CREAM JAR

Abstract

A cream jar comprising an inner jar having an inner container for receiving a cream or a similar viscous fluid, an outer jar for receiving the inner jar, and a lid member, the lid member comprising a lid having a thread and a mating thread disposed on the inner jar and/or on the outer jar, the lid member being used to close the inner container of the inner jar, wherein the inner jar is replaceable, the inner jar and the outer jar forming a severable connection, said connection being a latching connection.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to German Patent Application no. 10 2019 126 132.5 filed Sep. 27, 2019, which application is incorporated herein by reference in it's entirety.

The disclosure relates to a cream jar comprising an inner jar having an inner container for receiving a cream or a similar viscous fluid, an outer jar for receiving the inner jar, and a lid member, the lid member comprising a lid having a thread and a mating thread disposed on the inner jar and/or on the outer jar, the lid member being used to close the inner container of the inner jar.

Cream jars of the kind mentioned above are sufficiently known. For instance, WO 2007/045474 A1 and WO 2016/066529 A1 show cream jars having an inner jar, an outer jar and a lid member. A cream or another viscous fluid is received by an inner container of the inner jar. The lid member is connected to the outer jar via a screw top so that the inner container of the inner jar can be closed. The screw top is suitable for repeatedly opening and closing the cream jar and thus for removing the cream or refilling the jar with the cream or another viscous fluid. The outer jar, the inner jar and the lid member are additionally characterized by the fact that the individual components of the lid member or the components of the outer jar and of the inner jar are connected to each other not only in a form fitting manner but also in a bonded manner, which creates a particularly stable and optically pleasing design of the cream jar. The disadvantage is that the components of the outer jar, of the inner jar and of the lid member are not easily separated from each other once they have been put together to form a cream jar. Since the outer jar, the inner jar and the lid member are often made of different materials, such as metal or plastics, cream jars according to the state of the art are not easy to recycle or to reuse because individual components of the cream jars cannot simply be severed from other components and be replaced.

Therefore, the object of the present disclosure is to propose a cream jar that is simple to produce while being more easily reused and recycled.

To attain said object, the cream jar according to the disclosure has the features of claim 1.

The cream jar according to the disclosure comprises an inner jar having an inner container for receiving a cream or a similar viscous fluid, an outer jar for receiving the inner jar, and a lid member, the lid member comprising a lid having a thread and a mating thread disposed on the inner jar and/or on the outer jar, the lid member being used to close the inner container of the inner jar. The inner jar is replaceable, the inner jar and the outer jar forming a severable connection, said connection being a latching connection.

The cream jar according to the disclosure offers the advantage that the connection formed between the inner jar and the outer jar is not a bonded connection formed by gluing or welding, for example, but a latching connection which can be established and severed repeatedly. By severing the latching connection, the inner jar of the cream jar can be removed and replaced with another inner jar, for example. This allows the outer jar to be reused by replacing the inner jar. If the outer jar is not going to be reused, the lid, the inner jar and the outer jar can be easily separated by severing the screw connection and the latching connection when the cream jar is to be disposed of. If the lid, the inner jar and the outer jar are made of different materials, these materials can simply be separated and thus be recycled separately. The lid and the outer jar can be made of metal, for example, in order to provide the cream jar with a particularly pleasing optical design. The inner jar, on the other hand, can be made of plastic, which makes production of the inner jar particularly simple and cost-efficient.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the inner jar has an axial edge web at a container opening, said axial edge web corresponding to an axial edge web formed on a container neck of the outer jar in such a manner that the axial edge web of the inner jar is in form-fitting contact with the axial edge web of the outer jar when the latching connection is established. The establishment of the latching connection in an axial edge web of the outer jar and an axial edge web of the inner jar makes production of a cream jar with a latching connection particularly simple.

Particularly advantageously, the axial edge webs of the inner jar and of the outer jar can be shaped inn such a manner that they are not visible from outside when the cream jar is closed with the lid member.

Preferably, the latching connection is realized by a latching element on the axial edge web of the inner jar and a corresponding mating latching element on the axial edge web of the outer jar. A connection between the latching element and the mating latching element can be established by lightly pushing them against each other and can be severed by lightly pulling. This is easily done by a person. The latching element and the mating latching element are simply introduced into or molded onto the axial edge webs of the inner jar and the outer jar.

Advantageously, the mating latching element of the outer jar can be a corrugation. In this case, the mating latching element is of a particularly simple design and is easily produced.

Furthermore, it is advantageous for the cream jar to have an axial anti-rotation means realized between the inner jar and the outer jar in at least one horizontal plane. The anti-rotation means counteracts rotating of the outer jar and the inner jar. This is particularly advantageous when a person wants to remove a cream or a viscous fluid from the inner container of the inner jar and strokes along the wall of the inner container, which can cause the inner jar to move with the finger if there is no anti-rotation means.

It is advantageous if the anti-rotation means comprises a contour on the inner container of the inner jar and a corresponding mating contour on the outer jar, the contour and the mating contour having a shape other than a circular shape. The shape other than the circular shape can be achieved by rounded portions, corners, polygons or other shapes. When the contour and the mating contour establish a form fit, relative rotating of the inner jar and the outer jar is no longer possible. Advantageously, the form fit between the contour and the mating contour is established at the same time as the latching connection.

Advantageously, the contour of the anti-rotation means can be realized on an outer wall of the inner container of the inner jar, an inner wall of the inner container having an essentially circular contour. The contour of the anti-rotation means is not visible to a person while said person removes a cream or a viscous fluid from the cream jar because the contour is disposed on an outer wall of the inner jar and thus faces the inner side of the outer jar. The inner wall of the inner container has a circular contour which allows simple and residue-free removal of the cream from the inner container so that no cream residue remains in corners or bulges of the inner wall.

Advantageously, the mating contour of the anti-rotation means can be formed by a radial edge web of the outer jar disposed on the container neck of the outer jar. Such a radial edge web of the outer jar is molded on the axial edge web of the outer jar, thus protruding therefrom. This makes the mating contour of the anti-rotation means particularly simple to produce because it can be die-cut or cut from a basic form of the outer jar. Additionally, a projecting edge strip in the shape of a radial edge web allows the mating contour to be produced in a particularly material-saving way.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the axial edge web of the inner container forms the latching element of the latching connection and the mating thread of the lid member on opposite sides, the latching element being formed on an inner wall of the axial edge web and the mating thread being formed on an outer wall of the axial edge web. The particular advantage is that the axial edge web of the inner container fulfills two functions, namely forming the latching connection and forming the mating thread. Since the latching element and the mating thread are formed on opposite walls, they can be realized and severed independently of each other.

For example, the latching connection can be severed while the lid is closed. Additionally, it is advantageous for the latching element and the mating thread to be disposed on the same axial edge web because this facilitates material-saving production since no more than one structure has to be molded in order to form the latching element and the mating thread.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the inner jar has a radial edge web, said radial edge web being disposed between the inner container and the axial edge web of the inner jar, the radial edge web being in contact with an inner wall of the lid when the inner container of the inner jar is closed with the lid member. This makes it possible for the inner container of the inner jar to be covered in a sealed manner without requiring a separate seal in the cream jar. Moreover, the radial edge web can have any width, which allows a desired appearance or a desired closure of the inner container to be achieved.

Advantageously, the lid member can have an insert, which can be disposed on the inner wall of the lid and which can be in contact with the radial edge web of the inner jar when the inner container of the inner jar is closed with the lid member. Using an insert in the lid of the lid member is advantageous in particular in order to avoid cream residue or residue of the viscous fluid on the inside of the lid and to simplify reuse of the lid, if applicable. The insert forms an additional layer between the lid and the inner container, said layer being preferably made of plastic or a rubber material, making it easily washable.

An insert of such a material additionally offers improved sealing properties, in particular when the lid and the inner container are made of different materials, such as metal and plastic. The insert can be replaceable, which simplifies cleaning of the insert and makes reuse of the lid member hygienic.

Advantageously, the insert of the lid member is connected to the inner wall of the lid in a form-fitting manner. This ensures that the insert cannot drop out of the lid. This is advantageous in particular when cream residue sticks to the insert and to the radial edge web of the inner jar, causing the insert to adhere to the radial edge web of the inner jar. The form-fitting connection between the insert and the inner wall of the lid prevents the insert from dropping out when the cream jar is opened by turning the thread and the mating thread.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the insert of the lid member has an edge which engages into a groove formed on the inner wall of the lid.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the outer jar has an opening at its underside, the opening of the outer jar allowing access to a surface at an underside of the inner jar from outside. First of all, such an opening of the outer jar at an underside leads to material being saved during production of the outer jar. Since the opening is disposed at the underside of the outer jar, it is not visible when the cream jar is set down, the opening thus not affecting the optical appearance of the cream jar. The fact that a jar bottom of the inner jar is accessible from outside through the opening allows a person to reach the inner jar from outside and to exert pressure on it, for example, said pressure being suitable for severing the latching connection. Thus, the outer jar and the inner jar can be separated particularly easily.

Advantageously, the opening of the outer jar can have a diameter which corresponds to at least a diameter of a human finger so that the latching connection can be severed without tools simply by using a finger to exert pressure on the underside of the inner jar from outside. This allows the outer jar and the inner jar to be separated at any times.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the lid is a hollow body, which can be composed of at least two connected lid elements. A lid of this kind makes a solid impression, while it is produced in a particularly material-saving way. This is advantageous if the lid is made of metal, for example. In this case, the lid, while maintaining its solid appearance, can be light and thus require particularly little material for production.

It is advantageous if the lid elements of the lid are bonded to each other. The bonded connection allows a stable connection of the lid elements to be established in a lid whose lid elements are made of the same material. When the lid elements are made of the same material, such as the same metal, the lid consisting of at least two lid elements can still be easily recycled.

Advantageously, the lid elements of the lid can be welded or glued together.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the outer jar is a hollow body, said hollow body being composed of at least two bonded outer jar elements, which are preferably a jar sleeve and a jar bottom. The bonded outer jar elements are preferably made of the same material, such as metal or plastic. Since the outer jar is a hollow body, little material is needed to produce the outer jar. Additionally, an outer jar made of outer jar elements consisting of the same metal is particularly easy to recycle.

It is advantageous for the outer jar elements of the outer jar to be welded or glued together. Additionally, a larger variety of shapes of the outer jar can be achieved while a large amount of material is saved when outer jar elements of different shapes are used.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the disclosure will be explained in more detail with the aid of drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of a cream jar;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cream jar illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a, FIG. 3b are sectional views of the cream jar;

FIG. 4a, FIG. 4b are more sectional views of the cream jar;

FIG. 5 is another sectional view of the cream jar.

FIG. 1 shows a closed cream jar 10, an outer jar 11 being closed with a lid 12 (FIG. 2) of a lid member 13. An inner jar 14 (FIG. 2) held by outer jar 11 is not visible from outside in this state.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of cream jar 10. Cream jar 10 has an outer jar 11 which is composed of a jar sleeve 15 and a jar bottom 47. Moreover, outer jar 11 has a container neck 16 and an opening 18 disposed at an underside 17 of outer jar 11. Inner jar 14 of cream jar 10 is realized in such a manner that it can be inserted into outer jar 11. Inner jar 14 comprises an inner container 19 having a container opening 20 facing lid 12 of cream jar 10. Lid member 13 of cream jar 10 comprises a lid 12 composed of two lid elements 21 and 48, and an insert 22. As shown in FIG. 3, lid member 13 has an internal thread 23 interacting with an external thread 24 on inner jar 14 to close cream jar 10.

FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b show sectional views of cream jar 10, FIG. 3a showing a vertical cross section through cream jar 10 and FIG. 3b showing a horizontal cross section along a section plane shown in FIG. 3a. Inner jar 14 and outer jar 11 are connected by a latching connection 25. Inner jar 14 has an axial edge web 26 at container opening 20, axial edge web 26 corresponding to an axial edge web 27 on container neck 16 of outer jar 11. Latching connection 25 has a latching element 28 on axial edge web 26 of inner jar 14 and a mating latching element 29 on axial edge web 27 of outer jar 11, mating latching element 29 being a corrugation in the case at hand. Latching element 28 of latching connection 25 is realized as an annular web on an inner wall 30 of axial edge web 26 opposite external thread 23 of lid member 13 formed on an outer wall 31 of axial edge web 26.

Outer jar 11 forms opening 18 at underside 17, a bottom 32 of inner container 19 accommodated in inner jar 14 being accessible from outside through said opening 18. A finger can be used to exert pressure on bottom 32 of inner jar 14 through opening 18 of outer jar 11 in order to sever the latching connection between inner jar 14 and outer jar 11 by a force acting in the axial direction. Since lid member 13 and inner jar 14 are in threaded engagement, latching connection 25 can be severed even when a container opening 20 of inner jar 14 is closed with lid member 13. As can further be seen, jar sleeve 15 of outer jar 11 forms an outer wall 33 and container neck 16 of outer jar 11.

As further shown in FIG. 3a, insert 22 accommodated in lid member 13 has an edge 36 which is insertable into a groove 37 formed on an inner wall 38 of lid 12. Insert 22 rests on a radial edge web 39 of inner jar 14 when lid 12 is closed.

The selected sectional view along section line in FIG. 3b shows an anti-rotation means 40 of cream jar 10. Anti-rotation means 40 has a contour 41 on an outer wall 42 of inner container 19 of inner jar 14 and a mating contour 43 on a radial edge web 44 connected to axial edge web 27 of outer jar 11. Contour 41 and mating contour 43 are in close contact with each other and have a shape other than a circular shape. In the illustrated embodiment of cream jar 10, contour 41 has four convex bulges engaging into four concave recesses of mating contour 43. The aim is for axial rotating of inner jar 14 and outer jar 11 to be prevented once contour 41 and mating contour 43 have been joined, which preferably happens during formation of the latching connection 25.

FIG. 4b shows a sectional view along a horizontal section plane IV-IV shown in FIG. 4a in such a manner that a hollow space 45 formed between outer wall 42 of inner container 19 of inner jar 14 and axial edge web 27 of outer jar 11 becomes visible. Additionally, contour 41 of outer wall 42 of inner container 19 can already be formed at section position Y-Y. Unlike the outer wall of inner container 19, which is provided with contour 41 having the shape other than a circular shape, an inner wall 46 of inner container 19 has a circular contour, which facilitates removal of the cream or of the viscous fluid from cream jar 10.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of cream jar 10 according to section line V-V in FIG. 4a, additionally illustrating the anti-rotation means formed between inner container 19 and outer jar 11 through the interaction between contour 41 formed on inner jar 14 on outer wall 42 of inner container 19 and mating contour 43 formed on radial edge web 44 of outer jar 11.

REFERENCE SIGNS

10 cream jar
11 outer jar
12 lid
13 lid member
14 inner jar
15 jar sleeve
16 container neck
17 underside
18 opening
19 inner container
20 container opening
21 lid element
22 insert
23 internal thread
24 external thread
25 latching connection
26 axial edge web IT
27 axial edge web AT
28 latching element
29 mating latching element
30 inner wall 26
31 outer wall 26
32 bottom
33 outer wall AT
34 inner wall AT
35 outer wall IT
36 edge
37 groove
38 inner wall of lid
39 radial edge web IT
40 anti-rotation means
41 contour
42 outer wall of inner container IT
43 mating contour
44 radial edge web AT
45 hollow space
46 interior of inner container IT
47 jar bottom
48 lid element

Claims

1. A cream jar comprising an inner jar having an inner container for receiving a cream or a similar viscous fluid, an outer jar for receiving the inner jar, and a lid member, the lid member comprising a lid having a thread and a mating thread disposed on the inner jar and/or on the outer jar, the lid member being used to close the inner container of the inner jar,

wherein

the inner jar is replaceable, the inner jar and the outer jar forming a severable connection, said connection being a latching connection.

2. The cream jar according to claim 1, wherein the inner jar has an axial edge web at a container opening, said axial edge web corresponding to an axial edge web on a container neck of the outer jar in such a manner that the axial edge web of the inner jar is in form-fitting contact with the axial edge web of the outer jar when the latching connection is established.

3. The cream jar according to claim 1, wherein the latching connection is established by a latching element on the axial edge web of the inner jar and by a corresponding mating latching element on the axial edge web of the outer jar.

4. The cream jar according to claim 1, wherein the mating latching element of the outer jar is a corrugation.

5. The cream jar according to claim 1, wherein the cream jar has an axial anti-rotation means realized between the inner jar and the outer jar in at least one horizontal plane.

6. The cream jar according to claim 5, wherein the anti-rotation means comprises a contour on the inner container of the inner jar and a corresponding mating contour on the outer jar, the contour and the mating contour having a shape other than a circular shape.

7. The cream jar according to claim 5, wherein the contour of the anti-rotation means is realized on an outer wall of the inner container of the inner jar, an inner wall of the inner container having an essentially circular contour.

8. The cream jar according to claim 5, wherein the mating contour of the anti-rotation means is formed by a radial edge web of the outer jar disposed on a container neck of the outer jar.

9. The cream jar according to claim 1, wherein the axial edge web of the inner container forms the latching element of the latching connection and the mating thread of the lid member on opposite sides, the latching element being formed on an inner wall of the axial edge web and the mating thread being formed on an outer wall of the axial edge web.

10. The cream jar according to claim 1, wherein the inner jar has a radial edge web, said radial edge web being disposed between the inner container and the axial edge of the inner jar, the radial edge web being in contact with an inner wall of the lid when the inner container of the inner jar is closed with the lid member.

11. The cream jar according to claim 1, wherein the lid member has an insert, said insert being disposed on the inner wall of the lid, the insert being in contact with the radial edge web of the inner jar when the inner container of the inner jar is closed with the lid member.

12. The cream jar according to claim 11, wherein the insert of the lid member is connected to the inner wall of the lid in a form-fitting manner.

13. The cream jar according to claim 11 wherein the insert of the lid member has an edge which engages into a groove of the inner wall of the lid.

14. The cream jar according to claim 1, wherein the outer jar has an opening at its underside, ajar bottom of the inner jar being accessible from outside through said opening of the outer jar.

15. The cream jar according to claim 14, wherein the opening of the outer jar has a diameter which corresponds to at least a diameter of a human finger.

16. The cream jar according to claim 1, wherein the lid is a hollow body, said hollow body being composed of at least two connected lid elements.

17. The cream jar according to claim 16, wherein the lid elements of the lid are bonded to each other.

18. The cream jar according to claim 16, wherein the lid elements of the lid are welded or glued together.

19. The cream jar according to claim 1 wherein the outer jar is a hollow body, said hollow body being composed of at least two bonded outer jar elements.

20. The cream jar according to claim 19, wherein the outer jar elements of the outer jar are welded or glued together.