Container

Abstract

A container has a container lid and a container lower section connectible with each other via thread ribs on the lid and the lower section, by twisting the lid and the lower section relative to each other about a screwing axis of rotation. The thread ribs on the lid and the lower section extend over a circumferential angle of 90 degrees or less. A clearance at least equal to the circumferential extension thereof is left in the circumferential direction on the lid and the lower section. At least two thread ribs on the lid and the lower section overlap each other. A complete overrun circumferentially is possible in only one of the two opposing positions when an opposing position of a thread rib in the lower section or the lid is reached during a screwed connection in the direction of the screwing axis of rotation.

Claims

1. A container with a container lid and a container lower section, wherein the container lid and the container lower section are connectible with each other via thread ribs on the container lid and on the container lower section, by twisting the lid and the lower section relative to each other about a screwing axis of rotation, wherein only two thread ribs are formed on each of the container lid and the container lower section, wherein the thread ribs formed on each of the container lid and on the container lower section have a circumferential extension extending over a circumferential angle between 30 and 70 degrees, wherein each thread rib has a pitch between 2 and 4 degrees, wherein a clearance at least equal to the circumferential extension is left between two adjacent thread ribs on both the lid and the lower section in the circumferential direction on the lid and on the lower section, and at least two of the thread ribs are constructed on the lid and the lower section in opposed positions to each other, wherein a complete overrun in the circumferential direction is possible in only one of two opposing positions of the two thread ribs when an opposing position of a thread rib in the lower section or the lid is reached in the course of a screwed connection in the direction of the screwing axis of rotation, wherein the container lower section comprises a shoulder and the container lid comprises a lower edge, and wherein in a closed position of the container the lower edge of the container lid lies directly on the shoulder of the container lower section.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the thread ribs of the container lid and the container lower section are positioned at a distance from each other in the direction of the screwing axis of rotation, and wherein they are also not aligned to overlap each other in this direction.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein a stop segment extending in the direction of screwing axis of rotation is attached to one of each of the thread ribs on the lid or the lower section.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container lid comprises a first circumferential wall extending in the direction of screwing axis of rotation and a container upper surface extending perpendicularly thereto, wherein the thread ribs are formed on an inner side of the first circumferential wall, and wherein one of the thread ribs is attached to a free front border edge of the first circumferential wall facing away from the upper surface, while the other thread rib is attached to the upper surface of the container.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the container lower section comprises a second circumferential wall extending in the direction of the screwing axis of rotation, and a container bottom extending perpendicularly thereto, wherein the thread ribs formed on the container lower section are formed on an outer side of the second circumferential wall, and wherein one of the thread ribs is attached to a free front border edge of the second circumferential wall facing away from the bottom surface, while the other thread rib is formed on a bottom portion of the second circumferential wall so that the ribs formed on the container lower section differ from each other in a vertical direction.

6. The container according to claim 3, wherein one of the stop segments is formed on the thread rib of the container lid that is attached to the upper surface of the container.

7. The container according to claim 3, wherein one of the stop segments is formed on the thread rib provided on the bottom of the second circumferential wall of the container lower section.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein a bracing segment that protrudes radially by the dimension of a thread rib is formed in a circumferential intermediate space between the thread ribs.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the thread ribs on the container lid are a first thread rib and a second thread rib, wherein the first thread rib is disposed vertically higher than the second thread rib.

Description

(1) In detail, in the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of the container in the closed state;

(3) FIG. 2 is a cross section through the container of FIG. 1, along line II-II;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of the container lower section in a first angularly rotated position;

(5) FIG. 4 is a representation according to FIG. 3, in a second angularly rotated position, offset from the first angularly rotated position by 90°;

(6) FIG. 5 is a further representation according to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, wherein the angularly rotated position of the view in FIG. 5 is offset by 180° relative to that of FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6 is a cross section through the container lid a first angularly rotated position;

(8) FIG. 7 is a cross section according to FIG. 6 in second angularly rotated position offset by 180° with respect thereto;

(9) FIG. 8 is a perspective view from below of the container lid of FIG. 6;

(10) FIG. 9 is representation corresponding to that of FIG. 8 of the angularly rotate position of the container lid of FIG. 7;

(11) FIG. 10 is a top view of the side of the container lower section with the opening; und

(12) FIG. 11 is a top view of the side of the container lid with the opening.

(13) The drawing and description relate to a container 1 consisting of parts that are joined by a threaded connection, in particular a container lid 2 and container lower section 3.

(14) The illustration is equivalent to a scale of 1:2, although it may also be understood to be equivalent to a scale of 1:1.

(15) As is also shown in FIG. 3, container lower section 3 comprises a second circumferential wall 4, which is conformed in such manner as to produce the screwed connection with two thread ribs 5 and 6, which are separated circumferentially from one another. As may be seen in FIG. 10, for example, thread ribs 6 and 5 extend over a circumferential angle α of about 50°. Circumferential angle α is measured from a central screwing axis of rotation A of container lower section 3, which is otherwise preferably constructed to be rotationally symmetrical. Container lid 2 is preferably also constructed to be rotationally symmetrical. Of course, this rotational symmetry is calculated without consideration for the thread ribs, and where applicable also excluding bracing segment 15, which is described later, and/or any design-related particularities. One design-related particularity may be provided as rotationally non-symmetrical from the technical aspect that, as explained, and preferred in any case, the same circumferential angular assignment of the container lower section to the container lid is always assured in the closed state. Thus, the container lid may have, for example, a radially shaped but vertically extending rib on a singular circumferential region that always overlaps a rib of the container lower section that is radially shaped in the same direction in the closed state.

(16) In the same way as on container lid 2, on container lower section 3 only the thread ribs 5, 6 described specifically in the preceding, or, with regard to container lid 2, thread ribs 7 and 8 are conformed on container lower section 3 (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

(17) As is shown clearly in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 thread ribs 5, 6 and 7, 8 evidently do not overlap in the direction of screwing axis of rotation A, and are conformed so as to be practically opposite each other. Moreover, a circumferential space corresponding to a circumferential angle β is produced between thread ribs 5, 6 and 7, 8 respectively, as is also shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, which circumferential angle is significantly larger than circumferential angle α, and in the embodiment and preferably is equivalent to more than twice the size of circumferential angle α.

(18) Between the thread ribs 5, 6 and 7, 8 respectively that are formed only on container lid 2 and container lower section 3 and located opposite each other, angle β is created visibly as half of 360° minus twice the value of angle α.

(19) In the following, container 1 is preferably considered to be an injection moulded plastic part, with separate plastic injection moulded parts in the form of container lid 2 and container lower section 3. For example, polypropylene or polyethylene are conceivable as the manufacturing material, or other suitably workable plastic materials that lend themselves to injection moulding processes.

(20) A stop segment 9 extending in the direction of screwing axis of rotation A is constructed on one of thread ribs 5 or 6, in this case on container lower section 3 on thread winding 5, and in the case of container lid 2 the stop segment 9 is conformed on upper thread rib 7. In this context, the term “upper” means that stop segment 9 is created at the point farthest from bottom 10 of container 1 with reference to the screwing axis of rotation.

(21) Stop segments 9 extend practically at right angle to the alignment of the respective thread rib 5 or 6. Relative to container lid 2 they extend toward the upper surface, and relative to container lower section 3 they extend toward the bottom.

(22) The bottom of second circumferential wall 4 of container lower section 3 clearly extends radially outwardly over a shoulder 11 and becomes a circumferential bottom wall 12. In the screwed state as shown in FIG. 1, shoulder 11 provides visible separating line between container lid 2 and container lower section 3.

(23) Regarding the stop segments 9 described earlier, it is preferred that thread rib 5 together with shoulder 11 forms an insertion opening that is limited in the direction of rotation and also laterally in both directions of screwing axis of rotation A for inserting thread rib 8 of container lid 2. The width of the insertion opening, that is to say the length thereof in the direction of screwing axis of rotation A, is preferably equal the width of an associated thread rib, or is only marginally larger.

(24) A similar insertion opening is formed by thread rib 7 of container lid 2 in cooperation with the top of an upper surface 14 or optionally a shoulder thereof extending at right angles to screwing axis of rotation A. As it shown in the exemplary embodiment, a bracing segment 15 is conformed in an intermediate space between thread ribs 5 and 6 of container lower section 3, and preferably centrally to the circumference relative to said circumferential intermediate space. In this way, it is possible to prevent first circumferential wall 16 as shown in FIG. 2 from being pressed inwards in the closed state. Otherwise, bracing segment 15 does not engage in the mechanism whereby the parts are locked together. It may be conformed in the same way as a thread rib with a gradient, but it may also extend at right angles to screwing axis of rotation A.

(25) When container lid 2 and container lower section 3, are placed together for the purpose of closing them, it may already be possible in one circumferentially angular position of the parts relative to one another for thread rib 8 of container lid 2 to protrude into the circumferential intermediate space between thread rib 5 and thread rib 6 of container lower section 3, as would correspond to the position shown in FIG. 4. All that is required then is approximately a quarter turn of the parts relative to each other so that the frontal surface associated with thread rib 6 in FIG. 4 and facing in the circumferential direction comes to rest against stop segment 9, which is conformed in assignment to thread rib 7 of container lid 2. At the same time, thread rib 8 then moves against stop segment 9 of lower thread rib 5 of container lower section 3.

(26) However, it may also be that such a circumferential offset is produced in the vertical joining of container lower section 2 and container lid 3, that thread rib 8 of container lid 2 is in an overlapping position relative to thread rib 5 of container lower section 3. Depending on the specific design, this may result in a certain tendency to rise, and as movement continues in the screwing direction, thread windings 5 and 8 separate and a frontal face 17 of circumferential wall 16 may come to bear against the assigned surface 18 of shoulder 11, thereby determining the vertical attachment of container lower section 3 and container lid 2 for the subsequent closing operation.

(27) Moreover, a circumferential direction may also be provided, such that when the parts are approached vertically in the screwed closure direction, thread rib 8 of container lid 2 is located circumferentially in front of thread rib 5 of container lower section 3. In such a case, the vertical contact of said surfaces 17 and 18 is also assured. The design may then be adapted in such manner that either the vertical separation of thread ribs 5 and 8 is such that they move past each other without contact, or that thread rib 8 is raised a certain distance by thread rib 5 which action however prevents thread rib 8 from passing below thread rib 5. If this elevation were to take place, surfaces 17 and 18 would also be positioned at a small distance from each other for this region of the circumferential angle.

(28) The gradient of a thread rib 5, 6 or 7, 8 respectively is in the range from 2° to 4°, more preferably 3°.

(29) All of the features disclosed (individually) essential to the invention. The contents of the disclosure of the associated/accompanying priority documents (transcript of the preliminary application) are herewith incorporated in their totality in the disclosure of the present application, also for the purpose of including features of said documents in the claims of the present application. In their optionally coordinate version, the subordinate claims characterise inventive advances on the prior art that are capable of consideration on their own merits, particularly with a view to submitting divisional applications based on these claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(30) 1 Container

(31) 2 Container lid

(32) 3 Container lower section

(33) 4 Second circumferential wall

(34) 5 Thread rib

(35) 6 Thread rib

(36) 7 Thread rib

(37) 8 Thread rib

(38) 9 Stop segment

(39) 10 Bottom

(40) 11 Shoulder

(41) 12 Bottom circumferential wall

(42) 13 Separating line

(43) 14 Upper surface

(44) 15 Bracing segment

(45) 16 First circumferential wall

(46) 17 Frontal face

(47) 18 Surface

(48) A Screwing axis of rotation

(49) α Circumferential angle

(50) β Circumferential angle