EP1834899B1 - Container with plastic bottom - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has a plastic base (1) in which a fluid dropping device (2) is provided. A number of punching lines (21) are merged in the form of a radiation to a point (22) in the base. The lines are punched in the base from above or from the bottom side. The ends of the lines lie on the circular line. A pin is pierced into the base for emptying the container. Large gaps are formed between individual punching blades (23) and the pin.

Description

The invention relates to a container having a bottom made of an elastic material, in particular plastic, in which a device is provided, which prevents after dripping of the soil dripping of remaining after emptying still in the container residual liquid or at least reduced.

At present, coffee machines, in which the consumer only has to fill in pre-packaged coffee for the purpose of brewing coffee, are becoming more attractive.
Here, different variants are known. For example, similar to tea in a teabag, the desired amount of coffee may be enclosed by a filter paper made of pulp. Furthermore, there is a system in which the coffee is pre-portioned into a plastic container. A container usually contains the right dosage for a cup of coffee. This is introduced unopened in the coffee machine. The container is usually covered by a lid of aluminum foil, so that the seal ensures that the coffee aroma remains protected. For brewing the film is pierced and perforated from above by means of one or more mandrels, and filled the hot water into the container. To empty the bottom of the container is also usually pierced with a spike, so that the finished coffee can flow down into a container. The problem is that the container tends to dripping due to therein befindliches coffee residues, because the container has due to the mechanical destruction of the soil to a more or less large opening. This dripping is very undesirable for hygienic and optical reasons.

From the US 5,656,311 A For example, a container with a bottom made of an elastic material (plastic) is known, in which a device is provided which consists of a plurality of punching lines, so that a puncture of the bottom is simplified.

The object of the invention is thus to establish a kind of valve in the plastic bottom of a container which prevents or at least reduces the dripping of residual liquid in the container.

This object is achieved by a container, as laid down in the main claim. The subject of the dependent claims are advantageous developments of the subject invention.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a container (for example a cup) with a bottom of an elastic material, preferably plastic, in which a device is provided, consisting of several Anstanzlinien which converge jet-shaped at a point on the ground. Due to these punching lines, the stability of the soil is reduced.
The material of the soil must be so elastic that the punching wings forming after the piercing of the device can be moved out of the starting position without too much force and, on the other hand, be able to return as accurately as possible to the starting position again, thus relieving the device Type of valve is almost completely closed again.
Furthermore, the bottom of the container is weakened in its stability, so that it can be easily penetrated by a mechanical mandrel or similar device. It should be noted that the stamping does not affect the tightness of the container.
The Anstanzlinien can be produced by conventional punching or cutting processes, but they can also be plotted or generated by a laser. If the container is produced by injection molding, the Anstanzlinien can already be provided in the mold, so that a subsequent processing of the container in a subsequent step is not required.
In a first advantageous embodiment, at least three, preferably between six and fourteen, more preferably between ten or twelve punching lines converge in the point.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the Anstanzlinien run straight. In addition, other forms of punched lines are conceivable, for example, the stamping lines could be wavy or zigzag.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the angles between the stamping lines converging in one point are approximately the same, which leads to a symmetrical construction of the device, in particular if, further preferably, all the stamping lines are of equal length.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the Anstanzlinien have a depth in the soil, which accounts for between one and three quarters, preferably half the material thickness of the soil.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the Anstanzlinien be punched from above and / or from below into the ground.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the other ends of the Anstanzlinien lie on an imaginary circular line, wherein preferably the center of the circle is formed by the point in which the Anstanzlinien converge.

Suitable materials for the container are polyethylene (for example HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene or polystyrene. However, this list is not meant to be exhaustive. The person skilled in further plastics are known, from which he would select a suitable depending on the application.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the container has a wall thickness of from 50 to 200 μm, preferably 150 μm.

The device according to the invention is suitable for all containers in which there is liquid which can be emptied by puncturing the bottom of the container.
The containers may also contain powders or other ingredients, which are first dissolved by the introduction of a liquid before a removal takes place.

Figur 1

die Draufsicht auf einen Boden eines Behälters mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung.

With reference to the figure described below, a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, without thereby wanting to limit the invention unnecessarily. It shows

FIG. 1

the top view of a bottom of a container with a device according to the invention.

In the FIG. 1 a bottom 1 is shown in plan view, which is located in a plastic container, not shown. In the bottom 1, a device 2 is provided, consisting of several Anstanzlinien 21, which converge jet-shaped at a point 22 on the bottom 1. In this case, a total of twelve Anstanzlinien 21 are present, all of which are straight. The angles between the Anstanzlinien 21 are all the same size, so that the device 2 has a completely symmetrical structure.
The other ends of the Anstanzlinien 21 lie on an imaginary circular line 24, wherein the center of the circle 24 is formed by the point 22 in which the Anstanzlinien 21 converge.

Due to these Anstanzlinien 21, the stability of the bottom 1 is reduced. To empty the container, a spike would penetrate the ground, if possible in the vicinity of the point 22. If this is the case, not a hole is torn into the ground as before, but the Anstanzlinien 21, in which the material thickness of the bottom. 1 is significantly reduced, tear, so that twelve punching wings 23 result, the tips are pressed into the interior of the container. Between the individual punching wings 23 and the mandrel arise while sufficiently large gaps through which the liquid present in the container can flow. If the mandrel is now pulled out of the container again, the stamped wings 23 spring back into their starting position due to the rigidity of the material from which the bottom 1 is made, and in this way close the bottom almost completely. Liquid could then penetrate only through the torn-open Anstanzlinien 21. Depending on the material of the bottom 1 or depending on the type of liquid, the surface tension of the liquid is so high that even any penetration of the liquid is excluded.
The device 2 according to the invention reduces dripping. With a suitable choice of material, the quencher is even completely suppressed.

Claims (7)

1. Container with a bottom (1) made from an elastic material, preferably plastic, in which a device (2) is provided, consisting of a plurality of punch lines (21) which converge in a radiating manner at a point (22) on the bottom (1).
2. Container according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least three, preferably between six and 14, further preferably between ten and twelve punch lines (21) converge at the point (22).
3. Container according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the punch lines (21) run rectilinearly.
4. Container according to at least one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the angles between the punch lines (21) converging at a point (22) are of approximately equal size.
5. Container according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the punch lines (21) have in the bottom (1) a depth which amounts to between one quarter and three quarters, preferably half of the material thickness of the bottom (1).
6. Container according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the punch lines (21) are punched into the bottom (1) from above and/or from below.
7. Container according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the other ends of the punch lines (21) lie on an imaginary circular line (24), preferably the centre point of the circle (24) being formed by the point (22) at which the punch lines (21) converge.

Images