CONTAINER CLOSURE AND CONTAINER

Abstract

The invention relates to a container and to a container closure (100). The container closure (100) comprises a main body (1) for fastening to a container, and a metering unit (2) for the metered dispensing of a liquid. The metering unit (2) has a metering body (4) comprising a discharge opening (21), and has a channel (22) adjoining the discharge opening (21). The channel (22) extends in the direction of the container and forms, together with the metering unit (2), an annular groove (23). A metering cap (3) is arranged on the metering unit (2). A metering cap (3) closes the annular groove (23) to form an annular volume (V). The annular volume (V) is connected to a buffer volume (27) by a first opening (24) and to the channel (22) by a second opening (25). The first opening (24) and the second opening are arranged such that any liquid that flows from the first opening (24) to the second opening (25) passes through the annular volume (V), at least along a portion of the annular volume (V), in a direction around the channel (22).

Claims

16. A container closure (100) comprising: a main body (1) for fastening to a container, a metering unit (2) for the metered dispensing of a liquid, wherein the metering unit (2) has a metering body (4) having a discharge opening (21) and a channel (22) which adjoins the discharge opening (21) and extends in the direction of the container and forms an annular channel (23) with the metering unit (2), wherein a metering cap (3) is arranged on the metering body (4), wherein the metering cap (3) closes the annular channel (23) to form an annular volume (V), wherein the annular volume (V) is connected by a first opening (24) to a buffer volume (27) and by a second opening (25) to the channel (22), wherein the first opening (24) and the second opening (25) are arranged such that all liquid which flows from the first opening (24) to the second opening (25) passes through the annular volume (V) at least along a portion of the annular volume (V) in a direction around the channel (22), in particular in a spiral shape.

17. The container closure (100) according to claim 16, wherein the buffer volume (27) is separated from the container interior (201) by the metering cap (3).

18. The container closure (100) according to claim 16, wherein at least one third opening (36) is arranged in the metering cap (3) for connecting the buffer volume (27) to the container interior (201).

19. The container closure (100) according to claim 16, wherein one or more partitions (26) are arranged in the annular volume (V) for preventing a direct connection between the first opening (24) and the second opening (25).

20. The container closure (100) according to claim 16, wherein the first opening (24) is arranged at a distance from the second opening (25) in an axial direction of the channel (22).

21. The container closure (100) according to claim 16, wherein the second opening (25) is formed inside the channel (22).

22. The container closure (100) according to claim 16, wherein the first opening (24) is formed inside the metering body (4).

23. The container closure (100) according to claim 16, wherein the metering body (4) has a wall (41) to form the annular groove (23).

24. The container closure (100) according to claim 16, wherein the metering cap (3) has a projection (37) for engaging in a corresponding depression on the metering unit (2).

25. The container closure (100) according to claim 16, comprising a closure cap (5) which is connected in an articulated manner to the main body (1) and has a closure pin (51) for closing the discharge opening (21).

26. The container closure (100) according to claim 16, wherein the main body (1) and the metering body (4) are formed in one piece.

27. The container closure (100) according to claim 16, wherein the cross-section of the second opening (25) is less than 50%, in particular less than 40%, preferably less than 30%, of the cross-section of the channel (22).

28. The container closure (100) according to claim 16, wherein the container closure (100) is free of movable or flexible sealing elements.

29. A container comprising a container closure (100) according to claim 16.

30. The container according to claim 29, wherein the container is flexible.

Description

[0051] Several embodiments of a container closure are explained with reference to the figures. In the figures:

[0052] FIG. 1: shows a perspective view of a container closure;

[0053] FIG. 2: shows the container closure according to FIG. 1 with an open closure cap;

[0054] FIG. 3: shows a sectional view of the container closure according to FIG. 1;

[0055] FIG. 4: shows a bottom view of the container closure according to FIG. 1;

[0056] FIG. 5: shows the view according to FIG. 4 without a metering cap.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container closure 100. The container closure 100 has a main body 1. A closure cap 5 is arranged on the main body 1 and is connected in an articulated manner to the main body 1 by means of a joint 101 (see FIG. 2). Located opposite the joint 101 is a projection 102 with which the closure cap 5 can be lifted off the main body 1. The container closure 100 can thus be unfolded. After unfolding, the container closure 5 releases a discharge opening 21, as can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows the container closure 100 according to FIG. 1 in an unfolded state. A metering unit 2 is arranged within the main body 1. In the view according to FIG. 2, the discharge opening 21 for discharging a liquid is arranged at the top of the metering unit 2. During use of a container with the container closure 100, the discharge opening 21 points downward, that is to say in the opposite direction as shown in FIG. 2. In other words, in generic use, the container closure 100 is in a head position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The main body 1, the closure cap 5 and the metering unit 2 are formed together in one piece.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the container closure 100 according to FIG. 1, namely a sectional view through the metering unit 2 according to FIG. 2. It can be seen that the metering body 4 of the metering unit 2 and the main body 1 are designed in one piece. The main body 1 has a thread 103 with which the container closure 100 can be screwed onto an opening of a container (not shown here) and thus wears it. Alternatively, a snap connection can be provided. Accordingly, the container closure 100 is connected to a container interior 201. The metering unit 2 is arranged centrally in the main body 1 of the thread 103. The metering unit 2 has a metering body 4 which is designed in one piece with the main body 1. The metering unit 2 comprises a metering cap 3 which is arranged on the metering body 4, in particular in a fluid-tight and non-detachable manner. In this embodiment, the discharge opening 21 of the metering unit 2 is arranged on the metering body 4. The discharge opening 21 extends toward the container interior 201 with a channel 22 adjoining this discharge opening 21. The discharge opening 21 is closed by a closure pin 51, which is arranged on the closure cap 5. The discharge opening 21 is released by unfolding the closure cap 5. Liquid, such as ketchup, can be discharged to the outside of the container interior 201 through the discharge opening 21. This defines the exit direction or also the discharge direction. This discharge direction corresponds to an axial direction R. The channel 22 extends in this axial direction R from the container interior 201 toward the container closure 100.

[0060] The metering unit 2 has a discharge opening 21 that extends in the direction of a container interior 201 with a channel 22 adjoining this discharge opening 21. The channel 22 is substantially tubular or designed as a section of a pipe. It has a wall surrounding a central axis and opens into the discharge opening 21. The metering unit 2 has a separately designed wall 41 which extends like the channel 22 in the direction of the container interior 201. The channel 22 and the wall 41 form an annular groove 23, which can be better seen in FIG. 5.

[0061] The metering unit 2 has a metering cap 3 that is arranged on the metering body 4 and engages over the wall 41 and closes off the channel 22 from the container interior 201. Accordingly, by installing the metering cap 3, the annular groove 23 is closed to form an annular volume V. The annular volume V forms a Torus with a substantially rectangular cross-section which is interrupted only by a partition 26 shown in FIG. 5. The annular volume V extends substantially along a circular path around the central axis. This annular volume V is directly and immediately connected to a buffer volume 27 through a first opening 24 (see FIG. 5). This annular volume V is likewise directly and immediately connected to the channel 22 through the second opening 25.

[0062] In the present case, the metering cap 3 extends beyond the wall 41 so that the buffer volume 27 is formed circumferentially around the wall 41. The metering cap 3 is connected to the metering unit 2. In the present case, the projections 37 engage in corresponding recesses in the metering unit 2. The projections 37 and the recesses are configured as a snap connection. The buffer volume 27 is therefore closed off from the container interior 201 by the metering cap 3.

[0063] As already explained, the buffer volume 27 is connected to the first opening 24 with the annular volume V. This in turn is connected to the channel 22 via the second opening 25. Liquid to be dispensed can therefore be supplied from the buffer volume 27 into the annular volume V, wherein it runs in a direction around the channel 22 in this annular volume V.

[0064] On the one hand, the liquid is deflected along a circular path in the annular volume V and flows along surfaces of the annular volume V and is thereby decelerated. The liquid is additionally decelerated by the multiple deflection at the partition wall 26 and at the channel 22. This deceleration is constant over the course of discharging the liquid. A sudden and undesirable change in the resistance when the liquid is discharged is prevented, in particular because a flexible membrane or sealing lip is dispensed with.

[0065] The buffer volume 27 additionally allows the liquid to be buffered before being dispensed, and pressure peaks can be reduced by this volume.

[0066] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the container closure 100 according to FIG. 1. It can be seen that four third openings 36 are arranged in the metering cap 3. Through these third openings 36, the liquid can flow from the container interior 201 into the buffer volume 27. This is illustrated by the arrows P1.

[0067] FIG. 5 shows the view according to FIG. 4 without a metering cap in order to represent the flow in the annular volume V. As discussed in FIG. 4, the buffer volume 27 is filled from the container interior.

[0068] To discharge a liquid from the container interior 201 outwards through the discharge opening 21, the flexible container (not shown here) is deformed so that the volume of the container interior 201 is reduced. The liquid flows through the third openings 36 into the buffer volume 27. This is illustrated by the arrows P1. From the buffer volume 27, the liquid flows through the first opening 24 into the annular volume V. All liquid then flows along a portion of the annular volume V in a direction around the channel 22. In this example, the liquid flows circularly in the annular volume V around the central axis. This is illustrated by the arrow P2. As soon as the liquid reaches the partition wall 26, it is deflected in the direction of the center of the metering unit and then in the axial direction R. These two movements are partly superimposed. The liquid now flows in the axial direction R into the channel 22 and exits from the discharge opening 21.

[0069] On the one hand, the liquid is deflected along a circular path in the annular volume V and flows along surfaces of the annular volume V and is thereby decelerated. The liquid is additionally decelerated by the deflection in the region of the partition wall 26 and at the channel 22. This deceleration is constant over the course of discharging the liquid. A sudden and undesirable change in the resistance when the liquid is discharged is prevented, in particular because a flexible membrane or sealing lip is dispensed with. The flow is additionally homogenized by the buffer volume 27, and pressure peaks can be absorbed.