Container with closure cap and tamperproof ring

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (1) comprising a container body (4), a closure cap (3), which can be crewed onto said body, and a tamperproof ring (2), which is connected to said cap by way of breakaway webs (10). The closure cap (3) has first driver elements (18), which extend in the axial direction and, when the container (1) is opened for the first time, act on second ramp-like driver elements (19) of the tamperproof ring (2) that extend in the axial direction, and thereby push the tamperproof ring (2) away from the closure cap (3). On a shoulder (6) of the container body (4) that surrounds the container opening, two grooves (22.1, 22.2), one arranged above the other, are provided for receiving and engaging element (23) of the tamperproof ring. The engaging means is engaged first, upper groove (22.1) before the container (1) is opened for the first time and, as a result of the interaction of the driver elements (18, 19) on both sides, is engaged in the second, lower groove (22.2) after the container (1) is opened for the first time.

Claims

1. Container with a container body (4), a closure cap (3) and a tamperproof ring (2), which is connected to said closure cap (3) by way of breakaway webs (10), wherein arresting projections (13) which protrude outwards are provided on a shoulder (6) of the container body (4) at a mutual distance in circumferential direction, formed in such a way that they interact with arresting projections (16) protruding inwards and arranged at a mutual distance on the tamperproof ring (2), wherein the closure cap (3) has one or more first driver elements (18) extending in axial direction, which are formed in such a way that they act on one or more second driver elements (19) of the tamperproof ring (2) that extend in axial direction, when the container (1) is opened for the first time, and thereby push the tamperproof ring (2) away from the closure cap (3), wherein the shoulder (6) of the container body (4) is provided with an annular engaging means (22; 22.1, 22.2) for receiving at least an engaging element (23) provided on the tamperproof ring (2), during the first opening, wherein the annular engaging means (22; 22.1, 22.2) of the shoulder (6) of the container body (4) has at least a first and a second annular groove (22.1, 22.2) for receiving the at least one engaging element (23) of the tamperproof ring (2) when the container (1) is opened for the first time, wherein the at least one engaging element (23) of the tamperproof ring (2) is formed as engaging projection, wherein the second annular groove (22.2) is located at a distance from the first groove (22.1) in axial direction, wherein the second groove (22.2) is arranged farther away in axial direction from the closure cap (3) than the first groove (22.1) and wherein the at least one engaging projection (23) of the tamperproof ring (2) is engaged in the first groove (22.1) before the first opening of the container (1) and as a result of the interaction of the one or more first driver elements (18) of the closure cap (3) with the one or the more second driver elements (19) of the tamperproof ring (2) is engaged in the second groove (22.2) after the container (1) is opened for the first time.

2. Container according to claim 1, wherein the one or more first driver elements (18) of the closure cap (3) as well as the one or more second driver elements (19) of the tamperproof ring (2) have each an inclined, particularly straight or curved guide surface (20; 21).

3. Container according to claim 2, wherein the one or the more first driver elements (18) of the closure cap (3) are each formed as driver recess extending in axial direction and in that the one or the more second driver elements (19) of the tamperproof ring (2) are each formed as driver projection extending in axial direction.

4. Container according to claim 1, wherein the arresting projections (13) of the shoulder (6) of the container body (4), which protrude outwards, have each a leading ramp (14) and a keepout area (15).

5. Container according to claim 1, wherein the arresting projections (13) of the shoulder (6) of the container body (4), which protrude outwards, as well as the arresting projections (16) of the tamperproof ring (2), which protrude inwards, are formed in a resilient way.

6. Container according to claim 1, wherein a first bounce ring (25) and a second bounce ring (26) are provided above the first groove (22.1) and between the first groove (22.1) and the second groove (22.2), above which the at least one engaging projection (23) is shiftable.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further embodiments, advantages and applications of the invention result from the dependent claims and from the now following description by means of the drawings. It is shown in:

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective partial section view of a container according to the invention before the closure cap with tamperproof ring is applied onto the container for the first time, flow chart of the method according to the invention and

(3) FIG. 2 a section view (FIG. 2a) and a side view (FIG. 2b) of a container according to the invention before the closure cap with tamperproof ring is applied onto the container for the first time, and

(4) FIG. 3 a perspective partial section view of a closed container according to the invention before the first opening,

(5) FIG. 4 a section view (FIG. 4a) and a side view (FIG. 4b) of a container according to the invention before the first opening,

(6) FIG. 5 a perspective partial section view of an opened container according to the invention,

(7) FIG. 6 a section view (FIG. 6a) and a side view (FIG. 6b) of an opened container according to the invention,

(8) FIG. 7 a perspective partial section view of a container according to the invention after the first opening, and

(9) FIG. 8 a section view (FIG. 8a) and a side view (FIG. 8b) of a closed container according to the invention after the first opening.

(10) In the figures, same references denote same or similarly acting components. Due to reasons of simplifying the illustration, the figures only show the upper part of the container body, on which the closure cap in applied.

WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(11) The figures show the container 1 according to the invention in different states: before applying the closure cap 3 still connected to the tamperproof ring 2 (FIGS. 1 and 2), closed before the first opening (FIGS. 3 and 4), opened (FIGS. 5 and 6) and closed after the first opening (FIGS. 7 and 8).

(12) The container 1 according to the invention comprises a container body 4 with a container top 5 with an opening for dispensing the substance located inside the container 4, preferably formed as outlet spout. The outlet spout 5 is connected to a container trunk 7 via a shoulder 6 of the container body 4, in which the substance is located. The outlet spout 5 can be an outlet cannula. Furthermore, the container 1 comprises a closure cap 3 for closing the outlet spout 5 or the container 1, respectively, and a tamperproof ring 2. Before the first opening of the container 1, the tamperproof ring 2 is connected to the bottom (i.e. shoulder-sided) edge of the closure cap 3 via breakdown webs 10.

(13) In order to apply the closure cap 3 onto the container body 4, the closure cap 3 preferably has a thread 8 on its inner side. Accordingly, the outlet spout 5 has a thread 9 on its outer side, such that the closure cap 3 can be screwed onto the container body 4 and can be unscrewed from it.

(14) The closure cap 3 particularly has an outer shall 11 and an inner shell 12 which is located coaxially at a distance inside the outer shell 11, which are connected to one another at the upper end of the closure cap 3, away from the shoulder 6. The thread 8 is arranged in this case on the inner side of the inner shell 12, while the tamperproof ring 2 is connected to the bottom edge of the outer shell 11 of the closure cap 3 via the breakdown webs 10.

(15) Arresting projections 13 are provided on the shoulder 6 of the container body 4, protruding outwards at a mutual distance in circumferential direction. The arresting projections 13 preferably have each a leading ramp 14 and a keepout area 15, which are formed by opposed sides of the respective arresting projection 13. The tamperproof ring 2 has on its inner side arresting projections 16 at a mutual distance, protruding inwards, which are provided for interacting with the arresting projections 13 of the shoulder 6 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The arresting projections 16 may also have a leading ramp and a keepout area (not specified in detail). The arresting projections 13 and/or 16 are preferably elastic.

(16) When first screwing the closure cap 3, which is still connected to the tamperproof ring 2 via the breakdown webs 10, onto the container body 4, the arresting projections 16 glide over the arresting projections 13, particularly over their leading ramps 14. If after that the closure cap 3 shall afterwards be unscrewed from the container body 4, the closure cap 3 is turned in opposite direction and the arresting projections 16 get caught on the arresting projections 13, particularly on their keepout areas 15, such that they cannot be moved beyond the arresting projections 13.

(17) Spacers 17 are preferably provided at the upper, i.e. closure-sided, edge of the tamperproof ring 2, in order to avoid that the closure cap 3 and the tamperproof ring 2 are pressed on one another too much during unscrewing (see amongst others FIGS. 2 and 4). Alternatively, the spacers 17 may also be provided at the bottom end of the closure cap 3, particularly of its outer shell 11.

(18) The closure cap 3 has first driver elements 18 which are provided to interact with corresponding second driver elements 19 of the tamperproof ring 2 during the first opening of the container 1 (see particularly FIGS. 3 and 4). Preferably, two opposed driver elements 18, 19 are respectively provided. The driver elements 18 of the closure cap 3 preferably extend from the bottom, i.e. shoulder-sided, edge of the closure cap 3, particularly of its outer shell 11, in axial direction upwards. The driver elements 18 of the closure cap 3 are preferably each formed as driver recess which preferably has an inclined guide surface 20. The driver elements 19 of the tamperproof ring 2 are preferably each formed as driver projection extending in axial direction, particularly as driver wedge, which preferably also has an inclined guide surface 21. The guide surfaces 20, 21 preferably have the same inclination. Before and during the first application of the closure cap 3 connected to the tamperproof ring 2 onto the container body 4, the driver projections 19 protrude into the driver recesses 18, wherein preferably the guide surfaces 20, 21 run in a parallel way. This means that the tamperproof ring 2 and the closure cap 3 are connected via the breakdown webs 10 in such a way that the driver projections 19 protrude into the driver recesses 18.

(19) When the container 1 is opened the first time, the arresting projections 16 of the tamperproof ring 2 get caught into the arresting projections 13 of the shoulder 6, as described above, such that the tamperproof ring 2 cannot rotate farther, even when the closure cap 3 is further unscrewed. This results in the breakdown webs 10 breaking or being torn, respectively, when the closure cap 3 is further unscrewed, such that the tamperproof ring 2 is separated from the closure cap 3. Furthermore, the driver recesses 18 act or press, respectively, on the driver projections 19 or their guide surfaces 21, respectively, via their guide surfaces 20, such that the driver projections 19 and consequently the tamperproof ring 2 is pushed downwards, i.e. away from the closure cap 3.

(20) The shoulder 6 of the container body 4 has an annular engaging means 22 for receiving engaging projections 23 arranged on the inner side of the tamperproof ring 2. The engaging means 22 comprises a first annular groove 22.1 and a second annular groove 22.2, which are arranged at a mutual distance on the shoulder 6. The second annular groove 22.2 is arranged farther away in axial direction from the closure cap 2 than the first annular groove 22.1.

(21) When the closure cap 3, which is still connected to the tamperproof ring 2 via the breakdown webs 10, is screwed onto the container body 4 for the first time, the engaging projections 23 of the tamperproof ring 2 snap into the first groove 22.1 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). If now the container 1 is opened for the first time by unscrewing the closure cap 3, this results in the driver recesses 18 of the closure cap 3 pushing down the driver projections 19 of the tamperproof ring 2, as described above. By this pressing downwards of the tamperproof ring 2, the engaging projections 23 are also pushed downwards and are shifted from the first groove 22.1 into the second groove 22.2, such that the engaging projections 23 snap into the second groove 22.2 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Above the first groove 22.1 and between the first groove 22.1 and the second groove 22.2, bounce rings 25, 26 are provided, over which the engaging projections 23 is each pressed. This means that during the first application of the closure cap 3 with the tamperproof ring 2, the engaging projections 23 are pushed over the first bounce ring 25. During the first opening, the engaging projections 23 are then pushed further from the first groove 22.1 over the second bounce ring 26 into the second groove 22.2.

(22) If the closure cap 3 is again screwed onto the container body 4 after the first opening, the tamperproof ring 3 doesn't disturb because it has snapped via its engaging projections 23 into the second groove 22.2 which is farther away from the closure cap 3 (see FIGS. 7 and 8). Between the closure cap 3 screwed on again and the tamperproof ring 2 there is now a clearance 24 which is easily recognizable by the user and which shows him that the container 1 has already been opened at least once. The clearance 24 is larger in axial direction than the breakdown webs 10. The axial extension of the second driver elements 19, which are preferably formed as driver projections, is particularly not larger than the clearance 24. By keeping the tamperproof ring 2 in the second groove 22.2 it is undetachable.

(23) While preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the present application, it is clearly noted that the invention is not limited thereto and may be carried out in other ways within the scope of the now following claims. Terms like “particularly”, “advantageous”, etc. used in the description refer only to optional and exemplary embodiments.