Mechanism for opening and reclosing the outflow opening for emptying a container

Abstract

A mechanism for opening and reclosing the outflow opening for emptying a container, incorporating a latch featuring the means to initiate movement of the latch, with the latch connected rotationally to the lid featuring the outflow opening for emptying the container, characterised in that formed on the bottom surface of the lid is at least one guide with an arched guiding surface going down in a screw-like manner with respect to the bottom surface of the lid, and the latch features at least one hatch with an arched surface shaped on the bottom surface of the latch, where the said arched surface goes down in a screw-like manner with respect to the top surface of the latch, and where the hatch is fitted slidingly on the said guide, so that the arched surface of the latch contacts the arched guiding surface of the guide.

Claims

1. A mechanism for opening and reclosing an outflow opening in a lid of a container for emptying the container comprising a latch comprising a protrusion to initiate movement of the latch, located on a top surface of the latch, wherein the latch is connected rotationally to the lid; at least one arched guide (4) formed on a bottom surface (1b) of the lid (1), with an arched guiding surface (4a) going down rotationally with respect to the bottom surface (1b) of the lid (1); at least one arched hatch (5) with an arched surface (5a) shaped on a bottom surface (2b) of the latch (2), wherein said arched surface (5a) goes down rotationally with respect to the top surface (2a) of the latch (2), wherein the hatch (5) is fitted slidingly on said arched guide (4), so that the arched surface (5a) of the latch (2) contacts the arched guiding surface (4a) of the arched guide (4), wherein the lid (1) and the latch (2) are configured such that in a closed position the top surface (2a) of the latch (2) contacts the bottom surface (1b) of the lid (1) at least around the outflow opening (3) for emptying the container, whereas in an open position the top surface (2a) of the latch (2) is distant from the bottom surface (1b) of the lid (1); and wherein the open and closed positions are based on the rotation of the latch (2) by application of force on the protrusion to rotate the latch (2) along the arched guide (4).

2. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion (6) is found within the outflow opening (3) of the lid (1).

3. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises an opening (7) in the latch (2) in an axis of rotation of the latch (2), and a cylindrical protrusion (8) on the bottom surface (1b) of the lid (1), wherein said protrusion is found within the opening (7) of the latch (2).

4. The mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the mechanism comprises an arched guide (4) formed on a side cylindrical surface of the cylindrical protrusion (8) and wherein there is an arched hatch (5) formed on the latch (2), at a rim of the opening (7), wherein said arched hatch (5) is fitted slidingly on said guide (4).

5. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises two guides (4) on the bottom surface (1b) of the lid (1) positioned parallel to each other, and the latch (2) is fitted with two corresponding hatches (5) positioned parallel to each other and fitted slidingly on said arched guides (4).

6. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises two guides (4) on the bottom surface (1b) of the lid (1) positioned opposite each other, and the latch (2) features the at least one arched hatch (5) fitted slidingly on said arched guides (4).

7. The mechanism according to claim 3, wherein formed on a longitudinal wall of the outflow opening (3) is at least one protuberance (9) which in the closed position is in contact with the protrusion (6) initiating a movement of the latch (2).

8. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises an opening (10) in the lid (1) to supply air to the container while the container is being emptied, wherein in a closed position the opening is in contact with the top surface (2a) of the latch (2).

9. The mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the mechanism comprises an opening (11) in the latch (2) to supply air to the container while the container is being emptied.

10. The mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the protrusion (6) to initiate a movement of the latch (2) positioned on the top surface (2a) of the latch (2) is located within the opening (10) of the lid (1) which supplies air to the container when the container is being emptied.

11. The mechanism according to claim 7, wherein formed on a longitudinal wall of the opening (10) which supplies air to the container while the container is being emptied is the at least one protuberance (9) which in a closed position is in contact with the protrusion (6) to initiate a movement of the latch (2).

12. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises a sealing material between the bottom surface (1b) of the lid (1) and the top surface (2a) of the latch (2) around an outflow opening (7).

13. The mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the mechanism comprises a sealing material between the bottom surface (1b) of the lid (1) and the top surface (2a) of the latch (2) around the opening (10) which supplies air to the container while the container is being emptied.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other characteristics of the invention will be clear from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 presents the lid with the latch in place, with the tongue placed in the outflow opening, in the closed position, viewed from the top;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the lid with the latch in place as in FIG. 1, in the open position, viewed from the top;

(4) FIG. 3 depicts the lid with the latch in place, with the tongue found within the outflow opening, in the closed position, viewed from the top;

(5) FIG. 4 presents the lid with the latch in place, as in FIG. 3, in the open position, viewed from the top;

(6) FIG. 5 depicts the lid with the latch in place, with the tongue found within the opening which supplies air to the container while it is being emptied, in the closed position, viewed from the top;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the lid with the latch in place, as in FIG. 5, in the open position, viewed from the top;

(8) FIG. 7 presents the lid with the latch in place, with the tongue found within the opening which supplies air to the container while it is being emptied, in the closed position, viewed from the top;

(9) FIG. 8 shows the lid with the latch in place, as in FIG. 7, in the open position, viewed from the top;

(10) FIG. 9 presents the lid with a single guide, viewed from the bottom;

(11) FIG. 10, 10A show the latch matching the lid as in FIG. 9, viewed from the bottom;

(12) FIG. 11 presents the lid as in FIG. 9 with the latch in place, as in FIG. 10, 10A, in the open position, in a 3D view from the bottom;

(13) FIG. 12 depicts the lid with two guides parallel to each other, and the surface profiled around the outflow opening, viewed from the bottom;

(14) FIG. 13 depicts the latch matching the lid as in FIG. 12, viewed from the bottom;

(15) FIG. 14 presents the lid as in FIG. 12 with the lid in place, as in FIG. 13, in the open position, in a 3D view form the bottom;

(16) FIG. 15 depicts the lid with two guides positioned opposite each other, with the profiled surface around the outflow opening, viewed from the bottom;

(17) FIG. 16 shows the lid with two hatches for the lid, as in FIG. 15, viewed from the bottom;

(18) FIG. 17 presents the lid as in FIG. 15 with the latch in place, as in FIG. 16, in the open position, in a 3D view from the bottom;

(19) FIG. 18, 18A depict the lid with two guides positioned opposite each other, viewed from the bottom;

(20) FIG. 19, 19A depict the latch with a single hatch for the lid as in FIG. 18, 18A, viewed from the bottom;

(21) FIG. 20 shows the lid as in FIG. 18 with the lid in place, as in FIG. 19 or 19A, in the open position, in a 3D view from the bottom;

(22) FIG. 21 presents the lid as in FIG. 18A, with the latch in place, as in FIG. 19 or 19A, in the open position, in a 3D view from the bottom;

(23) FIG. 22 depicts the lid as in FIG. 12, in the concave variant, viewed from the side;

(24) FIG. 23 shows the latch for the lid as in FIG. 22, viewed from the side;

(25) FIG. 24 presents the lid as in FIG. 18, in the flat variant, viewed from the side;

(26) FIG. 25 shows the latch for the lid, as in FIG. 24, viewed from the side;

(27) FIG. 26, FIG. 26A present the diagram of assembly of the latch in the lid, in the concave variant, in cross section;

(28) FIG. 27, 27A show the connection between the latch and the lid, as in FIGS. 26 and 26A, respectively, in cross section;

(29) FIG. 28, FIG. 28A show the diagram of assembly of the latch in the lid in the flat variant, in cross section;

(30) FIG. 29, 29A depict the connection between the latch and the lid, as in FIGS. 28 and 28A, respectively, in cross section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(31) An exemplary mechanism for opening and reclosing the outflow opening for emptying a container incorporates a latch 2 featuring the means intended to initiate movement of the latch, for instance in the form of a protrusion 6 placed on the bottom surface 2a of the latch 2. The lid 1 features an outflow opening 3 which may come in different shapes, such as a section of a ring, as in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, or a triangle, as in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 7, FIG. 8. The said protrusion 6 may be placed within the outflow opening 3 of the lid 1, as presented in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, which limits the movement of the latch 2 in the outflow opening 3 from the closed position to the open position and backwards; alternatively, the said protrusion 6 may be placed within the opening 10 which supplies air to the container while it is being emptied, as shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, and which limits the movement of the latch 2 in the said opening from the closed position to the open position and backwards. The latch 2 is rotationally connected to the lid 1 via at least one guide 4 formed on the bottom surface 1b of the lid 1, where the guide cooperates with the hatch 5 formed on the bottom surface 2b of the latch 2. The said guide 4 formed on the bottom surface of the lid 1 features an arched guiding surface 4a which goes down in a screw-like manner with respect to the bottom surface 1b of the lid 1, while formed on the bottom surface 2b of the latch 2 is a hatch 5 featuring an arched surface 5a which goes down in a screw-like manner with respect to the bottom surface 2a of the latch 2. The hatch 5 is fitted slidingly on the said guide 4, so that the arched surface 5a of the hatch 5 contacts the arched guiding surface 4a of the guide 4.

(32) In one of the embodiment variants, the bottom surface 1b of the lid around the outflow opening 3 may be profiled, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 15, into an extending rim, in which case, when in the closed position, the top surface 2a of the latch 2 contacts that rim profiled on the bottom surface 1b of the lid 1 around the outflow opening 3, while in another variant, as shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 18, FIG. 18A, the surface around the outflow opening 3 features no distinct rim, in which case, when in the closed position, the top surface 2a of the latch 2 contacts the bottom surface 1b of the lid 1, while in the open position the top surface 2a of the latch 2 is distant from the bottom surface 1b of the lid 1 in all exemplary embodiments.

(33) According to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 9 to FIG. 11, the lid features a single guide 4 (FIG. 9) on the bottom surface 1b, and correspondingly the latch 2 features a single hatch 5 which can be given the shape as in FIG. 10 or FIG. 10A and which is fitted slidingly on the said guide 4 (FIG. 11), as described above. Moreover, the latch 2 features an opening 7 in its axis of rotation, and there is a cylindrical protrusion 8 formed on the bottom surface 1b of the lid 1, where the protrusion is placed within the said opening 7 of the latch 2. Moreover, the lid 1 features an opening 10 which supplies air to the container in the open position (FIG. 11), when the container is being opened. On the other hand, while in the closed position, the opening 10 is in contact with the top surface 2a of the latch 2.

(34) According to another exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12 to FIG. 14, on the bottom surface 1b of the lid 1 there are two guides 4 positioned parallel to each other (FIG. 12), and on the latch 2 there are, correspondingly, two hatches 5 positioned parallel to each other (FIG. 13) and fitted slidingly on the said guides 4 (FIG. 14), as described above. Moreover, the latch 2 features an opening 7 in its axis of rotation, and the lid 1 features a cylindrical protrusion 8 on its bottom surface 1b, where the said protrusion is placed within the said opening 7 of the latch 2. In addition, the lid 1 features an opening 10 which supplies air to the container in the open position (FIG. 14) while the container is being emptied. On the other hand, while in the closed position, the opening 10 is in contact with the top surface 2a of the latch 2.

(35) According to yet another exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15 to FIG. 17, on the bottom surface 1b of the lid 1 there are two guides 4 positioned opposite each other (FIG. 15), and on the latch 2 there are, correspondingly, two hatches 5 (FIG. 16) fitted slidingly on the said guides 4 (FIG. 17). In addition, the lid 1 features an opening 10 to supply air to the container in the open position (FIG. 15), and the latch 2 features a corresponding opening 11 (FIG. 16) to supply air to the container in the open position, where the openings 10, 11 overlap each other in the open position (FIG. 17), whereas in the closed position the said opening 10 in the lid is in contact with the top surface 2a of the latch 2.

(36) According to other embodiment variants, as shown in FIG. 18, 18A, 19, 20, 21, on the bottom surface 1b of the lid 1 there are two guides 4 positioned opposite each other (FIG. 18, FIG. 18A), and on the latch 2 there is a single hatch 5 which can be given the shape as in FIG. 19 or 19A, where the latch is fitted slidingly on the said guides 4, as shown in FIG. 20, FIG. 21, respectively. In addition, there is an opening 10 in the lid 1 (FIG. 18, 18A) to supply air to the container in the open position, and the latch 2 (FIG. 19, 19A) features a corresponding opening 11 to supply air to the container in the open position, where the openings 10, 11 overlap each other in the open position (FIG. 20, FIG. 21), whereas in the closed position the said opening 10 in the lid is in contact with the top surface 2a of the latch 2.

(37) According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention (not shown on the drawing) there may be a guide 4 formed on the side cylindrical surface of the cylindrical protrusion 8 formed on the bottom surface 1b of the lid 1, in which case there is a hatch 5 formed on the bottom surface 2b of the latch 2, on the rim of the opening 7, where the hatch is fitted slidingly on the said guide 4.

(38) In all exemplary embodiments described above, formed on the longitudinal wall of the outflow opening 3 or the opening 10 which supplies air to the container in the open position may be one or two protuberances 9 (FIG. 1 to FIG. 8), which in the closed position are in contact with the protrusion 6 which initiates the movement of the latch 2 (FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 5, FIG. 7).

(39) In all exemplary embodiments described above, there may be a sealing material fitted between the bottom surface 1b of the lid 1 and the top surface 2a of the latch, around the outflow opening 3, and between the bottom surface 1b of the lid 1 and the top surface 2a of the latch 2, around the opening 10 which supplies air to the container while it is being emptied.

(40) In all exemplary embodiments described above, the lid 1 and the latch 2 may be concave towards the inside of the container, as shown exemplarily in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 (for the exemplary embodiment as in FIG. 12-14), or in FIG. 26, 26A, FIG. 27, FIG. 27A; alternatively, the lid 1 and the latch 2 may be flat, which exemplarily shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 (for the exemplary embodiment as in FIG. 18 to FIG. 21), as well as in FIG. 28, 28A, 29, 29A.

(41) In all exemplary embodiments described above the arched surface 5a of the hatch 5 may be profiled by scooping so that a sudden step is formed on the bottom surface 2b of the latch 2, as shown in FIG. 26, FIG. 27, FIG. 28, FIG. 29; alternatively, the surface may be profiled without the step (gradual change), as shown in FIG. 26A, FIG. 27A, 28A, 29A.

(42) The latch 2 is assembled in the lid 1 by applying force, in effect of which, once the latch 2 is first oriented with respect to the lid 1, the hatches 5 are slipped onto the guides 4, as shown schematically in FIG. 26, FIG. 26A, FIG. 28, FIG. 28A, and the tongue is placed either in the outflow opening 3, or in the opening 10 which supplies air to the container while it is being emptied. The connection between the latch and the lid following the assembly is shown schematically in FIG. 27, 27A, FIG. 29, FIG. 29A.

(43) The outflow opening 3 is opened by shifting the protrusion 6 along the outflow opening 3 (FIG. 1 to FIG. 4), or by shifting the protrusion 6 along the opening 10 which supplies air to the container while it is being emptied (FIG. 5 to FIG. 8).

(44) The shifting of the said protrusion 6 causes rotation of the latch 2 on the guides 4 of the lid 1, and while the latch 2 rotates, the distance between its top surface 2a and the bottom surface 1b of the lid 1 increases. The outflow opening can be reclosed.

(45) The lid and the latch are made of the same resilient plastic material.

LIST OF NUMERICAL REFERENCES

(46) 1lid 1atop surface of the lid 1bbottom surface of the lid 2latch 2atop surface of the latch 2bbottom surface of the latch 3outflow opening in the lid 4guide formed on the bottom surface of the lid 4aarched guiding surface of the guide 5hatch of the latch 5aarched surface of the hatch 6protrusion on the top surface of the latch 7axial opening in the latch 8cylindrical protrusion on the bottom surface of the lid 9protuberance 10opening in the lid to supply air to the container while it is being emptied 11opening in the latch to supply air to the container while it is being emptied