EP2247507B1 - System for replenishing flowable or pourable washing or cleaning agents - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a system for refilling flowable or pourable detergents or cleaners from a refill container into a bottle provided with a spout according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

From the prior art, a variety of systems for refilling products from a transport into a storage container are known.

Such systems have the advantage that the transport packaging is usually manufactured with less material and processing costs, so that it brings significant savings in raw materials and resulting cost and environmental advantages over the storage containers.

Decisive for the acceptance of such systems at the consumer, however, is the cost, the simple, safe and convenient handling when refilling the storage container by means of transport packaging.

With storage containers today spouts are often placed on the discharge opening, which allow a convenient and accurate pouring and dosing of the contents of the container. Such spouts are becoming increasingly popular, especially for liquid detergents.

Out US4614437 For example, a generic refill system is known that consists of a pourable on a bottle spout to which a refill container can be coupled in such a way that the spout when placing the refill on the spout pierces the sealing film that closes the opening of the refill container, and so on the content of the refill container flows into the bottle.

A major disadvantage of this solution is that the sealing film for closing the refill container must be so thin that it can still be pierced with a reasonable force when placing the refill on the spout. As a result, there is a risk that such a film is accidentally damaged during transport and so the contents of the refill container unintentionally pours. This can happen, in particular, when a consumer places such a refill container in a shopping trolley or grocery bag with other products, wherein in particular the corners of a product package or slim-shaped products such as pins can destroy the sealing film of the refill container with unavoidable relative movements between the goods thus transported.

Although an additional closure cap for protecting the film against mechanical influences is conceivable in principle, such an additional component makes a refill container, which is as cost-effective as possible, appreciably more expensive. Furthermore, an additional cap in addition to the production of the component also requires - by the necessary screwing or bouncing - an additional assembly step in the packaging of a corresponding refill container.

Furthermore, it is not desirable that any refill container can be coupled with a specific storage container, for example, when non-storage-stable products are inadvertently mixed together by a refilling process.

Object of the invention

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a system for refilling flowable or pourable detergents or cleaners from a refill container sealed with a membrane into a bottle provided with a spout, in which the film of the refill container is protected in a cost-effective manner against mechanical effects, can be penetrated in a conventional manner with a reasonable force through the spout and prevents inadvertent refilling of non-intermingled products.

This object is achieved by a refill system having the features of claim 1.

The inventive system for refilling flowable or pourable detergents or cleaning agents achieves the result described above with a structurally very simple and easy to handle solution, in particular by the formation of a "key lock" principle and an exact guidance and relative positioning in the Coupling of adapter element and spout, which will be explained in more detail below.

adapter element

The system according to the invention for refilling a pourable or flowable washing or cleaning agent comprises, in addition to the bottle provided with a spout described in more detail below, a refilling container at the pouring opening of which an adapter element is arranged.

The adapter element has the task to couple the refill container with the spout so that the contents of the refill container safely from the refill container, passes through the spout into the bottle.

Characterized in that the adapter element is provided with a fastening means for liquid-tight attachment to a refill, that adapter element can be connected to any shaped refill containers. The attachment between the refill and the Adapter element can be detachable or non-detachable material, form or force fit. It is particularly preferred that the fastening element is designed as a screw connection, bounce connection, snap-locking connection, adhesive connection or a combination thereof.

The adapter is preferably made of a plastic material, in particular by an injection molding process.

The adapter further comprises a cylindrical element and a circumferential collar connected to the cylinder element.

The projection of the cylinder element preferably results in a circular or oval contour. However, there are also other shapes of the cylinder element conceivable as long as they correspond with the shape of the funnel design such that the adapter for the purpose of refilling with the spout can be coupled. The cylinder element is therefore not limited to a circular or oval projection contour.

The cylinder element further has a guide groove which is configured in such a way that the cylinder element can be detachably placed over the funnel and a protruding from the funnel plane web of the spout, whereby the positioning of the adapter element is fixed relative to the spout.

As a result, the adapter element is slipped over the funnel of the spout according to a key-lock principle. The formation of such a key-lock principle has a number of advantages. On the one hand, it is ensured that only refill containers provided with a corresponding adapter can be coupled to the spout. This can be prevented from causing unwanted mixing of e.g. detergent compositions which are not storable with one another if, for example, there is still a residual amount of a first detergent composition in the bottle, but this is to be filled with a second detergent composition before complete emptying.

Furthermore, as already stated above, the positioning of the adapter element relative to the spout is determined by the guide groove and the web when the adapter is coupled to the spout. For example, turning the adapter in the coupled state is prevented. This ensures that the funnel of the spout always pierces the membrane of the adapter element during coupling at one or more defined points, so that this piercing point or puncture points of the membrane can be specially designed. For a simple and for the user not too power consuming, convenient dome operation can therefore be provided at such a defined and predetermined penetration one or more thin spots in the membrane. The structural weakening of As a result, the membrane can be localized and kept to a minimum, whereby the membrane thickness and the amount of material required for this purpose can be reduced to the necessary minimum.

Furthermore, it is prevented by the web of the spout and the corresponding groove on the adapter element, that a refill container without corresponding groove can be placed on the infuser, so that accidental refilling with a non-refillable product is largely prevented.

The spout acts in addition to its generic function as pouring at the same time as an opening aid for the membrane of the adapter, so that can be dispensed with an additional opening aid.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least one ramp-shaped guide rib is arranged on the inside of the cylinder element from the pouring opening of the cylinder element towards the membrane. As a result, during the dome process, the funnel of the spout, wherein between the funnel and the cylinder element of the adapter usually a certain amount of play is present, controlled at the intended location for piercing the membrane. This ensures that despite the clearance between the funnel and cylinder element, which is also necessary for a simple slipping over of the adapter via the funnel, the exact positioning of the funnel is given with respect to the thinning intended for puncture.

Furthermore, it is advantageous to design the adapter elements in such a way that the guide groove terminates at a distance from the pouring edge of the cylinder element and a substantially V-shaped opening extends from the guide groove to the pouring edge of the cylinder element. As a result, the slipping over of the adapter element is simplified via the funnel, since the web is automatically guided by the V-shaped opening during the coupling process in the guide groove. Thus, it is not necessary to position the guide exactly over the bridge, since the V-shaped opening a certain misalignment in the positioning of guide groove to bridge in the coupling process is compensated.

refill

The refill container can be designed both as a dimensionally stable container, in particular as a bottle, can, carton or the like, and as a flexible container, such as something as a bag or tube.

It is particularly advantageous that the refill container has a lower average wall thickness than the bottle into which the content of the refill container is to be filled.

Preferably, the refill container is made of a plastic material.

membrane

Under membrane in the sense of this application is a flat closure element understood that mounted in the refill container state of the adapter element, the adapter element closes the refill and leakage of flowable or pourable detergents or cleaning agents from the refill container, especially in the over-head Position of the refill container, prevented and pierceable when coupling the adapter element with the spout by a user from the funnel of the spout.

The membrane may be formed integrally with the adapter element or be arranged as a separate part on the adapter element, preferably cohesively.

The membrane is advantageously formed from a plastic, such as PE, PP, PET or a metal, such as aluminum.

The thickness of the membrane is between 0.3 .mu.m and 1.5 .mu.m, preferably between 0.5 .mu.m and 1 .mu.m.

thin places

Thin sites in the sense of these applications are material weakenings of the membrane, which are formed in particular by a reduction of the material thickness.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the membrane has one or more thin locations that at least partially correspond to the projection of the funnel shape of the spout.

In particular, it is advantageous that the projection of the funnel molding is a round or oval contour and at least one thin spot is linear and follows this contour at least partially in such a way that when coupling adapter element with the spout of the funnel abuts the thin point.

A further, particularly preferred embodiment of the invention has the thin spot a substantially T-shaped portion which is configured in such a way that it comes to the top of the funnel when coupling adapter element with the spout.

pourer

The spout is a liquid-tight attachable to the pouring opening of a bottle device for the controlled and convenient dispensing of free-flowing or pourable detergents or cleaning agents from the bottle, in particular by tilting the bottle from a stand to a dispensing position. Such spouts are also known as "spouts".

The spout is fixed in a liquid-tight manner to the spout opening of the bottle by a suitable fastening means. In particular, the fastening means may form a detachable or non-detachable, material, positive or non-positive connection between the bottle opening and the spout. It is particularly preferred that the fastening element is designed as a screw connection, bounce connection, snap-locking connection, adhesive connection or a combination thereof.

Preferably, the spout is made of a plastic material, in particular by an injection molding process.

The spout may further comprise a collar with a fastening means for liquid and / or gas-tight attachment of a closure and / or dosing to the spout, whereby the bottle can be sealed liquid-tight for the purpose of transport.

Furthermore, the spout has a wall which extends in the direction of the bottle interior and from which a funnel extends beyond the collar out of the side of the spout facing away from the bottle interior, the funnel having a funnel opening.

In a preferred development of the invention, a tip is arranged at the furthest point of the funnel opening from the interior of the bottle, which protrudes beyond the edge of the funnel opening. Through this tip, the piercing of the membrane can be significantly facilitated.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that the funnel opening is formed as an obliquely cut-off tube, so that the user has a sufficiently good view of the outflowing product when pouring out and can recognize when product is present at the discharge opening of the funnel.

bottle

The bottle, at the pouring spout of which the spout is arranged, is designed as a dimensionally stable container, in particular as a bottle, can, carton or the like.

Preferably, the bottle is made of a plastic material and in particular has a handle.

Fig. 1

Flasche mit Ausgießer und Nachfüllbehälter mit Behälteröffnung im ungekuppelten Zustand

Fig. 2

Flasche mit Ausgießer und Nachfüllbehälter mit Behälteröffnung im gekuppelten Zustand

Fig. 3

Adapterelement mit perspektivischer Ansicht auf die nachfüllbehälterseitige Membranfläche

Fig. 4

Adapterelement mit perspektivischer Ansicht auf die ausgießerseitige Membranfläche

Fig. 5

Ausgießer in perspektivischer Aufsicht

Fig. 6

Ausgießer und Adapterelement im ungekuppelten Zustand in einer perspektivischen Ansicht

Fig. 7

Ausgießer und Adapterelement im eingekuppelten Zustand in einer perspektivischen Ansicht mit einem Teilschnitt durch den Ausgießer

Fig. 8

Ausgießer und Adapterelement im eingekuppelten Zustand in einer perspektivischen Querschnittsansicht

Fig. 9

Trichter und Membran im eingekuppelten Zustand in einer perspektivischen Querschnittsansicht

Fig. 10

Trichter und Membran im durchstoßenen Zustand der Membran in einer perspektivischen Aufsicht

Fig. 11

Flasche, Ausgießer und Verschlusskappe in Explosionsdarstellung

Further embodiments of the invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

Bottle with spout and refill container with container opening in uncoupled state

Fig. 2

Bottle with spout and refill container with container opening in the coupled state

Fig. 3

Adapter element with perspective view of the refill container side membrane surface

Fig. 4

Adapter element with perspective view of the spreader-side membrane surface

Fig. 5

Pourer in perspective view

Fig. 6

Pourer and adapter element in the uncoupled state in a perspective view

Fig. 7

Spout and adapter element in the engaged state in a perspective view with a partial section through the spout

Fig. 8

Spout and adapter element in the engaged state in a perspective cross-sectional view

Fig. 9

Funnel and membrane in the engaged state in a perspective cross-sectional view

Fig. 10

Funnel and membrane in the pierced state of the membrane in a perspective view

Fig. 11

Bottle, spout and cap in exploded view

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

• 1. Pourer
• 2. refill container
• 3. Adapter element
• 5. Thread
• 6. Thread
• 7. collar
• 8. Collar
• 9. Funnels
• 10th wall
• 11. funnel opening
• 12. wreath
• 13th wall
• 14th floor
• 15th bottle
• 16. Cap
• 17th shoulder
• 18th neck
• 19th bridge
• 20. Guide groove
• 21st cylinder
• 22. collar
• 23rd peak
• 24. Thread
• 25. Opening
• 26. membrane
• 27th thin spot
• 28. Guide ribs
• 29. Guide ribs
• 30. opening

Fig. 1 shows a bottle 15 with spout 1 as a storage container and a refill 2 with the adapter element 3 in the uncoupled state of refill 2 and bottle 15. The adapter element 3 is designed in such a way that it in the over-head position of the refill 2 - in Fig. 2 indicated - can be coupled to the spout 1 of the bottle 15, so that the stored in the refill 2 contents gravitational effects can flow from the refill 2 through the spout 1 in the bottle 15.

In FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 Below, the adapter element 3 is explained in more detail.
First, it will open Fig. 3 which shows the adapter element 3 with a perspective view of the refill container-side membrane surface 26.

The preferably made of a plastic material, in particular by an injection molding process, produced adapter element 3 has a circumferential, cylindrical collar 22, on the inside of an internal thread 24 is provided as a fastening means for liquid-tight attachment to a refill container 2.

The adapter 3 further comprises a cylinder element 21, which extends from the circumferential collar 22, starting in the direction away from the interior of the refill container direction. The cylinder element 21 and the collar 22 are arranged concentrically with each other, wherein the collar 22 has a larger diameter than the cylinder 21st

Between collar 22 and cylinder element 21, the membrane 26 is arranged, which completely separates the collar 22 from the cylinder element 21. The membrane 26 may be formed integrally with the adapter 3 or be fitted as a separate element in the adapter 3, wherein the membrane 26 is then preferably fixed material fit in the adapter 3.

The cylinder member 21 further includes a guide groove 20 configured in such a manner that the cylinder member 21 - such as out Fig. 7 seen - can be placed over the funnel 9 and a protruding from the funnel plane web 19 of the spout 1 detachably. As a result, the positioning of the adapter element 3 is set relative to the spout 1 in a kind key-lock principle.

In addition, on Fig. 4 which shows the adapter element 3 with a perspective view of the spreader-side membrane surface 26.

First, the U-shaped design of the guide groove 20 on the cylinder element 21. The membrane 26 has on the spreader-side membrane surface line-shaped thin spots 27 which at least partially correspond to the projection of the funnel 9 of the spout 1, so that when coupling of adapter element 3 with the spout 1 of the funnel 9 at least partially abuts the thin point 27.

In the Fig. 4 shown thin spot 27 has a T-shaped, directed to the edge of the cylinder 21 and a Y-shaped portion, approximately at the center of the membrane 26. The T-shaped portion is configured and positioned to abut the tip 23 of the funnel 9 when coupling the adapter element 3 to the spout 1, for example Fig. 9 is apparent.

This configuration of the T- and Y-shaped sections, when piercing the membrane 26 with the spout 1, causes the membrane 26 to divide into two wings along the T and Y sections, thereby preventing inadvertent clogging of the spout opening of the adapter opening and a defined tearing and opening of the pouring opening is ensured.

On the inside of the cylinder element 21 are arranged in the region of the T-shaped thin point 27 of the pouring opening of the cylinder member 21 to the membrane 26 toward ramp-shaped guide ribs 29, the dome operation - as from Fig. 8 seen - the tip 23 of the funnel 9 controlled at the intended location for piercing the membrane 26 lead.

The guide groove 20 terminates at a distance from the pouring edge of the cylinder element 21 with a substantially V-shaped opening 30 extending from the guide groove 20 to the pouring edge of the cylinder element 21. As a result, the slipping over of the adapter element 3 via the funnel 9 is simplified, since the web 19 is automatically guided by the V-shaped opening 30 during the coupling process into the guide groove 20.

In addition, 26 further ramp-like guide ribs 28 are arranged on the surface facing the spout toward the membrane. This guide ribs 28 effect when placing the spout 1 on the membrane 26, that the spout 1 is performed exactly on the thin section 27. For this purpose, the guide ribs 28 are sloping towards the cylinder 21, formed ramp-like, so that the spout is automatically guided when placing the correct position over the thin section 27, even if the spout 1 was not exactly placed by the user during the coupling process or the funnel. 9 of the spout 1 during the coupling process under the pressure load deformed.

Fig. 5 shows a detailed view of the spout in a perspective view from which it can be clearly seen that at the far from the interior of the bottle 15 point of the funnel 9, a tip 23 is arranged, which extends beyond the edge of the funnel 9. Like the detail view of the Fig. 5 is also apparent, the tip 23 is formed as a rib on the funnel inner wall. The tip 23 is the web 19 in a flight directly opposite.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. Further embodiments are possible without departing from the scope defined in the claims.

Claims (8)

1. A system for refilling flowable or pourable washing or cleaning agents comprising

   ■ a pourer (1) positionable on the orifice of a bottle (15), the pourer comprising

   ○ a first collar (8) with a fastening means (5) for liquid-tight fastening of the pourer (1) on a bottle (15),

   ○ a second collar (7) with a fastening means (6) for liquid- and/or gas-tight fastening of a closure cap and/or dispensing cap (16) on the pourer (1),

   ○ a wall (10), which extends from the first collar (8) or second collar (7) towards the interior of the bottle,

   ○ a funnel (9), which extends from a shoulder (17) of the wall (10) beyond the second collar (7) out of the side of the pourer (1) turned away from the interior of the bottle, the funnel (9) comprising a funnel orifice (11), and

   ■ an adapter element (3) couplable with the pouring orifice of a refill container (2), said adapter element comprising

   ○ a cylinder element (21), and

   characterised in that the adapter element (3) comprises

   ○ a peripheral collar (22) connected to the cylinder element (21), on which peripheral collar is arranged a fastening element (24) for liquid-tight fastening of the adapter element (3) to the pouring orifice of the refill container, and

   ○ a membrane (26) which, in the mounted state of the adapter element (3) on the refill container (2), closes the refill container (2) and prevents leakage of flowable or pourable washing or cleaning agents out of the refill container (2), in particular also in an inverted position of the refill container (2), and

   in that

   ■ the cylinder element (21) of the adapter element (3) comprises a guide groove (20) which is configured such that the cylinder element (21) may be detachably pushed over the funnel (9) and a web (19) of the pourer (1) protruding from the funnel plane, so fixing the position of the adapter element (3) relative to the pourer (1).
2. A system for refilling flowable or pourable washing or cleaning agents according to claim 1, characterised in that the membrane (26) comprises one or more thin areas (27) which at least in part correspond to the projection of the funnel shape.
3. A system for refilling flowable or pourable washing or cleaning agents according to claim 2, characterised in that the projection of the funnel shape is a round or oval outline and at least one thin area (27) is of linear construction and follows said outline at least in portions such that, when the adapter element (3) is coupled with the pourer (1), the funnel (9) abuts against the thin area (27).
4. A system for refilling flowable or pourable washing or cleaning agents according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a tip (23) is arranged on the part of the funnel orifice (11) furthest away from the interior of the bottle (15), which tip projects beyond the edge of the funnel orifice (11).
5. A system for refilling flowable or pourable washing or cleaning agents according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the funnel orifice (11) is constructed as an obliquely truncated tube.
6. A system for refilling flowable or pourable washing or cleaning agents according to either one of claim 2 or claim 3, characterised in that the thin area (27) comprises a substantially T-shaped portion which is configured such that, on coupling of the adapter element (3) with the pourer (1), it abuts against the tip (23) of the funnel (9).
7. A system for refilling flowable or pourable washing or cleaning agents according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one ramp-shaped guide rib (29) is arranged on the inside of the cylinder element (21), said guide rib extending from the pouring orifice of the cylinder element (21) to the membrane (26).
8. A system for refilling flowable or pourable washing or cleaning agents according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide groove (20) ends at a distance from the pouring edge of the cylinder element (21) and a substantially V-shaped orifice extends from the guide groove (20) to the pouring edge of the cylinder element (21).

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