Closure Cap
The invention relates to a closure cap (1) with an outlet connection piece, which can be opened and closed by displacing a telescopic part (6) along a central axis of the closure and has a mouth portion (5), the telescopic part (6) being displaceable on the connection piece (4) while guided on the outside thereof, the closed position being latched and a closure stopper (9) being provided, molded onto the telescopic part (6) by means of cross-pieces (8) leaving throughflow openings (7). To provide a configuration enhancing its functional features but not requiring any significant additional expenditure, for instance with regard to a molding tool required, the invention proposes that the closure stopper (9) latching in the mouth portion (5) is molded on by means of cross-pieces (8) that run in superposed alignment with an end face (11′) of the connection piece (4).
The invention relates to a closure cap with an outlet connection piece, which can be opened and closed by displacing a telescopic part along a central axis of the closure and has a mouth portion, the telescopic part being displaceable on the connection piece while guided on the outside thereof, the closed position being latched and a closure stopper being provided, molded onto the telescopic part by means of cross-pieces leaving throughflow openings.
Closure caps of this kind, which may be screwed or press-fitted onto an associated container or connected to the container in some other way, are known in various embodiments. Reference is made for example to EP 1 065 150 A1.
Even if such closure caps have proven successful in principle and are widely encountered, there is still a need to configure such a closure cap in a way enhancing its functional features but not requiring any significant additional expenditure, for instance with regard to a molding tool required.
This object is achieved in the case of the subject matter of Claim 1 of the present application first and foremost by providing that the closure stopper latching in the mouth portion is molded on by means of cross-pieces that run in superposed alignment with an end face of the connection piece.
It is important that the latching in the mouthpiece portion of the connection piece is realized by the closure stopper. The fact that the connection of the closure stopper is provided by cross-pieces that reach over the end face of the connection piece, or at least run in superposed alignment with it, means that the telescopic part is formed substantially as a cup with throughflow openings formed in the base. As a result, a relatively large opening area can be realized overall. Depending on the configuration, in the closed state the throughflow openings are also effectively closed by the end face of the connection piece extending under them. It could even be provided that the end face protrudes into the throughflow openings by corresponding elevations. With regard to the comparison mentioned, the cup is slipped over the connection piece from above with the cup opening facing downward. Emptying in the opened state is also advantageous. The liquid leaving the container through the mouth can flow around the closure stopper and come out through the throughflow openings. Some of the throughflow openings may also be used at the same time for allowing air to enter. On the other hand, the end face of the telescopic part is substantially closed, in particular when a drink is taken directly from the closure cap.
The further claims represent advantageous configurations of the teaching presented in Claim 1, but may also respectively be of importance in their independent formulation.
Firstly, it is preferred that the mouth portion has a mouth funnel. The mouth funnel serves for receiving and introducing the closure stopper during the movement from the open position into the closed position. However, it is also advantageous with respect to running-out characteristics. This mouth funnel may be configured in such a way that it is made to taper toward the container. It correspondingly tapers from the outside inward. To this extent it is preferred that the mouth funnel is formed on the outer edge of the mouth, said outer edge forming the said end face, by means of its region of larger diameter. The mouth funnel is correspondingly provided in such a way that it is rotationally symmetrical in relation to a central axis of the closure cap.
It is also preferred that the said mouth portion has a latching portion, which in the closed state engages behind a corresponding latching formation of the closure stopper. For this purpose, it is further preferred that the closure stopper is formed with a corresponding configuration. In the closed state, a lower edge of the closure stopper protrudes beyond the lower edge of the mouth portion or of the funnel.
Together with the cross-pieces and a peripheral edge portion, which preferably also runs out into a projecting gripping edge, the upper or outer surface of the closure stopper forms a virtually planar end face. This is technically advantageous with respect to cleaning and at the same time also pleasant when it is used as a drinking closure. The openings between the cross-pieces are preferably of such a size that it is virtually impossible for the tongue to penetrate.
It is also preferred that, in the closed state, a cavity remains between an inner surface of the cross-pieces, or regions adjoining them, or at least adjoining or further regions of the telescopic part, and the associated end face of the connection piece. This is so because it has been found that, when this closure is used as a drinking closure on a bottle, which is the entirely customary way in which it is used, residues of liquid are deposited on the shoulder of the connection piece, for instance in the form of drops, in the open state. If the telescopic part is then pressed downward, to close the bottle, these residues of liquid are displaced and may even be squirted out. The said cavity, which is adapted to the quantity of the residues of liquid collecting there, prevents such occurrences. On account of the openings between the cross-pieces, which also remain in the closed state, such residues of liquid can then readily dry out however. On account of the surface tension, it is even unlikely for them to drip out if such a bottle happens to fall over.
With regard to the telescopic part, a special configuration is also obtained by the cross-pieces extending obliquely downward, as seen from the outer edge. In other words, in the case of this configuration the cross-pieces have an obliquely upward and outward extent, with respect to a horizontal line, starting from their radially inner region of attachment to the closure stopper. Therefore, the openings do not lie directly freely in the end face but are as it were formed in a funnel area. The angle with respect to the horizontal may vary. It is preferably an acute angle in the range from 5 to 85°. In principle, however, a right angle is also possible, whereby the openings then extend virtually in a cylindrical area.
A special measure also provides that lugs are formed in the end face of the connection piece in such a way that they are distributed and spaced apart from one another and are associated with a radially outer edge of the end face. These lugs may even be formed as spring elements, for instance by means of a certain undercut. This produces a punctiform support for the telescopic part on the connection piece in the closed state and possibly a certain pretensioning in the latching, which can contribute to even better sealing of the latching.
The invention is further explained below on the basis of the accompanying drawing, which however merely represents one exemplary embodiment. In the drawing:
Represented and described, first with reference to
The screw portion 2 goes over in a step-shaped manner, with step-shaped inward narrowing, into a connection piece 4 with a mouth portion 5.
A telescopic part 6 is guided on the outside of the connection piece 4. Formed on the telescopic part 6 are cross-pieces 8, which leave throughflow openings 7, cf.
The end face of the telescopic part 6 is made up of an outer edge portion 21, running around the periphery as a closed ring, and an inner closed end face 22, formed by the closure stopper, as well as the cross-pieces 8 extending in between. The edge portion 21 is extended into an overhanging gripping portion 23. As illustrated in further detail in
The cross-pieces 8 run in superposed alignment with an end face 11′ of the connection piece 4. The end face 11′ is made up specifically of the area component of the outer edge 11 and the area component of the funnel portion 10. In the case of the exemplary embodiment, the cross-pieces 8 respectively reach over both area components—even if not completely (in cross section).
As
To be specific, the mouth portion 5 forms a funnel portion 10, which goes over integrally with its region of larger diameter into an outer edge 11 on the end face of the mouth or the connection piece 4. The funnel part 10, which tapers approximately at an angle of 45° in relation to its perpendicular central axis and correspondingly tapers toward the container, goes over in its portion of smallest diameter into a vertical portion 12. This vertical portion 12 is at the same time used for the latching with the closure stopper 9. This is so because the closure stopper 9 has a vertical portion 13 of corresponding diameter and shape, which is exceeded in terms of diameter on the underside by an edge bead 14. On the upper side, the latching region 13 goes over via a widening portion 15 into a top stopper face 16.
Therefore, in the closed state the telescopic part 6 is latched by means of the latching portions of the mouth portion 5 and of the closure stopper 9.
If desired, a means of latching in the open state may also be formed on the outer surface of the connection piece 4, in the region where the telescopic part 6 interacts with the mouth portion 5. However, this is not the case in the exemplary embodiment.
The overcap 17, which can be seen in
The overcap 17 only fits in a latching manner onto the connection piece 4 when the closure stopper 9 is in the closed position according to
It is evident from the representations of
As
In the case of the embodiment of
A modified embodiment is represented with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13 of the drawing.
The modifications primarily concern the associated regions, at the end face, of the telescopic part 6 and of the connection piece 4.
As illustrated by
Any residues of liquid that may be deposited in this region in the open state consequently also find sufficient space in the closed state, so that they are not for instance squeezed out in the course of closing.
The distance a is in each case also provided in an encircling manner. In the case of the exemplary embodiment, therefore, the cavity is produced as a corresponding annular space, only interrupted by the lugs 27 in the region of the step face 29.
The lugs 27 are formed in the end face 11′ in the radially outer region, to be specific in the case of the exemplary embodiment in the region of the mentioned step face 29 of the connection piece 4. As is to be gathered from
The funnel portion 10 has a rib formation 30, which is moreover elevated above the end face 11, of the funnel 10. Starting from the upper, radially outer region of the funnel 10, this rib 30 is formed such that it extends radially inward. In the case of the exemplary embodiment, however, it ends at a distance before the vertical portion 13 of the closure stopper 9. Preferably, such a rib is only formed once over the circumference. It may be used for instance for orientation during assembly, if required in an individual case. As can also be gathered for instance from
As further illustrated for instance by the representation of a detail in
Further provided in the second step portion 33 of the connection piece 4 are tamperproof formations 34, in which the tamperproof ring 35 correspondingly engages, which leads to shearing off in the region 36 when the overcap 17 is removed for the first time.
The representations of
The embodiment of FIGS. 15 to 17 differs from the previously described embodiments in the main in that the throughflow openings 7 or the cross-pieces 8 forming them are shaped in such a way that a funnel-like extent of the telescopic part, widening radially outward, is obtained in this region.
With respect to a horizontal line H, the throughflow openings 7 that can be seen in
As illustrated by the perspective representation of
The radial width of a throughflow opening 7 may be provided preferably in the range from 1 to 3 mm, more preferably it may be 2 mm. The peripheral width of a throughflow opening 7, see also
All disclosed features are (in themselves) pertinent to the invention. The disclosure content of the associated/accompanying priority documents (copy of the prior patent application) is also hereby incorporated in full in the disclosure of the application, including for the purpose of incorporating features of these documents in claims of the present application.
Claims
1: Closure cap (1) with an outlet connection piece, which can be opened and closed by displacing a telescopic part (6) along a central axis of the closure and has a mouth portion (5), the telescopic part (6) being displaceable on the connection piece (4) while guided on the outside thereof, the closed position being latched and a closure stopper (9) being provided, molded onto the telescopic part (6) by means of cross-pieces (8) leaving throughflow openings (7), wherein the closure stopper (9) latching in the mouth portion (5) is molded on by means of cross-pieces (8) that run in superposed alignment with an end face (11′) of the connection piece (4).
2: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mouth portion (5) has a mouth funnel.
3: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mouth funnel is formed in such a way that it is made to taper toward the container.
4: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mouth funnel is formed on an outer edge (11) of the mouth portion by means of its region of larger diameter.
5: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mouth portion has a latching portion, which in the closed state engages behind a corresponding latching formation of the closure stopper (9).
6: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein, in the closed state, an inner surface (26) of the cross-pieces (8) and/or of the edge portion (21) and/or of the closure stopper (9) of the telescopic part (6) runs at a distance (a) from an end face (11) of the connection piece (4).
7: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the distance (a), formed over a radial extent and in the circumferential direction, forms a cavity which in the closed state accommodates residual liquid remaining there in the open state.
8: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the cross-pieces (8) extend upward with respect to a horizontal line, starting from their radially inner region of attachment.
9: Closure cap (1) according to claim 1, wherein the end face (11) is partly formed by lugs (27) disposed in such a way that they are distributed over the circumference and circumferentially spaced apart from one another.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 8, 2005
Publication Date: Jan 31, 2008
Inventor: Walter Knes (Hochst)
Application Number: 11/667,256
International Classification: B65D 51/00 (20060101); B65D 47/24 (20060101);