Pouring Container for Storing Pourable Foodstuffs

Abstract

A container for pourable foodstuffs has a base, a side wall connected to the base and surrounding a storage chamber. An elastic cuff is connected with a first end to the side wall and has a second end with an opening. The cuff width decreases from first to second end along a longitudinal container axis. The elastic cuff can be pushed into and pulled out of the storage chamber. A sealing element shaped as a stopper can be inserted into the opening for closing the container and has a shank portion matched in shape and size to the opening such that sealing abutment of a shank portion surface against surfaces of the elastic cuff adjoining the cuff opening is established in a contact region of the shank portion when the stopper is inserted. The shank portion has an end with a thickened portion thicker than the contact region.

Claims

1. A pouring container (2) for storing pourable foodstuffs, the pouring container comprising: a base (4); a side wall (6) connected to the base (4) and surrounding a storage chamber (18); a cuff (10) composed of an elastic material, the cuff (19) comprising a first end (12) connected to the side wall (6) and comprising a second end (14) comprising an upper opening (8); wherein a width of the cuff (10) decreases from the first end (12) to the second end (14) along a longitudinal axis (16) of the pouring container (2); wherein the cuff (10), due to an elasticity of the elastic material, is configured to be pushed into and pulled back out of the storage chamber (18) along the longitudinal axis (16) of the pouring container (2); a sealing element (20) configured to close the upper opening (8), wherein the sealing element (20) is shaped as a stopper configured to be inserted into the upper opening (8); wherein the sealing element (20) comprises a shank portion (32) having a shape and a size adapted to a shape and a size of the upper opening (8) such that a sealing abutment of a surface of the shank portion (32) against surfaces of the elastic material of the cuff (10) adjoining the upper opening (8) of the cuff (10) is established in a contact region of the shank portion when the stopper is inserted into the opening; wherein the shank portion (32) comprises an end facing the storage chamber (18) and the end comprises a thickened portion that is thicker than the contact region of the shank portion.

2. The pouring container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the cuff (10) is connected by form fit to the side wall (6) of the pouring container (2).

3. The pouring container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the side wall and/or the base comprises recesses.

4. The pouring container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the pouring container comprises surface portions composed of a softer plastics material than surfaces surrounding the surface portions.

5. The pouring container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element (20) comprises surface portions composed of a softer plastics material than surfaces surrounding the surface portions.

6. The pouring container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element (20) is configured to be connected pressure-tightly to the cuff (10) and the cuff (10) is connected pressure-tightly to the side wall (6).

7. The pouring container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the pouring container (2) is comprised at least partially from a transparent material and the cuff (10) is comprised of a nontransparent material.

8. The pouring container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the cuff (10) comprises a reinforcing element (24) arranged at the first end or the second end.

9. The pouring container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the cuff (10) comprises a reinforcing element (24) arranged at the first end and the second end.

10. The pouring container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the cuff (10) comprises a bending point (26) in at least one region, wherein the bending point is formed by a cuff portion of reduced material thickness.

11. The pouring container (2) according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element (20) comprises an abutment (28) arranged above the shank portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The invention will now be described in more detail by way of an exemplary embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a view obliquely from above of a pouring container with a pulled-out cuff.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows the pouring container of FIG. 1 with a cuff pushed into the storage chamber.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows the pouring container of FIG. 2 with an inserted sealing element.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view through the pouring container shown in FIG. 1.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view through the pouring container shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 shows a sectional view through the pouring container shown in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a pouring container 2 in a view obliquely from above. The pouring container 2 has a base 4 with a side wall 6. Toward the top, the pouring container 2 is opened by way of the upper opening 8, which is bounded by the cuff 10.

[0032] The cuff 10 has a first end by way of which the cuff 10 is connected to the side wall 6. The second end of the cuff 10 bounds the opening 8. The cuff 10 consists of an elastic material which makes it possible for the cuff 10 to be able to be pushed with its second end 14 into the storage chamber 18 along the longitudinal axis 16 and moved back out again into the pulled-out position illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows the pouring container 2 with a cuff 10 which has been pushed into the storage chamber 18. It is apparent from comparing the cuff 10 as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the cuff 10 forms a pouring funnel in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, while it creates a filling funnel in the position illustrated in FIG. 2. Through the opening 8, it is thus easily possible for a foodstuff to be both filled into and also poured back out of the storage chamber 18.

[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates the pouring container 2 with a sealing element 20 which has been plugged into the opening 8, while the cuff 10 is in the pushed-in position.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view through the pouring container 2 shown in FIG. 1. It is apparent from this sectional view that the cuff 10 is connected to the side wall 6 via a thread 22. At its first end 12, the cuff 10 has an internal thread, which is formed on a reinforcing element 24 that forms a constituent of the cuff 10 in this region. The reinforcing element 24 extends not only in the region of the thread 22 but also beyond the latter as far as a bending point 26 at which the material thickness of the material of the cuff 10 has a weakened portion. As a result of the weakened portion in the region of the bending point 26, the second end 14 of the cuff 10 can be pushed more easily into the storage chamber 18.

[0036] It is apparent from the sectional views in FIGS. 3 and 4 that the cuff 10 has in each case a kind of frustoconical shape in side view.

[0037] In the region of the base 4, the pouring container 2 furthermore has, as seen from the outside, a recess 30 in the form of an indentation in the base 4, it being possible for the pouring container 2 to be grasped and held better via the recess 30 during pouring.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view through the pouring container shown in FIG. 3. In this view, the configuration of the sealing element 20 is more precisely apparent. The sealing element 20 has a shank portion 32, the outwardly directed surface of which has a contact region 36 in which sealing abutment of the material surrounding the opening 8 of the cuff 10 is established when the sealing element is plugged into the opening 8. The sealing element 20 has an abutment 28 which prevents the sealing element 20 from being plugged too far into the opening 8. The contact of the abutment 28 with the surface of the cuff 10 additionally has a stabilizing effect on the cuff 10 when the sealing element 20 is plugged into the opening 8.

[0039] In order that the sealing element 20 is held better in the closed position, the sealing element 20 additionally has a thickened portion 34 which forms a kind of undercut in the region of the second end 14 in relation to the material of the cuff 10. When the sealing element 20 is pulled out of the position illustrated in FIG. 5, the cuff 10 is first of all carried along out of the position pushed into the storage chamber 18 into the position pulled out of the storage chamber 18. When the cuff 10 has reached its end position, a further pull on the sealing element 20 can pull the sealing element out of the opening 8. When the opening 8 is closed, the above-described sequence takes place in the reverse order, in that the cuff 10 is first of all pushed down with the sealing element 20 until the cuff 10 has reached its end position, and then the sealing element 20 is pushed completely into its closed position. Of course, it is also possible to deviate from these sequences of movement.

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view through the pouring container shown in FIG. 2. In this case, the cuff 10 is in the pushed-in position. In this position, it is clearly apparent that the cuff 10 has been bent down in the region of the bending point 26. The funnel shape which the cuff 10 forms in this position is also clearly apparent. It is clearly apparent from this sectional view that the storage chamber 18 can be filled easily from above by pouring the foodstuff onto the surface of the cuff 10.

[0041] The above-described exemplary embodiment serves only to explain the invention. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment. It will not be difficult for a person skilled in the art to modify the exemplary embodiment in a manner that appears appropriate to him in order to adapt it to a specific application.

[0042] The specification incorporates by reference the entire disclosure of European priority document 17 154 469.5 having a priority filing date of Feb. 2, 2017.

[0043] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.