US20180346206A1

US20180346206A1 - Closure comprising a hinged lid

Info

Publication number: US20180346206A1
Application number: US15/977,122
Authority: US
Inventors: Thorsten Leopold; Katja Gerhards; Bernd Wolter
Original assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Current assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Priority date: 2017-05-30
Filing date: 2018-05-11
Publication date: 2018-12-06
Also published as: DE102017209085A1; EP3409611A1; DE102017209085B4; KR20180131452A

Abstract

A closure for a container, including a base part, which can be fastened to a container opening in the container and has an outlet opening, and a hinged lid, which can pivot about a pivot axis towards the base part and closes the outlet opening in the base part in a closed position. The invention is wherein the base part has two opposing shoulders, the hinged lid being between the two shoulders in the closed position, and the two shoulders projecting beyond the hinged lid in a vertical direction. The hinged lid is therefore protected from impacts coming from the side and from above.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a closure for a container, the closure comprising a base part and a hinged lid. The closure can be fastened to a container opening in the container and has an outlet opening. The hinged lid can pivot about a pivot axis towards the base part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A closure of this kind is known for example from WO 2005/090185 A1. The closure can be placed on a bottle which is filled with a liquid cleaning agent. When in a closed position, the hinged lid closes the outlet opening in the base part. In that case, none of the cleaning agent can escape through the container opening or the closure. The hinged lid swinging out into an open position makes it possible to open the outlet opening such that cleaning agent can be removed from the bottle.
A trend can be observed, not only in the field of cleaning agents, whereby the conventional means for trading a product are being increasingly supplemented by new distribution routes via e-commerce platforms. In this case, the product in its primary packaging (for example the washing or cleaning agent in the bottle) is placed in shipping packaging (a shipping box) and is then transported to the customer via a parcel service.
The loads on the product or the primary packaging when being transported to the customer cannot be precisely defined. Firstly, the conditions during transportation to the customer cannot be specified. The shipping packaging may be exposed to different temperatures, vibrations and impacts. The shipping packaging may also fall from different heights during transportation.
Moreover, different padding may be used inside the shipping packaging. The amount of padding used also varies. Products are also sometimes dispatched without any padding. Different dimensions of the shipping packaging and the location or orientation of the primary packaging inside the shipping packaging have an effect on the loads on the primary packaging when being transported to the customer. Furthermore, it is not unusual for different products having correspondingly different primary packaging to be put together in one shipping package. The interaction between these different products cannot be gauged in advance.
Owing to the above uncertainties involved in distribution via e-commerce platforms, stringent requirements are placed on the mechanical stability of the primary packaging of the product. Tests relating to the shipment of liquid products (such as washing or cleaning agents) via e-commerce channels have demonstrated that the liquid product often inadvertently escapes, in particular from the closure, which is deformed, or may even break, during transportation. However, a bottle that has leaked, as well as the corresponding consequences, is deemed by the customers to be unacceptable and very inconvenient.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the problem addressed by the invention is that of developing a closure comprising a base part and a pivotable hinged lid such that a container provided with a closure of this kind is better suited for being distributed via e-commerce channels.
According to the invention, the base part has two opposing shoulders, the hinged lid being between the two shoulders in the closed position and the two shoulders projecting beyond the hinged lid in a vertical direction. The shoulders therefore protect the hinged lid from impacts or loads coming from the side and from above. This reduces the risk of the hinged lid breaking open or being damaged when subject to loads of this kind. This significantly reduces the risk of the product contained in the container inadvertently escaping.
In one embodiment, the opposing shoulders each have an upper shoulder edge, which edges extend in parallel with one another. In this case, the two upper shoulder edges define an approximately rectangular protective space, in which the hinged lid is located when in the closed position. The laterally arranged shoulders absorb impacts from the lateral direction and from above.
The terms “vertical direction” and “vertical impacts” each assume that the closure according to the invention is located on the container opening, the container standing on its container bottom and the container opening being directed upwards. In its closed position, the hinged lid is in an approximately horizontal plane. The hinged lid swinging upwards from the horizontal plane makes it possible for said hinged lid to be moved into the open position. In this process, the hinged lid leaves the protective space formed by the shoulders. If the container opening is not directed upwards, but rather oriented so as to be inclined relative to the vertical, the terms “vertical direction”, etc. should be interpreted accordingly.
In one embodiment of the invention, the upper shoulder edge extends in a longitudinal direction that extends transversely to the pivot axis. In this case, the protective space formed by the shoulder edges or shoulders can be precisely adapted to the shape of the hinged lid. The distance between the shoulder edges can be kept to a minimum, thus offering the hinged lid improved protection. The distance between the shoulders is preferably from 0.01 to 5 mm wider than the width of the hinged lid. The width of the hinged lid may be from 4 to 45 mm.
The upper shoulder edge can project beyond the hinged lid substantially over the entire length thereof. If the hinged lid has a first region which faces the pivot axis, a second central region and a third region which face away from the pivot axis, the upper edge projects beyond the hinged lid in all regions thereof, thus offering said hinged lid particularly good mechanical protection. However, the invention also includes embodiments in which, for example, the upper shoulder edge only projects beyond the second central region and the third region. In this case, the shoulder edge does not project beyond the first region and, in this case, the shoulder does not offer any direction protection from impact coming from above. Preferably, based on the entire longitudinal extension of the hinged lid from the pivot axis as far as an outer end, the shoulders project beyond more than 70, 80 or even 90% of the hinged lid. The entire longitudinal extension can assume values of between 20 and 80 mm.
The base part may have a rest for the hinged lid, it being possible for an inner shoulder wall of each shoulder to extend perpendicularly (90°+/−10°) from the rest as far as the upper shoulder edge. In this case, the height of the inner shoulder wall is greater than the vertical height of the hinged lid. The excess height (difference between the height of the inner shoulder wall and the vertical height of the hinged lid or the offset between the shoulder and the hinged lid) can be from 0 to 5 mm, preferably from 0.1 to 4 mm.
The offset can vary over the longitudinal extension of the hinged lid, either consistently or only narrowly. If the hinged lid has a bent shape, for example, in the longitudinal extension thereof, the individual shoulder edge can follow this shape and be bent at an identical or similar curvature. The rest of the base part may also be bent or curved.
In one embodiment, the hinged lid has a U-shaped cross section having two legs and a base that interconnects the legs. In this case, the open ends of the legs can rest against the rest of the base part when the hinged lid is in the closed position. The legs preferably extend in parallel with the inner shoulder wall of the shoulder.
The closure may be formed in one piece, the base part being expediently connected to the hinged lid by means of a film hinge. Therefore, the closure can easily be produced as an injection-molded part. The preferred material is a plastics material, in particular polyethylene or polypropylene.
So as to make it easier to open the hinged lid, its degree of grip can be increased by suitable means such as grip grooves or knobs. It is also conceivable for it to be made easier to open and close the hinged lid by providing grip regions made of a softer material (for example thermoplastic elastomers).
The base part may have a latching protrusion on an end opposite the pivot axis, which protrusion forms, on a lower face, a latching undercut for a latching lug of the hinged lid. In this case, a sloped or rounded portion for the latching lug can be provided on a top face of the latching protrusion in order to make it easier to close the hinged lid. The interaction between the latching protrusion and the latching lug secures the hinged lid in the closed position, even when the closure is deformed by external loads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in more detail with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross section of a closure according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross section along the line II-II in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a closure 1 comprising a base part 10 and a hinged lid 30. The base part 10 is rigidly connected to a container 2 (shown only in part) having an upwardly directed container opening 3. The closure 1 can be fastened to the container 2 or container opening in different ways, for example by being inserted therein and secured by a catch, screwed therein, etc. The container may be a plastics bottle having a container volume of from 75 ml to 5000 ml. A liquid product such as a liquid washing agent or a cleaning agent (for example an automatic dishwasher detergent) can be stored in the plastics bottle.
The base part 10 comprises a skirt 11, the lower peripheral rim 12 of which abuts the container 2. The skirt 11 transitions into a first shoulder 13 and a second shoulder 14. Since the base part 10 is symmetrical to a central axis 4, the shoulders 13, 14 each have the same structure. Therefore, the description of the first shoulder 13 applies similarly to the second shoulder 14.
The first shoulder 13 has an upper shoulder edge 15. An inner shoulder wall 16 extends from a rest 17 of the base part 10 for the hinged lid 10 as far as the upper shoulder edge 16. In the embodiment shown, the angle between the rest 17 and the inner shoulder wall is approximately 90°, meaning as defined by the invention the angle can vary from 85° to 125°.
On the left-hand side of the view in FIG. 1, the hinged lid 30 is connected to the base part 10 by means of a film hinge 31. In this case, the film hinge 31 defines a pivot axis for the hinged lid 30, which axis extends perpendicularly to the drawing plane in FIG. 1. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the hinged lid 30 in a closed position.
The rest 17 extends from the film hinge 31 at a slight incline, it being noted that the rest may have regions against which the hinged lid 30 does not rest. A circular outlet opening 18 is made in the center of the rest 17, in which opening a cylindrical stopper 32 of the hinged lid 30 is located. The stopper 32 closes the outlet opening 18 such that the liquid product located in the container cannot escape to the outside through the container opening 3. As can be seen from the drawings, a downwardly directed connecting piece 19 of the base part 10 projects into the container opening 3.
The hinged lid 30 has the shape of a bent strip having a U-shaped cross section. The cross section includes two parallel legs 33 and a base 34 that is perpendicular thereto. In this case, the length of the leg 33 is smaller than the height of the inner shoulder wall 16. Accordingly, there is an offset R between the upper shoulder edge 15 and the base 34. Therefore, the first shoulder 13 projects beyond the hinged lid 30 in the vertical direction. Naturally, this also applies, mutatis mutandis, to the second shoulder 14. In the view in FIG. 2, the entire hinged lid 32 is below an imaginary connecting line (not shown) between the upper edge 15 of the first shoulder 13 and the upper edge of the second shoulder 14. In other words, the two opposite shoulders 13, 14 form a protective space for the hinged lid 30. This protective space prevents impacts on the closure coming from the side or from above having a direct effect on the hinged lid 30. This reduces the risk of the hinged lid 30 being released from the shown closed position and the liquid product being able to escape the container.
FIG. 1 shows that the shoulders 13, 14 or the upper edges 15 thereof do not necessarily project beyond the hinged lid 30 over the entire longitudinal extension thereof, proceeding from the film hinge 31 as far as an opposite end 35. But according to the present invention closure types are preferred, where the shoulders 13, 14 vertically project beyond the predominant part of the hinged lid 30, with regard to the longitudinal extension thereof.
In the vicinity of the film hinge, the offset R, i.e. the excess height of the upper edge 15 in relation to the hinged lid 30, moves away from zero at a point indicated by S or can also be of a value less than zero. However, the hinged lid 30 is protected from external impacts or the like predominantly by means of the excess height of the shoulders 13, 14.
On the opposite end 35, the hinged lid 30 has a latching lug 36 which engages with a latching protrusion 20. On a lower face, i.e. on a face facing the container 2, the latching protrusion 20 forms a latching undercut, behind which the latching lug engages when the hinged lid is in the closed position. The latching protrusion 35 is rounded on the upper face. The protrusion being rounded helps to push the hinged lid 30 into the closed position shown here.
In order to open the hinged lid 30, a finger grip 37 is provided at the end 35. Putting a finger on the finger grip 37 and pushing the end 35 upwards or deforming said end makes it possible to release the latching connection between the latching lug 36 and the latching protrusion 20, such that the hinged lid 30, in the view in FIG. 1, can be swung upwards in the anticlockwise direction. In this process, the stopper 32 is pulled out of the outlet opening 18 and clears said opening. The film hinge 31 can be designed such that the hinged lid 32 is pushed into a defined open position by resilient restoring forces (for example offset by 180° relative to the shown closed position). In order to close the hinged lid, said lid is swiveled back in the clockwise direction until the latching lug 36 abuts the upper face of the latching protrusion 20. A compressive force from above pushes the latching lug 36 outwards as a result of the rounded portion, such that it can pass over the latching protrusion 18. It is then locked in the shown position.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 closure
2 container
3 container opening
4 central axis
10 base part
11 skirt
12 lower rim
13 shoulder (first shoulder)
14 shoulder (second shoulder)
15 upper shoulder edge
16 inner shoulder wall
17 rest
18 outlet opening
19 connecting piece
20 latching protrusion
30 hinged lid
31 film hinge
32 stopper
33 leg
34 base
35 end
36 latching lug
37 finger grip

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A closure for a container, comprising a base part, fastened to a container opening in the container having an outlet opening, and a hinged lid, that can pivot about a pivot axis towards the base part and closes the outlet opening in the base part in a closed position, characterized in that the base part has two opposing shoulders, the hinged lid being between the two shoulders in the closed position, and the two shoulders projecting beyond the hinged lid in a vertical direction.

2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the opposing shoulders each have an upper shoulder edge, which edges extend in parallel with one another.

3. The closure according to claim 2, wherein the upper shoulder edge extends in a longitudinal direction that extends transversely to the pivot axis.

4. The closure according to claim 2, wherein the upper shoulder edge projects beyond the hinged lid substantially over the entire length thereof

5. The closure according to claim 2, wherein the base part has a rest for the hinged lid, an inner shoulder wall extending quasi perpendicularly from the rest as far as the upper shoulder edge.

6. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the hinged lid has a U-shaped cross section having two legs and a base that interconnects the legs.

7. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the closure is formed in one piece, the base part being connected to the hinged lid by means of a film hinge.

8. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the base part has a latching protrusion on an end opposite the pivot axis, which protrusion forms, on a lower face, a latching undercut for a latching lug of the hinged lid.

9. The closure according to claim 1, wherein a sloped or rounded portion for the latching lug is provided on a top face of the latching protrusion.