DE102010029069A1 - Plastic closure for deformable containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Plastic closure (1) for deformable containers (2), comprising a spout (3) with an external thread (4) and a terminal flange (5) for attachment to the container (2) and a cap (6) with an internal thread that attaches to the external thread of the spout (3) can be screwed on and closed, characterized in that the spout is directly or indirectly in operative connection with a flow-reducing membrane (10) having at least one opening (11), the membrane (10) in the use position at least runs approximately in the area of the flange (5) and parallel to it.

Description

The present invention relates to a plastic closure for deformable containers, comprising a spout with external thread and with a terminal flange for attachment to the container and a cap with internal thread, which is screwed onto the external thread of the spout closable.

For environmental and economic reasons, containers are always made thin-walled. This makes the containers more and more easily deformable. This also applies to containers that are made of film material. These are in particular containers which are formed as folding containers and their film are made of several layers of different materials, in particular of paper or cardboard, a barrier layer of aluminum and a sealing impregnation layer of plastic.

Recently, however, more and more containers come on the market which are made of a single or multi-layer plastic film and are referred to as so-called tubular bag, even if the container is made of film webs and no longer made of film tube.

In such containers made of films, a distinction is made in principle two types, namely those in which the material to be filled is filled aseptically and the container is completely closed welded and on the container a closure is attached, which pierces or cuts the film of the container at the first opening. This type of containers is used in particular for food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical products.

In a simpler solution, the containers are made of film material, but therein an outlet opening already attached and attached the plastic closure on the bag so that the spout comes to lie exactly over this already mounted opening. Solutions of this kind are used in particular for extraordinarily durable products and products which are not problematic with regard to possible contamination. Products of this type are, for example, detergents, certain oils or certain easily pourable goods.

When opening the plastic closure, the user holds the container with one hand and unscrews the screw cap of the plastic closure with the other hand. The more thin-walled the corresponding containers are the stronger is deformed solely by holding the container this. Depending on the force that the user has to use to loosen a screw cap, the more he has to hold the container and accordingly he also exerts a stronger pressure on the container. As soon as the torque to be applied decreases, the user should also reduce the holding force and thus the pressure on the container in order to prevent the contents from being pressed out of the deformable container when the cap is completely opened and removed. This temporal coordination of the forces perform most users unconsciously and correctly. However, the greater the torque required, the more difficult this coordination is. In addition, there are also many users whose sensors are less pronounced and who have problems with the coordination of these movements. As a result, material often spills out of the spout during initial use and opening of the container when it is still completely filled anyway.

This problem has not yet been recognized and, accordingly, solutions to this problem, which are specifically aimed at this problem, are not yet known.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve a plastic closure of the type mentioned in such a way that the mentioned problem is substantially reduced. It is further an object to solve this problem both for plastic closures that are mounted on deformable containers with an existing outlet opening, as well as deformable containers that are still completely closed before the first opening and only at the first opening the outlet opening in the wall of the container is formed.

The first object solves a plastic closure of the type mentioned, which is characterized in that the spout medium or directly with a flow-reducing, at least one breakthrough membrane is in operative connection, the membrane in the use position at least approximately in the area Flange and parallel to this.

A second variant of the plastic closure, however, for completely closed containers made of film material, wherein an internal thread is present in the spout, in which a cylindrical open on both sides, with at least one cutting tooth by means of driver on the inside of the screw cap is actuated, said at least one driver the cap cooperates with a counterpart driver on the inside of the piercer, so that the film material of the container is cut at the first opening, is set out in claim 9, wherein this solution is characterized in that the membrane is arranged with the at least one opening, in the piercing in the area above the at least one tooth and below the at least one opposite entrainment driver in the piercer.

Further preferred embodiments of the two main variants will become apparent from the dependent claims, and are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It shows:

1 a first example of a flexible container with plastic closure attached thereto, wherein the flexible container is a substantially cuboid-shaped bag, the perspective view is shown;

2 a rather bottle-like designed flexible, deformable container, again in perspective with a differently shaped plastic closure;

3 is a schematic representation of the flange of a plastic closure in the diametrical section in which the membrane is welded or glued bottom flange;

4 an identical representation of just such a flange part, in which the membrane is held in a ring and is held in a form-fitting manner in the spout of this flange part;

5 again shows a diametrically vertical section of a flange with integrally molded, integrally injection molded membrane while

6 again shows a diametrical vertical section through a flange, in which the membrane is part of the container wall on which the flange is welded.

7 shows a plastic closure in a perspective view overlooking the bottom of the flange in a solution according to the 3 and

8th shows a plastic closure for aseptically closed deformable containers with a piercer in which the membrane is integrally formed with the piercer while

9 Time membrane with breakthroughs in various forms a) to h).

10 shows a plastic closure with Durchstosser shows where the piercer according 8th separated from the flange part below it.

Deformable containers are known in the market today in two versions. The older version of such deformable ratios comes from pure plastic film, and these containers were aseptically closed and without plastic closure commercially. To open a corner was cut off in each of these containers with the scissors and thus formed a spout opening.

Later, in particular by Tetra Laval, deformable containers, consisting of several layers of films of different materials, came onto the market. These containers have a paper or cardboard layer, an aluminum foil and a plastic film and can be provided with additional barrier layers. These containers were initially brought to the market without plastic closures, but later with plastic closures of the kind of interest here. These plastic closures include a spout with external thread and a terminal flange 5 for attachment to the container and a cap with internal thread, which can be screwed onto the external thread of the spout lockable. These closures were later improved so that in the spout a piercer is arranged, which is provided with an external thread, which is stored with an internal thread in the spout. The screw cap has on the inside at least one driver, which cooperates with a driver in the piercer. During the first opening of this piercing device is screwed down and cuts with at least one cutting tooth on the films of the deformable container. With all these easily deformable containers there is a risk that during the opening process, a portion of the contents is pushed outwards, without this being intended.

For all of these deformable containers and the plastic closures attached thereto, the present invention provides a solution to largely provide a splash guard.

1 shows a substantially cuboid provided with a gable roof, deformable container wherein on the inclination of this gable a plastic closure, the total with 1 is indicated attached. The deformable container is with 2 designated. The plastic closure 1 has a flange 5 or a flange part 5 that with the foil of the container 2 welded or glued.

Similarly, this is also the solution according to the 2 recognizable. Again, that is Total plastic closure with 1 designated and the deformable container with 2 , The flange or flange part 5 , here is about ship-shaped and is welded or glued between the front and the rear foil-shaped container wall. Both versions feature a cap in these two drawings 6 , which is designed as a screw cap.

For the different variants are in the 3 to 6 the various types shown somewhat simplified, with the sake of clarity, the respective screw cap has been omitted. The flange part consists on the one hand of the actual flange 5 and the spout molded to it 3 , In the embodiment according to the 3 is now a membrane 10 on the bottom of the flange 5 welded or glued on. Then, or overlapping these in the flange area (see 3 ) is the film F of the container 2 arranged and the flange 5 is welded or glued to the film F. In the overlap area, of course, the connection between the membrane 10 and the film F instead. The membrane 10 has at least one or possibly several breakthroughs 11 on. The shape of the breakthroughs 11 can be designed virtually any, but you will these breakthroughs not least in the size and number of the contents of the deformable container 2 to adjust. In this regard, in particular on the 9a) - 9h) directed.

The embodiment according to the 4 Another solution is shown in which the membrane 10 in a ring 14 is held. To fix the ring 14 is in the sink 3 in the inner wall a circumferential groove 24 molded and the ring 14 with his membrane 10 grips into this circumferential groove 24 with a corresponding circumferential bead form-fitting. The membrane 10 can also in this case integral with the ring 14 be made for example by injection molding technology.

In the 5 a third embodiment is shown. Again, on a film F, the flange part with its flange 5 welded. The flange also has a spout 3 with an external thread 4 on the turn, a cap, not shown here is screwed. In this case, the membrane is now 10 with their breakthroughs 11 formed integrally as part of the flange. The breakthroughs 10 are in all variants according to the 3 to 6 However, as already mentioned, they can have all sorts of shapes and, in particular, they can also be shown later (see 8th ), which are in the shape of star-shaped slots, define the resilient lobes.

A final embodiment is in 6 shown. The flange part, consisting of the spout 3 with the external thread 4 and the lower marginal, peripherally outwardly directed flange 5 , itself does not have a membrane but the film F points in the region of the spout 3 with this communicating breakthroughs 11 and thus becomes an anti-splash-proof membrane 10 ,

Merely for the sake of clarity is in the 7 Now a solution according to the variant 3 shown again, in which case the entire plastic closure 1 is shown, but not the film F on which this plastic closure 1 is mounted in the assembled state. In contrast to the previously written embodiments according to the 3 to 6 , you can see here the cap or screw cap 6 , The spout 3 is visible from the outside and the flange 5 as part of the flange is visible here also with a view of the bottom. The membrane 10 is down here on the flange 5 welded and purely symbolic, with elliptical shapes, you can see the breakthroughs 11 in the membrane 10 ,

While the previously shown embodiments of deformable containers emanating in the container wall an opening or opening approximately in the size of the spout 3 has, it is the plastic closure 1 according to the 8th a variant which is mounted on a fully closed deformable container. Also this plastic closure 1 can be with a screw cap 6 close that on the sink 3 can be screwed on. Inside this screw cap and in particular on its top surface protrudes from the inside a driver down and acts with a driver in a piercer 20 together. In the situation shown here is the screw cap 6 largely unscrewed and the piercer 20 now already has the film F of the deformable container, not shown here 2 cut. This cutting action is carried out by means of at least one, in this case two cutting teeth 21 , It is clear that in such a version of course serving as a splash guard membrane 10 not in the sink 3 and not on the flange 4 can be attached, otherwise the piercer 20 the membrane 10 penetrate and remove. Therefore, in this version, the membrane 10 in the piercer 20 integrated himself. In the present example, the membrane is now 10 in one piece by injection molding in the piercer 20 arranged. The piercer 20 consists essentially of a cylindrical part 26 like this from the 10 is recognizable. In the version according to the 8th has the membrane 10 several star-shaped from the center outward slits 12 on, so that between two adjacent slits in each case an approximately triangular-looking cloth 13 is defined. This rag 13 has a certain spring-back effect. The slots 12 are aligned so narrow that independently hardly liquid from the container flows through the membrane, unless a targeted pressure is exerted on the deformable container. As soon as this pressure subsides, the cloths feather 13 back to their starting position.

The construction of this plastic closure, which is well known in the art, is in the 10 shown in more detail. The flange part, consisting of the spout 3 and the flange 5 , Like the previously described embodiments, has on the outside of the spout 3 an external thread 4 , In contrast to the examples previously described here is on the inside of the wall of the spout 3 an internal thread 15 available. In this internal thread 15 now stores a Durchstosser schraubbeweglich 20 , This piercer 20 has a western cylindrical part 26 on the outside an external thread 25 is formed, which with the internal thread 15 in the sink 3 matches. The piercer 20 has, as previously mentioned, at least one cutting tooth 21 , While in the embodiment according to the 8th the membrane is part of the piercer and is made in one piece with this, here is the membrane 10 in a ring 14 held with a support 27 connected is. The membrane 10 again shows breakthroughs 11 on, of course, in turn, in the form of slots and correspondingly arranged therebetween resilient tabs may be formed. In principle, here too, the ring could 14 in a circumferential groove 24 be held as indicated by dashed lines here. In the present case, however, here is one in the wall of the cylindrical part 26 molded support 27 available. On this support 27 is the corresponding ring 14 with the membrane 10 non-positively and / or positively. The piercer 20 has one above the membrane 10 arranged driver 22 , with a driver not shown here in the cap 6 interacts. When first screwing on the plastic closure 1 the driver of the screw cap is located on the driver 22 the puncture 20 at. Will now the cap 6 unscrewed, so moves the screw cap 6 upwards relative to the flange 5 seen, and the piercer 20 down accordingly. In the starting position before the first opening is the piercer 20 completely in the sink 3 so that the cutting tooth 21 above the still closed film F is not shown here. Now this film F is cut open, wherein it is not completely separated from the rest, but pivots in the form of a round coat of arms into the container. A deflector 28 Ensures that this flap can not come to rest in front of the opening in the piercer. The piercer 28 is finally with a second cutting tooth 21 Mistake.

The support 27 may be designed as a horizontal support surface instead of an inclined here shown conically to ongoing support surface. In this case, on this plan, circumferential support surface of the membrane 10 also be welded. The support 27 but can also be designed in the form of several niches and the ring may have a plurality of radially outwardly directed, molded cams, which are able to intervene in these niches.

Claims (14)

Plastic closure ( 1 ) for deformable containers ( 2 ) comprising a spout ( 3 ) with external thread ( 4 ) and a terminal flange ( 5 ) for mounting on the container ( 2 ) and a cap ( 6 ) with internal thread, which on the external thread of the spout ( 3 ) is screwed lockable, characterized in that the spout medium or directly with a flow reducing, at least one breakthrough ( 11 ) membrane ( 10 ) is in operative connection, wherein the membrane ( 10 ) in the position of use at least approximately in the region of the flange ( 5 ) and parallel to this. Plastic closure ( 1 ) according to claim 1, wherein the container ( 2 ) a bag consists of a single or multilayer film, characterized in that the membrane ( 10 ) Part of the container ( 2 ). ( 6 ) Plastic closure ( 1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that in the membrane ( 10 ) one or more breakthroughs ( 11 ) are punched in the mounted position of the plastic closure ( 1 ) on the container ( 2 ) with the spout ( 3 ) are in communicative connection or stand. Plastic closure ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the openings ( 11 ) several, star-shaped crossing slots ( 12 ), which are several resilient lobes ( 13 ) define. Plastic closure ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the openings ( 11 ) are several separate breakthroughs. ( 9 ) Plastic closure ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spout ( 3 ) with a single or multilayer membrane ( 10 ) which is on the flange ( 5 ) is firmly bonded. Plastic closure ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane ( 10 ) in one piece with the spout ( 3 ) is formed by injection molding. Plastic closure ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane ( 10 ) with a circumferential ring ( 14 ) is firmly connected or made in one piece, and the membrane ( 10 ) with the ring ( 14 ) positively and / or non-positively in the spout ( 3 ) of the plastic closure ( 1 ) is arranged. Plastic closure ( 1 ) according to claim 1, for completely closed containers ( 2 ) made of film material, wherein in the spout ( 3 ) an internal thread is present, in which a two-sided open, cylindrical piercer ( 20 ) with at least one cutting tooth ( 21 ) by means of drivers on the inside of the screw cap ( 6 ) is operable, wherein the at least one driver on the cap ( 6 ) with a driver ( 22 ) on the inside of the piercer ( 20 ) cooperates, so that at the first opening the film material of the container ( 2 ) is cut open, characterized in that the membrane ( 10 ), with at least one breakthrough ( 11 ), in the piercer ( 20 ) in the area above the at least one tooth ( 21 ) and below the at least one driver ( 22 ) in the piercer ( 20 ) is arranged. Plastic closure ( 1 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that the membrane ( 10 ) in one piece with the piercer ( 20 ) is made. Plastic closure ( 1 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that in the piercer ( 20 ) above the area of the at least one cutting tooth ( 21 ) and below the at least one driver ( 22 ) an inwardly projecting, circumferential collar ( 23 ) is formed on which the membrane ( 10 ) is medium or immediate. Plastic closure ( 1 ) according to claim 11, characterized in that the membrane ( 10 ) is made of a foil and on the collar ( 23 ) is attached directly resting cohesively. Plastic closure ( 1 ) according to claim 11, characterized in that the membrane ( 10 ) with a circumferential ring ( 14 ) is integrally or firmly connected, and the encircling ring ( 14 ) resting on the collar in the piercer ( 20 ) is held positively or materially. Plastic closure ( 1 ) according to claim 9, characterized in that in the piercer ( 20 ) above the area of the at least one cutting tooth ( 21 ) and below the at least one driver ( 22 ) into the wall of the piercer ( 20 ) molded support ( 27 ) in the form of a circumferential groove ( 24 ) or a plurality of niches, to which one or more radially outwardly directed, to one with the membrane ( 10 ) firmly connected ring ( 14 ) molded cams, or one on the ring ( 14 ) integrally formed circumferential bead rests.

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