WO1996015978A1 - Closure for mounting on disposable cartons for non-carbonated drinks - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a closure for mounting on disposable cartons (3) for non-carbonated drinks, the closure comprising an inner closure part, which is positioned inside the carton (3) after insertion, and an outer closure part (13.1 and 13.2) which is positioned on the carton after insertion. The closure is substantially tubular and a plurality of these tubular closures can be combined by at least one connector (18) to form a multiple closure (2). The end face of the outer closure part or of the outer closure parts (13.1 and 13.2) is closed by end regions (14.1 and 14.2) which each have at least one slot (15) held closed by material stresses. If a vacuum is produced externally by suction at the end region (14.1, 14.2) or excess pressure is produced in the carton as a result of pressure applied thereto, the slot opens and some of the drink can flow out of the carton therethrough. The closure according to the invention is suitable in particular for use by small children since the carton is closed when the closure is mounted without any intervention on the part of the consumer.

Description

 CLASP FOR CLOSING ON DISPOSABLE PACKS FOR CARBONIC-FREE BEVERAGES

The invention relates to a closure for plugging on disposable packs for carbonated drinks, for example on brick packs as are known for fruit juices, icetea or milk.

Brick packs are produced from coated cardboard by producing a quasi-endless tube made of this material and filling it alternately and welding and cutting it transversely to the tube direction. The pillow-shaped packages created in this way are brought into the known brick shape by folding in the corner regions. To open it, one of the corners is unfolded and cut off, creating an opening for pouring that can no longer be closed. Larger packs of this type are in some cases also provided with closure units which, in the closed state, are already attached to the above-mentioned tube at regular intervals and which are opened and poured out again by the consumer for pouring. Smaller packs, which are intended less for pouring out than for direct drinking, often have a potential opening in the form of a weak point in the pack wall and carry a drinking straw or a closure unit with them. The consumer pierces with the Drinking straw or the weak point with the closure unit. The closure unit can then be opened and closed as desired.

It has now been shown that toddlers who are used to drinking from a bottle with a suction opening can neither drink from the brick packs with the drinking straw nor with the closure unit; this is particularly so because the drinking straw does not close the package opening and the closure unit only does this in the closed state, that is only when it is not possible to drink. In other words, this means that when drinking, the pack may only be brought into narrowly restricted positions if pouring is to be prevented.

It is now the object of the invention to provide a closure for plugging onto a disposable pack for carbon-free drinks, in particular onto brick packs, by means of which drinking from the pack is possible in all positions without unwanted pouring out.

This object is achieved by the closure as defined in the patent claims.

The closure according to the invention is essentially tubular with an inner and an outer closure part, which have an inner or an outer end face, the outer closure part being positioned outside the package when the closure is attached, the inner closure part inside the package. The tubular closure is open in the area of the inner end face. In the area of the outer end face, it is area completed, which end area has at least one slot held by elastic stresses in the material in a closed position. A suction effect in this forehead area creates a pressure drop across the forehead area of the closure, as a result of which the contactor or the slots are opened and the beverage can flow out of the pack. As soon as the suction stops, the slit (or slits) closes again. The same effect can be achieved by pressing on the package (excess pressure inside the package).

The inner closure part of the closure advantageously has a substantially tapered shape so that the potential opening in the package can thus be pierced well.

In order for the closure to have a defined, fixed position when it is inserted in the package opening, it is necessary for it to have internal and external retaining means, the spacing of which approximately corresponds to the thickness of the package wall. The inner holding means are shaped in such a way that when they are pressed into the opening they only expand elastically, so that the opening is reduced again after being pressed in and lies tightly against the closure between the inner and outer holding means.

The closure advantageously has a shape such that it can be fastened to the broad side of the pack without greatly influencing the shape of the pack and that the pack can be sold in this way equipped. In other words, this means that the closure should be as flat as possible. For this reason, the outer holding means are advantageously in the form of projections which are located opposite one another on two extend the side of the closure, designed, their length is advantageously chosen such that the entire closure becomes so large that it cannot be swallowed by a small child.

The closure according to the invention is particularly suitable for brick packs, that is to say cuboid packs made of welded, coated cardboard, in which a corresponding, potential opening is provided for the closure to be attached. Packs of this type, in particular small packs of this type, for example with a content of 125 cm ³ , can be held well by a small child with both hands and are flexible enough so that drinking can take place without constant air intake and thus help suction by compressing the pack can be.

However, this in no way means that the closure according to the invention can only be used on brick packs. It can equally well be used on differently shaped packages or containers made of welded, coated cardboard or of any other material.

The closure according to the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following figures. Show:

Figures 1 to 3 a first exemplary embodiment of the closure according to the invention on the broad side of the still closed

Brick pack attached (Figure 1), in the potential opening of the

Brick pack inserted (Figure 2) and as a top view of the outer face (Figure 3). FIG. 4 shows a further, exemplary embodiment of the closure according to the invention, which additionally has a cover.

Figure 5 shows a detail of the closure according to Figures 1 to 4 to illustrate the manufacture of the closure according to the invention.

6 to 8 show a further exemplary embodiment of the closure according to the invention on the broad side of the still closed brick pack (FIG. 6), inserted in the potential opening of the brick pack (FIG. 7) and as a section parallel to the

Packing wall through the outer closure part (Figure 8).

FIG. 1 shows a first, exemplary embodiment 1 of the closure according to the invention on the broad side of a brick pack 3, for example glued in a transparent envelope 4. The brick pack 3 has a potential opening 5, the size of which is matched to the cross section of the closure 1. The closure has a substantially tapered inner closure part 12 and an outer closure part 13. An outer end region 14 closes the closure and has one or more slots 15, for example two intersecting slots as shown. Inner holding means in the form of one or more locking ribs 16 and outer holding means in the form of holding wings 17 are arranged between the outer closing part 13 and the inner closing part 12. As will still be described in connection with FIG. 3, the locking ribs 16 and the holding wings 17 advantageously extend alternately around the outer circumference of the closure for manufacturing reasons. As already mentioned, it is advantageous to make the holding wings 17 so long that they prevent the closure from being swallowed by a small child. FIG. 2 shows the closure 1 according to FIG. 1 inserted in the potential opening 5 of the brick pack 3. It should be noted that the closure is attached to the top of the standing package, centered with respect to the longer edge of this top. This makes it easy to drink while holding the pack with both hands. So that the closure can be positioned well in this position, the potential opening must be made on that side of the upper surface which is not traversed by the longitudinal seam 31, which runs over the entire height of the pack. Furthermore, particularly in the case of small brick packs, in order to create more space for the closure, it may be advantageous to fold the transverse seam 32 running over the entire upper side against the longitudinal seam 31 instead of away from it as usual.

The holding wings 17 are also clearly visible from FIG. 2, which can also take on a decorative function in addition to their function as external holding means and as protection against choking. Furthermore, the outer closure part 13, outer end region 14 and slots 15 already described in connection with FIG. 1 are visible.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the outer end region 14 of the embodiment of the closure according to the invention, as is essentially already shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 3, it deviates slightly in the design of the holding wings 17, which, according to FIG. 2, completely wrap around the outer circumference of the closure. According to FIG. 3, they are arranged opposite one another on both sides and between them there are two gaps around the circumference, in which (displaced in height by at least the thickness of the packaging wall) the inner holding means in the form of locking ribs 16 are arranged. Such an arrangement of the inner and outer holding means, which do not form a groove between them due to their mutual displacement, makes it possible to produce the closure in an injection molding process in which the molds are moved perpendicular to the paper plane of FIG. 3 and in which no sliders to be moved transversely thereto have to be used, as a result of which the production costs can be significantly reduced.

FIG. 4 shows, as a section parallel to the axis of the tubular closure, a further exemplary embodiment of the closure according to the invention. This corresponds essentially to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, but additionally has a cover 19 which is arranged at the outer end of the one holding wing 17.1. The lid is shown in an open position (19), in which position it is also manufactured, and in a closed position (19 '). In order for the cover 19 to be able to be applied to the outer closure part 14 covering the end region 15, the holding wing 17.1 must be sufficiently long and sufficiently flexible. Furthermore, it is advantageous to provide positive locking means on the cover 19 and / or on the outer closure part 14, for example in the form of snap ribs or wedges, or to dimension the cover 19 very narrowly such that it holds onto the outer closure part by friction.

FIG. 5 shows in section the end area 14 of a closure according to the invention during the production by injection molding. The closure is cast between an inner and an outer molded part 20 or 21, the one of the molded parts having at least one, preferably narrow, molding 22 which spans the casting cavity and serves to form a slot 15. So that a voltage arises in the walls 23, which If slot 15 closes and keeps closed after removal of the molded parts 20 and 21, the outer molded part 21 can be cooled more quickly than the inner 20. As a result, the material on the outside of the forehead area solidifies faster and the material on the inside shrinks more, which means that the completely solidified wall 23 creates a tension which pulls it towards the inside and can close the slot 15 and keep it closed.

The effect described above for producing a tension in the wall 23 of the end region 14 can be enhanced by making the wall regions thickened at the transition between the end region and the tube region. Such a thickening is shown in Figure 5 and designated 24.

FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment 2 of the closure according to the invention, again attached to the broad side of a brick pack 3. This embodiment actually represents a double closure, consisting of two interconnected, tubular individual closures. Two potential openings 5.1 and 5.2 are to be provided on the pack for this purpose.

The double closure 2 has two tapered, inner closure parts 12.1 and 12.2, two outer closure parts 13.1 and 13.2 with two outer end regions 14.1 and 14.2 and slots 15 made therein. In between, a connecting part 18 is arranged only in the area of the outer closure parts, which not only serves to connect the two individual closures, but also as an external holding means. In turn, locking ribs 16 serve as the inner holding means. The two closures each point one against the other the inner closure part (13.1 and 13.2) increasing inside diameter.

FIG. 7 shows the double lock 2 according to FIG. 1 attached to a brick pack 3. This applies to what has already been said in connection with FIGS. 2 and 4. The same parts are designated with the same reference numbers.

FIG. 8 shows the double closure 2 in section essentially parallel to the packing wall in the area of the outer closure part or the outer closure parts. This clearly shows the two outer closure parts 13.1 and 13.2 of the individual closures and the connecting part 18 and the locking ribs 16 .

Of course, it is also conceivable to combine more than two individual closures into a multiple closure analogously to the embodiment according to FIGS. 6 to 8 by means of connecting parts.

The closure according to the invention is advantageously produced in an injection molding process from a thermoplastic. It is easily possible to inject two materials into the mold simultaneously. Such a method can be used for purely decorative purposes, in which case, for example, two materials with different colors are used. However, it is also possible to use a softer material (for example amorphous polypropylene or low-density polyethylene) for the outer closure part, in particular for the end region thereof, while for the rest of the closure, in particular the inner closure part. partly a harder material (e.g. crystalline polypropylene or higher density polyethylene) is used.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. closure (1, 2) for attaching to a disposable package (3) for carbonated beverages with an internal closure part (12) positioned inside the package after being attached, and an outer one positioned on the package after being attached Closure part (13) and inner and outer holding means (16, 17) arranged between the inner and outer closure part, characterized in that the closure (1, 2) is essentially tubular in that it is on the end face of the outer closure part (13). is closed off by an end region (14) and that at least one slot (15) which is closed by material tension is arranged in the end region (14). 2. Closure according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of substantially identical, tubular closures are combined to form a multiple closure (2) by means of at least one connecting part (18). 3. Closure according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that two intersecting slots are provided in the end region (14) of the outer closure part (13). 4. Closure according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wall of the closure in the end regions (14) has a thickening (24). 5. Closure according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the inner holding means are designed as locking ribs (16). 6. Closure according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the outer holding means are designed as holding wings (17) which are stretching on both sides of the closure and that they are dimensioned such that they can assume the function of security against swallowing. Closure according to claim 6, characterized in that a holding wing (17.1) is flexible and that a cover (19) which can be placed on the end region (14) of the outer closure part (13) is integrally formed on its outer end. 8. Closure according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inner and the outer holding means are arranged alternately around the circumference of the closure. 9. Closure according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least the end region of the outer closure part (13) consists of a softer material than the rest of the closure. 10. Closure according to claim 9, characterized in that at least the end region of the outer closure part (13) consists of amorphous polypropylene or of low density polyethylene and the rest of the closure consists of crystalline polypropylene or of higher density polyethylene. 11. Use of a closure according to one of claims 1 to 10 as a push-fit closure on a brick pack (3) for carbonated beverages with at least one potential opening (5). 12. Use according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one potential opening (5) coordinated with the closure (1, 2) is provided for the closure (1, 2) on one of the smallest areas of the brick pack (3) Which opening is arranged in the center relative to the longer side of this surface and on the side opposite the longitudinal seam (31). 13. Use according to claim 12, characterized in that at least on the smallest surface on which the at least one potential opening (5) for the closure (1, 2) is arranged, the transverse seam (32) is folded against the longitudinal seam (31) is.