WO2000007885A1 - Plastic container - Google Patents

Abstract

A plastic container for liquid and solid matter such as pesticides, made from a semi-rigid to rigid thermoplastic synthetic material, consisting of a top part with a closure (5) and, optionally, a handle (6), a bottom part (15) and a connecting middle part comprising two narrow sides and two wide sides. The narrow sides have bent lips (3) and the wide sides have folded grooves (1). The invention is characterised in that folded lips are disposed horizontally at approximately half the way up the narrow sides of the container and a peripheral folded groove that is optionally interrupted in the centre is provided on the same level as the narrow and wide sides, whereby the folded groove runs through the largest recess of the bent lips. When empty, the container can be folded together, without the risk of breakage, in order to reduce volume.

Description

Plastic containers

The invention relates to a container which can be reduced in volume after emptying and is made from a semi-rigid to rigid plastic for holding solid or liquid to gel-like substances, for example chemicals or foods, in particular pesticides. The container is characterized by fold lips arranged horizontally at about half the height on the two narrow sides of the container, and an additional, possibly interrupted, fold groove running at the same height, whereby the fold groove also runs through the largest depression of the fold lips.

Foldable plastic canisters are already known from EP-A-0 621 189, the folding of which is achieved by arranging on the narrow sides three fold lines which are at the same distance and run only to the middle of the narrow sides. The half-sided arrangement was chosen so that the folding takes place on the long side. The achievable volume reduction is relatively small. The folding process is complicated and cannot be achieved simply by applying pressure on the top. The production of these containers also represents an increased outlay in terms of shape.

The German utility model application G 90 00 804.9 discloses soft and flexible, foldable containers made of plastics which have opposite diagonal and horizontal predetermined folding points which are concave in shape. The container is designed for mere folding. In this container, too, the volume reduction cannot be achieved simply by exerting pressure on the top. The container is difficult to label due to the concave fold lines.

A foldable canister is known from the international design application DM031261, which is characterized by articulated lips on the narrow sides, additional articulated lips on both broad sides, and a circumferential folding groove running diagonally on the broad side, the articulated lips of the narrow sides together with the folded grooves on the broad sides bump. For labeling, the concave crease lips have to be taped over, which affects the appearance and the quality (for example durability) of the labeling. There is a need for simple, semi-rigid to rigid and foldable plastic containers that can be filled, labeled, transported and used in a simple manner, the volume of which can be reduced after emptying by kinking and then folding (saving the volume of the emptied containers for disposal). that do not break when kinked and folded and can thus lead to contamination.

It has now been found that these goals can be achieved if, in the case of a semi-rigid to rigid plastic container, a fold lip is provided at about half the height of the narrow sides and, in addition, a folding groove running at the same height and possibly interrupted in the middle.

The invention relates to a container made of a semi-rigid to rigid, thermoplastic material with a head part which has a closure and optionally a handle, a base part and connecting middle part made of two narrow and two broad sides, the narrow sides having buckling lips and the broad sides having folding grooves, characterized in that at the two narrow sides of the container horizontally arranged fold lips are provided, and at the same height of the narrow and broad sides a circumferential, possibly interrupted fold groove is arranged so that this fold groove runs through the largest depression of the fold lips .

Suitable thermoplastics, homopolymers and copolymers are known in large numbers and can be selected, for example, from the group of polyolefins (polyethylene, polypropylene), polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, copolymers such as acrylonitrile / butadiene / Styrene (ABS), polyurethanes and polyesters can be selected. The desired property profile can also be set using copolymers.

The desired stiffness is essentially determined by the wall thickness and the physical and mechanical properties of the plastic. The wall thickness can be, for example, from 0.1 to 5 mm, preferably 0.2 to 3 mm, and particularly preferably 0.3 to 2 mm. Among the physical and mechanical properties, the breaking strength, the folding strength, the elongation at break, impact strength and the stress crack resistance are of particular importance. The design of the base part is arbitrary in itself, but should be designed so that the container has good stability. The base is preferably designed to be planar or slightly curved inwards, with additional plinths being provided.

The design of the head part is also arbitrary per se, the design of course preferably being carried out in such a way that complete emptying of the filling material is ensured. For this purpose, it is expedient to design the head part so that it runs slightly upward from the container walls to the closure. The closure is advantageously attached close to or in alignment with a narrow side if a handle is additionally provided. The closure can also be located approximately in the middle. Screw closures, plug closures and safety closures are preferred.

A handle located in the head part is preferably arranged behind the closure and can advantageously be designed such that it has no connection to the container volume. This can be achieved by either designing the handle from all-plastic, or, for example, to save weight, by making the handle hollow and closing the handle in the area of the head part. A narrow and, if necessary, flexible web of the handle in the transition area to the head part, at a height of, for example, 0.2 mm to 4 cm, preferably 0.5 to 2.5 cm, is designed closed (squeezed) for this purpose. The rest of the handle is hollow and protrudes beyond the squeezed part in such a way that the edges rest on the surface of the head part when it is folded over, thus preventing it from being folded over completely (principle of self-locking). The thickness of the web connecting the handle to the head part can be, for example, 0.2 to 5 mm, preferably 0.5 to 2 mm. The width of the handle can be, for example, 0.5 to 4 cm, preferably 0.5 to 2.5 cm. The hollow handle can be round or cuboid with preferably rounded edges. The hollow handle design saves weight and you get it if you squeeze the handle part during manufacture and design the hollow handle with needle bubbles. If the weight is of no importance, the handle can also be made of all-plastic.

The two narrow and broad sides are generally identical. The geometric shape of the container is cuboid to cubic. The edges and corners of the container are generally rounded. The ratio of the long side to the narrow side can be, for example, from 10 to 1 to 1 to 1, preferably 2 to 1 to 1 to 1. The length of a long side can be, for example, from 5 to 50, preferably 10 to 40 and particularly preferably 10 to 35 cm. The height of the container walls can be, for example, 5 to 70 cm, preferably 10 to 50 cm and particularly preferably 10 to 35 cm.

The container volume can be a total of 100 ml to 50 l, preferably 11 to 25 l, and particularly preferably 5 l to 20 l.

The opening angle of the articulated lips essentially depends on the container size, the wall thickness and the rigidity of the material. The kink lips on the narrow sides can have an opening angle of 90 to 178 °, preferably 120 to 175 °, and particularly preferably 150 to 175 °, based on the area of the narrow side. The depth of the kink lip can be 0.1 to 10 mm, preferably 0.5 to 3 mm. The height of the articulated lips depends primarily on the size of the container and can be 5 to 40 mm, preferably 10 to 30 mm, and particularly preferably 10 to 25 mm. The articulated lip can be interrupted by a preferably round, possibly deepened pressure point, which is arranged approximately in the middle of the articulated lips, and can have an area of approximately 0.5 to 3 cm ² , preferably 0.5 to 2 cm ² . The pressure point is advantageously designed as a circle and can have a depth of 0.1 to 2 mm, preferably 0.2 to 1 mm. The printing area is used to initiate the folding process by first applying pressure to this area.

The fold groove is guided in the angular tip of the fold lips. The fold groove can run through the pressure point or be interrupted by it.

The fold groove on the narrow and broad sides can have a depth of 0.1 to 5 mm, preferably 0.3 to 3 mm, and particularly preferably 0.3 to 2 mm. The fold groove is concave with respect to the container wall and can be of a round to angled shape. The maximum opening width of the kink grooves can be, for example, 0.2 to 3 mm, preferably 0.5 to 2 mm. The folding groove can be interrupted on the broad sides by one or more, preferably by a centrally arranged short webs. In short, this Connection means a length of the web of 1 mm to 5 cm, depending on the container size.

The size of the container, its wall thickness and plastic material are coordinated with one another when designing the articulated lips and folding grooves.

The containers according to the invention can be produced by means of thermoplastic molding processes such as, for example, extrusion blow molding, pressing processes, injection molding, injection blowing or vacuum forming such as deep drawing. In addition, characters or symbols can be embossed.

The labeling is simple and permanent in that there are large areas above and below the articulated lips and folding groove, so that it is not necessary to paste them over. In the upper and lower area of the broad sides and / or narrow sides to be labeled, horizontally extending raised, preferably round bars can run, which serve on the one hand as a spacer during transport and on the other hand to protect the labels, since unwanted detachment can largely be avoided. These bars can have a height (based on the area) of 0.5 to 5 mm.

The containers according to the invention are excellently suitable for filling with solid or liquid substances in all areas of the food industry, domestic and industrial chemicals and especially also for crop protection agents which can be present as ready-to-use formulations or concentrates in the form of powders, granules or liquids. The containers are shockproof and unbreakable so that chemicals can be safely stored and transported.

After complete emptying, the containers can be folded manually or mechanically, whereby depending on the container size, the container volume can be reduced to about 20%, which in the case of disposal or recycling leads to a considerable saving in transport and storage volume, and then to a corresponding reduction which can lead to disposal costs. The containers do not break when folded, so that residues of the contents cannot contaminate the environment. Folding is carried out with the closure open and preferably half open. It can be carried out by first applying slight pressure in the area of the articulated lips successively or simultaneously initiates folding on the narrow sides. The folding can then be ended by pressing from above. The narrow sides of the container are pressed inwards by the kink lip and the side walls are pressed outwards by the folding groove, so that a relatively flat structure remains. Refilling the folded container can be avoided by completely closing a closure.

In the following figures, advantageous refinements and preferences of the container according to the invention are shown.

Figure 1 shows a container according to the invention in view of a broad side 2. You can see the centrally interrupted folding sheet 1 on the broad side 2, which runs into the fold lip 3 on the narrow side 4. One can also see a screw cap 5 and a handle 6 on the head part. The folding groove 1 is interrupted in the middle by a web 7. The folding groove 1 runs into the angle of the fold lip 8. The concave longitudinal baffles 9 and 9 'serve as spacers during transport and storage and as label protection. The hollow handle 6 is connected to the handle parts 12 and 13 via narrow (crimped) webs 6 'with the head part. The container stands on the bottom part 15. The second broad side is generally identical.

FIG. 1A is a sectional illustration along the line I → II from FIG. 1 and shows the container wall 11 with the folding groove 1.

Figure 2 shows the container in view of a narrow side 4 with screw cap 5 in the head part. In the middle of the kink lip 8 there is a pressure point 10 which interrupts the folding groove 1. The concave longitudinal beams 9 and 9 ^* mainly serve as spacers during transport and storage and as label protection. The bottom part 15 is slightly concave. The second narrow side is generally identical.

FIG. 2A is a sectional illustration along the line III → IV of FIG. 2 and shows the container wall 11 with the articulated lip 8 and a recessed folding groove 1. FIG. 2B is a sectional illustration along the line V → VI from FIG. 2 and shows the container wall 11 and the articulated lip 8 with pressure point 10, and in this case with a continuous folding groove 1.

Figure 3 shows the container in view of a narrow side 4 with handle part 6 and screw cap 5 in the head part. A slight depression 14 is embedded under the handle part. In the middle of the fold lip 3 there is a pressure point 10 which interrupts the folding groove 1. The concave longitudinal beams 9 and 9 'serve mainly as spacers during transport and storage and as label protection. The bottom part 15 is slightly concave. Furthermore, the measures 1, 2, 3 and 4 with volume markings underneath can be seen.

FIG. 4 shows a complete container according to the invention in a diagonal view. A screw cap 5 and a hollow handle 6 with the holder handle parts 12 and 13 are attached to the head part. The handle is connected to the head part via the two narrow webs 6 '. The lower handle parts 12 and 13 of the handle protrude so far beyond the two webs that the edges hit the surface of the head part when folded, and the handle is locked at an angle of approximately 45 °. A slight depression 14 is arranged under the handle, through which a ridge connects the webs 6 '. The ridge can be 1 mm to 3 cm, preferably 2 mm to 1 cm high, and is as wide as the webs 6 '. There is a longitudinal bar 9 'on the narrow side 4 and two longitudinal bars 9 on the wide side 2. The articulated lip 3 on the narrow side is provided with a pressure point 10 which interrupts the folding groove 1 running through the articulated lip in the center. On the broad side, the folding groove 1 which continues from the angle of the articulated lip and which is interrupted by the web 7 can be seen. The bottom part 15 is slightly curved inwards.

FIG. 5 shows a section of a container according to the invention in the area of the folding groove 1 on a broad side 2 and the folding lip 8 and folding groove 1 with the pressure point 10 in the area of a narrow side 4.

FIG. 6 shows a folded container in which the former broad sides 2, the former formwork side 4, the screw closure 5, the handle 6, the webs 7, the longitudinal beams 9 and 9 'and the base part 15 can be seen.

Claims

claims 1. Container made from a semi-rigid to rigid, thermoplastic material with a head part which has a closure and optionally a handle, a bottom part and connecting middle part made of two narrow and two broad sides, the narrow sides having buckling lips and the broad sides having folding grooves, characterized in that that horizontally arranged folding lips are provided on the two narrow sides of the container, and a circumferential, possibly interrupted folding groove is arranged at the same height of the narrow and broad sides, so that this folding groove runs through the largest depression of the folding lips. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratio of long side to narrow side is from 10 to 1 to 1 to 1. 3. Container according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the volume is from 100 ml to 50 I. 4. Container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wall thickness is 0.1 to 5 mm. 5. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the articulated lips on the narrow sides have an opening angle of 90 to 178 °, based on the area of the narrow side. 6. Container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the kink lip is interrupted in the middle by a round, possibly deepened pressure point. 7. Container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the depth of the folding grooves is from 0.1 to 5 mm. 8. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the head part is provided with a screw cap, behind which a handle is attached. 9. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the handle is hollow and has no connection to the container volume. 10. Container according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the hollow handle is firmly connected to the surface of the head part via narrow, closed webs.