each formed on one of the first and second shoulders, which lens-shaped projections lie opposite one another on the shoulders.

24. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a vent opening on the container body.

25. The container according to claim 1, further comprising a closure cap configured to close the pour opening in a fluid-tight manner.

26. The container according to claim 25, further comprising an interrupted cutting line at the neck and wherein the cutting line in an interrupted region thereof acts as a hinge for the closure cap.

27. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container body, first and second sealing surface, container base and pouring element are integrally formed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Further advantages and features become apparent from the following description of a plurality of exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the schematic representations. Shown, in a representation not true to scale, are:

[0037] FIG. 1: a 1st embodiment of an extrusion blow molded container in 3 views;

[0038] FIG. 2: a 2nd embodiment of an extrusion blow molded container in 3 views;

[0039] FIG. 3: a 3rd embodiment of an extrusion blow molded container in 3 views;

[0040] FIG. 4: a 4th embodiment of an extrusion blow molded container in 3 views;

[0041] FIG. 5: a 5th embodiment of an extrusion blow molded container in 3 views;

[0042] FIG. 6: a 6th embodiment of an extrusion blow molded container in 3 views;

[0043] FIG. 7: a 7th embodiment of an extrusion blow molded container in 3 views;

[0044] FIG. 8: an 8th embodiment of an extrusion blow molded container in 3 views;

[0045] FIG. 9: a 9th embodiment of an extrusion blow molded container in 3 views;

[0046] FIG. 10: a 10th embodiment of an extrusion blow molded container in 3 views;

[0047] FIG. 11: a 1st embodiment of a pouring element of the container in a detail view;

[0048] FIG. 12: a 2nd embodiment of the pouring element in a detail view;

[0049] FIG. 13: a 3rd embodiment of the pouring element in a detail view;

[0050] FIG. 14: a 4th embodiment of the pouring element in a detail view;

[0051] FIG. 15: a 5th embodiment of the pouring element in a detail view;

[0052] FIG. 16: a 6th embodiment of the pouring element in a detail view;

[0053] FIG. 17: a 7th embodiment of the pouring element in a detail view;

[0054] FIG. 18: an 8th embodiment of the pouring element in a detail view;

[0055] FIG. 19: is a top view of the container with open pour opening;

[0056] FIG. 20: is a top view of the container with closed pour opening;

[0057] FIG. 21 a perspective view of an extrusion blow molded container with a seam in a first embodiment, and

[0058] FIG. 22 a perspective view of an extrusion blow molded container with a seam in a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0059] FIGS. 1 to 10 and 21 and 22 show possible embodiments of a container that is produced from a plastic material in extrusion blow molds and is designated overall by the reference sign 11. FIGS. 1 to 10 each show a front view, a side view and a perspective view of the respective embodiment of the container 11.

[0060] The container 11 has a container body 13 that has a first end 15 and a second end 17 that is substantially opposite the first end 15. The second end 17 is closed in a fluid-tight manner and is designed as a container base 19 on which a standing surface 21 is formed. The extrusion blow molded container 11 has an inner wall 23. The inner wall 23 delimits at the first end 15 a filling opening 25 through which a filling material is added into the extrusion blow molded container 11. The first end 15 has on its inner wall 23 a first sealing surface 27a and a second sealing surface 27b opposite the first sealing surface 27a, which can be connected to one another in a fluid-tight manner and are connected to one another in a fluid-tight manner after the filling material has been added. For this purpose, the sealing surfaces 27a, 27b can be welded. The container 11 may be produced from a weldable plastic. Alternatively, the sealing surfaces 27a, 27b can be coated with a hot-melt adhesive or an adhesion promoter, which can also be textured. The filling opening 25 has a such a width that the container can be filled quickly with filling material and without overflow into the container 11.

[0061] A pouring element 29 is formed below the sealing surfaces 27a, 27b. The pouring element 29 is blow molded together with the other containers 11 and is therefore simultaneously formed with the container in the blow mold by inflating the container material.

[0062] After the filling of the container 11, the sealing surfaces 27a, 27b are connected to one another in a fluid-tight manner by bringing them into contact with one another and thereby closing the filling opening 25. In the closed state, the sealing surfaces 27a, 27b form a seam 31 that is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The seam 31 has a long side 33 and a first and second seam end 35, 37. As a result of this deformation, a first and a second shoulder 39, 41 are formed below the long side 31 on the container 11. The base 19 can have the shape of an ellipse 43, wherein the ellipse 43 has a main axis 45 and a secondary axis 47 (FIGS. 3, 19 and 20). The elliptical shape has the effect that the container 11 has two opposite long sides 49a, 49b and two opposite short sides 51a, 51b.

[0063] Different positions of the seam 31 and the pouring element 29 are described in the following. In this case, limiting production parameters must be taken into account. A sufficient wall thickness must be present in the region of the tube to be extruded on which the pouring element is formed. The position of the pouring element 29 should not be in the way of the seam 31 that arises when the filling opening 23 is closed. The casting mold seam should not cross the seam 31.

[0064] FIG. 2 shows that the seam 31 is oriented parallel to the secondary axis 47. The pouring element 29 is arranged on the short side 51a. FIG. 3 shows that the seam 31 is oriented parallel to the main axis 45. The pouring element 29 is arranged on the short side 51a. The pouring element can also be arranged on one of the long sides 49a, 49b (FIG. 20).

[0065] FIGS. 19 and 20 show that the pouring element 29 is dimensioned such that it lies within the base 19 or the ellipse 43 in the top view of the container 11. The pouring element 29 therefore lies within the “footprint” of the container 11.

[0066] The pouring element 29 has a neck 53, a cap 55 and a pour opening 57. The cap 55 closes the pour opening 57 and the neck 53 is formed on the container body 13. A cutting line 59 is formed on the neck 53 and has a reduced wall thickness and therefore represents an attenuation of the neck 53. The cap 55 can be cut off from the neck 53 at this cutting line 59. The cutting line 59 can also be interrupted. The interrupted region 61 can serve as a hinge, which is not cut through (FIG. 13). The cap 55 is held on the hinge 61 so as to be foldable and is disposed of together with the container 11.

[0067] In order for the cap 55 to be captively held on the container 11, it is connected to the container body 13 by a holding strip 63. The holding strip 63 is formed during the blow molding of the container 11. The holding strip 63 can be formed above or below the pouring element 29 (FIGS. 17 and 18).

[0068] FIGS. 5, 15 and 16 show that the cross section of the pouring element 29 can be olive-shaped. As a result, scissors only have to be opened slightly in order to cut off the cap 55.

[0069] FIG. 13 shows a pouring element 29 with a teardrop-shaped cross section. The pouring element 29 accordingly has a tip 65 that is oriented in the direction of the filling opening 25. This shaping makes it possible for the pouring element 29 to remain free of deformations and not be distorted when the sealing surfaces 27a, 27b are connected to one another. The provision of a teardrop-shaped base 67 acts in a similar manner (FIG. 14). The base 67 is formed at the transition from the pouring element 29 to the container body 13. An external thread 69 can also be provided on the neck 53 (FIG. 11), onto which a cap with an internal thread can be screwed. As a result, the container 11 can be closed again after the cap 55 has been cut off. In FIG. 12, the cap 55 is shown in the shape of a lens and the cutting line 59 is realized as a constriction at the neck 53. This embodiment of the pouring element 29 is very low, as a result of which the pouring element 29 lies within the contour of the base 19. FIG. 9 shows a pouring element 29 that fits against the first shoulder 39 and therefore also builds up very low.

[0070] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of the container 11 with which the first shoulder 39 is longer than the second shoulder 41. The longer first shoulder 41 can be produced by the filling opening 25 having a decentralized or asymmetrical arrangement. The pouring element 29 is arranged on the longer shoulder 39 and is therefore further away from the filling opening 25 than if the filling opening 25 were to be arranged symmetrically with respect to the container. When connecting the sealing surfaces 27a, 27b, the pouring element 29 remains free of deformations, because it is far away from the sealing surfaces. In addition, the pouring element 29 does not project beyond the base contour.

[0071] FIGS. 6 and 7 show an embodiment of the container 11 with which the pouring element 29 has the shape of a three-sided pyramid. One of the sides of the pyramid is provided as a cut-off cap 55. In FIG. 6, the cap 55 is oriented downward, which has the advantage that the container as a whole is less deformed during sealing, whereas the cap 55 is oriented upward in FIG. 7. These cap orientations facilitate the pouring of filling material from the container 11.

[0072] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the container 11 with which the pouring element 29 is formed close to the filling opening 25. As a result, the pouring element 29 can directly adjoin the seam 31 after the filling opening 25 is closed. Dead spaces between the pouring element 29 and the seam 31 are prevented and the container can be completely emptied. In this embodiment, in which the pouring element 29 adjoins or even protrudes into the seam 31, the pouring element 29 is a lens-shaped projection. A lens-shaped projection 29 can also be formed on each of the first and second shoulders 39, 41. The lens-shaped projections lie opposite one another.

[0073] FIGS. 21 and 22 show the embodiment of the container 11 from FIG. 8 with a closed or welded filling opening 25. The lens-shaped pouring element 29 makes it possible for it to directly adjoin the seam 31 or project into the seam 31. The pouring element 29 can easily be opened by cutting the seam 31 along the cutting line 59. If two lens-shaped projections 29, as shown in FIG. 8, are formed on the first or the second shoulder 39, 41, both pouring elements 29 are opened with a cut. This results in an enlarged pour opening.

[0074] FIG. 22 shows that the seam 31 partially surrounds or frames the lens-shaped projection 29. As a result, the seam 31 forms a tab 70. To open the pouring element 29, only the tab 70 has to be cut along the cutting line 59.

[0075] In order to form a homogeneous filling material flow during pouring, a ventilation opening 71 can be provided on the container body 13 (FIG. 2). This can be realized by a nipple that can be cut.

[0076] The extrusion blown container 11 is integrally formed, and the pouring element 29 together with the container body 13 is blown in a mold. The pouring element 29 is therefore an integral component of the container 11 and does not have to be subsequently inserted therein and connected thereto.