Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTAINER CLOSURE WITH A RETRACTA~LE TURNSPOUT
The invention relates to a closure of plastics material on a
container (particularly a bottle) which serves to receive
and deliver liquids or pastes. The closure of this
container has a retractable turnspout and also the
components referred to in the precharacterising portion of
Claim 1. The terms defined in the claims are also used in
the following detailed statement.
Such a closure is disclosed in US-A-3847313. The turnspout
mentioned therein is rotatable about an eccentric bush. The
tube of the turnspout can be moved outwardly or inwardly by
way of a pivotal movement. In the one extreme position it
disappears completely within an actuating cap. This is the
closed position. In the other extreme position it projects
to a maximum extent out of a lateral opening in the cap.
This is the use position in which liquid can be delivered
(poured or squirted) through the turnspout.
A valve in the liquid passage to the turnspout is so
actuated that it is open in the use position and closed in
the closed position. In the known closure an additional
movement of the turnspout is necessary, namely parallel to
the closure axis, to actuate the valve so that a plug, which
is attached,within the tube on the upper wall, can engage in
a bush and close it and vice versa. A helical ramp on the
plug base and guide curves extending inwardly from the cap
base are necessary for this additional upward and downward
movement o~ the turnspout. A relatively large number of
components are thus necessary for the actuation of the
turnspout in two directions which results in complicated
injection moulded components.
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In addition to the inevitable friction due to the rotary
movement of the cap and tube when actuating the turnspout,
friction in the axial direction (tube against bush) and
friction on the helical ramp also occur so that the closure
can only be actuated with the application of considerable
force and cannot be actuated at all by frail people.
The height matching of the components which is necessary for
the pressing in and turning is difficult due to the great
number of the height tolerances which occur. In this
connection there are four components to be taken account of,
namely the cap, tube, plug and mouth.
US-~-3371827 discloses another container closure with a
turnspout in which the turnspout needs only to be displaced
in the direction of rotation. In one embodiment thereof
(Figures 9 to 11) the free outer end of the turnspout may
also be shut off, in fact by the actuating cap itself. In
the closed position, not only the outer end of the tube but
also its inner end are closed offO The tube itself is
angled and its lower limb in the use position passes through
the base of the closure plug and is pivotable-in this base.
A projection attached to the inner surface of the cap base
serves to move the tube when the cap is rotated.
This has the following disadvantages:
The bent tube cannot be manufactured integrally of plastics
material, or only with the aid of a complicated mouldJ in an
injection moulding process.
When the closure plug is pressed in and the cap screwed on
the cap wall i5 deformed and thus unsuitable for sealing the
outer end of the tube.
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The cap impedes the pivotal movement of the tube even at
positions where no sealing is necessary, namely during the major
portion of the pivotal mov~ment.
~ feed pipe for liquid cannot be fitted.
According to the invention there is provided a container closure
made of plastics material and provided with a retractable
turnspout, said closure having the following components: a) a
plug for closing the container, said plug having a base, b) an
upwardly extending bush which is e~centrically arranged on the
plug base and whose internal passage passes throuyh the plug
base, c) a turret which sealingly engages over the bush and is
rotatable on it and which together with a tube projecting from
it transverse to its axis of rotation forms the turnspout, said
turret having a base, d) a continuous liquid passage in the
turret and tube, e) a sealing device between the bush and turret,
f) a cap which engages over the plug and the container, is
rotatable with respect to the plug, has a lateral opening through
which the tube may pass and has a base, g) a shield upstanding
from the plug base for closing the lateral opening when the
turnspout is pivoted in, h) a wall on the cap base and projecting
towards the plug base and having a first engaging edge for
pivoting the tube out, characterised by the following features:
i) a longitudinal slot in the wall of the bush together with the
inward end of the liquid passage of the tube forms a tap, j) the
shield also serves to seal the free end of the tube when it has
been pivoted in, k) a second engaging edge provided on the wall
serves to pivot the tube into a position behind the shield.
The result is substantially simpler injection moulded components
for actuating the turnspout by comparison with US-A-3847313 since
the turnspout need only be moved by the cap in the pivotal
direction whilst components for raising and pressing down the
turnspout are superfluous. Consequently, substantially less
friction arises when actuating the closure in accordance with the
invention.
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By comparison with US-A-3371827 the shield in accordance~,lith the
invention attached to the plug offers the advantage principally
that the free end of the tube is sealed perfectly in the closed
position whilst in accordance with this prior publication it only
engages the cap without being sealed. A further advantage
resides in that the fit between the outer end of the tube and the
shield is not changed when the container is closed, that is to
say a perfect sealing function is maintained.
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Further features of the invention
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will be apparent from the subordinate claims.
In accordance with Claim 2 a further valve may be provided
for the purpose of additional sealing between the turret and
bush which is also actuated when the turnspout is pivoted.
In accordance with Claim 3 the turnspout may be actuated by
a cylindrical wall which is provided on the cap base and
which is interrupted at one point. Its two edges resulting
from the interruption serve to move the turnspout during the
opening and closing processes.
In accordance with Claim 4 the shield, which serves to close
the lateral opening in the cap and to seal the outer end of
the tube, may be additionally used to limit the rotation of
the cap in at least one direction of rotation.
In the opening direction this purpose can be served in
accordance with Claim 5 by one edge of the shield together
with a projection on the interior of the cap wall.
In the closing direction this purpose can b~ served in
accordance with Claim 6 by a projection, e.g. in the form of
a rib on the inner wall of the shield together with the free
end of the tube to limit the rotation of the cap.
A tamper ind~cator may be provided in accordance with Claim
7 and in accordance w~th Claim ~ this may be so constructed
that the cap and tongue which may be broken away which are
necessary for this purpose may be manufactured in a simply
constructed injection moulding tool.
Exemplary embodiments with further features of the invention
will be described below with reference to the drawings~
igure 1 is a perspective view of a closure with a
retractable turnspout in accordance with the
invention mounted on a container.
igure 2 is an exploded view on an enlarged scale of the
container and the components of the closure.
igure 3 is an axial section through the plug of the
closure shown in the middle of Figure 2.
igure 4 is a plan view of the plug.
igure 5 is a side el~vation of the plug with the turnspout
on a reduced scale by comparison with Figures 3
and 4.
igure 6 is a view from below of t~ cap illustrated in
Figure 2.
igure 7 is an axial sectional view of the cap on the plane
VII-VII in Figure 6.
igure B is a partial axial section through the cap on the
plane VIII-VIII in Figure 6.
igure 9 is a longitudinal section through the container
mouth, plug, cap and the turnspout which has been
completely pivoted out and thus shows the use
position.
igure 10 is a sectional view on the plane X-X in Figure 9,
that is to say viewed from above towards the plug
base; the parts also being in the use position.
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igures 11 to 14 are views similar to Figure 10 and show the
relative positions of the components in differing
rotary positions of the cap and the turnspout.
igure 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified
embodiment of a turnspout.
igure 16 is a plan view of this turnspout.
igure 17 is a partial sectional view on the plane XVII in
Figure 15.
igure 18 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
bush provided on the plug.
igures 19 and 2~ are aperspective view and a partial longi-
tudinal sectional viaw through the cap,
respectively, of a tamper-proof closure.
igures 21 and 22 are similar views of another version of a
tamper-proof closure.
Terms such as "above" and "below" refer to the position of
the parts in a vertically standing mouth of an upright
container. Terms such as "axial" refer to the axes of the
mouth and of the plug.
All components of the container closure are manufactured
from plasti~ material.
Figures 1 to 4 show a closure 1 with a turnspout in
accordance with the invention. Rotatably secured to a
container 4 is a cap 2 with cap base 2a and a cap wall 2b in
which there is a lateral opening 3. The container is
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preferably elastically flexible.
Figures 3 and 4 and the middle of Figure 2 show a plug 5
with plug base 5a and a plug wall Sb extending upwardly
therefrom for insertion of the plug into the container mouth
10. The plug is integrally injection moulded with a bush 6
of relatively hard plastics material. The bush is situated
substantially eccentrically and extends parallel to the plug
axisO The lower end of the bush 6 is surrounded by an
annular groove 5c. On its upwardly directed side the bush
has a longitudinal slot 7 which is parallel to the axis and
which merges into a liquid passage 6a in the interior of the
bush. The upper end of the bush can also be closed, as is
shown on a bush 6' in Figure 18.
Figure 2 also shows the turnspout which is designated in its
entirety as 9 and which has a cap-like turret 9b, on which
there is a radial tube ga whose liquid passage 9c is in
communication with the interior of the turret. After
assembly, the turret sits on the bush 6, as shown in Figure
9. It fits in a rotatable and sealing manner over the bush.
When the tube 9a is pivoted ~ully outwardly, its liquid
passage 9c is in communication through the longitudinal slot
7 with the liquid passage 6a in the bush 6. The longitu-
dinal slot has the effect of a tap; when the tube 9a is
pivoted inwardly ~Figures 11 to 14~ this connection is
broken and when the tube is completely pivoted out (Figure
10~ it is open.
On the plug base there is a shield 8 which is constructed as
a part-cylindrical wall integral with the plug and is
concentric with the plug axis 5d (Figure 9). It serves to
close the lateral opening 3 in the cap in the closed
position, as shown in Figure 14. The shield also has other
functions: it has an inwardly directed abutment rib 8a which
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is parallel to the axis and which in the closed position
serves as an abutment for the outer end of the tube (Figure
14). The shield also serves in this position to seal the
outer end of the tube 9a.
The edge of the plug base 5a rests on a lip 11 at the top of
the container mouth 10. A bush 13 projects downwardly from
the plug base 5a. A feed tube can, if required, be pushed
onto it for the liquid which is to be delivered.
Figure 6 shows the cap 2 from below on an enlarged scale.
One can see the lateral opening 3 in the cap wall 2b. Lower
snap lugs 17 serve to retain the cap 2 on the container
mouth 10. They engage below a snap ring 16 on the container
mouth and fix the cap against rotation on the container and
secure against axial movements. Upper snap lugs 18 serve to
fix the plug 5 with the turnspout 9 in position within the
cap 2. After its engagement the plug sits rotationally
fixed in the container mouth and thus does not move when the
cap 2 rotates. By virtue of the wall 26 a precise height
assembly of the plug 5 with the turnspout 9 in the cap 2 is
rendered possible. The wall 26 transmits the axial force
which is necessary for the engagement of the plug in the
container mouth 10, from the cap 2 to the plug 5.
A flat abutment web 25 ~Figures 6 and 8) which extends along
a radial plane and projects from the cap base limits the
rotary movement of the cap 2 in the use position by abutment
against the shield 8 and thus the pivotal movement o~ the
turnspout when its tube 9a is completely extended (Figure
10)~ In this position the tube extends approximately in the
direction of a radial plane. Fastened to the cap base is an
inwardly directed cylindrical wall 26 which is however not
completely closed but has an opening which is somewhat
offset with respect to the lateral opening 3 in the cap and
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is defined by two edges, the "engaging edges" 39 and 40.
The wall 26 serves to move the tube 9a in the one or th~
other direction of rotation and thus to pivot the tube
outwardlyinto the use position (Figure 10) and to pivot it
inwardly intOthe closed position (Fiyure 14), so long as the
rotary movement is not limited by abutments~
Provided on the inner side of the cap ~7all 2b is a flat
positioning web 24 (Figure 8) which, when the plug 5 is
inserted, serves together with the cap to position the plug
in the direction of rotation, namely by abutment against a
rib 23 on the container mouth 10 (Figure 2). In this manner
the plug can be aligned, e.g. with a hottle label or the
like. The cap can be locked in the closed position with
respect to the rib 23 on the opening by a short locking web
27 (Figure 6) provided in the cap.
Figures 10 to 14 show in section on the plane X-X in Figure
9 the position of the parts in differing pivotal positions.
Figure 10 shows the use position with the tube 9a completely
pivoted out corresponding to Figure 9 in which the container
contents can be delivered. On rotation of the cap 2 in the
clockwise sense out of the position of Figure 10 into that
of Figure 12, the edge 35 of the lateral opening 3 in the
cap moves the tube 9a with it in the clockwise sense.
Thereafter the tube is moved into the closed position of
Figure 14 by an edge of the cylindrical wall 26, the "second
engaging edge!' 40 referred to in Claim 1, namely when it has
been completely withdrawn inwardly out of the lateral
opening 3 in the cap and as a result can no longer be moved
by the edge 35 of the opening 3~ In the closed position of
Figure 14 the outer end 9a of the tube is sealed with
respect to the inner wall of the shield 8. The abutment rib
8a of the shield limits the movement of the tube and thus
also the rotation of the cap 2 with respect to the container
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mouth.
When the tube is pivoted in from the position of Figure 1~
in the clockwise sense its liquid passage 9c is firstly shut
off with respect to the longitudinal slot 7 in the bush 6.
The inner end of the tube 9a is thus sealed. Only later,
when in the position of Figure 14, is its outer end also
shut off by the shield 8.
The "first engaging edge" 39 of th~ cylindrical wall 26
serves to move the tube 9a in the opposite direction out of
the position of Figure 14 into that of Figure 10. When the
cap is pivoted in the anti-clockwise sense the engaging edge
39 engages the side wall of the tube 9a, pivots the tube
firstly out of its sealing position with respect to the
shield 8 and then further in the anti-clockwise sense so
that after a certain pivotal movement it comes out of the
lateral opening 3 in the cap 2 and finally moves into the
position of Figure 10 in which it projects by the maximum
distance and again defines a continuous liquid passage, as
shown in Figure 9. The rotation of the cap 2 in the anti-
clockwise sense is limited by abutment of the ahutment web
25 on the cap with the one edge of the shield ~, as shown in
Fiyure 10.
In an embodiment shown in Figures 15 to 17, there is
provided concentrically in the interior of the turret 9b for
the purpose of additional sealing in the closed position a
hollow cylinder ~2 which after assembly sealingly engages in
the liquid passage 6a of the bush. In its lower portion thé
hollow cylinder 42 has a longitudinal slot 44 which forms a
liquid passage whose breadth corresponds to that o~ the
longitudinal slot 7 in the bush ~ ~Figure 4). In the use
position of Figure 10 the longitudinal slot 44 permits an
unimpeded liquid flow between the liquid passages 6a and 9c.
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In the positions of Figures 12 to 14, the wall of the hollow
cylinder 42 blocks this liquid flow and thus serves
additionally to seal the inner end of the tube 9a.
As shown in Figures 19 and 20, to provide a tamper~proof
closure the lateral opening 3 of the cap can be closed by an
integrally moulded tongue 46 which can be broken away. It
is connected to the edges 3a of the opening 3 by means of
web-like predetermined breaking points 48.
Figures 21 and 22 show another embodiment of a tamper-proof
closure. The illustrated tongue50 which may be torn away
extends parallel to the axis of the cap 2 and is broader
than the opening 3~ It is connected to the cap wall 2b by
means of predetermined breaking points 52. This embodiment has
the advantage that the cap and tongue which may be torn away
can be demoulded without an additional movement of the
injection mould.
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REFERENCE NUMERALS
1 Closure
2 Cap
2a Cap base
2b Cap wall
3 Lateral opening
3a Edge of this opening
4 Container
Plug
5a Plug base
5b Plug wall
5c Annular groove
5d Plug axis
6 Bush
6a Liquid passage
7 Longitudinal slot
8 Shleld
8a Abutment rib
9 Turnspout
9a Tube
9b Turret
9c Liquid passage
Container mouth
11 Lip
13 . Lower bush
16 Snap ring
17 Lower snap lugs
18 Upper snap lugs
23 Rib
24 Positioning web
Abutment web
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26 Cylindrical wall
27 Locking web
Edge
39 1st engaging edge
2nd engaging edge
42 Hollow cylinder
44 Longitudinal slot
46 Tongue which may be broken away
48 Predetermlned breaking point
Tongue which may be broken away
52 Predetermined breaking point
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