EP0653359A1 - Closure device for a container comprising a manually actuated pump - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure device (10) for a container (12) having a crimped edge (18) surrounding the container mouth (14). The closure device (10) comprises an adapter (46), a coupling ring (40) and a protective cap (26), the union ring (40) being arranged so as to be displaceable on the adapter (46). The adapter (46) has a plurality of downwardly extending snap-in arms (6) for gripping an annular flange (48) of a pump (20) and for engaging above and subsequently below the crimped edge (18) of the container (12). The protective cap (26) engages with the union ring (10, 100) over the adapter (4), so as to be axially displaceable, towards the container (12), a releasable interlock possibly being provided, by means of which the union ring (40) is fixed on the adapter (46). This design has the advantage that an intimate and tight connection between the closure device (10) and the container (12) can be achieved, which is considerably simplified by a single, axial fixture because the closure device can be supplied as a compact assembly unit which comprises the adapter (46), the union ring (40), the protective cap (26) and the pump (20). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a closure device for a container with a manually operated pump according to the preamble of claim 1.

Containers are often equipped with a spray head and a so-called standard pump, the housing of which is attached to the container neck by a fastening ring. The connection of the closure device to the filled container requires a fluid-tight connection which is visually appealing, has no sharp or protruding edges and corners and is as simple to manufacture as possible.

So far, various operations have been required to close a filled container by means of a closing device. You have to fix the pump on the neck of the container, then slide the coupling ring over it and finally put on the protective cap. For this purpose, the individual components of the closure device are stored separately and, as mentioned, individually fed to an assembly station.

The invention has for its object to provide a closure device that together with the pump in a single assembly step on filled containers or Bottles can be plugged on, so that the assembly effort can be reduced and storage can be simplified.

The invention solves this problem by the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention result from the subclaims.

The invention achieves a stable and tight connection between the closure device and the container by means of a single, axial push-on operation, in which the adapter is axially bounced onto the container opening. Since the closure device can be delivered as a compact assembly unit, which preferably consists of an adapter, coupling ring, protective cap and standard pump, the delivery with closure devices and their storage and assembly can be considerably simplified.

Another advantage achieved by the invention is that the snap arms which bring about the actual connection are covered by the coupling ring and are thus secured in their fastening position on the Crimean rim of the container. Furthermore, the closure device has a smooth and form-fitting structure that looks appealing and is easy to handle.

Before the closure device according to the invention is assembled, the container is first filled with the corresponding, usually cosmetic, liquid, and in a subsequent step the entire closure device is completely bounced onto the container. The force to be axially applied to the protective cap is transmitted to the adapter via the coupling ring, the initial position assignment between the coupling ring and adapter initially remaining unchanged due to the effect of the lock. Due to the impact force acting on the protective cap, the snap arms arranged on the circumference of the adapter are over the Crimean rim of the container is pushed under an elastic, radially outward bend and snap behind or under the Crimean rim.

Due to the impact force still exerted on the protective cap, the resistance of the lock between the adapter and the collar ring is now overcome after the adapter can no longer evade the applied impact force, and the collar ring moves further in the axial direction over the adapter and its snap arms. As a result, the snap arms are locked at the Crimean rim, so that the adapter is fastened axially immovably on the container. The coupling ring is preferably displaced in the direction of the container until its container-side or lower edge rests on the container shoulder. The coupling ring is preferably dimensioned such that there is a friction fit between it and the adapter, so that the coupling ring is held relatively firmly on the outside of the adapter, but is displaceable. When the coupling ring is in contact with the container, the closing process of the container is finished. The protective cap can then be easily removed from the adapter and replaced.

The closure device according to the invention is particularly suitable for assembly with cosmetic pumps and spray heads, as are often used for spray containers with which fragrances such as perfumes, room sprays and deodorants are sprayed. It is expedient to dimension the union ring axially so that it surrounds the adapter in the assembled state at the level of the lower edge of the ring flange of the pump.

The protective cap preferably has on the underside of its head wall an axial, cylindrical guide socket which, with a slight friction fit, encompasses the coupling ring, which serves as a holder for the protective cap.

The invention enables simple bulk filling of containers, whereupon successively and / or simultaneously one of the closure devices according to the invention can be inserted mechanically by the filler onto the container in a single operation without the need for complex control devices for monitoring the closure process.

Fig. 1, 2 und 3

eine erste Ausführungsform einer Verschlußvorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung in drei verschiedenen Stellungen des Verschließvorgangs;

Fig. 4, 5, 6 und 7

eine zweite Ausführungsform einer Verschlußvorrichtung gemäß der Erfindung in drei verschiedenen Stellungen des Verschließvorgang; und

Fig. 8

die Verschlußvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 7, jedoch mit einem Adapter, dessen Schnapparme zwei Rastnuten aufweisen.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of schematic drawings. Show it:

1, 2 and 3

a first embodiment of a closure device according to the invention in three different positions of the closing process;

4, 5, 6 and 7

a second embodiment of a closure device according to the invention in three different positions of the closing process; and

Fig. 8

7, but with an adapter, the snap arms have two locking grooves.

1 to 3, a closure device 10 for closing a bottle or a container 12 is shown, the opening 14 of which is provided at the upper end of its neck 16 with an outer Crimean rim 18. The closure device 10 has a manually operable pump 20, which is preferably made of plastic and the cylinder 22 of which protrudes from the container opening 14, has an invisible, axial passage channel and on the upper end a dispensing head 24 for distributing a fluid contained in the container 12 wearing. The pump 20 is covered by a removable protective cap 26. This protective cap 26 has a head wall 28, from the underside of which a cylindrical, tubular guide stub 30 projects coaxially to the container axis downwards in the direction of the container 12 and one cylindrical cavity 32 laterally surrounds. An inner wall 34 of the guide socket 30 is provided up to its approximately middle height with a cylindrical extension 36, which is offset at the upper end in the form of a stop surface 38 with respect to the inner wall 34 of the guide socket 30. In this extension 36, a cylindrical coupling ring 40 with a friction seat is inserted, which rests with an upper, inwardly bent end 42 on the stop surface 38 of the extension 36. A lower end 44 of the coupling ring 40 protrudes only slightly downward from a lower, open end of the guide socket 30 and engages over an annular adapter 46 with a friction fit, the function of which is explained in more detail below.

The pump 20 is provided at its end facing the container 12 with an annular flange 48, the diameter of which corresponds approximately to that of the Crimean rim 18. An annular sealing disk 50 is arranged under the ring flange 48. In the assembled state of the closure device 10, which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the adapter 46 connects the ring flange 48 to the Crimean rim 18 of the container 12, such that the coupling ring 40 is completely pushed onto the adapter 46 according to FIG. 3 , on which in turn the protective cap 26 is attached with a friction fit.

The adapter 46 is preferably made of plastic and is essentially cylindrical; it is provided at its upper end with an annular inner flange 52 which, according to FIG. 1, rests on the ring flange 48 of the pump 20. At least three snap arms 54 extend from the underside of this annular inner flange 52 at the same circumferential angular intervals parallel to the container axis downward in the direction of the container 12. The snap arms 54 are provided on their inside with a locking groove 56 running at the same height in the circumferential direction. The locking groove 56 serves to receive the annular flange 48 of the pump 20 and the Crimean rim 18 of the container 12. The locking groove 56 in the Snap arms 54 are each bounded at the bottom by a latching cam 70, which is designed as a ramp surface 71 which widens downward at the lower end of each snap arm 54. This contact surface 71 facilitates the spreading and pushing of the snap arms 54 over the ring flange 48 of the pump 20 in order to form the assembly unit from the protective cap 28, the union ring 40, the adapter 46 and the pump 20. In addition, the ramp surface 71 also facilitates the assembly of the assembly unit described on the container 12, in which the snap arms 54 extend over the Crimean rim 18 and then engage under it in a blocking or holding manner.

1, the coupling ring 40 is axially displaceable on the adapter 46 and, with its lower end, rests on at least one elastic lock 60, which is biased radially outward beyond the cylindrical peripheral surface of the adapter 46. The lock 60 consists of at least one, preferably three locking cams 62 which are injection molded between the snap arms 54 on a lower edge of the upper inner flange 52 of the adapter 46 by means of a film joint, not shown. The film joint holds the associated locking cam 62 in the radially outwardly elastically biased position, in which each locking cam 62 projects outward beyond the cylindrical peripheral surface of the adapter 46. Under the lower edge of the inner flange 52 of the adapter 46, a space 64 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is provided between each adjacent snap arm 54, in which each locking cam 62 radially through the lower end face of the cylindrical coupling ring 40 as a function of the impact force exerted thereon can be bent inwards. As a result, the coupling ring 40 can then be pushed completely downward on the adapter 46 until it rests on a container shoulder 68 and can be clamped by the locking cams 62.

In the embodiment of the closure device 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the standard pump 20 with the dispensing head 24, the sealing disk 50 and the adapter 46 is mounted on the coupling ring 40. The coupling ring 40 equipped in this way is inserted into the guide socket 30 of the protective cap 26 and thus sent to the bottler. After filling the container 12, the bottler puts the pump 20 on the container (FIG. 1). The annular flange 48 engages in the locking groove 56 of the adapter 46 after the locking cams 70 at the lower end of the snap arms 54 have been elastically bent radially outward when they strike the annular flange 48.

2, by further exerting the axial impact pressure on the closure device 10, the locking cams 62 of the adapter 46 are bent through the lower end 44 of the cylindrical coupling ring 40 into the free space 64 between the snap arms 54, and the protective cap 26 with the coupling ring 40 becomes pushed down to the container shoulder 68 (Fig. 3).

The locking cam 62 and the coupling ring 40 are dimensioned such that the coupling ring 40 clamps on the adapter 46 due to the resulting surface pressure and the locking device 10 can be removed for normal use.

In the second embodiment according to FIGS. 4 to 7, a guide socket 130 and a coupling ring 140 are modified compared to the first embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3. A lower end of a cylindrical extension 136 in a guide socket 140 of a protective cap 126 is namely delimited by a preferably annular snap bead 172, which on the underside likewise has a run-up surface 174 which widens towards the lower end of the guide socket 130 for easier assembly of the collar ring 140.

The collar ring 140 is provided at an approximately medium height with an annular bead 176 which, according to FIG. 4, rests on the snap bead 172 of the guide socket 130, so that the collar ring 140 is located between an upper, stepped stop face 138 and the lower, annular snap bead 172 of the extension 136 is axially determined so that separation of the protective cap 126 from the coupling ring 140 is excluded under normal transport conditions.

4 to 7 it can also be seen that the coupling ring 140 is provided at its lower end with an inner circumferential retaining groove 178 which is formed in a bead-like manner by an outer annular bead 179. It serves to engage locking cams 162 of the adapter 146 which form a lock 160, so that the starting or rest position of the closure device 110 on the container 112 is thereby clearly defined, as shown in FIG. 4.

In the subsequent assembly phase of the assembly device comprising the closure cap 126, the collar 140 and the adapter 146 with the pump 120, the closure device 110 according to FIG. As a result, the closure device 110 is so firmly connected to the container 112 under compression of a sealing washer 150 that under normal conditions of use the adapter 146 cannot be separated from the Crimean edge 118 of the container 112 and this completely closed position of the closure device 110 is clearly determined.

6, upon further pressure being applied to the closure device 110, the locking cams 162 of the adapter 146 are bent by the coupling ring 140 into a space 164 between the snap arms 154 arranged at circumferential angular intervals and the coupling ring 140 is pushed down to a container shoulder 168, as in FIG. 7 emerges. In this End position of the protective cap 126 and the collar ring 140 displaced with it latch the locking cams 162 of the adapter 146, which are elastically preloaded radially outward with respect to the container axis, into an upper, annular, bead-like holding groove 180 provided on the inside of the upper annular bead 176 and lock the same Adapter 146 again with the coupling ring 140, so that the coupling ring 140 can no longer be removed from the adapter 146. It is understandable that the force required to pull the closure device 110 off the adapter 146 can be precisely determined by the arrangement of the upper annular bead 176.

Fig. 8 corresponds to the representation of the locking device in Fig. 7, but with the exception of a modified adapter 246, the snap arms 254 of which are provided on the inside with two superimposed locking grooves 256, 258. The upper latching groove 256, which is immediately adjacent to an inner flange 252 of the adapter 246, serves to receive an annular flange 248, a pump 220, while the second latching groove 258, arranged below the first latching groove 256, serves to receive a Crimean rim 218 on a neck 216 of a container 212. The superimposed locking grooves 256, 258 are separated from one another at such a distance that the sealing of the pump 220 with respect to the container 212 is ensured by sufficient compression of a sealing disk 250. Because a separate locking groove is provided for the ring flange 148 and the crimp rim 218, the position of the pump 220 with its ring flange 248 in the locking groove 256 is clearly determined. This axially determined position between the ring flange 248 of the pump 220 and the adapter 246 may be desirable for reasons of pre-assembly of the assembly unit formed from the protective cap 226, the union ring 240 and the adapter 246 before it is impacted onto the container 212.

The adapter 46; 146 and the protective cap 26; 126 are preferably made of commercially available plastic such as polypropylene or polyethylene as injection molded parts. For high-quality applications, other materials, in particular metals, can also be used for individual components of the closure device 10; 110 can be used. The throwing ring 40; 140 is preferably made of aluminum.

The snap arms 54; 154 have a length such that the sealing disk 50; 150 sealingly on the container 12; 112 rests and a leakage of liquid is prevented.

The snap arms 54; 154 are outside of the coupling ring 40; 130 against detachment from the Crimean rim 18; 118 secured so that the locking device 10; 110 from container 12; 112 is safely prevented. The throwing ring 40; 140 in turn is due to its static friction on the adapter 46; 146 held in this position so that a pushing back of the coupling ring 40; 140 away from container 12; 112 is only possible with considerable effort. At the same time, the friction between the coupling ring 40; 140 and the guide stub 30; 130 in the protective cap 26; 126 considerably lower, so that the protective cap can be removed and replaced without great effort.

An essential advantage of the second embodiment in FIGS. 4 to 7 over the first embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 3 is that the lock 60; 160 not only prevents the collar ring 140 from moving over the adapter 146, but also prevents the collar ring 140 from slipping off the adapter 146 in the opposite direction. This prevents the individual components of the closure device 110 from being separated from one another by improper handling prior to assembly on the container 112.

Reference list

10, 110

Locking device

12, 112, 212

container

14

opening

16, 116, 216

Container neck

18, 118

Crimean prick

20, 120, 220

manually operated pump

22

cylinder

24, 124

Dispensing head

26, 126, 226

protective cap

28

Head wall

30, 130

Guide socket

32, 132

cylindrical cavity (guide socket)

34, 134

Inner wall

36, 136

cylindrical extension

38, 138

Contact surface (extension)

40, 140, 240

Union ring

42, 142

upper, bent end (union ring)

44

lower end (union ring)

46, 146, 246

adapter

48, 148, 248

Ring flange

50, 150, 250

Sealing washer

52

ring-shaped inner flange (adapter)

54, 154, 254

Snap arms

56, 156, 256

Locking groove (snap arms)

258

Locking groove (snap arms)

60, 160

Lock

62, 162

Locking cam

64, 164

free space

68, 168

Container shoulder

70, 170

Locking cams (snap arms)

71, 171

Ramp surface (snap arms)

172

ring-shaped snap bead (guide socket)

174

Ramp surface (guide socket)

176

upper ring bead

178

Retaining groove, lower (union ring)

179

lower ring bead (throwing ring)

180

Retaining groove, upper (union ring)

Claims (9)

Device (10; 110) for closing a container (12; 112) with a shoulder (68; 168) and a neck (16; 116), the opening (14; 114) of which is provided with an outer Crimean rim (18; 118) , consisting of a dispensing head (24; 124), manually operable pump (20; 120), which is provided at its end facing the container (12; 112) with an annular flange (48; 148), the diameter of which is approximately that corresponds to the Crimean rim (18; 118) and which is provided on the underside with a sealing washer (50; 150), a fastening ring by means of which the ring flange (48; 148) of the pump (20; 120) on the Crimean rim (18; 118 ) can be attached by compressing the sealing washer (50; 150), and a coupling ring (40; 140) which can be pushed onto the fastening ring and onto which a protective cap (26; 126) can be attached,
characterized in that
the fastening ring consists of an essentially ring-shaped adapter (46; 146), which has an inner flange (52; 152) at its upper end for gripping over the ring flange (48; 148) of the pump (20; 120) and flexible snap arms (54 ; 154) is provided, which extend from the inner flange (52; 152) at the same circumferential angular intervals approximately parallel to the container axis in the direction of the container (12; 112) and on its inside with at least one circumferential locking groove (56; 156) are used to receive the ring flange (48; 148) of the pump (20; 120) and the Crimean rim (18; 118) on the container neck (16; 116),
a lock (62; 162), which is normally under elastic pretension assumes its blocking position projecting beyond the outside of the inner flange (52; 152) of the adapter (46; 146) and can only be unlocked by a force exerted when the closure device (10; 110) is bounced open; wherein the protective cap (26; 126) can be pushed onto the coupling ring (40; 140) with a friction fit, which can be pushed onto the adapter (46; 146) with a friction fit up to the lock (60; 160) to form a combination lock forming a single assembly unit , in such a way that when this combination closure (10; 110) is pushed onto the container (12; 112) by means of a single assembly step, the Crimean rim (18; 118) is first spread with the snap arms (54; 154) in their latching groove (56; 156) engages and then the coupling ring (40; 140) unlocks the lock (60; 160) by moving it inward against the biasing force acting on it and on the adapter (46; 146) until it stops on the shoulder (68; 168) of the container (12 ; 112) can be moved by clamping through the lock (60; 160). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a cylindrical, hollow cylindrical guide stub (30; 130) projecting from the underside of a head wall (28; 128) of the protective cap (26; 126) essentially surrounds and with the collar ring (40; 140) a stepped stop surface (38; 138) for an upper end (42; 142) of the coupling ring (40; 140) is provided. Closure device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cylindrical inner wall of the guide socket (40; 140) of the protective cap (26; 126) is provided with a cylindrical extension (36; 136) for the coupling ring (40; 140) which is on the upper end (38; 138) is limited by the stop surface (38; 138) on which the upper, bent inwards End (42; 142) of the coupling ring (40; 140) abuts. Closure device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a circumferential retaining groove (178) is provided on the inside of the container-side end (144) of the coupling ring (40; 140), which is connected to the lock (160) of the adapter (146) cooperates on a container (112) before assembly. Closure device according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that a second circumferential holding groove (180) is arranged on the inside of the coupling ring (140) at an axial distance above the holding groove (178), into which the lock (160) of the adapter (146 ) engages in the assembled state of the closure device (110) on the container (112). Closure device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the retaining grooves (178; 180) of the coupling ring (140) are each formed by an upper and lower, annular, outer annular bead (176, 177). Closure device according to claim 6, characterized in that the lower end of the guide socket (130) of the protective cap (126) is delimited by a snap bead (172) on which the upper ring bead (176) of the coupling ring (140) rests. Closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lock (62; 162) on the plastic adapter (46; 146) consists of at least one locking cam (62; 162) which is connected to the lower edge of the inner flange (52; 152) Adapters (46; 146) between the snap arms (54; 154) is connected by a film joint through which the locking cam (62; 162) in its elastically pre-stressed position protrudes beyond the cylindrical peripheral surface of the adapter (46; 146) and, depending on the impact force exerted, into a free space (64; 164) under the inner flange (52; 152) of the adapter (46 ; 146) is designed to bend radially inwards. Closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that two locking grooves (256, 258) on the inside of each snap arm (254) of the adapter (246) are arranged one above the other, the first of which immediately adjacent to the inner flange (252) of the adapter (246) Locking groove (256) for receiving the ring flange (248) of the pump (220) and the second locking groove (258) arranged below it for receiving the Crimean rim (218) on the container neck (216).

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