HK1148717B - Sheet-material piercer for a container closure - Google Patents

Description

Sheet material piercer for container closures

The present invention relates to a sheet material piercer for a container closure according to claim 1 and a container closure with a sheet material piercer according to the present invention according to claim 6.

Such a piercer for sheet material can be used for a closure of a push-pull container equipped with an additional chamber (8) for storing a substance in liquid or powder form.

In addition to the increase in the ever-expanding market share in the field of sports drinks, there is also a rapidly growing need to be able to supply beverages containing vitamins or enriched with other substances to suitable containers. There is also a clear trend to add these additives just immediately before use. Beverage bottles that can be operated with one hand are often popular. Beverage bottles with a so-called "push-pull" closure are suitable for this purpose. Such a beverage bottle can be not only easily opened but also closed again after use by simply pressing with a thumb.

WO 2006/099768 discloses a container closure for a container having a so-called "push-pull" closure. The container closure has a lid part with a sealing lip which can be placed around the container opening and which is movably attached to a sliding part of the lid part (for actuating the push-pull action), wherein the outflow opening can be released or closed by moving the sliding part over the lid part. A tearable or pierceable lid film is attached to the sealing lip, wherein an additional chamber which is closely separated with respect to the container contents is formed in the inner chamber of the lid portion facing the sliding portion. A film piercer (consisting of a pin and a tearing and piercing means) is also removably attached in the lid portion, wherein by actuating the film piercer the closure film can be torn or pierced and thus the additive that can be introduced into the additional chamber can enter into the container. A disadvantage of this membrane piercer is that it is constructed in two parts, which makes the manufacture and assembly of a container closure fitted with the piercer expensive and complicated.

It is therefore an object to provide an improved sheet material piercer for a "push-pull" container closure, and a container closure having a corresponding sheet material piercer.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1 and claim 6.

The solution comprises a sheet material piercer in one piece, having at least one seal-forming member arranged between an actuating end and a piercing end and configured for sealing and latchably contacting the container closure.

In a container closure for a container having a so-called "push-pull" closure and a sheet material piercer according to the invention, the sheet material piercer is insertable into the cap portion in a sealing and latching manner.

This therefore includes an improvement over the conventional container closures according to the prior art which was initially referred to and described in WO 2006/099768.

The main advantage of the sheet material penetrator according to the invention is its one-piece nature. In addition to being easier to manufacture, with the proposed solution it is achieved that during assembly of the container closure the sheet-material piercer only needs to be pressed into the lid portion from below and latched therein. Thus simplifying assembly.

At least one seal forming member arranged between the actuating end and the piercing end is configured for sealing and latchably contacting the container closure, which makes it possible to achieve the above-mentioned latched positioning of the sheet material piercer in the container closure.

In this case, the seal formation means a constructional feature by means of which the sealing effect is mainly achieved. In the present case, this can be achieved by achieving a form fit and a tight fit at the sealing point, that is to say, for example, by virtue of the natural elasticity and hardness of the material used. The generic term "seal forming member" is chosen because it is familiar to the person skilled in the art that these features, which are kinematically reversed, can in principle usually be realized in two complementary ways. Accordingly, a correspondingly shaped circular sealing web (web) may be provided on the sheet material piercer or the cap portion. However, since the sealing effect always requires the cooperation of parts (e.g. sealing web and sealing seat), it is preferably referred to as a seal forming member in the relevant position.

For the purpose of saving material, the at least one seal formation can be designed plate-like and for better guiding of the sheet material piercer into the lid portion, two such circular seal formations can be provided with the same circular diameter. Three circular plate-like seal forming members are particularly advantageous, since in the initial position (the plate-like piercer has not been actuated), a good seal can be obtained against the additional chamber facing outwards. In particular, the liquid additive is then particularly well protected.

A plate that is substantially slightly inclined at the piercing end of the sheet material piercer is also particularly advantageous. The plate may have a simple geometric shape, for example, a square. The closure membrane is reliably pierced by the inclined projecting edge and the area of the plate ensures that the piercing hole in the membrane is sufficiently large for the additive to enter the container completely and quickly.

The invention will be explained in detail hereinafter with reference to exemplary embodiments. In the figure:

figure 1 shows a cross-section of a sheet material piercer in a 'push-pull' container closure in a purchased state,

figure 2 shows a cross-section of a sheet material piercer in a 'push-pull' container closure in a pierced state,

figure 3 shows a cross-section of a sheet material piercer in a 'push-pull' container closure in the drinking state, an

Fig. 4 shows a 3D view of a container closure with a protective cover on top.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a sheet material piercer 1 in a 'push-pull' container closure 2 in a purchased state or in its initial position. In this position the 'push-pull' closure is closed, while the sheet material piercer 1 has not yet been actuated. In this case, the container closure 2 is located on the container 3 and the 'push-pull' closure is covered by an overlying protective shroud 4.

The container closure 2 has a lid portion 5 on which a slide portion 6 is located and is movable on the lid portion 5. In this case, the sliding portion 6 forms the actual 'push-pull' closure; i.e. it must be pushed or pulled into a position or other positions to close or open the container closure 2. This type of closure is also suitable for one-handed operation due to the flange 7. The container closure 2 also has said sheet material piercer 1 located in a central tubular guide 8. On the one hand, for reasons of saving material and, on the other hand, in order not to unnecessarily reduce the cross-section of the liquid outlet, the guide 8 is advantageously connected to the other parts of the cover part 5 by means of radially arranged material bridges 9. In the present exemplary embodiment, three material bridges 9 of this type are provided.

The lid part 5 furthermore has a pull-down lip 10, to which lip 10 a lidding film 11 is attached. In the intact state (and as long as the container closure 2 is on the container 3), the closure film 11 prevents any outflow of the container contents. The lidding film 11 forms an additional chamber 12, which additional chamber 12 is closely spaced with respect to the container contents in the inner chamber of the lid portion 5 facing the slider portion 6. It will be appreciated that the larger the additional chamber 12, the more the lip 10 is pulled downwards.

The sheet material piercer 1 is configured substantially rotationally symmetric and, as described above, is arranged movable in an axial direction (i.e. in the direction of its rotational symmetry axis R) and in the centre of the container closure 2. The axial movability of the sheet material piercer 1 is independent of the position of the push-pull part of the container closure 2, i.e. the sliding part 6.

The sheet material piercer 1 has an actuation end 13 and a piercing end 14. The actuation end 13 is designed as a plate for convenient manipulation, for example with the thumb of one hand. The piercing end 14 has a plate 15 arranged slightly inclined. The plate 15 may then have a simple geometric shape, for example a square. When the sheet-like material piercer 1 is depressed, the lidding film 11 is reliably pierced by the obliquely projecting edge of the lower end of the plate 15. The sheet-material piercer 1 as a whole has a substantially cruciform reinforcing profile along its longitudinal extension of its axis, which in turn makes it possible to save material while at the same time having good strength.

The sheet material piercer 1 further has a first plate-like circular seal-forming member 16 and a second plate-like circular seal-forming member 17, having the same circular diameter, and arranged between the actuation end 13 and the piercing end 14. The first seal forming member 16 and the second seal forming member 17 slide into the guide member 8. The sealing points a and B are located at the contact points of the seal forming members 16 and 17 and the guide member 8.

The sheet material piercer 1 also has a third sheet-like circular seal-forming member 18, which is likewise arranged between the actuation end 13 and the piercing end 14, but below the seal-forming members 16 and 17. The third seal forming member 18 is for closing the opening of the entire outlet. Thus, a further sealing point C is located at the point of contact of the seal-forming member 18 with the outflow tube of the lid portion 5. The end plate 19 has no sealing function but only serves as a visible decoration (clear termination in the unused state).

The or at least one of the seal-forming members 16, 17, 18 is constructed in such a way that, in the position shown in fig. 1, a lockable contact is also formed between the sheet-material piercer 1 and the guide 8 in the lid portion 5. For example, it may be implemented using a latching slot or notch of suitable dimensions. As a result of the disclosed construction, the sheet-material piercer 1 can be inserted into the cover part 5 from below and latched in the position shown with a certain pressure.

The additive, in particular the liquid, contained in the additional chamber is thus protected against outflow. The sealing points a, B, C prevent any outflow to the outside, in particular through the openings in the guide 8. The (intact) cover film 11 prevents any outflow towards the inside. Thus, even if the push-pull closure is opened in this position, the contents of the container 3 and the contents of the additional chamber 12 are still protected from flowing out.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of a sheet material piercer 1 in a 'push-pull' container closure 2 according to fig. 1 in a pierced state or in an activated position. In this position the 'push-pull' closure is still closed, but the sheet material piercer 1 is actuated, i.e. it is pressed downwards, and thus additive addition is achieved.

To reach this position, the sheet material penetrator 1 is pushed downwards by means of pressure on the actuation end 13 to such an extent that it no longer protrudes. The blocking function is also provided in this position, for example, it can be provided on the first seal-forming member 16 or the second seal-forming member 17. The torn cover film 11 is not shown here.

The sealing point D is now located at the point of contact of the first seal forming member 16 with the guide member 8. Which prevents any outflow of the contents mixed with the additive from the container through the opening of the belt guide 8. Additional sealing points E and F are located at the contact points of the sliding part 6 with the lid part 5. Which prevents any outflow of the contents mixed with the additive from the container from the push-pull closure which is still closed.

In the position shown in fig. 2, the sheet material penetrator 1 may still in principle be retracted again by overcoming the latching force and releasing the sheet material penetrator 1 completely from the lid portion 5.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of the sheet material piercer 1 in the 'push-pull' container closure 2 according to fig. 1 in a drinking position. In this position the 'push-pull' closure is open and the sheet material piercer 1 is still actuated. The container closure 2 is ready for drinking. The outflow path G is indicated by a directional arrow.

To reach this position, the sliding part 6 is pulled upwards. The contents of the container 3 can then flow outwardly through the drinking opening 20 via the outflow path G.

Fig. 4 finally shows a 3D view of the container closure 2 according to the invention with the protective cap 4 according to fig. 1 on top.

Since the function and operation of a conventional container closure 2 has been described in detail in the prior art (WO 2006/099768) described at the outset, this disclosure is also incorporated by reference.

Claims (8)

1. Container closure (2) for a container (3) with a so-called 'push-pull' container closure (2), comprising a sheet material piercer (1), said sheet material piercer (1) being configured substantially rotationally symmetric and being axially movably inserted in said container closure (2) in the direction of a rotational symmetry axis (R) independently of a push-pull part of said container closure (2),

wherein the sheet-material piercer (1) is of one piece type and has at least one seal-forming member (16, 17, 18), which at least one seal-forming member (16, 17, 18) is likewise configured rotationally symmetrically, is arranged between an actuation end (13) and a piercing end (14), and is configured for sealingly and lockably contacting the container closure (2), and

wherein the container closure (2) comprises: a lid part (5) which can be attached around a container opening and a slide part (6) which is movably attached to the lid part (5) in such a way that a drinking opening (20) can be released or closed by moving the slide part (6) over the lid part (5), wherein a tearable or pierceable lidding film (11) is attached to the lid part (5), whereby an additional chamber (12) is tightly separated from the container contents, which additional chamber is formed in an inner chamber of the lid part (5) facing the slide part (6), and the sheet material piercer (1) is likewise movably attached to the lid part (5), wherein, by actuating the sheet material piercer (1), the lidding film (11) can be torn or pierced and a substance which can be introduced into the additional chamber (12) can enter the container (3),

and wherein further

The additional chamber (12) of the container closure (2) is configured to closely contain a liquid or powdery uniform substance and the closure membrane (11) in the intact state prevents the container contents from flowing out through the drinking opening (20),

the sheet material piercer (1) and the sliding portion (6) being movable on the cover portion (5) independently of each other, and the cover film (11) being firmly connected to the cover portion (5),

and is

The sheet material piercer (1) can be positioned in the cover part (5) in a sealing and latching manner by means of the at least one seal forming element (16, 17, 18) both in the initial position of the sheet material piercer (1) and in the actuated position of the sheet material piercer (1).

2. A container closure (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container closure (2) is configured with a latching means for receiving the seal formation (16, 17, 18) on the sheet material piercer.

3. Container closure (2) according to claim 2, wherein the latching means are configured for sealing and latchable contacting the sheet material piercer (1), wherein the sealing and latchable contacting is provided in an initial position of the sheet material piercer (1) and in an actuated position of the sheet material piercer (1).

4. A container closure (2) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the latching means is a circular groove, web or step.

5. A container closure (2) as claimed in any preceding claim in which three circular seal forming members (16, 17, 18) are provided on the sheet material piercer.

6. A container closure (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein two circular seal forming members (16, 17) having the same circular diameter are provided on the sheet material piercer.

7. A container closure (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the circular seal forming member (16, 17, 18) is plate-shaped.

8. A container closure (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the piercing end (14) of the sheet material piercer (1) is a substantially inclined plate (15).