US20210122533A1 - Box with snap-on closure - Google Patents

Box with snap-on closure Download PDF

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Publication number
US20210122533A1
US20210122533A1 US17/255,273 US201917255273A US2021122533A1 US 20210122533 A1 US20210122533 A1 US 20210122533A1 US 201917255273 A US201917255273 A US 201917255273A US 2021122533 A1 US2021122533 A1 US 2021122533A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
edge portion
closure system
cover
attachment
wall
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US17/255,273
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English (en)
Inventor
Roland Kittmann
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Individual
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Individual
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
    • B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
    • B65D43/0204—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections
    • B65D43/0212—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element secured by snapping over beads or projections only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D43/00—Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D43/02—Removable lids or covers
    • B65D43/0202—Removable lids or covers without integral tamper element
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
    • B65D2543/00064—Shape of the outer periphery
    • B65D2543/00074—Shape of the outer periphery curved
    • B65D2543/00092—Shape of the outer periphery curved circular
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
    • B65D2543/00259—Materials used
    • B65D2543/00296—Plastic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00018—Overall construction of the lid
    • B65D2543/00259—Materials used
    • B65D2543/00314—Combination, e.g. laminates, several different materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00342—Central part of the lid
    • B65D2543/00351—Dome-like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00342—Central part of the lid
    • B65D2543/0037—Flexible or deformable
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/0049—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the inside, or a part turned to the inside of the mouth of the container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/0049—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the inside, or a part turned to the inside of the mouth of the container
    • B65D2543/00527—NO contact
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/00537—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00444—Contact between the container and the lid
    • B65D2543/00481—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container
    • B65D2543/00537—Contact between the container and the lid on the inside or the outside of the container on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
    • B65D2543/00546—NO contact
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00824—Means for facilitating removing of the closure
    • B65D2543/00833—Integral tabs, tongues, handles or similar
    • B65D2543/00842—Integral tabs, tongues, handles or similar outside of the lid
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00824—Means for facilitating removing of the closure
    • B65D2543/00888—Means for facilitating removing of the closure by applying lever forces
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00824—Means for facilitating removing of the closure
    • B65D2543/00888—Means for facilitating removing of the closure by applying lever forces
    • B65D2543/00898—Means for facilitating removing of the closure by applying lever forces by means of a coin or other tool in recesses or similar on container or lid
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00824—Means for facilitating removing of the closure
    • B65D2543/00925—Means for facilitating removing of the closure by applying inwardly directed pressure at two horizontally opposed points
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00824—Means for facilitating removing of the closure
    • B65D2543/00944—Located only on the container, e.g. recesses
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2543/00—Lids or covers essentially for box-like containers
    • B65D2543/00009—Details of lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D2543/00953—Sealing means
    • B65D2543/0099—Integral supplemental sealing lips

Definitions

  • Snap-on closures are characterized in that they can snap in a bistable manner between an open state and a closed state. They generally consist of a disc-shaped top wall which is deformable in a bistable manner between a concave first state and a convex second state, and an annular edge portion. The outer periphery of the annular edge portion decreases upon transition of the top wall from the first state to the second state.
  • the edge portion itself should be sufficiently flexible to allow its outer periphery to widen in the first bistable state of the top wall which is curved in the direction of attachment. According to DE 10 2015 103 036 B4, this is achieved, for example, by the fact that folds are formed at the edge portion which unfold in the first state and thus allow the outer circumference to be enlarged. Then the entire cover can be made of a single plastic material with homogeneous density or elasticity. Preferably, however, the edge portion obtains the necessary elasticity by forming at least one expansion portion in the edge portion of the cover from a softer material component than the remaining edge portion (see WO 2017/076398 A1).
  • the expansion portion expands elastically under stress and allows the edge portion to expand into a concave curvature state, while the base material of the cover is otherwise stiff enough to maintain a constant angle in the transition region between the top wall and the edge portion. This allows the cover to be folded over into the bistable state with the larger outer circumference.
  • the expansion portion is preferably manufactured in one piece together with the rest of the cover using a multi-component injection molding process.
  • a second material component is injected for the expansion portion.
  • the second material component is softer and/or more elastic than the first material component used for the rest of the cover.
  • the cover in this transition region may also preferably have a higher material thickness of the harder (base) material component than in the main region of the top wall or be injected by use of an even harder third material component. This yields the particular advantage that the overall thickness of the cover material may remain constant.
  • a homogeneous thickness is not only visually appealing, but also reduces the number of steps and edges in which dirt can accumulate.
  • a design in which a latching ring made of the softer second material component is molded onto the entire inner and/or outer circumference of the edge portion is particularly preferred.
  • This latching ring can seal a groove or a step in the side wall of the opening to be closed, so that even a sealing closure of the opening is possible.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide, in a closure system consisting of a three-dimensional structure with the opening to be closed and a cover which snaps between two states in a bistable manner, more possibilities for the user to trigger the snap-over process and, preferably, to reduce the minimum force required for the triggering operation.
  • a closure system is desirable in which both bistable states can be triggered by manual pressing, so that both snap-open processes can be operated without a handle member and usually with just one hand.
  • the three-dimensional structure in particular a container or a tubing end which is open on at least one side, is configured in such a way that a force acting on the closure system from outside at at least one predefined location is transferred to the edge portion of the cover in such a way that the cover is snapped from one bistable state to the other.
  • the opening wall of the three-dimensional structure is preferably flexible at least at the predefined location in such a way that, by elastic deformation, a force acting on the opening wall at least on one side, and preferably on both sides, transversely to the direction of attachment is transmitted to the edge portion of the lid.
  • This allows the lid to lie completely within the opening to be closed without the need for the user to provide a handle member on the top wall of the lid to trigger the snap-over process into the open position.
  • the point of the opening wall which is, opposite to the direction of attachment, most remote projects by a certain amount of projection from the location at which the edge portion of the lid presses from the inside against the wall region. A force acting transversely to the direction of attachment on this outer wall region can then trigger the snapping-over of the cover with less effort, because the protrusion acts as a lever arm.
  • the cover clamps as a cap from the outside around the wall region of the opening to be closed.
  • the geometric design of the wall region of the opening at the outermost end region in the direction opposite to the direction of attachment allows the cap to contact this end region with an area of the top wall that is a little offset from the edge portion towards the center of the cap.
  • This allows the cap to be brought into its closed position not only by a force acting transversely to the direction of attachment on the edge portion, but also by a force exerted in the direction of attachment, provided that this force is exerted on a pressure point which is radially further outwards than the contact point of the opening wall with the top wall.
  • the distance between the contact-point and the pressure-point here again works as lever arm and reduces the required operating force correspondingly.
  • the closure element of the opening to be closed is generally referred to as a cover. If the cover clamps on the outside of the opening wall, the cover is called a cap; if the cover clamps on the inside against the opening wall, it is called a lid.
  • FIG. 1 a a side view of a closure cap partially shown in section according to a first embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 1 b a top view of the cap of FIG. 1 a;
  • FIG. 1 c an enlarged detailed view in a section A-A in FIG. 1 a;
  • FIG. 1 d an enlarged view of a detail X of FIG. 1 a;
  • FIG. 1 e an enlarged detailed view in a section C-C in FIG. 1 c;
  • FIG. 1 f an enlarged detailed view in a section B-B in FIG. 1 c , in which at the same time the closure principle of a container with the cap is shown;
  • FIG. 2 a a cross-sectional view of a closure system of the present invention with the closure cap according to the first embodiment in the open position;
  • FIG. 2 b a cross-sectional view of the closure system of FIG. 2 a in the closed position
  • FIG. 2 c an enlarged detail of FIG. 2 a in a first modification of the first embodiment in the open position
  • FIG. 2 d the enlarged detail of FIG. 2 a in a second modification of the first embodiment in the open position
  • FIG. 2 e the enlarged detail of FIG. 2 a in a third modification of the first embodiment in the open position
  • FIG. 3 a a cross-sectional view of a closure system of the present invention with a closure lid according to a second embodiment in the open position;
  • FIG. 3 b a cross-sectional view of the closure system of FIG. 3 a in the closed position
  • FIG. 3 c an enlarged detail of FIG. 3 b;
  • FIG. 3 d the enlarged detail of FIG. 3 c in a first modification of the second embodiment in the closed position
  • FIG. 3 e the enlarged detail of FIG. 3 c in a second modification of the second embodiment in the closed position
  • FIG. 3 f the enlarged detail of FIG. 3 c in a third modification of the second embodiment in the closed position.
  • the cover is designed as a cap 20 , which is to embrace a container wall 12 a from the outside.
  • the FIGS. 1 a to 1 f all show the cap 20 in its convex and outwardly curved snap position (i.e. curved in the direction opposite to the direction of attachment). This is the shape the cap takes in its locking position.
  • FIG. 1 f also shows how it is possible to snap into the opening wall 12 a to be closed in this position, but this will be explained in greater detail later referring to FIGS. 2 a to 2 e.
  • FIGS. 1 a - f has a top wall 21 which is essentially circular in shape, with a ring-shaped edge portion 22 formed on its outer periphery.
  • FIG. 1 a shows a side view partially shown in section. In the left part of the Figure the cap 20 can be seen from the side, while the right part is cut inside so that the back inside of the cap 20 can be seen. In the Figures, the uncut soft component (second material component) is always dotted and the cut soft component is crosshatched, while the cut hard component (first material component) is simply hatched.
  • the cap material should have sufficient rigidity. According to the invention, this is achieved by the fact that the transition region between the top wall 21 and the edge portion 22 has, at least in partial regions, but preferably over the entire circumference, a higher material thickness than the central region of the top wall 21 . As shown in FIGS. 1 e and 1 f , the material gets thicker upwards, i.e. in the direction opposite to the direction of attachment, so that the transition region between the top wall 21 and the edge portion 22 runs smoothly on the inside. Alternatively, the material thickenings can also extend downwards and lead to a correspondingly contoured inner wall surface of the lid.
  • the outer circumference in the concave bistable state (explained later on referring to FIG. 2 a ) is enlarged as compared to the convex state shown in FIGS. 1 e , 1 f and 2 b .
  • This enlargement requires a sufficient stretching flexibility of the circumferential edge portion 22 to enable the increased outer circumference in the concave bistable state.
  • this is achieved by circumferentially (preferably equidistantly) arranged expansion portions 24 made of the softer second material component, which alternate—as can be seen particularly well in FIGS. 1 a and 1 d —with intermediate portions 23 made of the harder first material component.
  • the expansion portions 24 start from the transition region between top wall 21 and edge portion 22 and then widen towards the radial outer edge.
  • the softer material of the expansion portions 24 ensures that the edge portion 22 can enlarge at its outer circumference when being in the concave (i.e. open) snapping position of the cap 20 .
  • the expansion portions 24 would then no longer have the constant width shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 d , but would widen radially outwards.
  • the edge portion 22 terminates in its expansion portions 24 as well as in its intermediate portions 23 in a latching ring 29 which is provided at the inner circumference and which is also formed from a softer material component, preferably the same as the expansion portions 24 .
  • This inner circumferential latching ring 29 imparts additional dimensional stability to the thin-walled cap 20 , but is also sufficiently elastic to enable the enlargement of the outer circumference in the convex foldover position shown in FIG. 2 a . Due to its softer material properties, the latching ring 29 can work as a sealing ring.
  • the latching ring 29 is formed on a lip portion 23 a , 24 a of the edge portion 22 , the lip portion projecting radially inwards by 90°.
  • the reason for this is that the cap 20 should grip the opening 11 a to be closed from the outside, as will be explained in greater detail in FIG. 1 f and, in particular, in FIGS. 2 a - e .
  • the lip portion 24 a adjacent to the expansion portion 24 is made of the softer second material component, while the lip portion 23 a adjacent to the intermediate portion 23 is made of the harder first material component.
  • the lip portions 23 a and 24 a can also be entirely formed from the softer second material component. In this case, the entire radial inner part of the edge portion 22 would belong to the latching ring 29 or the lip portion would be omitted.
  • the above-mentioned multi-component injection molding using one or more thermoplastics is particularly suitable.
  • the multi-component technique allows a first (base) component to be injected for the top wall 21 and the intermediate portions 23 , while the expansion portions 24 , as well as the latching ring 29 , are directly injected from a softer second component in a single manufacturing process.
  • the optional third (particularly hard) material component for the transition region between the top wall and the edge portion can also be injection-molded directly in a single multicomponent injection molding process.
  • thermoplastic elastomers TPE
  • thermoplastic urethane TPU
  • Preferred materials for the second component are: Polycarbonate (PC), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Polystyrene (PS).
  • Preferred materials for the third component are: glass fiber reinforced polyamide (PA) or other glass fiber reinforced plastics.
  • the cap or lid can also be manufactured by a thermoforming process, i.e. deep drawing, or by an injection molding process from only a single plastic material. Then, instead of the softer expansion portions at the edge portion, the above-mentioned folds are formed and reinforcement ribs and/or material thickenings are provided at the transition region between the top wall and the edge portion to keep the inner angle there constant in both bistable states.
  • FIGS. 2 a - e show the functional principle of the cap 20 according to the first embodiment of the invention in a closure system consisting of the container 10 a and the cap 20 .
  • the opening 11 a to be closed has, in the shown wall region 12 a , a circular groove 13 a on the outer surface, at the lower end of which a step 15 a is formed. The step is not necessary and can also be omitted. Above the groove 13 a , the wall region 12 a continues into a protrusion 14 a , which has essentially the same height as the edge portion 22 of the cap 20 .
  • FIG. 2 a shows the cap 20 in its open, concave position, i.e. with the top wall 21 curved downwards.
  • the inner diameter of the edge portion 22 is correspondingly larger. This inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the outer groove 13 a , so that the cap 20 can be removed from the opening 11 a in the open state shown in FIG. 2 a.
  • the top wall 21 has a convex curvature, i.e. it is curved upwards in the direction opposite to the direction of attachment. Then, the edge portion 22 with the inwardly projecting latching ring 29 only has an inner diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of the groove 13 a .
  • the cap 20 is firmly engaged with the opening wall 12 a to be closed and only snaps back into its first bistable state shown in FIG. 2 a when a force F acts on the top wall 21 in the direction of attachment. Due to its elastic material properties, the ring 29 also works as a sealing ring to prevent gases or liquids from escaping through the opening 11 a.
  • the end section 16 of the wall region 12 a is tapered, i.e. the outer diameter of the opening 11 a narrows in this end section 16 , while the inner diameter of opening 11 a remains constant.
  • This provides a contact point A 1 between the top wall 21 and the end section 16 which is offset towards the center of the cover 20 by a distance a 1 from the transition region between the top wall 21 and the edge portion 22 .
  • a force F 2 which acts essentially in the direction of attachment, is exerted from above on the top wall 21 at a pressure point A 2 , this force F 2 acts on the edge portion 22 via a lever arm of the length a 1 and triggers the snap-over process.
  • this was only possible by means of the force F 0 acting directly on the edge portion 22 in FIGS. 2 a , 2 c and 2 d from sideward, essentially transversely to the direction of attachment.
  • an additional extension 18 may be attached or molded to edge portion 22 in accordance with an optional modification.
  • This extension 18 makes it possible to reduce the force F 0 , acting essentially transversely to the direction of attachment and required to close the cap, to a lower value F 1 , because the user can exert his force via an extended lever arm when he compresses the cap 20 at the extension 18 .
  • the lever arm a 1 can be extended by providing a narrowing element 17 to the end section 16 ′, which narrowing element can be attached to or integrally formed at the end section 16 ′ and which also constricts the inner diameter of the wall region 12 a , i.e. the opening 11 a , in the area of the end section. Then a force F 3 exerted on the pressure point A 2 acts via the longer lever arm a 2 with the contact point A 1 as a lever point even more efficiently on the edge portion 22 and thus facilitates the release of the snapping-over process.
  • the lever arm a 1 of FIG. 2 c can also be extended by a top wall extension 19 .
  • the top wall extension 19 is not arranged at the edge portion 22 but at the top wall 21 .
  • This top wall extension 19 can be attached to or integrally molded with the top wall 21 , in partial areas or across the entire circumference thereof.
  • the top wall extension allows the force F 2 , which acts essentially in the direction of attachment and which is required to close the cap 20 , to be reduced to a lower value F 3 ′.
  • FIGS. 3 a to 3 f show the functioning of another closure system according to the present invention.
  • the system uses a lid 30 according to the second embodiment to close an opening 11 a .
  • the lid can be manufactured in the same way as previously described for the cap 20 and has expansion portions and intermediate portions in the edge portion 32 in the same way, whereby only the intermediate portions 33 are visible in the cross-sections of the Figures for the sake of clarity. Also, the lip portions and the modifications are possible with the lid 30 analogously to the cap 20 .
  • cap 20 The only difference to cap 20 is that the lid 30 does not have an inwardly protruding latching ring 29 , but an outwardly protruding latching ring 39 . This is because it is not intended to clamp to the container wall from the outside, but from the inside. Another conceivable option is, of course, a cover with both an inwardly and an outwardly projecting latching ring, which can then be used as both a cap and a cover. Furthermore, it would also be possible to place the lid 30 upside down on the box 10 b without significantly changing its functionality. The middle section of the edge portion 32 would then not extend in the direction of attachment but also opposite thereto, and the cover 30 would change from its closed state to its open state by exerting a pressure on the top wall 31 in the direction of attachment, which can be advantageous for certain applications.
  • the edge portion 32 thus ends both in its expansion portions (not shown) and in its intermediate portions 33 in an outer circumferential latching ring 39 .
  • the latching ring is also formed from a softer material component, preferably the same material as the expansion portions.
  • This circumferential latching ring 39 not only gives the thin-walled lid 30 additional dimensional stability, but is also sufficiently elastic to enable the enlargement of the outer circumference in the convex folding position shown in FIG. 3 b . Due to its softer material composition, the latching ring 39 not only clamps particularly well in the inner groove 13 b of the opening wall 12 b to be closed, but can also provide the functionality of a sealing ring.
  • the wall region 12 b of the opening 11 a to be closed has a ring-shaped groove 13 b inside, into which the lid 30 is to engage, and which forms a step-shaped shoulder 15 b at its lower edge.
  • the area of the wall region 12 b above the groove 13 b (i.e. against the direction of attachment) is referred to as the protrusion 14 b.
  • the edge portion 32 hits with its latching ring 39 against the step 15 b . This tells the user that the axial end position of the cover 30 has been reached which is the end position intended for locking. If the user now presses the top wall 31 downwards by a force F acting vertically downwards, the top wall 31 snaps from its convex bistable state shown in FIG. 3 a into its concave bistable state shown in FIG. 3 b .
  • FIG. 3 b shows in detail the engagement of the ring 39 into the groove 13 b.
  • the lid 30 To uncover the opening 11 b again, the lid 30 must snap back into its original state. It can then be pulled out of the opening 11 b due to its reduced outer diameter. Conventionally, a handle member on the top wall 31 was provided for this purpose. By the handle member, the lid 30 could be seized and pulled upwards. As described in detail below, the second embodiment of the present invention also allows the lid to be opened with a force F 4 , F 5 acting laterally (transversely to the direction of attachment) on the container wall 12 b , so that the handle member can be dispensed with.
  • the protrusion 14 b has a length b 1 up to the outermost (opposite to the direction of attachment) end of the wall region 12 b . If the user now exerts, transversely to the direction of attachment, from the outside at the pressure point B 2 a force F 4 on the wall region 12 b , this force, with the length b 1 acting as a lever arm and with the contact point B 1 between wall region 12 b and edge portion 32 , acts by the elastic deformation of the protrusion 14 b in such a way on the cover 30 that the cover 30 can snap into the open state without the need for any direct pressing of the edge portion 32 or pulling of the top wall 31 via a handle member or the like.
  • the protrusion 14 b ′ can also be longer according to a first modification of the second embodiment. This not only extends the lever arm to the length b 2 and reduces the force F 5 required to open the cover 30 , but the cover 30 is then also completely protected inside the opening 11 b , which makes any unintentional opening of the closure system more unlikely.
  • FIG. 3 e shows a second modification of the second embodiment.
  • the wall region 12 b below the inner groove 13 b has an opening in which a slider 13 c is mounted.
  • the slider 13 c is a rod-shaped actuating element for opening the cover 30 and can be displaced in the opening transversely to the direction of attachment.
  • the user exerts a force F 5 ′ on the actuator 13 d mounted to or integrally formed with the outer end of the slider 13 c from outside transversely to the direction of attachment.
  • the actuator 13 d has the shape of a hemispherical actuating knob.
  • the other end of the slider 13 c meets the end of an edge portion extension 34 protruding in the direction of attachment from the edge portion 32 inside the container 10 b .
  • the extension 34 can be attached to or integrally formed with the edge portion 32 in partial areas or over the entire circumference. In the modification shown, the extension essentially has a length b 3 and is thus longer than the edge portion 32 as such.
  • the extension 34 acts as a lever arm of the length b 3 up to the transition region between edge portion 32 and top wall 31 .
  • the extension 34 is moved such far into the interior of the container that it transfers, to the top wall 31 via the lever arm b 3 , the torque necessary for switching into the open bistable state.
  • the same force F 5 ′ when acting on the remaining wall region 12 b would not be sufficient for opening of the cover 30 —for example, because the wall thickness or strength of the container wall is large enough to make force transmission to the edge portion extension 34 sufficiently difficult. This additionally increases safety against any unintentional opening of the box-lid system.
  • the slider 13 c and the actuator 13 d can also be omitted.
  • the wall region 12 b may have a constriction 13 e where the wall thickness is weakened.
  • the constriction 13 e can be provided as a circumferential ring-shaped recess or only as a grasping recess arranged in partial areas, preferably at two diametrically opposed points. If the minimum force F 5 ′′ is used to press the wall region at the area of the constriction 13 e radially inwards, the extension 34 deforms towards the inside of the container to such an extent that it transfers the torque required to switch the top wall 31 via the lever arm b 3 into the open bistable state.
  • the container wall 12 b is strong enough to prevent unintentional opening with the force F 5 ′′. This avoids any impairing of the container tightness which may arise in the second modification with the wall opening and the slide 13 c .
  • wall breakthroughs are desirable, e.g. for pressure equalization between the container inside and ambient pressure.
  • the wall region 12 b can also be softened at this location in another way, for example by using a softer material component or subsequently softening the wall region 12 b at this location.
  • the present invention relates to a closure system with a three-dimensional structure 10 a , 10 b , in particular a container or an opening region of a technical apparatus, and a cover 20 , 30 for fitting onto the three-dimensional structure 10 a , 10 b in order to close its opening 11 a , 11 b .
  • the cover 20 , 30 has a top wall 21 , 31 which is deformable in a bistable manner between a first state curved in the direction of attachment and a second state curved opposite to the direction of attachment, and an annular edge portion 22 , 32 .
  • the edge portion has a larger outer circumference in the first bistable state than in the second bistable state and is therefore adapted to effect a clamping attachment of the cover 20 , 30 to a wall region 12 a , 12 b of the opening 11 a , 11 b by the edge portion 22 , 32 pressing against the wall region 12 a , 12 b in the first state from inside or pressing against the wall region 12 a , 12 b in the second state from outside.
  • the three-dimensional structure 10 a , 10 b is configured to transfer a force exerted on the closure system at predefined locations A 2 , B 2 from the outside in such a way that it leads to a snapping of the cover 20 , 30 from one to the other of the two bistable states.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
US17/255,273 2018-06-29 2019-06-27 Box with snap-on closure Abandoned US20210122533A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE202018103730.7U DE202018103730U1 (de) 2018-06-29 2018-06-29 Dose mit Schnappverschluss
DE202018103730.7 2018-06-29
PCT/DE2019/100598 WO2020001708A1 (de) 2018-06-29 2019-06-27 Dose mit schnappverschluss

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US20210122533A1 true US20210122533A1 (en) 2021-04-29

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US17/255,273 Abandoned US20210122533A1 (en) 2018-06-29 2019-06-27 Box with snap-on closure

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US (1) US20210122533A1 (de)
EP (1) EP3807161B1 (de)
JP (1) JP2021529134A (de)
DE (2) DE202018103730U1 (de)
WO (1) WO2020001708A1 (de)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202019101663U1 (de) 2019-03-22 2020-06-23 Roland Kittmann Schnappverschluss mit Sicherheitsverriegelung
DE102020124654A1 (de) 2020-09-22 2022-03-24 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Strukturbauteil
DE102020124796A1 (de) 2020-09-23 2022-03-24 Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Öffenbare Außenhaut

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR670576A (fr) * 1929-02-28 1929-11-30 Dispositif pour ouverture de boîtes et récipients, et boîtes et récipients comportant ce dispositif
DE20022999U1 (de) * 2000-02-18 2002-10-31 Artec Gmbh Entwicklungs Und Ko Kunststoffschachtel mit Zusatzfunktion
DE102015103036B4 (de) 2015-03-03 2017-08-31 Roland Kittmann Bistabiles Verschlusselement
DE202015105951U1 (de) 2015-11-06 2017-02-07 Roland Kittmann Schnappdeckel in Mehrkomponenten-Spritzgusstechnik

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EP3807161C0 (de) 2023-11-01
DE112019003291A5 (de) 2021-04-08
DE202018103730U1 (de) 2019-10-09
WO2020001708A1 (de) 2020-01-02
EP3807161B1 (de) 2023-11-01
EP3807161A1 (de) 2021-04-21
JP2021529134A (ja) 2021-10-28

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