EP2517974B1 - Drink bottle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a drinking bottle with a bottle body and a drinking nipple with suction, can be sucked through the liquid in the bottle, wherein the drinking nipple between an inserted closure position in which the suction port is sealed, and an extended drinking position in which the suction port is open for drinking, is displaceable, wherein the drinking nipple is mounted directly on the bottle body or on a lid attached to the bottle body in an open to the bottle interior, sealed on the drinking nipple receptacle.

Such bottles are widely used and are mainly used in the field of waters and other soft drinks. These consist of a bottle body and a relative to the bottle body sliding drinking nipple. The drinking nipple is slidably mounted between two positions either on the bottle body itself or on a cover arranged on the bottle body. In a first, inserted closure position is a usually elongated drinking nipple penetrating centrally through the suction opening, through which the drinker can suck out the liquid, closed, which is mostly realized in that a secure locking pin seals the suction opening. From the closed position, the drinking nipple can be pulled with limited movement into an open position or a drinking position, in which the suction opening is opened, and consequently the drinking nipple is pulled away from the pin. Since the drinking nipple, respectively its suction opening to the inside of the bottle is open, liquid can now be sucked from the inside of the bottle. Such a water bottle is for example off DE 44 952 38 C1 known.

For movement storage of the drinking nipple, a receptacle is provided which, depending on the design of the drinking bottle, is provided either on the bottle body itself or on the lid. In this recording, the drinking nipple is displaceably mounted, wherein it is guided over the receptacle and movement-limited can be pulled or pushed into the respective end positions. This shot is because the drinking nipple with its suction opening to the inside of the bottle to be open respectively there must be accessible, also to the inside of the bottle open. It is therefore necessary to seal the receptacle in each Trinknippelstellung. This is done according to the bottle DE 44 952 38 C1 in that in the interior of the hollow cylindrical drinking nipple in the lower drinking nipple area, ie ultimately in the lower portion of the suction opening itself, a rubber-elastic seal is injected, which seals for receiving, which is designed there as a hollow cylindrical receptacle back. This sealing element is moved with the drinking nipple along the recording and is always sealingly in the recording. The drinking nipple itself is made of a sufficiently hard and dimensionally stable plastic, since it must be able to be moved many times between the end positions. In contrast, the sealing element of a rubber-elastic, so very soft material. In order to fulfill its sealing function, it is designed at its free end as a thin, V-shaped fanning annular circumferential sealing lip. This sealing lip function makes it possible to realize a valve function, which allows a subsequent flow of air when sucking out the liquid from the bottle, whereby a negative pressure, provided that the sealing lip can be made sufficiently thin, and therefore highly flexible.

Since the sealing element is always moved along the receptacle during the displacement movement of the drinking nipple, the very thin-walled sealing element in this region, because the valve function ensures sealing element, is subjected to great stress. It is therefore very easy to damage the sealing element, for example by tearing, come, so that the sealing element can not or insufficiently perform its sealing and valve function. In addition, the drinking nipple is haptically uncomfortable even in the area where it is taken from the drinker in the mouth, as it is made of a very hard material as stated, so he has the required stability.

DE 10 2005 025 561 A1 discloses another bottle with a drinking nipple of two different hard materials, which is designed as a rotary closure. For ventilation purposes, a recess in the rotary guide which bridges the sealing nipple in an intermediate rotational position of the drinking nipple is provided.

US 2010/012686 A1 discloses a drinking bottle according to the preamble of claim 1, wherein the nipple part of soft material is formed with a single outer sealing bead. A separate ventilation of the bottle is not disclosed there.

The invention is therefore based on the problem to provide a bottle, in which on the one hand a very good sealing function is given permanently, on the other hand, but also a very pleasant feel of the drinking nipple is given.

To solve this problem, the characterizing features of claim 1 are provided according to the invention in a generic bottle.

In the drinking bottle according to the invention, the drinking nipple is designed in a manner known per se as a two-component plastic component. It consists of a nipple body of a first plastic material, wherein the nipple body primarily has an elongated cylindrical shape. At this nipple body, which consists for example of polypropylene, at its free, projecting from the bottle head end him at least over part of its length outside surrounding coating of a softer, second plastic material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer molded. That is, the nipple body is bordered by the soft plastic material at its mouth-to-be-taken end. This soft plastic material is much more pleasant to the touch, compared to the hard drinking nipples of the prior art, which is why drinking from home is much more pleasant.

However, this coating of the second plastic material also has an additional dual function, namely the sealing of the receptacle in which the drinking nipple is guided, both in the closed position and in the closed position. For this purpose, a first annular bead and a second annular bead are formed on the nipple part of this second soft plastic, each of which serves to seal the receptacle. The first annular bead, which is preferably formed on the end of the nipple part to be taken in the mouth, serves in a manner known per se for sealing the receptacle in the closed position, in which the drinking nipple is thus pressed into the bottle body. Here, the annular bead is located on the bottle body or on the lid, depending on who has the drinking nipple leading recording, so it seals completely outwards. The suction opening of the drinking nipple is closed in this closed position, for example by a tight-fitting closure pin sealingly engages in the suction opening.

If now the drinking nipple is pulled out of the closed position, the first annular bead moves away from its sealing system in the region of the receptacle or the receiving rim. In the drinking position, however, the second annular bead formed on the nipple part, preferably at its lower end, bears sealingly in the region of the receptacle, so that the receptacle is in turn sealed. However, in order to also allow a subsequent flow of air when drinking, thus thus to allow pressure equalization to the inside of the bottle, the second annular bead is interrupted by at least one very narrow ventilation groove, which allows an air passage from the environment into the bottle interior. D. h., That over this vent groove, which has, for example, a width of 1 mm or less, a post-flow of air is possible. At the same time, despite the presence of the vent groove, leakage of liquid while drinking is almost impossible. Because while drinking, a negative pressure builds up continuously in the bottle, which is compensated by the inflowing air. As a result of the subsequent flow of the air, which flows in the opposite direction of the outflow of the liquid, thus an unwanted leakage of the liquid is prevented by the vent groove.

Thus, a multiplicity of advantages are consequently achieved with the two-component plastic drinking nipple of the drinking bottle according to the invention. First, it is very easy to manufacture, since it can be produced as a simple 2K component in a plastic injection molding process. In addition, it is haptically very advantageous because the soft plastic component that forms the nipple part, for example, a TPE, feels very comfortable and has the required softness. From this softness further results in the possibility of using this nipple part as a multifunctional sealing element by the two annular beads are formed, which in the respective end position, so the Verschlussund the drinking position, accomplish the sealing of the drinking nipple leading recording.

Preferably, a plurality of ventilation grooves are distributed around the circumference, preferably equidistantly, provided on the second annular bead. For example, the annular bead can be quasi quartered over four very narrow ventilation grooves, of course, fewer or more ventilation grooves can be provided. The more ventilation grooves are provided, the narrower they can be formed.

The nipple part itself, as already described, preferably consists of a thermoplastic elastomer, although other synthetic elastomers can also be used, preferably those which can be processed in a plastic injection molding process.

The second plastic material should have a Shore A hardness between 40-60, preferably 50.

The nipple body itself may be made of polypropylene, wherein in turn, in turn, other processable especially in a spray thermoplastic materials can be used.

In a further development of the invention can be provided that the first annular bead mushroom-like forms the free end of the nipple part. That is, the first annular bead extends radially outward from the upper end of the nipple part, which is also pleasant to drink.

The sealing effect of the second annular bead in the drinking position can be done in two different ways, namely on the one hand, almost axially, on the other radial. In the case of an axial seal, the second annular bead may be performed in the drinking position against a bearing collar of the recording and tight against this. If the drinking nipple is pulled from the closed position into the drinking position, then the radially extending second annular bead will be counteracted Investment bond of the recording, which is provided either in the recording itself or at its lower end, led and tightly against him. The plant is made so that there is always an air passage over the at least one vent groove. Alternatively, a radial seal may be provided, in the context of which the second annular bead in the drinking position in the hollow cylindrical receptacle, this is arranged sealingly. Here, therefore, is in the drinking position, the second annular bead in the interior of the hollow cylindrical receptacle, so it is radially on the cylinder wall and seals in this way, of course, here is the air passage through the at least one vent groove given.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the bottle with radial seal through the second annular bead can be provided that the second annular bead in both the closed position and in the drinking position in the interior of the hollow cylindrical receptacle, this is sealingly arranged. In other words, the annular bead is accommodated at all times inside the hollow-cylindrical receptacle, resting against the cylinder wall. Thus, a seal is given in each position of the drinking nipple between the two end positions, so that even when moving from the closed position to the drinking position and inverted always a complete seal over the second annular bead is given. During the movement of the drinking nipple, the second annular bead along the receptacle or the cylinder wall is moved, so pulled along the cylinder wall, while always sealing. However, damage during this frequently occurring movement is excluded because the annular bead has a sufficient thickness, unlike the provided in the prior art very thin sealing lips. Because the annular bead itself has no valve function, but only a sealing function, which is why they can have a sufficient axial length, d. h., So it can be dimensioned sufficiently strong. About the annular bead can also be done to some extent, the axial guidance of the drinking nipple in the recording.

The nipple body itself is preferably designed as an essentially cylindrical component, the nipple part extending at least along a part of the length of the nipple body.

To limit the extension movement of the drinking nipple and to fix the drinking nipple so that it can not be detached from the child by the bottle, two arms are provided according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention on the nipple body, which pass through an opening leading to the bottle interior and engage behind the opening edge. That is to say that the arms which have corresponding stops are pulled against the opening edge when the drinking nipple is pulled out, whereby the pull-out movement is limited. In this case, this opening may be formed either as a roundish opening, which leads to the bottle interior, but it is also conceivable, the opening by means of two openings, one of which is penetrated by one arm, is formed. This makes it possible in a simple manner to use the area between these openings for forming the spigot closing the suction opening of the drinking nipple.

It is particularly expedient if the arms are designed as resilient latching arms. This makes it possible, for example, when arranging the drinking nipple on a separate lid to solve the drinking nipple after unscrewing the lid from the inside out of its locking connection for receiving by squeezing the locking arms and remove it for cleaning purposes. To connect it is also easy way to insert back into the hollow cylindrical receptacle until the arms engage behind the opening or the openings and lock behind it.

If the receptacle is formed on a cover, this is expediently designed as a screw cap, which is detachably screwed onto a threaded portion of the bottle body.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Trinkflasche,

Fig. 2

eine Schnittansicht durch die Trinkflasche gemäß Fig. 1 mit entferntem Abschlussdeckel,

Fig. 3

eine Aufsicht auf den auf den Flaschenkorpus aufgeschraubten Deckel,

Fig. 4

eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie IV - IV aus Fig. 3,

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht des Trinknippels,

Fig. 6

eine um 90° gedrehte Seitenansicht des Trinknippels aus Fig. 5,

Fig. 7

eine Schnittansicht durch den Trinknippel gemäß Fig. 4,

Fig. 8

eine Aufsicht auf den Deckel mit eingesetztem Trinknippel,

Fig. 9

eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie A - A in Fig. 8,

Fig. 10

eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie B - B in Fig. 8,

Fig. 11

eine vergrößerte Ansicht des Trinknippels in der Verschlussstellung,

Fig. 12

eine Schnittansicht in Richtung der Linie A - A aus Fig. 8 mit herausgezogenem Trinknippel,

Fig. 13

eine Schnittansicht in Richtung der Linie B - B aus Fig. 8 mit herausgezogenem Trinknippel, und

Fig. 14

eine vergrößerte Ansicht des in der Trinkstellung befindlichem Trinknippels.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the embodiment described below and from the drawing. Showing:

Fig. 1

a side view of a drinking bottle according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a sectional view through the bottle according to Fig. 1 with cover removed,

Fig. 3

a view of the screwed onto the bottle body lid

Fig. 4

a sectional view taken along the line IV - IV Fig. 3 .

Fig. 5

a side view of the drinking nipple,

Fig. 6

a rotated by 90 ° side view of the drinking nipple Fig. 5 .

Fig. 7

a sectional view through the drinking nipple according to Fig. 4 .

Fig. 8

a view of the lid with inserted drinking nipple,

Fig. 9

a sectional view taken along the line A - A in Fig. 8 .

Fig. 10

a sectional view taken along the line B - B in Fig. 8 .

Fig. 11

an enlarged view of the drinking nipple in the closed position,

Fig. 12

a sectional view in the direction of the line A - A from Fig. 8 with pulled out drinking nipple,

Fig. 13

a sectional view in the direction of the line B - B off Fig. 8 with pulled out drinking nipple, and

Fig. 14

an enlarged view of the drinking nipple located in the drinking position.

Fig. 1 shows a drinking bottle 1 according to the invention, consisting of a bottle body 2, on which a lid 3, which has an internal thread 4, the on a corresponding external thread 5 of the bottle body 2 is screwed, is placed. On the lid 3, a ring 6 is fixed with a retaining clip 7, which serves for clipping the bottle 1 to a third object. About a cover cover 8, which can be snapped onto the lid 3, the lid 3 can be completely encapsulated, so that there is an overall closed shape, see Fig. 1 , On the lid 3, a drinking nipple 9 is longitudinally displaceable, which is arranged between a closed position, as in Fig. 1 is shown, and a drinking position, as shown in the sectional view according to Fig. 2 is shown, is displaceable. In the closed position, a removal of liquid located in the bottle body 2 is not possible, in the drinking position, liquid can be sucked out of the bottle body inside via the drinking nipple 9, which is a hollow cylindrical component and has a suction opening 10.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the lid 3 without inserted drinking nipple 9. The lid 3, see also Fig. 4 , has a frusto-conical elevation 11, which is bounded by an upper ring edge 12. In the depth extends a hollow cylindrical receptacle 13, which is bounded by a bottom 14 towards the lid inside. In the bottom 14, two apertures 15 are provided, which, as will be discussed below, penetrated by the arms of the drinking nipple and are engaged behind the movement limit of the extension movement of these arms. At the bottom 14, a pin 16 is integrally formed, which extends along the receptacle 13 and protrudes from this something. This pin 16 engages in the hollow cylindrical drinking nipple 9 and in the suction opening 10 of the drinking nipple 9 in the closed position, about which it is sealed.

The drinking nipple 9 itself is in detail in the Fig. 5-7 shown. It consists of a nipple body 17 made of a relatively hard plastic material, such as polypropylene. It has a hollow cylindrical portion 18, are integrally formed on the underside of two resilient latching arms 19, at the lower end snap hooks 20 protrude radially to the side. At the opposite end of the nipple body 17 widens something, so that a circumferential annular collar 21 is formed.

In particular Fig. 7 can be seen, the hollow cylindrical portion 18 of the nipple body 17 on the outside with a second plastic material, especially a TPE-S with a hardness Shore A50 encapsulated. This second plastic material forms a soft nipple part 22 which surrounds the outside of the cylindrical part 18, as well as completely surrounds the annular collar 21. It also lines the suction opening 10 slightly inwards. It is a soft plastic material, so that it comes to a very good seal in the region of the suction opening 10 in the closed position when the pin 16 engages in the suction opening 10, since the pin 16 firmly abuts the soft absorbent material and this easily deformed ,

The nipple part 22 forms two annular beads, namely a first annular bead 23, which surrounds the annular collar 21. This annular bead 23 is mushroom-like, it widened radially seen relative to the diameter of the cylindrical portion 18 considerable. The annular bead 23 serves to seal the receptacle 13 in the closed position, which will be discussed below.

At the lower end of the sucker part 22, a second annular bead 24 is formed from the soft plastic material. This second annular bead 24 is provided with a plurality of ventilation grooves 25 or interrupted, that is, they do not completely run around. The second annular bead 24, which also protrudes slightly radially seen from the hollow cylindrical portion, serves to seal the receptacle 13 in the rotational position, which will be discussed below. D. h. So that on the nipple part 22 has two separate, the sealing of the receptacle 13, which is connected via the openings 15 directly to the interior of the bottle body 2, serving sealing elements, namely on the one hand, the first annular bead 23, on the other hand second annular bead 24.

Fig. 8 shows a plan view of the lid 3 with inserted drinking nipple 9. This show the Fig. 9 - 11 Sectional views, partially enlarged, of the drinking nipple 9 in the closed position, while the Fig. 12 - 14 show corresponding views of the drinking nipple of the drinking position.

Fig. 9 shows a sectional view taken along the line A - A according to Fig. 8 . Fig. 10 a rotated by 90 ° sectional view taken along the line B - B. In the inserted position, the two locking arms 19 pass through the two openings 15, the two snap hooks 20 are seen to be spaced from the lower edge of the bottom 14. The pin 16 lies close in the suction opening 10, it displaces the soft plastic material of the sucker part 22, which lines the drinking opening 10.

As the Fig. 9, 10th and 11 show in particular, is in this closed position, the first annular bead 23 close to the upper edge 12, which limits the receptacle 13, tight. Since the nipple part 23 is made of a soft material, a very good seal can consequently be achieved hereby. The drinking nipple 9 is also axially fixed in the receptacle 13 beyond. This is achieved, on the one hand, in that, even in the closed position, the second annular bead 24 is arranged in the interior of the receptacle 13, close to its hollow-cylindrical inner wall 25. D. h., That also in this area an additional seal is given, as well as an axial fixation. In addition, a lateral fixation, which avoids wobbling of the drinking nipple, takes place in the region of the edge 12. Because, see for example Fig. 7 , in the transition between the first annular bead 23 to the subsequent cylindrical portion of the suction member 22, a material widening 26 is formed, which engages in the receptacle 13 and there realized a clamp.

The Fig. 12 - 14 show corresponding views of the lid 3 together with drinking nipple 9 in the drinking position. Obviously, the drinking nipple 9 is pulled out of the lid 3, as far as this allows the movement limitation on the latching arms 19 and the snap hooks 20. As the FIGS. 12 and 13 show, the snap hooks 20 are in this case at the edges 27 of the apertures 15 from behind to engage behind, so that further extraction is not possible. During the extension movement and the second annular bead 24 moves in the receptacle 13 upwards, but always standing in sealing contact with the hollow cylindrical inner wall 28 of the receptacle 13. In the drinking position, so the maximum extension position, the second annular bead 24 is in the region of the upper edge 12, but still within the receptacle 13 and in close contact with the inner wall 25. On the one hand the striking of the snap hook 20 and on the other hand, the dense, firm abutment of the second annular bead 24 on the inner wall 28 a secure axial positional fixation is realized.

As can be seen in consequence of pulling out now the suction opening 10 of the drinking nipple 9 is opened, d. h., That the drinking nipple 9 is pulled down from the pin 16 quasi. Liquid can now be sucked through the apertures 15 in the region of the receptacle 13 and via this into the interior of the drinking nipple 9 and from the suction opening 10. Nevertheless, a complete sealing of the receptacle 13, which is liquid-conducting as described, is given via the second annular bead 24.

At the same time, however, an inflow of air into the receptacle 13 from outside the bottle and thus also in the bottle body 2 is possible. When sucking the liquid creates a vacuum in the bottle interior. In order to compensate for this air must flow, which is possible despite the sealing of the receptacle 13 with the second annular bead 24, as this is interrupted as explained above the plurality of ventilation grooves 25. These very narrow venting grooves whose width is preferably less than 1 mm, allow an air flow, wherein, after the air flow is opposite to the outlet direction of the liquid through the ventilation grooves, such a liquid leakage is prevented. So it is despite complete sealing pressure equalization and thus ventilation possible.

As can be seen, the drinking bottle or in particular the drinking nipple 9 and the lid 3 is very simple. In particular, the drinking nipple is a simple 2-component injection-molded component made of a hard plastic, which forms the nipple body 17, and a soft plastic, which forms the nipple part 22. He has a multifunction. First, it serves as a double-acting sealing element over the two beads 23 and 24, which make the respective seal. On the other hand, it is also to be seen as a pleasant haptic drinking element, since the soft plastic material, as described primarily the TPE, the nipple part 22, the drinker has in the mouth or between the lips, is very pleasant to the touch. Also, the lid 3 is a simple plastic injection molded part.

Claims (13)

1. A drinking bottle with a bottle body and a drinking mouthpiece with sucking aperture, through which the liquid disposed in the drinking bottle can be sucked,
   wherein the drinking mouthpiece can be displaced between a pushed-in, sealed position, in which the sucking aperture is tightly sealed, and a pulled-out drinking position, in which the sucking aperture is open for drinking,
   wherein the drinking mouthpiece is mounted in a displaceable manner directly on the bottle body or on a cap attached to the bottle body within a retainer which is open towards the interior of the bottle and sealed via the drinking mouthpiece,
   wherein the drinking mouthpiece (9) comprises a mouthpiece body (17) made from a first synthetic material, onto which a sucking element (22) made from a second synthetic material relatively softer by comparison with the first synthetic material is moulded,
   wherein a first annular swelling (23), by means of which the sealing of the retainer (13) in the closed position is achieved, is embodied on the sucking element (22),
   characterised in that,
   on the sucking element (22), a second annular swelling (24) is further embodied, by means of which the sealing of the retainer (13) in the drinking position is achieved, and
   wherein at least one ventilation groove (25) is provided in the second annular swelling (24), which allows a back-flow of air through the retainer (13) into the interior of the bottle body (2) during drinking.
2. The drinking bottle according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   several ventilation grooves (25) are provided around the periphery of the second annular swelling (24), preferably distributed at an equal distance.
3. The drinking bottle according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the sucking element (22) is made from a thermoplastic elastomer.
4. The drinking bottle according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the second synthetic material provides a Shore hardness between 40-60, preferably of 50.
5. The drinking bottle according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the mouthpiece body (17) is made from polypropylene.
6. The drinking bottle according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the first annular swelling (23) embodies the free end of the sucking element (22) in the form of a mushroom head.
7. The drinking bottle according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that,
   in the drinking position, the second annular swelling (24) is guided against a contact ring of the retainer (13) and is in tight contact with the latter, or that, in the drinking position, the second annular swelling (24) is disposed within the hollow-cylindrical retainer (13) sealing the latter radially.
8. The drinking bottle according to claim 7,
   characterised in that,
   both in the sealed position and also in the drinking position, the second annular swelling (24) is disposed in the interior of the hollow-cylindrical retainer (13) sealing the latter.
9. The drinking bottle according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the mouthpiece body (17) provides a cylindrical portion (18), wherein the sucking element (22) extends at least along a part of the portion (18).
10. The drinking bottle according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    two arms which engage through an opening (15) leading to the interior of the bottle and behind the edge of the opening are provided on the mouthpiece body (17).
11. The drinking bottle according to claim 10,
    characterised in that
    the opening is formed by means of two perforations (15), through each of which one arm (19) passes.
12. The drinking bottle according to claim 10 or 11,
    characterised in that
    the arms are embodied as spring-loaded locking arms (19).
13. The drinking bottle according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the cap (3) providing the retainer (13) is a screw-fastening cap, which can be screwed in a detachable manner onto a threaded portion (5) of the bottle body (2).

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