Container closure with standard capsule

Abstract

Container closure for a container (1), the container closure having at least one receiving chamber, for receiving a substance of liquid or powdery consistency, and having a mouthpiece (5) comprising a through-opening (13), characterized in that the container closure has an adapter (2), into which a capsule (3) having the substance is interchangeably inserted, and an actuating element (6) for actuating the capsule (3), wherein the capsule (3) has a housing forming the receiving chamber, in which a perforator (7) is arranged, and the housing has two openings, wherein one opening is closed by a closure film (8) and the second opening is closed by an end region of the perforator (7), wherein the actuating element (6) is operatively connected to the end region of the perforator (7) that closes the second opening of the capsule (3), and the adapter (2), the capsule (3) and the actuating element (6) form mutually separate components.

Claims

1. A container closure comprising: a housing forming a compartment adapted to hold a of liquid or powdery substance; a mouthpiece having a passage; an adapter; a capsule holding the substance and releasably held in the adapter; a movable actuating element for actuating the capsule, a perforator in the housing, the housing having a first opening closed by a closure film and a second opening closed by an end region of the perforator, the actuating element being operatively connected to the end region and closing the second opening of the capsule of the perforator, the adapter, the capsule, and the actuating element forming mutually separate components, and a cap operatively connected to the adapter and into which the mouthpiece and the actuating element are integrated.

2. The container closure according to claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece, the actuating element and the perforator are coaxial.

3. The container closure according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element and the perforator are coaxial and the mouthpiece is on a different axis.

4. The container closure according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is an integral constituent of the cap.

5. The container closure according to claim 4, further comprising, in addition to the actuating element for actuating the perforator, a closure element for the passage in the mouthpiece.

6. The container closure according to claim 1, wherein the cap and the actuating element are formed from two different plastics with different hardnesses.

7. A capsule for use in a container closure according to claim 1.

8. A container closure comprising: a housing forming a compartment adapted to hold a liquid or powdery substance; a mouthpiece having a passage; an adapter; a capsule holding the substance and releasably held in the adapter; an actuating element movable in the mouthpiece, forming a closure for the passage, and serving for actuating the capsule, and a perforator in the housing coaxial with the mouthpiece and with the actuating element, the housing having a first opening closed by a closure film and a second opening closed by an end region of the perforator, the actuating element being operatively connected to the end region and closing the second opening of the capsule of the perforator, the adapter, the capsule, and the actuating element forming mutually separate components.

9. The container closure according to claim 1, further comprising: A container closure comprising: a housing forming a compartment adapted to hold a liquid or powdery substance; a mouthpiece having a passage; an adapter; a capsule holding the substance and releasably held in the adapter; an actuating element for actuating the capsule, and a perforator in the housing, the housing having a first opening closed by a closure film and a second opening closed by an end region of the perforator, the actuating element being operatively connected to the end region and closing the second opening of the capsule of the perforator, the adapter, the capsule, and the actuating element forming mutually separate components; and an intermediate fitting receiving the capsule and operatively connected to the adapter.

10. The container closure according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate fitting has at least one passage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) In the following text, the invention is explained on the basis of an embodiment and the employment of the independent capsule according to the invention, and is described with reference to the figures in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the container with the container and the adapter on the left, the capsule in the middle, and the cap 4 mouthpiece on the right;

(3) FIG. 2 is a large-scale axial section through the closure with the actuator not actuated;

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B show the capsule and adapter before and after being fitted together, FIGS. 3C and 3D show the assembled closure with the actuator in the unactuated and actuated positions, and FIGS. 3E-3G are sectional views corresponding to FIGS. 3B-3D;

(5) FIG. 4A-C show the closure in a small-scale perspective view, small-scale axially sectional view, and large-scale axially sectional view;

(6) FIG. 5 is another large-scale sectional view like FIG. 2; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a small-scale axial section through the container and its closure.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows, as container 1, a bottle, for example a plastics bottle. Present at the upper end thereof is an opening, into which a liquid can be poured. Also provided in this region is an adapter 2. Separately therefrom, there is a capsule 3 that is filled with a medium, for example a powder. The medium is completely closed by the capsule 3 and a closure film (not illustrated) a part of a spike (also known as perforator). It can pass into the bottle (as explained in more detail below) only as a result of a movement of the spike. Also present is a closure means, for example a cap 4 with or without an integrated mouthpiece 5. It is also conceivable to omit the cap and to arrange the spike (also known as perforator) in the capsule 3 such that it is accessible from the outside and the closure film can be perforated by actuation. Ideally, the adapter 2 and/or the closure means is formed in the region of the receptacle for the capsule 3 for receiving a standard capsule.

(9) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the elements of FIG. 1 that are on the bottle (generally the container 1). It is apparent that the capsule 3 is secured to the bottle by the adapter 2. Furthermore, the cap 4 with the mouthpiece 5 is placed on this arrangement. The cap 4 with the mouthpiece 5 realizes a valve, in order to prevent actuation of the spike by the valve before use. Furthermore, an actuating element 6 is shown that is in a displaceable manner in and/or around the mouthpiece 5. The actuating element 6 acts on the perforator within the capsule 3 when it has been actuated (pushed down).

(10) In FIGS. 3A-G, the function of the container closure according to the invention is illustrated. Once the bottle has been provided with the adapter 2, the capsule 3 is inserted into the adapter 2 (FIGS. 3A, 3B, & 3E). Subsequently, the cap 4 with the mouthpiece 5 (valve) is put on (FIGS. 3C, 3D, 3F, & 3G). This represents the situation before use. If the medium located in the capsule 3 is intended to pass into the bottle, by pushing the valve, the spike is displaced linearly and the closure film of the capsule 3 is perforated. In this way, the medium can pass into the bottle.

(11) Following this activation, the medium thus passes out of the capsule 3 into the medium in the bottle (for example water) and can blend therewith. The through-flow of the medium in the capsule 3 in the direction of the contents of the bottle takes place via several paths such that all of the medium in the capsule 3 passes into the bottle and thus the capsule 3 is completely emptied. Once blending has taken place, it is possible, via the mouthpiece 5, for the liquid located in the bottle to be emptied out through the adapter 2, the capsule 3 and the mouthpiece 5, for example drunk.

(12) FIGS. 4A-C shows further applications. It is conceivable for the cap 4, with inserted valve, to be put on the capsule 3 that has been inserted into the adapter 2 and in the process for the capsule 3 to be directly activated, i.e. for the spike to be actuated directly and the closure film to be perforated thereby. This is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The right-hand illustration in FIG. 4 shows that the bottle closure system can also be used without a capsule. A coupling element 9 is also apparent. It for example annularly surrounds the lower end of the actuating element 6. It can also be in the form of a protrusion or of a plurality of pin-like protrusions. The actuating element 6 acts on the upper end of the perforator that closes an upper opening of the capsule 3. This upper end region of the perforator is formed for example in a plate-like manner or with an encircling lowered rim. The at least one protrusion of the coupling element 9 acts on this end region of the perforator.

(13) FIG. 5 shows the application in which the adapter 2 is used to adapt one and the same capsule 3 (standard capsule) to different bottles by the adapter 2. If a bottle for example with a relatively large thread is intended to be used, all that is necessary is for a corresponding adapter 2 to be inserted. The remaining components of the system fit as before. This is a very significant advantage compared with the known container closure, since the latter is always adapted to a particular thread of the bottle. According to the invention, a standard capsule that can be used for all bottles, can be employed, wherein only the adapter 2 adapts to different container openings and closure systems.

(14) FIG. 6, in contrast to FIGS. 1 to 5, shows a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, too, a container 1 is provided, on which an adapter 2 is placed, preferably screwed on. The adapter 2 receives the capsule 3, wherein the capsule 3 and the adapter 2 are covered by a cap 4. The cap 4 is operatively connected to the adapter 2, for example again by screwing together, although pressing on, catching or the like is also conceivable.

(15) In its upper outer circumferential peripheral region, the cap 4 has the mouthpiece 5. Thus, the longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece 5 is on an axis that differs from the vertical axis, in particular the central vertical axis, of the container 1. However, on this central vertical axis of the container 1, the actuating element 6 and thus also (not illustrated) the longitudinal axis of the perforator 7 is on an axis that differs from the container 1. However, on this central vertical axis of the container 1, the actuating element 6 and thus also (not illustrated) the longitudinal axis of the perforator 7 are arranged. In this case, the actuating element 6 is a constituent of the cap 4 and can be a separate component in the cap 4 (for example by being pressed in or catching). Alternatively, it can be produced together with the cap 4 in a two-component plastic injection-molding process. In this embodiment, too, the closure film 8 is again apparent.

(16) In this case, the mouthpiece 5 has a separate closure element 10, with which a passage 13 of the mouthpiece 5 can be closed and opened in order for it to be possible to remove the contents of the container 1 in the opened state and, in the closed state, to prevent the contents from passing out (what is known as the push-pull principle). Of course, the mouthpiece 5 with its elements can also be designed in some other way.

(17) In this embodiment, the central capsule 3 is kept in its position on the adapter 2, in particular on the upper edge of the adapter 2, and on the cap 4, in particular on a downwardly directed end of an encircling inner rib of the cap 4, using an intermediate fitting 11, in particular an annularly symmetrically designed element. The adapter 2, the cap 4, and the intermediate fitting 11 form independent individual elements that are produced separately from one another. Using a sealing element (which can optionally be dispensed with), a sealing connection is produced between the intermediate fitting 11, in particular an outwardly directed encircling rib of the intermediate fitting 11, and the cap 4, in particular a downwardly directed edge of the inner encircling rib of the cap 4, and the upwardly encircling edge of the adapter 2. As a result of this design that is very readily apparent in FIG. 6, the region that beneath the plane in which the outwardly directed rib of the intermediate fitting 11 is located, is sealed off. In principle, an overflow of liquid that is located beneath this plane in the lower region of the cap 4 or of the container 1 into the region of the cap 4 that is located thereabove, in particular in the direction of the mouthpiece 5, would not be possible. However, this is enabled by passages 12 that are in the intermediate fitting 11. Such passages can be provided only in the intermediate fitting 11. Alternatively or in addition, it is conceivable to provide such passages in the rim around the container opening and/or in the cap 4 and/or in the adapter 2. In this case, care should be taken in any case to ensure that no liquid can escape to the outside (out of the container 1 and out of the container closure), but at the same time to ensure that the liquid contained in the container 1 can be removed from the capsule 3 via the passage 13 in the mouthpiece 5 after said liquid has been mixed with the substance. These passages 12 can be dispensed with when the mixed liquid is removed only through the capsule 3. Otherwise, the above description also applies for the case in which liquid is intended to be poured into the container via the passage 13 and a capsule 3 that has not yet been emptied, is inserted. Then, the liquid can be poured into the interior of the container 1 via the mouthpiece 5 and the passages 12. If these passages 12 are not present, it is necessary to insert the capsule 3 only when liquid has been introduced into the container 1. Otherwise, in the simplest case, the adapter 2 with its cap 4 is unscrewed and liquid introduced into the container 1 as long as a capsule 3 has not yet been inserted. Only when the liquid has been poured into the container 1 is the adapter 2 screwed on to the upper rim of the opening of the container 1, and is the capsule 3 inserted and fixed in its position by the cap 4.

(18) In the embodiment according to FIG. 6, the cap 4 is in two parts. The lower part of the cap 4 is operatively connected to the adapter 2, while the upper part of the cap 4 can be flapped open and closed about a hinge 13. In the flapped closed state according to FIG. 6, the actuating element 6 is protected against being actuated unintentionally. Moreover, the closure element 10 of the mouthpiece 5 is fixed in its position. The closure element 10 can thus only be actuated and thus the passage 13 opened up when the upper part of the cap 4 has been flapped open.

(19) In one embodiment, it is particularly important that, after the closure film 8 has been perforated by the perforator 7, after the actuating element 6 has been actuated, in particular pushed, the substance located in the capsule 3 mixes with the liquid (or comparable substances) located in the container 1. Once mixed, the mixed liquid can only pass out and be removed, in particular drunk, via the passages 12 in the intermediate fitting 11 (and optionally further passages in the adapter 2 and/or cap 4) and the passage 13 in the mouthpiece 5. Specific flow through the interior of the capsule 3 for removing the liquid in the container 1 does not occur in this particular embodiment. It is merely conceivable for liquid to pass into the interior of the capsule 3 after the closure film 8 has been perforated, and the container 1 is shaken. Specific flow of liquid through the interior of the capsule 3 in the direction of the passage 13 in the mouthpiece 5 does not occur in this case.