CLOSURE FOR A FLUID-FILLED CONTAINER

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a closure having a sealing element for a fluid-filled container. The closure has at least one securing mechanism which is designed to be irreversibly changed in a visible manner during the first opening of the closure.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20.

21. (canceled)

22. A closure having a sealing element for a container (B) filled with a fluid, said closure having at least one securing mechanism designed to be visibly and reversibly changed during an initial opening of the closure, and comprising an internal thread that is complementary to an external thread of the container (B) or an external thread that is complementary to an internal thread of the container (B), wherein the closure includes a ratchet designed to allow the closure to be screwed onto the container and to prevent the closure from being screwed off from the container (B).

23. The closure as claimed in claim 22, wherein the securing mechanism comprises at least one visible securing element that is visibly and irreversibly changed by applying a force onto the closure relative to the container (B), which force has at least one force component along an axis (A) perpendicular to an opening level of an opening (O) of the container (B) that is closed by the closure.

24. The closure as claimed in claim 23, wherein the securing element a. is provided on the side of the closure that faces the container (B); b. is designed in order to space the closure apart from the container (B); c. is connected to the closure via at least one predetermined breaking point preferably in a manner radially unstable to tension; d. surrounds the opening (O) closed by the closure preferably in an essentially annular manner; e. is designed so that it can be torn off from the closure, wherein the securing element preferably comprises a handle element, particularly preferably a tab; f. includes a tensionally unstable predetermined breaking point and/or predetermined kinking point in the circumference for attaching the tab-shaped handle element to the circumferential securing element, g. has at least one latching nose, wherein the container (B) preferably has at least one latching pin that is complementary to the latching nose, and/or h. is formed of at least one elastically deformable material, preferably from a plastic.

25. The closure as claimed in claim 22, wherein a number of latching noses and a number of corresponding latching pins cooperate in a form-locking manner during a movement of the securing element along the axis (A) away from the container (B) and in a force-locking manner during a movement thereof towards the container (B).

26. The closure as claimed in claim 25, wherein the securing element is designed, due to the latching noses and/or the latching pins, with exactly one latching stage in a user-induced position, with a first element and/or a second element wherein the first element and the second element can be displaced relative to each other from a first position into a second position, i. wherein the first position, the sealing element is intact, and ii. wherein the second position, the sealing element is penetrated by the second element and/or with the container (B) as the latching partner.

27. The closure a claimed in claim 22, wherein a second element and a first element for receiving the second element, a. wherein the first element and the second element can be displaced relative to each other from a first position into a second position, i. wherein in the first position, the sealing element is intact, and ii. wherein in the second position, the sealing element is penetrated by the second element, and b. wherein the securing element comprises at least one control element, through which it can be seen whether the second element is still in the initial position, wherein the at least one control element is irreversibly changed by displacing the second element relative to the first element.

28. The closure as claimed in claim 27, wherein the second element essentially completely envelopes the first element at least on the side facing away from the container (B).

29. The closure as claimed in claim 27, wherein the second element has at least one cutting surface for severing the sealing element.

30. The closure as claimed in claim 28, wherein the second element has at least one cutting surface for severing the sealing element.

31. The closure as claimed in claim 27, wherein in the second position, the second element cooperates with the sealing element in a sealing manner.

32. The closure as claimed in claim 28, wherein in the second position, the second element cooperates with the sealing element in a sealing manner.

33. The closure as claimed in claim 22, wherein the ratchet comprises a number of preferably three follower ribs and/or a number of preferably three snap-on ribs, wherein preferably the follower ribs and the snap-on ribs cooperate in a form-locking manner when screwing the closure on and only in a force-locking manner during a screw-off attempt.

34. The closure as claimed in claim 33, wherein the follower ribs are provided on a first part of the closure that is accessible from an outside of the closure, and/or the snap-on ribs are provided on a second part of the closure that is connected to the internal thread.

35. The closure as claimed in claim 22, wherein the sealing element a. is designed to be film-like, preferably as a multi-layer seal film, and/or b. is connected in a firmly bonded manner neither with the closure nor with the container (B).

36. The closure as claimed in claim 27, wherein at least one, preferably exactly one, return channel for pressure compensation between the container and an environment is provided in the closure, preferably in the second element.

37. The closure as claimed in claim 27, wherein a channel for fluid is provided, preferably eccentrically, in the closure, preferably in the second element.

38. The closure as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first and second elements are sealed against each other via sealing surfaces at least in the second position.

39. The closure as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first element and/or the second element are provided with at least one latching nose, and preferably the first element and/or the second element are provided with at least one latching pin that is complementary to the latching nose.

40. The closure as claimed in claim 39, wherein the at least one latching nose a. acts in a form-locking manner only against a displacement direction (R) and/or in a force-locking manner along the displacement direction (R), and/or b. secures two positions against manipulation in two latching stages, preferably the first position of the first element and of the second element set during production, and the second position generated by the user of the container.

41. The closure as claimed in claim 22, wherein a cap for sealing is provided, which preferably a. seals both the fluid channel and the return channel, and/or b. is connected with the closure by a flexible element, particularly preferably a film hinge.

42. The closure as claimed in claim 27, wherein the second element cannot be removed from the first position without destroying it or be pushed back from the second into the first position.

43. The closure as claimed in claim 28, wherein the second element cannot be removed from the first position without destroying it or be pushed back from the second into the first position.

44. The closure as claimed in claim 29, wherein the second element cannot be removed from the first position without destroying it or be pushed back from the second into the first position.

45. The closure as claimed in claim 38, wherein the second element cannot be removed from the first position without destroying it or be pushed back from the second into the first position.

46. The closure as claimed in claim 39, wherein the second element cannot be removed from the first position without destroying it or be pushed back from the second into the first position.

47. The closure as claimed in claim 40, wherein the second element cannot be removed from the first position without destroying it or be pushed back from the second into the first position.

48. The closure as claimed in claim 22, wherein the securing mechanism is provided in the fluid channel and/or in at least one return channel such that no free essentially linear path exists from a pour opening or the return opening to the sealing element.

49. The closure as claimed in claim 48, wherein the securing mechanism has at least one lateral opening and preferably a closed underside provided relative to the sealing element or a vaulting facing away from the sealing element.

Description

[0038] Any technical features listed therein are also claimed in isolation from their combination of features which is listed only by way of example. Any technical features having the same or a similar effect are identified with the same reference numerals. For the sake of clarity, the identification with reference numerals of technical features shown several times has partially been omitted. In the figures:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a first embodiment of the closure in the first position;

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a further cross-sectional view of the closure according to a first embodiment in the first position;

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure according to an alternative embodiment in the first position;

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure according to a first embodiment in the second position;

[0043] FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of the closure;

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a cross section through the closure shown in FIG. 5 in a first position;

[0045] FIG. 7 shows a cross section through the closure shown in FIG. 5 in a second position;

[0046] FIG. 8 shows a cross section through the closure shown in FIG. 5, and

[0047] FIG. 9 shows a cross section through a closure shown in FIG. 5, having a securing element kinked at a predetermined kinking point and displaced under the closure.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of the closure 1 according to the invention. This shows the first element 300 as well as the second element 100. Further, the cap 110 is shown which seals the second element 100 after the initial opening. Moreover, an example of a form of the control elements 140 is illustrated, which irreversibly snap off upon initial opening.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the closure according to a first embodiment. Here, the second element 100 is in the first position and the sealing element 202 is intact. In this figure, two latching pins 150 are provided which hold the second element 100 in the first position relative to the first element 300. Further, a metering element 120 is provided above the fluid channel 160. As a result of the fact that a closure according to the invention may have both a sealing element 202 and a metering element 120, a particularly high level of security is ensured by the sealing element 202, whilst at the same time easy handlability is achieved by the metering element 120. In this embodiment, a return channel 170 is provided adjacent to the fluid channel 160. The sealing element 202 may here be held and clamped onto a sealing ring 201. On the underside 163 and/or a vaulting 164 (see FIG. 6 or 9) of the second element 100, a cutting element 130 in the form of a cutting edge may be provided. Moreover, latching noses 180 are provided on the first element 300, into which, depending on their position, at least one of the latching pins 150 latches. In a preferred embodiment, the latching noses 180 carry at least one latching cusp 181. A latching cusp 181 according to the invention generates a predefined resistance in the displacement direction R. Thus, a user of the container moreover receives a tactile and/or acoustic feedback regarding the initial opening of the container.

[0050] FIG. 3 also shows a cross-sectional view of the closure. However, FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the closure and is rotated by 90?. Here, the cutting element 130 may be formed as a mandrel and/or cutting edge, by means of which the sealing element 202 may be penetrated. Further, this illustration shows the control elements 140 that snap off during the initial pushing-in process. Moreover, no latching noses 180 for the latching pins 150 can be seen. Also, the cap 110 cannot be seen in this illustration.

[0051] FIG. 4 corresponds to the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2. However, in this figure the second element 100 is in the second position and the sealing element 202 is severed by the cutting element 130.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of the closure 1. The closure 1 has a cap 110 that is shown in the open condition, which is connected to the closure 1 via a flexible element 111, for example in the form of a film hinge. The closure 1 shown comprises a second element 100 which completely envelopes a first element 300 of the closure 1 up to the side facing the container B (not visible). On the second element 100, a securing element 410 is attached via a predetermined breaking point 412. The securing element 410 shown surrounds an opening (not visible) of the container B, which is closed by the closure 1, in an annular manner and has a handle element 411 in the form of a tab and a further predetermined breaking point 412, so that the securing element 410 can be torn off from the closure 1 by a consumer. The further predetermined breaking point 412 prevents the securing element 410 from being prematurely or inadvertently torn off unnoticed by handling or by the closing process during production. According to the invention, the predetermined breaking points 412 may be designed so as to be radially unstable to tension with regard to the axis A.

[0053] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section through the closure 1 shown in FIG. 5 in a first position, which corresponds to the delivery condition of the filled container B up to the cap 110 shown in the open condition. In this view, the opening O of the container B is visible, which is closed by the closure 1. A sealing element 202, for example a multi-layer sealing film, is placed over the opening O and is fixed in a sealing manner, for example clamped in, by the closure 1 that is screwed on by means of for example an internal thread 500 onto an external thread 501 of the container B. It is also possible to provide a sealed fastening by means of a firmly bonded connection such as for example by means of gluing the sealing element 202 onto the container B, for example by induction sealing. The second element 100 of the closure 1 comprises a fluid channel 160 for removing a fluid from the container B, which fluid channel 160 is connected to a pour opening 161 via a lateral opening 162. Next to the pour opening 161, the second element 100 has a return channel opening 170, through which air can flow into the container B during removal of the fluid. By means of latching noses 180, the second element is held in a first position on latching pins 150 of the first element 300 of the closure 1. The securing element 410 may also carry corresponding latching noses (not shown), so that the closure 1 cannot be pulled off from the container B without destroying it, in particular not without tearing off the securing element 410 from the second element 100 on the predetermined breaking point 412. A securing element 410 according to the invention may have a sufficiently great extent along the displacement direction R, so that the securing element 410 is deformed during a displacement of the second element 100 from the first position into the second position by contact with the container B in such a way that the securing element 410 is irreversibly and visibly changed. Such a modification can take place in particular due to the fact that the securing element 410 tears off at least in sections from the second element 100 at the predetermined breaking point 412. As a result, the second element 100 cannot be displaced from the first into the second position without the securing element 410 being visibly and irreversibly changed in the course of it. The securing element 410 thus indicates to the consumer whether the second element 100 has already been manipulated, for example displaced into the second position, and thus whether the fluid in the container B has been tampered with.

[0054] FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section through the closure 1 shown in FIG. 5 in a second position. Once the security element 410 has been torn off, the second element 100 may be displaced along a displacement direction R against the first element 300 towards the container B from the first position into the second position. In the course of this, the cutting element 130 severs the sealing element 202 and pushes it for example to one side, so that a fluid can be removed from the container B through the fluid channel 160. Also in the second position, the second element 100 is held by latching noses 180 on latching pins 150 of the first element 300. A form lock between the latching noses 180 and the latching pins 150 prevents the second element 100 from being pushed back into the first position and thus prevents the risk of a leak within the closure 1 occurring.

[0055] FIG. 8 shows a cross section through the closure 1 shown in FIG. 5. The first element 300 and the second element 100 surrounding the first element are connected to each other via a ratchet 510 that is formed by a number of follower ribs 511 and barrier ribs 512. In the example shown, three follower ribs 511 are provided on an inside of the first element 300, and three barrier ribs 510 that are complementary to the follower ribs 511 are provided on an outside of the second element 100. Due to the ratchet 510, the closure can be screwed onto the container B using a torque engaging the second element, however it cannot be screwed off.

[0056] FIG. 9 shows a cross section through a closure 1 shown in FIG. 5 with a securing element 410 snapped off at a predetermined breaking point (not shown, positioned analogous to the predetermined breaking point 412) and pushed under the closure 1. The kinking is preferably visibly irreversible. In the kinked condition shown, the securing element 410 may for example cooperate in a force- and/or form-locking manner with the closure 1, and as a result additionally secure the second (usage) position of the closure 1. Advantageously, the securing element 410 is mechanically decoupled from the first element 300 also in the kinked condition so that, in order to ensure the sealing effect, no externally acting forces are transmitted.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0057] 1 Closure [0058] 100 Second element [0059] 110 Cap [0060] 111 Flexible element [0061] 120 Metering element [0062] 130 Cutting element [0063] 140 Control element [0064] 150 Latching pin [0065] 160 Fluid channel [0066] 161 Pour opening [0067] 162 Lateral opening [0068] 163 Underside [0069] 164 Vaulting [0070] 170 Return channel [0071] 171 Return channel opening [0072] 180 Latching nose [0073] 181 Latching cusp [0074] 201 Sealing ring [0075] 202 Sealing element [0076] 300 First element [0077] 410 Securing element [0078] 411 Handle element [0079] 412 Predetermined breaking point [0080] 500 Internal thread [0081] 501 External thread [0082] 510 Ratchet [0083] 511 Follower rib [0084] 512 Snap-on rib [0085] A Axisnot tensioned [0086] B Container [0087] O Opening [0088] R Displacement direction