Packaging system for at least one product preparation component and corresponding method for handling the product preparation component

Abstract

A packaging system for at least one product preparation component, having a first container for storing a first product preparation component, a second container for storing at least one further product preparation component, and a closure device which seals off an opening in the first container from the environment by way of a closure element having a coupling apparatus to couple the second container to the closure device and establishes a fluid connection between the first container and the second container. The invention additionally relates to a method for handling at least one product preparation component. The aim of the invention is to ensure a reliable packaging system which allows a user-friendly handling of the contained product preparation components. The closure element and the coupling apparatus are joined together as separate components in a non-detachable manner forming the closure device.

Claims

1. A packaging system, comprising: a first container configured to store a first product preparation component; a second container; and a closure device comprising a coupling apparatus connected to a closure element that comprises a fastening sleeve and a closure cap, the closure element being configured to couple to the first container such that the closure cap seals an opening in the first container, the coupling apparatus being configured to couple to the second container, and the closure device being configured to establish a fluid connection between the first container and the second container when the closure cap is separated from the fastening sleeve and detached from the first container, wherein (1) axial movement of the coupling apparatus relative to the closure element is prevented, (2) rotation of the coupling apparatus relative to the closure cap is prevented, and (3) rotation of the coupling apparatus relative to the fastening sleeve is permitted for at most one rotation, and wherein the closure cap is configured to be completely separated from the fastening sleeve along a predetermined break point while the fastening sleeve is connected to the first container.

2. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the fastening sleeve is non-detachably connected to the first container.

3. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the coupling apparatus comprises a thread configured to be screwed on the second container.

4. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the fastening sleeve and the coupling apparatus each have at least one mutually corresponding rotation stop element to permit the at most one rotation between the fastening sleeve and the coupling apparatus.

5. The packaging system of claim 3, wherein the closure cap comprises a thread configured to be screwed on the first container via a direction of rotation counter to a direction of rotation of the thread of the coupling apparatus.

6. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the closure device is configured to be coupled to the first container and to the second container in a liquid-tight manner.

7. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the closure device comprises at least one seal configured to ensure a liquid-tight connection to the first container and/or the second container.

8. A method for transferring at least one product preparation component from a first container into a second container using the packaging system of claim 1, the method comprising: coupling the closure element to the first container and the coupling apparatus to the second container; causing relative rotation between the first container or the closure element and the second container until the closure cap is entirely, separated from the fastening sleeve at the predetermined break point; causing further relative rotation between the first container or the closure element and the second container until the closure cap is unscrewed from the first container, thereby forming a fluid connection between the first container and the second container when the detached closure cap moves into the second container; and transferring the first product preparation component from the first container into the second container.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second container is configured to store a second product preparation component, and the method further comprises: mixing the first product preparation component and the second product preparation component in the first container and/or in the second container.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising decoupling the closure element from the second container after transferring the first product preparation component from the first container into the second container.

11. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the second container is configured to store a second product preparation component.

12. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined break point comprises a plurality of point-shaped connecting projections extending at least partially between the fastening sleeve and the closure cap.

13. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking point is circumferentially around the closure cap.

14. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the closure cap is configured to fall into the second container when the closure cap is completely separated from the fastening sleeve and detached from the first container.

15. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the closure cap has projections and an inner surface of the coupling apparatus has grooves that interact with the projections to prevent rotation of the coupling apparatus relative to the closure cap.

16. The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the axial movement of the coupling apparatus relative to the closure element is prevented via a pressing connection.

17. The packaging system of claim 5, wherein the thread of the closure cap fully detaches the closure cap from the first container by at most one rotation when the closure cap is rotated relative to the first container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features of the invention are also explained below with reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the individual components of the packaging system in a perspective view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the closure device according to FIG. 1 in two perspective views;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the closure device according to FIG. 1 in two different operating states by means of two sectional views;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the packaging system according to FIG. 1 in three different operating states by means of three sectional views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrates a packaging system 1 comprising a first container 10 for storing a first product preparation component (not shown here) and a second container 20 for optionally storing at least one further, second product preparation component (also not shown here). The packaging system 1 shown is used for safely transferring the first product preparation component from the first container 10 to the second container 20 in a controlled manner. If there is a further, second product preparation component in the second container 20, the two product preparation components can also advantageously be mixed in order to form a multi-component product preparation.

(7) In addition to the two containers 10, 20, the packaging system 1 also comprises a multi-functional closure device 3 which seals off the first container 10 from the environment in the initial state by means of a closure element 40. For reliable closure of the first container 10, the closure element 40 initially comprises a fastening sleeve 41 which is non-destructively non-detachably connected to the first container 10 in the ready-to-use state. For this purpose, the fastening sleeve 41 is preferably latched or screwed and latched in combination to the first container 10. In any case, the fastening sleeve 41, which is non-detachably connected to the first container 10, is fixed to the first container 10 in an axially and rotationally fixed manner with respect to an axis 4 of the closure device 3. In addition to the fastening sleeve 41, the closure element 40 has a substantially pot-shaped cap 45 which seals off an opening 11 in the first container 10 in the ready-to-use state. For this purpose, the cap 45 has a bottom wall 47 having an annular sealing plug 48 which is able to precisely close the opening 11 in the first container 10. This reliably prevents the first product preparation component from undesirably escaping from the first container 10 into the environment.

(8) The closure device 3 also has a coupling apparatus 30 in order to couple the second container 20 to the closure device 3, and thus indirectly to the first container 10, and establish a fluid connection between the first container 10 and the second container 20 by the interposition of the closure device 3. For this purpose, the coupling apparatus 30 has an annular main structure having a thread 31 which is intended for engaging with a corresponding thread 21 on the second container 20. In addition, the coupling apparatus 30 also has an inner sleeve 32 which can interact with the cap 45 in an interlocking manner.

(9) In principle, the two components, closure element 40 and coupling apparatus 30 of the closure device 3 are initially designed as separate components, which is advantageous in that they can be easily manufactured independently of one another, for example by means of injection molding. In the case of application, the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30 are non-destructively non-detachably joined together in order to form the closure device 3. This is preferably done by means of a pressing connection, in which the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30 are axially latched to one another. After latching, the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30, as can also be seen in FIGS. 2 to 4 in particular, are non-detachably joined together in order to form the closure device 3 such that the closure device 3 can subsequently be handled very easily. At the same time, the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30 are joined together within the closure device 3 in such a way that a limited relative rotation of the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30 about the axis 4 is possible in principle. For this purpose, mutually corresponding rotation stop elements 33, 43 are provided on the closure element 40 and on the coupling apparatus 30, which elements, in corresponding interaction, limit the relative rotation between the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30 to a rotation angle range of less than 360 in the case of application. This corresponds to a rotation range of less than a full rotation. In this case, the rotation stop elements 33, 43 are preferably designed as radial ribs or protrusions, but can also have any other suitable geometric design. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, a plurality of rotation stop elements 33, 43 can be distributed over the circumference of the closure element 40 and/or the coupling apparatus 30. As a result, the rotation angle range for the relative rotation between the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30 can advantageously be limited further. The desired amount of permitted relative rotation between the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30 can thus be set in a very targeted manner via the position of the rotation stop elements 33, 43 distributed around the circumference. Above all, the interaction of a plurality of rotation stop elements 33, 43 distributed around the circumference allows the defined fixing of start and end stop positions between the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30, i.e. the defined relative rotation between the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30 is limited to a determined, limited rotation angle range between the rotation start and rotation end stop. As an alternative to the limitation of the relative rotation illustrated by the embodiment, a relative rotation between the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30 in only one direction of rotation can also be permitted. For this purpose, the rotation stop elements between the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30 are designed as suitable locking elements which allow a relative rotation between the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30 in one direction of rotation but prevent it in the opposite direction. Such locking elements can, for example, be designed as sawtooth-like profiles which, in mutual interaction, are comparable to the operating principle of a tool ratchet or a bicycle freewheel. In principle, arrangements of this type allow torque transmission in only one direction of rotation.

(10) As already mentioned, in the initial state of the packaging system 1, the closure device 3 is non-detachably fastened to the first container 10 filled with the first product preparation component. Furthermore, in this initial state, as can be seen from FIG. 2, the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30 are arranged with respect to one another in such a way that the cap 45 extends into the inner sleeve 32 of the coupling apparatus 30 in an interlocking manner. For this purpose, radially protruding projections 50 are formed on the circumferential wall 49 of the cap 45 that interact with corresponding recesses 35 of the inner sleeve 32 in an interlocking manner. As a result, the cap 45 is non-rotatably fixed on the coupling apparatus 30 with respect to a rotation about the closure device axis 4 such that the cap 45 follows every rotation of the coupling apparatus 30 about the axis 4.

(11) Furthermore, the cap 45 has a substantially pot-shaped main structure, specifically having a bottom wall 47 which, in the initial state, covers the opening 11 of the first container 10, and a circumferential wall 49 extending about the axis 4. A plurality (in the present embodiment, three) radially projecting projections 50 are integrally formed on the outside of the circumferential wall 49. Furthermore, in the initial state, the cap 45 is integrally joined to the fastening sleeve 41 via a predetermined break point 52. In the present embodiment, the predetermined break point 52 comprises a plurality of point-shaped connecting projections which are distributed over the circumference of the cap and each extend between the fastening sleeve 41 and the circumferential wall 49 of the cap. Of course, other, alternatively suitable designs of the predetermined break point are also conceivable within the meaning of the invention.

(12) To improve the sealing effect, the closure device 3 preferably comprises at least one sealing element 34, 48, 53, 54 which is effective within the closure device 3 itself or between the closure device and the first and/or second container 10, 20. In the embodiment of the closure device 3 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a plurality of sealing elements 34, 48, 53, 54 are provided which are preferably designed as sealing lips, sealing rings, annular sealing plugs or the like. These sealing elements 34, 48, 53, 54 in particular jointly prevent undesired leaking of a product preparation component from one of the containers 10, 20 into the environment and form a barrier to prevent surrounding influences such as atmospheric oxygen and humidity from having a negative effect on the product preparation components.

(13) In general, such a substantially closed packaging system 1 can be used in a particularly versatile manner for storing and handling a wide variety of product preparation components or other chemical substances. In particular, the packaging system 1 allows the user to handle the product preparation components contained therein in a completely contact-free manner with regard to the container contents. Substantially, the packaging system 1 allows both user-friendly transferring of a first product preparation component from the first container 10 to a second container 20 and optionally subsequent mixing of the first product preparation component with a second further product preparation component originally contained in the second container 20. The two essential handling alternatives of the packaging system 1 are explained in more detail below, even if the embodiment of a packaging system 1 shown is preferably designed for mixing a multi-component product preparation.

(14) The process of the container coupling in order to handle the first product preparation component stored at least in the first container 10 is primarily illustrated with reference to FIGS. 3 to 4. To couple the two containers 10, 20, the first container 10 having the closure device 3 non-detachably fastened thereto is first placed in a position on top of the second container 20. This can be derived at least in principle from the left-hand drawing in FIG. 4. In this initial state, the cap 45 is screwed fully onto the first container 10 via the mutual threaded connection 12, 46 such that the opening 11 of the first container 10 is sealed off by means of the annular sealing plug 48. At the same time, the mutually corresponding threads 21, 31 on the second container 20 and on the coupling apparatus 30 are attached to one another. The first container 10 is then rotated together with the closure device 3 in a clockwise direction relative to the second container 20. In this case, the coupling apparatus 30 is screwed onto the corresponding thread 21 on the second container 20 via its thread 31 rotating to the right in the embodiment. In this stage, there is also no relative rotation between the closure element 40 and the coupling apparatus 30 since a relative rotation in this direction of rotation is prevented by corresponding interaction of corresponding rotation stop elements 33, 43. The relative rotation between the first container 10 or the closure device 3 and the second container 20 is continued until a coupling end position is reached which is shown in the left-hand drawing in FIG. 4. The coupling apparatus 30 is then completely screwed onto the second container 20 so that it is no longer possible to turn the coupling apparatus 30 clockwise and the coupling apparatus 30 forms a fixed structural unit together with the second container 20, at least at this stage. In this coupling end position, the coupling apparatus 30 thus follows the further movement of the second container 20 in the course of continuing the container coupling. After reaching the coupling end position in which the two containers 10, 20 are coupled to one another in principle but in which there is still no fluid connection between the containers 1, 20, the relative rotation already used to unscrew the closure device 3 is continued in the clockwise direction between the first container 10 or the closure device 3 and the second container 20, i.e. the first container 10 together with the closure element 40 is rotated further relative to the second container 20 while maintaining the untwisting direction to the right of the coupling apparatus 30. In the course of this continued rotational movement, the cap 45, which is initially connected to the fastening sleeve 41 via the predetermined break point 52 and is non-rotatably arranged relative to the coupling apparatus 30, is separated from the closure element 40 or the fastening sleeve 41 at the predetermined break point 52. The cap 45 is separated at the predetermined break point 52 due to the fact that during continued relative rotation between the two coupled containers 10, 20, the fastening sleeve 41 follows the rotational movement of the first container 10, while the coupling apparatus 30 with the cap 45 follows the rotational movement of the second container 20. When a defined torque threshold is exceeded, this leads to the predetermined break point 52 being broken. In this context, it should be noted that the torque required to break the predetermined break point 52 is in any case greater than the torque required to screw the coupling apparatus 30 onto the second container 20. This is the only way to maintain the desired sequence of the individual method steps when coupling the two containers 10, 20.

(15) After the cap 45 has been separated from the fastening sleeve 41, the relative rotation between the first container 10 with the fastening sleeve 41 and the second container 20 with the coupling apparatus 30 is continued while maintaining the previous direction of rotation. The now-separated cap 45 is connected to a corresponding thread 12 on the first container 10 by means of a thread 46, the corresponding threads 12, 46 on the first container 10 and the cap 45 having a direction of rotation counter to the corresponding threads 21, 31 on the second container 20 or the coupling apparatus 30. Thus, the cap 45 is simultaneously unscrewed from the first container 10 when the relative rotation between the two containers 10, 20 is continued and as a result of the counter-rotating cap thread (see the middle drawing of FIG. 4). For example, mutually corresponding threads 21, 31 on the second container 20 and on the coupling apparatus 30 are designed to rotate to the right, while the corresponding threads 12, 46 on the first container 10 and the cap 45 are designed to rotate to the left. Of course, the reverse direction of rotation of each of the threads 21, 31, 12, 46 is also conceivable, it being crucial that the thread pairs 21, 31, 12, 46 associated with one another must be oriented in opposite directions to one another. As a result of the continued relative rotation, the cap 45 is now unscrewed at least far enough from the first container 10 that the corresponding threads 12, 46 on the cap 45 and on the first container 10 are no longer engaged and the cap 45 is consequently fully detached from the first container 10. At the same time, by fully detaching the cap 45, the opening 11 in the first container 10 is also opened such that a fluid connection is established between the first container 10 and the second container 20. The cap 45 is no longer held by the first container 10 and usually moves into the second container 20 due to gravity. This state in which the fluid connection is established between the containers 10, 20 is illustrated above all by the right-hand drawing in FIG. 4. After the fluid connection between the two containers 10, 20 has been set, the transfer of at least one product preparation component from the first container 10 to the second container 20 can then also take place. The flowable and/or pourable product preparation component (not shown here) is preferably transferred in this way as a result of gravity, the first container 10 being arranged on top when the containers are coupled. In addition, the product transfer, especially in the case of a flexibly designed first container 10, can be supported by the action of external forces on the first container 10. This preferably applies to tube-shaped or bag-shaped first containers 10.

(16) The above-described procedure for handling the packaging system 1 according to the invention also reveals its decisive advantage. Due to the closed structure of the packaging system 1 in relation to the environment, safe handling of the product preparation components contained in the containers 10, 20 can be guaranteed under all circumstances. Manual removal of the contents from the first container 10 alone is not possible due to the non-destructively non-detachably fastened closure device 3. Rather, in the initial state of the first container 10, the cap 45, as can be seen in FIG. 2, is protected against manual access from the outside by its interlocking embedding in the inner sleeve 32 of the coupling apparatus 30. Consequently, the cap 45 cannot be detached from the first container 10 without the interaction of the closure device 3 having the corresponding second container 20. The cap 45 is only detached from the opening 11 of the first container 10 in the case of a coupling with the corresponding second container 20 due to the interaction described above. A fluid connection of the first container 10 is thus limited exclusively to the second container 20 which matches it. An undesired fluid connection between the first container 10 and the environment is precluded by the specific design of the packaging system. The packaging system 1 is thus not only advantageously tamper-proof, but also brings about the transfer of the product preparation components only within the closed packaging system 1. In this way, for example, undesirable spillage of substances during the transfer from one container to another can be avoided. Ultimately, the closed packaging system 1 prevents any contact between the user and the product preparation components contained therein in every state of application.

(17) The procedure described above for coupling the two containers 10, 20 and for establishing a fluid connection between the containers 10, 20 by opening the cap 45 cannot be used solely for transferring a first product preparation component from the first container 10 to the second container 20. Alternatively, it is conceivable to also use the packaging system described above for mixing a multi-component product preparation. For this purpose, a first product preparation component is initially stored in the first container 10, while at least one further product preparation component is stored in the second container 20. In the initial state, the second container 20 is preferably closed off from the environment by a removable closure (not shown here). If the two containers 10, 20 are now coupled to one another according to the procedure explained above and the corresponding fluid connection is established, the first and the further product preparation component can generally be brought together in the second container 20. The first product preparation component is transferred from the first 10 to the second container 20 as described. The two product preparation components can then be mixed with one another within the coupled and fluidically connected containers 10, 20. For this purpose, the entire packaging system 1 comprising the coupled containers 10, 20 is preferably shaken, swiveled or similarly moved in order to mix the two product preparation components into a multi-component product preparation which is as homogeneous as possible through the dynamic of movement. Ideally, the fluid connection between the containers 10, 20 is maintained during the mixing process, which increases the available mixing space and ensures that both product preparation components are used in their full amount for the production of the product preparation mixture.

(18) When the packaging system 1 is in use with the containers 10, 20 coupled and the fluid connection set up between the containers, as shown in the right-hand drawing in FIG. 4, it can also be seen that the cap 45 is fully detached from the first container 10. The cap 45 is therefore no longer in any connection with the first container 10 and has meanwhile moved into the second container 20. According thereto, when the first relative direction of rotation which is used to couple the two containers 10, 20 is reversed, the two containers 10, 20 can be decoupled again in an analogous manner in the reverse order of the corresponding individual method steps already described above. In principle, a reversal of the relative direction of rotation between the two coupled and fluidically connected containers 10, 20 leads to the coupling apparatus 30 being unscrewed from the second container 20 until the coupling apparatus 30 can be fully detached from the second container 20. Such a reversible procedure opens up the possibility of repeating the coupling and decoupling process by means of the packaging system 1 according to the invention as often as desired or, after decoupling, of continuing to handle the second container 20 having the product preparation mixture in an application-related manner. Establishing the fluid connection between the containers is not reversible as a result of the complete detachment of the cap 45 from the first container 10. This guarantees full use of the entire quantities of product preparation components from the two containers for generating the product preparation mixture. Last but not least, this ensures a defined mixing ratio between the individual product preparation components within the product preparation mixture. In any case, such a reversible sequence of the method steps mentioned for container coupling is possible both in a transfer method and in a mixing method.

(19) In principle, the procedure described above is suitable for handling almost all conceivable flowable and/or pourable product preparation components within the meaning according to the invention. However, a particularly advantageous use occurs in connection with chemically highly reactive substances or substances which may be hazardous to health when considered individually due to the closed mode of operation of the packaging system 1 which has the possibility for transferring product only after proper coupling of the two corresponding containers 10, 20. In addition, the procedure described above can be used extremely universally in a wide variety of fields of application. Purely by way of example, the advantageous use of the transfer method according to the invention may be mentioned here, inter alia, for any type of substance addition, for refilling processes from refill containers, for the addition of additives and for similar substance transfer processes.

(20) Furthermore, the specific design of the closed packaging system 1 also ensures particularly safe handling of the individual product preparation components which are critical for the user in the case of the production of a multi-component product preparation mixture. In principle, the above-described mixing process is suitable for handling a large number of different product preparation components which can be further processed into a mixture. Above all, such a mixing method is useful for individual product preparation components which are chemically highly reactive with one another and must be stored separately from one another until they are actually used. Multi-component cosmetic products, such as hair coloring products, may be mentioned as an example of such application forms. Even substances which may be hazardous to health when considered individually can be advantageously and safely handled by means of the mixing method due to the closed design of the packaging system. In addition, the mixing method described above can be used extremely universally in a wide variety of fields of application.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(21) 1 packaging system 3 closure device 4 axis 10 first container 11 opening 12 thread 20 second container 21 thread 30 coupling apparatus 31 thread 32 inner sleeve 33 rotation stop element 34 sealing element 35 recess 40 closure element 41 fastening sleeve 43 rotation stop element 45 cap 46 thread 47 bottom wall 48 sealing plug 49 circumferential wall 50 projection 52 predetermined break point 53 sealing element 54 sealing element