DE19955411C2 - Snap hinge and container lid - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a hinge which has a simple construction and can thus be produced in a cost-effective manner and changes from a first unstressed snap position into a second snap position when the two hinge components are displaced in the angle area of 90 DEG to 180 DEG . Each hinge component (101, 102) is provided with a level hinge element (111, 112) and an offset roof surface element (7, 7') fixed therein. The hinge components are connected to each other by means of the roof surface elements (7, 7') in the hinge axis (10). Said elements are erected against each other. An intermediate element (121) is configured as a notch (120) in the roof surface elements (7, 7'). Said snap hinge can be arranged in a container lid.

Description

The invention relates to a one-piece snap hinge made of plastic, the one has the first relaxed and a second cocked snap position, with two about a hinge axis pivotable hinge parts and with a film hinge located in the hinge axis, the middle of at least one resilient intermediate element is interrupted. The invention also relates to a container lid according to the preamble of the claim 14.

Such snap hinges are mostly used as container lids, the lid having a defined open and a defined closed position occupies. When opening or closing the lid, this is a unstable intermediate position moved. The intermediate elements serve that the two defined positions can be taken, whereby in one position relaxes the intermediate elements and in the other position are excited.

DE 31 50 493 C3 is a one-piece snap hinge for bottles known. The hinge has two intermediate elements, which in cross section as U-shaped channels are formed, which are in the direction of the main axis rejuvenate. The intermediate elements are in through elongated thin spots Form of film hinges connected to the two hinge parts, of which a hinge part forms the lid and a hinge part forms the bottle neck ring.  

The intermediate elements, which are U-shaped in cross section, behave like spiral springs in the end positions, i.e. H. in the open position and in the closed position, are relaxed and for changing over a labile Equilibrium are moved away.

In a further similar embodiment, the intermediate elements are only in relaxed in the open position and maximal in the closed position pressed together. This makes a locking device necessary holds both hinge parts together in the closed position. To the stable To be able to assume the closed or open position, a 180 ° Swivel movement of the hinge parts can be made.

Another embodiment sees two pairs, for a total of four Intermediate elements. The variant intended for a box lid provides two V-shaped intermediate elements in the middle, which together form one Form a rhombus. The intermediate elements are also inclined Thin points connected to the two hinge parts to the required To ensure mobility of the intermediate elements. At the outer ends the hinge axis are provided with additional resilient end elements are also V-shaped. When the box is open, they protrude Intermediate elements face outwards and nestle in the closed state the rectangular shape of the box. The shape of the intermediate elements remains obtained when opening and closing the box. With this Snap hinge is a hinge part with a side wall of the box identical so that the hinge axis is at the edge of the box. Also at In this embodiment, the lid must be pivoted through 180 °. For independent container lid, in which the hinge parts in the closed position lie on one level, and a 180 ° swivel movement is not possible this snap hinge cannot be used.  

From DE-PS 31 53 386 is a one-piece snap hinge deep-drawn flexible plastic film known in which the required film hinges in several parallel grooves are divided. These channels diverge in the central area, so there roof-shaped intermediate surfaces with perpendicular to the hinge axis Ribs can be formed. In the open position, in the container lid and box lie in one plane, the intermediate elements form one Roof surface with the ridge facing outwards. When closing the container, while the cover is pivoted through 180 °, the intermediate elements snap inward.

This hinge leads when changing from the open position to the Closed position and vice versa to a deformation that is not due to the Hinge is limited.

EP 0 640 167 B1 describes a hinge with two triangular ones Intermediate elements and two swivel axes, between which a tilting element is arranged. There is a handle on the opposite side of the hinge arranged to ensure opening of the closure.

These hinges have one or more of the following disadvantages. they are due to their functional principle either only on round or only on angular ones Containers that can be closed can sometimes need one Locking device to a closed position against larger forces guarantee, or a pusher to make opening easier. you the respective area of application is very limited.

Some of the known hinges protrude over the contour in the closed position of the container to be sealed, which leads to problems when stacking or storage of these containers.

The object of the invention is to provide a snap hinge that is simple is built and therefore inexpensive to manufacture, and that from one first relaxed snap position when pivoting the two hinge parts changes into a second snap position in the angular range from 90 ° to 180 °. It is also an object of the invention to provide a container lid, in particular a reclosable container lid, with a hinged To create the lid bottom section, which when pivoting more than 90 ° and less than 180 ° occupies a stable position.

This task is solved with a one-piece snap hinge, in which each hinge part has a flat hinge element and an attached to it has angled roof surface element, the hinge parts over the roof panels aligned against each other in the hinge axis are interconnected and the intermediate element as a notch in the Roof surfaces is formed.

The basic shape of the hinge has only three components, namely the flat hinge elements, the roof surface elements and that as Notch formed intermediate element, with several Intermediate elements are possible. This simple structure ensures a cost-effective production, so that the snap hinge as a mass article, e.g. B. in lids for yogurt cups or other plastic containers for Cream cheese, buttermilk, etc. can be used.

The angle at which the roof surface elements on the flat Hinge elements are preferably molded, can be chosen arbitrarily because the angle α that the roof surface elements in their first take relaxed snap position to each other, is selectable. The angle α is preferably in the range between 80 ° and 110 °.  

The roof surface elements are preferably applied at such an angle the flat hinge elements arranged that in the first, relaxed Snap position the flat hinge elements lie in one plane. This The arrangement is particularly suitable for use in a container lid Advantage because this corresponds to the closed position of the lid.

If the hinge parts are pivoted about the hinge axis, the Angle α progressively increases, creating forces in the intermediate element be initiated because of the training as a notch to a Lead longitudinal expansion in the direction of the hinge axis. From one Swivel angle of more than 90 ° causes this longitudinal expansion next to the Intermediate element a buckling of the film hinge, with which the second Snap position is reached. This is the position Intermediate element and thus also the roof surface elements in one tense state, which surprisingly has almost no impact and therefore no significant deformation of the flat hinge elements Consequence. This circumstance is again advantageous when used in Container lids because the container lid does not warp significantly and is therefore particularly suitable as a reclosable container lid. Even after being closed again several times, the container lid lies close to Edge of the container.

The forces involved in pivoting the hinge parts into the intermediate element are initiated, the smaller α is chosen, the larger. Furthermore, also the mutual alignment of the hinge parts in the second Snap position by choosing the angle α in the first snap position can be set.

The notch is preferably V or U-shaped.  

According to the simplest embodiment, the intermediate element has two triangular surface elements.

But there is also the possibility that the intermediate element two has quadrangular surface elements, on each of which a triangular surface element connects. Other refinements of the Intermediate element are possible. Like the intermediate element and thus the Notch also depends on how stable the second Snap position should be, which forces are introduced into the intermediate element and what deformation of the intermediate element or the Roof surface elements to achieve the second snap position are desired. This also depends on the material thickness of the snap hinge, with a material thickness below 0.45 mm for the usually at Polymer lid used polymers is preferred.

The depth t of the notch also influences the snap behavior of the hinge. It is possible that the notch extends over the entire roof height h ₁ .

According to a further embodiment, the indentation is by means of an in Bridges direction of the hinge axis extending tension element. Thereby an additional stiffening is brought about.

The tension element is preferably designed as a U-shaped or V-shaped rib. It is important that the upper edge of the rib below the Hinge axis lies. The further the top edge of the rib from the hinge axis is removed, the greater the forces are in the intermediate element be initiated.  

So that the kinks form in the second snap position in the area of the film hinge, it is advantageous if the length X _{1 of} the film hinge sections is ≧ 1/4 of the length X _{2 of} the intermediate element.

The greater the material thickness of the hinge material chosen, the greater the ratio X ₁ to X ₂ should preferably be set.

Each hinge part preferably has at least one laterally erected Stiffening wall on both the flat hinge element and Roof surface element is attached. This will give greater stability to the Hinge parts achieved.

The container lid according to the invention is characterized in that the Lid bottom is divided into two lid bottom sections, over two sloping roof surface elements extending to the edge of the cover are interconnected that the connecting line of the Roof surface elements form a hinge axis of a film hinge and that in the roof surface elements a resilient formed as a notch Intermediate element is arranged.

For the container lid, the flat hinge elements are made by the two Lid bottom sections formed. The stiffening wall is covered by the Cover wall formed, which is between the cover base and the Lid edge extends. The container lid can have any shape, round or rectangular container lids are preferred.

The lid base sections can be chosen the same size, but it is an advantage if the two lid base sections are of different sizes. In this case, the shorter lid base section becomes firm with the Container edge connected and the larger lid bottom section is detachable and reclosable attached to the edge of the lid. As a result, the  Open and fold up the larger lid base section correspondingly large opening released. It also becomes dead space minimized under the smaller lid bottom section.

Depending on the size and design of the lid and especially with regard on the filling of the container it may be desirable that the distance between the bottom of the container and the edge of the lid is as small as possible. However, this would have been as a result, the roof surface elements are made correspondingly small ought to.

To remedy this, is according to another embodiment provided that parallel to the hinge axis in each case between the Roof surface element and the cover bottom section a channel-shaped Depression is formed. This indentation allows a given one Height of the roof surface elements can be maintained.

The groove-shaped depression preferably extends over the entire Length of the roof area.

The groove-shaped depression can be V-shaped.

Exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings explained in more detail. Show it:

Fig. 1 + 2 are perspective views of two embodiments of the snap hinge,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a round container lid,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the container lid illustrated in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a section AA through the results shown in Fig. 4 container lid,

Fig. 6 shows a section BB through the part shown in Fig. 4 container lid,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a round container lid,

Fig. 8-10 is a plan view and two sectional views of the in Fig. 7 shown container cover,

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a round container lid,

Figs. 12-14 a plan view and two sectional views of the in Fig. 11 shown container cover,

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a quadrangular container lid,

Fig. 16-18 a plan view and two sectional views of the in Fig. 15 shown container cover,

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a circular container with a container lid according to the Figs. 11 to 14, wherein the lid is in a slightly open position, and

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the container shown in Fig. 19, wherein the lid is in the second snap position.

A snap hinge 100 in its simplest embodiment is shown in perspective in FIG. 1. The snap hinge 100 has two hinge parts 101 and 102 , each of which has a flat hinge part 111 and 112 and a roof surface element 7 and 7 '. The roof surface elements 7 , 7 'are angled onto the flat hinge elements 111 , 112 and form an angle α with one another. The connection line of the two roof surface elements 7 , 7 'forms the hinge axis 10 , the two roof surface elements 7 , 7 ' being connected to one another by means of a film hinge. The roof surface elements 7 , 7 'have an intermediate element 121 in the form of a notch 120 . The film hinge is thereby divided into two film hinge sections 9 , 9 '.

The snap hinge 100 is transferred from the relaxed snap position shown in FIG. 1 to a second tensioned snap position by mutual pivoting of the hinge parts 101 , 102 , the angle α being increased. This will be explained in detail in connection with the following FIGS. 19 and 20.

FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment, which differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that additional stiffening walls 113 and 114 are provided. These stiffening walls 113 , 114 are arranged on the lateral edges of the hinge parts 101 , 102 and form a right angle with the flat hinge elements 111 , 112 . These stiffening walls 113 , 114 are fastened both to the flat hinge parts 111 , 112 and to the roof surface elements 7 , 7 'and bring about additional stiffening.

Fig. 3 shows in perspective a circular container lid 15 with a tab 4, which has the hinge 100 of the invention. The two hinge parts 101 , 102 are formed by the two lid base sections 5 and 6 , which represent the flat hinge elements 111 , 112 , and by the roof surface elements 7 , 7 '. The lid base sections 5 , 6 are offset with respect to the lid edge 3 down over the lid wall 2 and together form the lid base 1 . The two lid base sections 5 and 6 are of different sizes.

The two covers bottom portions 5, 6 are each connected via an obliquely erected in the direction of the lid rim 3 roof element 7, 7 'are connected to the hinge axis 10th The hinge axis 10 lies at the level of the lid edge 3 and thus does not point beyond the contour of the container lid 15 .

In the middle of the ridge formed by the roof surfaces 7 , 7 'there is a V-shaped notch 120 with the depth t (see FIG. 5), which runs perpendicular to the hinge axis 10 and thus in the direction of the cover axis 25 . The notch 120 is formed by an intermediate element 121 which has two triangular surface elements 8 , 8 '. The triangular surface elements 8 , 8 ′ abut in the middle of the notch 120 , the notch base 11 , with their narrow sides and extend obliquely upwards from the notch base 11 towards the hinge axis 10 .

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the container lid 15 shown in FIG. 3. In FIGS. 5 and 6 are sections along the lines AA and BB shown, which are shown in FIG. 4.

In each case in the direction of the hinge axis 10, the length X in Fig. 5, measured ₁ of the film hinge portion 9, and the length X ₂ of the notch 120 and the intermediate member 121 located. The length of the film hinge section 9 'is also equal to the length X ₁ in the embodiment shown here. The film hinges 9 , 9 'form the transition of the two roof surfaces 7 , 7 ' lying in the hinge axis 10 .

The length X ₁ should have a certain minimum size in order to ensure the formation of the kinks in the hinge axis 10 and thus a defined second snap position. In the illustration shown here, the length X _{1 is} greater than 1/4 of the length X ₂ . In order to be able to adhere to these length specifications, the lid base section 5 must have a certain size, ie in the case of round lids the hinge axis 10 must have a certain distance from the rear lid wall. This means that the rear cover bottom section 5 cannot be chosen to be as small as desired. Nevertheless, it should be made as small as possible, so that the largest possible opening of the container results in the open position of the lid, which is advantageous when accessing the goods in the container.

In FIG. 6, the angle α between the two roof surfaces 7, 7 'located. In the illustration shown here, the angle α is 90 ° in the relaxed first snap position. The smaller α is chosen, the greater the forces introduced when the cover is opened into the expansion area or into the hinge. The angle α also defines the opening angle γ of the container lid in the second tensioned snap position, which is shown in FIG. 20. The angles α and γ are functionally related in such a way that the smaller the α, the smaller the angle γ. In order to be able to drink from the opened cup shown in FIG. 20 without problems, it must be ensured that the angle γ is greater than 90 ° and that the folded-up lid base section 6 assumes a stable snap position.

6 is further shown in FIG. _1, the height h shown which is a measure of the vertical extent of the roof surfaces 7, 7 'toward the cover axis 25. The depth of the notch t (see FIG. 5) is smaller than the roof height h ₁ in the embodiment shown here. The depth t can also extend over the entire roof height h ₁ , so that the notch base 11 lies in one plane with the cover base 1 .

FIG. 7 shows a perspective illustration of a second embodiment of a container lid 15 , which differs from the previously described embodiment by the configuration of the intermediate element 121 . The intermediate element 121 or the notch 120 is formed by two smaller triangular surface elements 16 , 16 'and two larger square surface elements 17 , 17 '. The two quadrangular surface elements 17 , 17 'abut each other in the middle of the notch, the notch base 11 , and run obliquely upwards from the notch base 11 towards the triangular surface elements 16 , 16 '. The smaller triangular surface elements 16 , 16 'lie in a plane which is more inclined with respect to the plane in which the lid base 1 is located. The triangular surface element 16 'abuts with the right square surface element 17 ' on its short side and runs obliquely upwards towards the hinge axis 10 . In the same way, the triangular surface element 16 and the left square surface element 17 abut each other.

In Figs. 8 to 10 show a plan view and two sectional views are illustrated by the results shown in Fig. 7 container lid.

FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment, which differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in that the notch 120 is bridged by a tension element 18 . The tension element 18 extends from the triangular surface element 8 ′ across the notch base 11 to the opposite triangular surface element 8 in the direction of the hinge axis 10 .

This traction element 18 is designed as a rib 18 ′ which is U-shaped in cross section, the upper edge 19 of the rib being rounded in a circle. This is shown in detail in FIGS. 12 to 14.

As can be seen from FIGS. 12 and 13, the rib 18 ′ can have a maximum length X ₂ at its upper edge. The rib 18 ′ extends vertically in the direction of the cover axis 25 from its upper edge to the notch base 11 . The upper edge 19 of the rib 18 'must be spaced from the hinge axis 10 so that a tension can be built up in the intermediate element 121 when the hinge parts are pivoted. This distance is marked with h ₃ in FIG. 14. The tension element 18 or the rib 18 ′ additionally stiffen the hinge, as a result of which greater forces are built up overall when the hinge parts 101 , 102 are pivoted. The greater the distance h ₃ chosen, the greater the forces introduced into the expansion area of the hinge when the lid is opened.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view showing a further embodiment of the snap hinge on the basis of a square. Container lid, wherein the hinge with respect to the V-shaped notch and the arrangement of a tension element 18 is formed as shown in FIGS. 11 to 14. In addition, channels 20 , 20 'are provided between the roof surface elements 7 , 7 ' and the cover base sections 5 , 6 . In the present embodiment, the two channels 20 , 20 'are V-shaped.

The rear channel 20 ', ie the channel which is arranged towards the rear lid base section 5 , is formed by the rear roof surface 7 and the rear channel surface 21 , which rises obliquely from the rear channel bottom 23 up to the rear lid base section 5 .

The front channel 20 is formed by the front roof surface 7 ′ and the front channel surface 22 , which rises obliquely from the front channel bottom 24 up to the front cover bottom section 6 .

One reason for the arrangement of the two channels 20 , 20 'is that the vertical distance between the lid base 1 and the lid edge 3 in the direction of the lid axis 25 does not offer enough space to arrange the snap hinge according to the invention. Therefore, it may be necessary to first arrange channels 20 , 20 'in confined spaces in order to achieve a sufficient height for the roof surface elements 7 , 7 ' and for the notch 120 . The lid base 1 is then placed as close as possible to the lid edge 3 when the largest possible volume in the container must be available when the lid is closed. In addition, it is prevented that forces are introduced into the lid base sections 5 , 6 and the lid is deformed.

Figs. 16 to 18 show a plan view and two sections of the container lid shown in Fig. 15.

In FIG. 19, a round container 14 is illustrated with a corresponding container cover 15. The container lid 15 corresponds to the container lid shown in FIG. 11. The first hinge part 101 is fastened on the container edge 13 , for example by gluing or welding the lid edge 3 . The hinge part 102 can be released from the container edge 13 by pulling the tab 4 , so that the container 14 can be opened. Container rim 13 and container lid 15 are matched to one another so that the lid can be reclosed.

In FIG. 19, the opening angle γ is located, which denotes the angle between the container edge and the plane of the hinge part 102 and the lid base portion 6. If the hinge part 102 is pivoted about the hinge axis 10 , as shown in FIG. 20, the second snap position of the container lid 15 is reached at an angle γ <90 °. By introducing the expansion forces into the intermediate element 121 and the associated roof surface elements 7 , 7 ', two kink points 27 , 28 are formed in the hinge axis 10 in the area of the film hinge sections 9 , 9 '. The formation of the kinks 27 , 28 can be associated with a clicking sound, so that the user also perceives acoustically when the second snap position has been reached. The hinge part 102 is held in the open position by the kinks 27 , 28 and the tension built up in the snap hinge.

This open position is so stable that the entire container can be moved without the lid 15 falling shut. This makes it possible to drink from the opened cup without any problems. To close the lid or the second hinge part 102 only needs to be pivoted back so far that the snap position is overcome. The lid then jumps back into the starting position shown in FIG. 19. The container 14 is closed by lightly pressing on the container edge 13 .

reference numeral

1

Lid base

2nd

Top wall

3rd

Lid edge

4th

Tab

5

rear lid bottom section

6

front lid bottom section

7

rear roof panel

7

'' front roof surface element

8th

triangular surface element

8th

'' triangular surface element

9

first film hinge section

9

'' second film hinge section

10th

Hinge axis

11

Notch base

13

Container rim

14

container

15

Container lid

16

triangular surface element

16

'' triangular surface element

17th

square surface element

17th

'' square surface element

18th

Tension element

18th

'Rib

19th

Top edge of the rib

20th

trough-shaped depression

20th

'gutter-shaped depression

21

rear channel surface

22

front channel surface

23

rear channel bottom

24th

front channel bottom

25th

Cover axis

27

Kink

28

Kink

100

hinge

101

first hinge part

102

second hinge part

111

flat hinge element

112

flat hinge element

113

Stiffening wall

114

Stiffening wall

120

notch

121

Intermediate element

Claims (18)

1. One-piece snap hinge made of plastic, which has a first relaxed and a second tensioned snap position, with two hinge parts ( 101 , 102 ) pivotable relative to one another about a hinge axis ( 10 ) and a film hinge ( 9 , 9 ') located in the hinge axis ( 10 ) which is interrupted by at least one resilient intermediate element ( 121 ), characterized in that
that each hinge part ( 101 , 102 ) has a flat hinge element ( 111 , 112 ) and an angled roof surface element ( 7 , 7 ') attached to it,
that the hinge parts ( 101 , 102 ) are connected to one another in the hinge axis ( 10 ) via the roof surface elements ( 7 , 7 '), and
that the intermediate element ( 121 ) is designed as a notch ( 120 ) in the roof surface elements ( 7 , 7 '). 2. Snap hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the notch ( 120 ) is V or U-shaped. 3. snap hinge according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the intermediate element ( 121 ) has two triangular surface elements ( 8 , 8 '). 4. Snap hinge according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the intermediate element ( 121 ) has two square surface elements ( 17 , 17 '), to each of which a triangular surface element ( 16 , 16 ') connects on both sides. 5. snap hinge according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the notch ( 120 ) extends over the entire roof height h ₁ ( 13 ). 6. Snap hinge according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the notch ( 120 ) is bridged by means of a tension element ( 18 ) extending in the direction of the hinge axis ( 10 ). 7. snap hinge according to claim 6, characterized in that the tension element ( 18 ) is a U-shaped or V-shaped rib ( 18 ') in cross section. 8. snap hinge according to claim 7, characterized in that the upper edge ( 19 ) of the rib ( 18 ') is below the hinge axis ( 10 ). 9. snap hinge according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the roof surface elements ( 7 , 7 ') form an angle α between 80 ° and 110 ° in the first, relaxed snap position. 10. snap hinge according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the length X _{1 of} the film hinge sections ( 9 , 9 ') ≧ 1/4 of the length X _{2 of} the intermediate element ( 121 ). 11. Snap hinge according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized characterized in that the material thickness of the snap hinge under 0.45 mm.   12. Snap hinge according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the ratio X ₁ to X ₂ is set larger with increasing material thickness of the snap hinge. 13. Snap hinge according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that each hinge part ( 101 , 102 ) has at least one laterally erected stiffening wall ( 113 , 114 ), both on the flat hinge element ( 111 , 112 ) and on the roof surface element ( 7th , 7 ') is attached. 14. Container lid with a lid base ( 1 ) and a peripheral lid edge ( 3 ) offset from the lid bottom ( 1 ) via a lid wall ( 2 ), characterized in that
that the cover base ( 1 ) is divided into two flat cover base sections ( 5 , 6 ) which are connected to one another via two sloping roof surface elements ( 7 , 7 ') extending to the cover edge ( 3 ),
that the connecting line of the roof surface elements ( 7 , 7 ') forms a hinge axis ( 10 ) of a film hinge ( 9 , 9 '), and
that a resilient intermediate element ( 121 ) designed as a notch ( 120 ) is arranged in the roof surface elements ( 7 , 7 '). 15. Container lid according to claim 14, characterized in that a channel-shaped depression ( 20 , 20 ') is formed parallel to the hinge axis ( 10 ) in each case between the roof surface element ( 7 , 7 ') and the lid base section ( 5 , 6 ). 16. Container lid according to claim 15, characterized in that the groove-shaped recess ( 20 , 20 ') extends over the entire length of the roof surface elements ( 7 , 7 '). 17. Container lid according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the trough-shaped recess ( 20 , 20 ') is V-shaped. 18. Container lid according to one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the lid base sections ( 5 , 6 ) are of different sizes.