HK1238617A1 - Container comprising a single-piece head section - Google Patents

Description

Container with one-piece head

Technical Field

The invention relates to a container, in particular made of plastic material, which is produced according to a blow molding method, a filling method and a sealing method, having a container body for receiving a fluid and a neck connected to the container body, which neck has a discharge opening for the fluid at its free end, which discharge opening is closed via a separating region by a head, which can be moved away from the neck by separating the separating region by actuating a movable sleeve part in order to release the discharge opening.

Background

Manufactured by blow molding, filling and sealing (BFS) methods, as described, for example, in EP2269558A1, and also named in the professional world "System "known plastic containers are used for the packaging of food and beverages and, very beneficially in the pharmaceutical industry, for pharmaceutical, diagnostic, enteral nutrition and medical products such as irrigation and dialysis solutions (Spuel-und diaysoleesung) and the like. By usingThe blow molding method has the advantage of constructing the container neck and the head closing the removal opening in the neck in one piece: the container contents are in contact with only one of the polymers constituting the container material, typically a plastic such as LDPE (low density polyethylene), HDPE (high density polyethylene) or PP (polypropylene). In the case of the containers thus produced and filled, a low level of sterility of the container contents can thus be ensured over a relatively long period of time.

The separating region, via which the head is molded onto the neck, is designed in the case of such containers as a standard breaking point, at which the head can be separated from the neck for the removal process. In order to enable a user to separate the separation region reliably and easily, a container of the type mentioned initially has been known from US4176755, which as an opening or tear-off aid has an actuating element in the form of a sleeve element which can be actuated by the user and which in its ready position encloses the neck and at least parts of the head in the form of an outer ring which can be actuated by the user and which in the actuated state separates the separation region by tearing off a predetermined breaking point.

Disclosure of Invention

Starting from this prior art, the object of the invention is: containers of this type are further improved with regard to particularly good use properties.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a container having the features of claim 1 in its entirety.

The main features of the invention are therefore: the sleeve element is guided from an unactuated state to an actuated state, in which the separating region is separated, at least partially against a guide rail, which is part of the head to be separated. What is achieved in this way is: the sleeve member is coaxially aligned with the head portion, thereby achieving a more uniform loading of the separation region upon separation than in the prior art mentioned. A reliable disconnection process over the entire circumference of the removal opening is thus ensured even in the case of removal openings with a comparatively large opening diameter having a correspondingly extended separation region.

For actuating the sleeve element, an external thread can advantageously be provided on the neck and an internal thread on the sleeve element that can be brought into engagement with this external thread, wherein the separation region can be separated by screwing the sleeve element such that the discharge opening is released. By means of the screwing process, a comparatively high actuating force can be generated in a particularly comfortable manner, so that the operation of the container according to the invention is particularly comfortable and labor-saving for the user.

The following arrangement can be particularly advantageously adopted: when the sleeve element is screwed on, the separating region can be separated in that the bearing projection of the sleeve element, bearing against the head, carries this head so as to separate the separating region.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the sleeve part has flexible contact fingers (angelefinger) on its free end face, which engage with projections on the head from the underside by screwing the sleeve part. The sleeve element can thus be brought into a ready position by partial screwing, in which the sleeve element is fixed to the head by snapping in of the abutment fingers, but can nevertheless be twisted relative to this head. After the removal process has been carried out by further screwing of the sleeve element, the contact fingers, when the sleeve element is subsequently screwed out, carry the head, which has been detached from the detachment zone, to this sleeve element, after the sleeve element has been removed, without being able to be lost.

In order to provide the user with the possibility of carrying out the removal process both by screwing and by unscrewing the sleeve piece, the following arrangement can be used: by unscrewing the sleeve part without separating the separating region, the protruding contact fingers which catch the head from the underside carry this head with the separating region separated.

The guide for the actuating movement of the sleeve element can be formed particularly advantageously on the outer side of an annular collar surrounding the head, which extends between the separating region and an annular groove, which annular collar forms a space on the head for receiving the finger. The boundary wall of the annular groove can thus serve as a full surface projection for supporting the finger. Here, the outer diameter of the annular flange may coincide with the inner diameter of the neck in the region of its outer thread, and the annular flange may have an axial extension whose length coincides with the axial length of the annular groove measured over its minimum diameter width (Durchmesserweite).

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the sleeve element rests with an associated contact surface over the entire surface of the guide rail with the contact fingers of the sleeve element engaging the projection of the head from the underside, wherein the contact projection of the sleeve element overlaps the end of the annular flange at the upper end of the guide rail. The contact surface of the sleeve element thus forms a complete enclosure of the annular collar of the head, so that in the event of an actuating or breaking force transmitted via the contact projection, a support is formed which prevents the radial deflection of the separation region of the head under the action of the actuating force and thus ensures a particularly reliable breaking operation.

In order to transmit the separating or breaking force particularly reliably, a bead may be present on the inner circumferential side of the annular collar, which bead projects inward in the direction of the separating region and is connected to this separating region. This reinforcement rib can, at least when the sleeve part is not actuated, form a wedge, viewed in cross section, the longest transverse edge (Querschenkel) of which ends in the direction of the neck at the separation region and is arranged at a distance parallel to the further limit of the interruption of the reinforcement rib.

In order to correspondingly strengthen the opening edge of the neck, the outlet opening of the neck can be limited by an annular bead which borders the separating region with its maximum cross-sectional dimension (quartschnittsass) in a manner projecting beyond the separating region in the direction of the non-operated sleeve part.

Furthermore, the following arrangement structure may be adopted: the outer contour of the sleeve element is provided with an inclined surface in the direction of the outlet opening of the finger, which inclined surface is adapted to the inclined position of the finger. In this way, in the starting position, in which the sleeve element is only partially screwed in, i.e. before the ready position is reached, the inclined surface of the sleeve element forms a substantially soft and therefore visually and tactually pleasant transition from the contact finger to the upper side of the head.

Drawings

The invention is explained in detail below with the aid of embodiments shown in the drawings.

In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a perspective oblique view of an embodiment of a container according to the invention with the opening manipulation element in the ready position, shown in approximate natural dimensions of the actual embodiment;

fig. 2 shows a view corresponding to fig. 1, with the actuating element omitted;

fig. 3 shows a longitudinal section of only the region of the neck and head of the container, shown on a larger scale, with the actuating element in the starting position of partial screwing;

fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section corresponding to fig. 3, with the actuating element shown in the ready position;

fig. 5 shows a sectional view corresponding to fig. 3 and 4, in which the actuating element is shown in the screwed-on position after opening of the container;

fig. 6 shows a corresponding sectional view, in which the actuating element is shown in a position partially unscrewed from the opened container.

Detailed Description

As can be seen from fig. 1 and 2, the present exemplary embodiment of a container according to the invention has a container body 1 in the form of a plastic bottle which has a square cross section with rounded corner regions about a central main axis 3 and is designed with a fill volume of 150ml for accommodating liquids. As is best shown in fig. 2, a neck 5, which is coaxial with the axis 3 and has a diameter corresponding approximately to half the width of the main part 1, is formed on the upper side of the main part 1 and is provided on the outside with an external thread 7 over approximately half the length. As is shown most clearly in fig. 3 to 5, in its upper region, the neck 5 has, at a slight axial distance from the uppermost thread path of the external thread 7, an annular surface 9 which extends obliquely upward radially inward in the direction of the axis 3 and at the upper end merges into an upward and outward end surface 11 which extends away from the axis 3 and which surrounds an outlet opening 13 of the neck 5 along an edge (endland). In this case, an edge bead 15 projecting slightly outward is formed on the edge of the removal opening 13. A head 17 is formed as a one-piece component of the neck 5 on the edge of the removal opening 13 as a closure for this removal opening 13, wherein the edge bead 15 together with the bead 19 on the facing end of the head 17 forms a separation region in which a predetermined breaking point is formed at the connection between the edge bead 15 and the bead 19, at which point the head 17 can be separated from the neck 5 for opening the removal opening 13. The ribs 19 are located as wedge-shaped projections projecting radially inward at the end of the annular flange 21, the outer side of which forms a cylindrical outer circumferential surface 23, on the upper end of which a step surface 25 is formed which limits the radial extent of the cylindrical outer circumferential surface 23 and which extends radially inward into a connecting annular groove 27 of the head 17. The upper end of the annular groove 27 is limited by a flange-like projection 29 projecting radially outward, which projects into an upper end face 31 of the head 17.

As a break-off aid for separating the head 17 at the intended breaking point formed at the separation region 15, 19, a sleeve element 35 having an internal thread 37 in the longitudinal section of the cylinder and a longitudinal groove 39 on the outside can be screwed onto the external thread 7 of the neck 5. A bevel 41 is connected to the peripheral section with the groove 39, which reduces the outer diameter of the sleeve element 35 toward the upper free end. The ring of the contact fingers 43 extends from the inclined surface 41 toward the upper end, wherein the contact fingers 43 are inclined toward the axis 3. In the region between the inclined surface 41 and the abutment finger 43, the sleeve element 35 forms an abutment shoulder 45 on the inside in the form of an annular surface lying in a radial plane.

Fig. 3 shows the sleeve element 35 in an only partially screwed-in starting position, in which the abutment projection 45 is spaced apart from the stepped surface 25 on the annular flange 21 and the abutment fingers 43 extend as far as the upper end face 31 of the head 17. Fig. 4 shows a state in which, after further tightening, the sleeve element 35 is in a ready position in which the abutment finger 43 snaps into the annular groove 27 of the head 17 below the projection 29. In this case, the sleeve element 35 is moved downward to such an extent that a cylindrical inner contact surface 47 in the region of the inclined surface 41 on the sleeve element 35 contacts the outer cylindrical outer circumferential surface 23 of the annular collar 21 over the entire surface. The cylindrical outer circumferential surface 2 thus forms a guide for the sleeve element 35, on which the sleeve element 35 is guided during its axial movement during the tightening process. When the screw is screwed in from the ready position shown in fig. 4 to the open position shown in fig. 5, in which the contact surface 47 of the sleeve element 35 slides on the guide wall formed by the cylindrical outer circumferential surface 23 of the annular flange 21, the contact projection 45 of the sleeve element 35 overlapping the step surface 25 of the annular flange 21 carries the head 17 along, so that the intended breaking point at the separation region 15, 17 breaks and the removal opening 13 is opened, see fig. 5, which shows this state.

Fig. 6 shows the sleeve element 35 in a position in which the sleeve element 35 is partially unscrewed from the position shown in fig. 5 after an opening or disconnection process. In this axial movement, the head 17 is moved by the abutment fingers 43 engaging the projections 29 from the underside, so that the head 17 is removed together with the sleeve element 35 in the fully unscrewed state and the head 17 is fixed in the removed sleeve element 35 in a manner that cannot be lost. In this way, the head 17 can be used without additional work steps by the operator if it is intended to be screwed again subsequently in order to be screwed again with the sleeve element 35. Since the sleeve element 35 forms the seat for the annular flange 21 with its inner contact surface 47, which bears on the entire circumferential surface of the cylindrical outer circumferential surface 23 of the annular flange 21, which surface forms the guide track, a reclosing of the removal opening 13 can be achieved by screwing and by the bead 19 bearing on the annular surface 9 of the neck 5, see fig. 5.

In the case of a sufficiently rigid design of the contact fingers 43, the opening process can also be carried out by selecting the sleeve element 35 from the ready position (fig. 4), wherein the contact fingers 43 carry the head 17 of the latching projections 29 from the underside in the upward-extending axial movement for the upward-extending opening movement.

Claims (13)

1. Container, in particular made of plastic material, produced according to a blow molding method, a filling method and a sealing method, having a container body (1) for receiving a fluid and a neck (5) connected to the container body (1), which has a discharge opening (13) for the fluid at its free end, which is closed via a separating region (15, 19) by a head (17) which can be removed from the neck (5) by separating the separating region (15, 19) by actuating a movable sleeve element (35) for releasing the discharge opening (13), characterized in that: the sleeve element (35) is guided at least partially against a guide rail (23) which is part of the head (17) to be separated, from the non-manipulated state to the manipulated state in which the separation region (15, 19) is separated.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein: for actuating the sleeve element (35), an external thread (7) is provided on the neck (5) and an internal thread (37) on the sleeve element (35) that can be engaged with the external thread, and the separation region (15, 19) can be separated by screwing the sleeve element (35) together, releasing the outlet opening (13).

3. The container of claim 1 or 2, wherein: when the sleeve element (35) is screwed in, the separating region (15, 19) can be separated in that an abutment projection (45) of the sleeve element (35) brings the head (17) into abutment with said head in order to separate the separating region (15, 19).

4. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the sleeve element (35) has flexible contact fingers (43) on its free end face, which engage with projections (23) on the head (17) from the underside by screwing the sleeve element (35) on and which, when the sleeve element (35) is unscrewed, move the head (17) when the separating regions (15, 19) are separated.

5. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: by unscrewing the sleeve part (35) without separating the separating regions (15, 19), the contact fingers (43) of the projections (24) which engage the head (17) from the underside carry the head with the separating regions (15, 19) separated.

6. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the guide track is formed on the outer side (23) of an annular collar (21) surrounding the head (17), said annular collar extending between the separating regions (15, 19) and an annular groove (27) which forms a space for receiving the contact fingers (43) on the head (17).

7. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the outer diameter of the annular flange (21) corresponds to the inner diameter of the neck (5) in the region of its outer thread (7).

8. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the annular flange (21) has an axial extension whose length coincides with the axial length of the annular groove (27) measured over its smallest diametrical width.

9. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: when the contact fingers (43) of the sleeve element (35) engage the projections (29) of the head (17) from the underside, the sleeve element (35) rests with an associated contact surface (47) over the entire surface on the guide rail (23) of the annular flange (21), and the contact projection (45) of the sleeve element (35) overlaps the end (25) of the annular flange (21) at the upper end of the guide rail (23).

10. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: on the inner circumferential side of the annular collar (21), there is a bead (19) which projects inwards in the direction of the separating region (15, 19) and is connected to this separating region.

11. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: at least in the case of the sleeve element (35) not being actuated, the reinforcing rib (19) is configured in the shape of a wedge, viewed in cross section, the longest transverse side of which ends in the direction of the neck (5) in the separating region (15, 19) and is arranged parallel to and at a distance from the limit of the further stop-off reinforcing rib (19).

12. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the outlet opening (13) of the neck (5) is limited by an annular bead (15) which borders the separating region (15, 19) in its largest cross-sectional dimension in the direction of the non-actuated sleeve part (5) in a manner projecting beyond the separating region (15, 19).

13. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the outer contour of the sleeve element (35) is provided with an inclined surface (41) in the direction of the outlet of the contact finger (43), said inclined surface being adapted to the inclined position of the contact finger (43).