U.S. patent application number 11/405897 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-25 for stopper for a container.
This patent application is currently assigned to Gaplast GmbH. Invention is credited to Roland Kneer.
Application Number | 20070246467 11/405897 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38157973 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070246467 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kneer; Roland |
October 25, 2007 |
Stopper for a container
Abstract
A stopper, configured to engage with an annular shoulder of a
container in a clamping fit, comprises a circular bottom section
which closes the container opening, and two head sections which
project beyond the container. In between the head sections a slide
is arranged which in a retracted initial state assumes, together
with the head sections, a substantially frusta conical shape
tapering to the upper side. The frusta conical edge has a maximum
diameter which is at the most, as large as the outer diameter of
the container at the container opening. The slide is adapted to be
pushed forwards under the action of a force of a predetermined
magnitude in one direction beyond the rim of the container. The
projected slide can be gripped by a user to lever off the stopper
from the container.
Inventors: |
Kneer; Roland; (Farchant,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREER, BURNS & CRAIN
300 S WACKER DR
25TH FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Assignee: |
Gaplast GmbH
|
Family ID: |
38157973 |
Appl. No.: |
11/405897 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/254.9 ;
220/789 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 39/16 20130101;
B65D 50/069 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/254.9 ;
220/789 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/18 20060101
B65D051/18; B65D 39/00 20060101 B65D039/00 |
Claims
1. A stopper which engages with an annular shoulder in a clamping
fit into a container, comprising a circular bottom section which
closes the container opening, and two head sections which project
beyond the container and between which a slide is arranged which in
the retracted initial state assumes, together with the head
sections, substantially a frustoconical shape tapering to the upper
side, said slide extending centrally between the head sections and
terminating at both sides in circumferential sections of the
frustoconical edge, said frustoconical edge having a maximum
diameter which is at the most as large as the outer diameter of the
container on the container opening, the slide being adapted to be
pushed forwards under the action of a force of a predetermined
magnitude in one direction beyond the rim of the container.
2. The stopper according to claim 1, wherein in the path of
movement of the slide the bottom section of the stopper has formed
thereon a projection on which in the initial position of the slide
an elastically deformable bolt of the slide is abutting and can
slide over the projection upon application of a force, and a stop
for the bolt at a distance from the projection for defining the
advance movement of the slide.
3. The stopper according to claim 1, wherein the circumferential
section of the slide which is the rear one in the direction of
advance movement of the slide forms the force application surface
for advancing the slide.
4. The stopper according to claim 1, wherein the front
circumferential section of the slide is broader than the remaining
body of the slide and that the laterally projecting members in the
retracted initial position of the slide abut on stops of the head
sections of the stopper.
5. The stopper according to claim 1, wherein the upper side of the
slide is in alignment with the upper side of the head sections.
6. The stopper according to claim 1, wherein the upper side of the
slide is free from recessed grips and/or projections.
7. The stopper according to claim 1, wherein the slide, viewed in
cross section, substantially has a downwardly broadening
trapezoidal shape and is seated in correspondingly formed recesses
of the two head sections.
8. A combination comprising a stopper according to claim 1 and a
container, said container being provided on the edge of its opening
with an inner annular shoulder on which the bottom section of the
stopper is positioned.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a stopper for a container
which preferably has a circular cylindrical shape with or without a
container neck and is particularly configured to receive tablets,
dragees, or other substances, for instance in the form of a powder
or granulate. The stopper engages with an annular shoulder, which
in cross section may have a bulged-out shape on the outside, into
the container so that it can only be removed from the container by
applying a force directed away from the container. Furthermore, the
stopper comprises a circular bottom section which is integral with
the annular shoulder and which closes the container opening, and a
head section formed thereon, which projects beyond the container
and in which a slide is displaceably arranged, the slide being
adapted to be advanced or pushed forwards beyond the container rim
and forming, in said position, a lever with which the stopper can
be removed from the container.
PRIOR ART
[0002] European patent EP 053 76 01, which goes back to the
applicant of the present application, discloses a stopper in the
head section of which such a slide is arranged. Said slide has a
recessed grip formed in the upper side, into which a user grips
with one finger to push the slide forwards beyond the container
rim. The slide in the retracted initial position is here held by a
projection on the bottom section of the stopper over which the
slide can slide without the application of a considerable
force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is the object of the present invention to provide a
stopper of the type under consideration, which is childproof, i.e.,
it is here ensured to a high degree that infants cannot remove the
stopper from the associated container so that they do not gain
access to the container contents, which might be dangerous to their
health
[0004] According to the invention and for achieving said object,
the slide which is arranged between two head sections assumes
together with said sections a frustoconical shape tapering towards
the upper side of the stopper, said slide extending in straight
fashion centrally between the head sections and being equipped at
both ends with circumferential sections which are in smooth
alignment with the circumferential sections of the head sections of
the stopper part and form, together with said sections, the edge of
the stopper member projecting beyond the container, said edge
having a frustoconical shape on the whole. The frustoconical edge
has a maximum diameter that is at the most as large as the outer
diameter of the container on the container opening, so that the
frustoconical edge does not project beyond the container end can
thus not be gripped from below for levering off the stopper. The
stopper can only be levered off from the container with the help of
the slide pushed forwards beyond the edge of the container.
[0005] Furthermore, according to the invention, the slide can only
be pushed forwards under the action of a force of a predetermined
magnitude in one direction beyond the rim of the container, to
which end the bottom section of the stopper has formed thereon, in
the path of movement of the slide, a projection which is preferably
curved when viewed in cross section, and a stop at a distance from
said curved projection of a preferably semicircular shape. An
elastically deformable bolt which preferably extends in the
transverse direction of the slide and which in the retracted
initial position of the slide rests on the curved projection of the
bottom section and holds the slide in the retracted initial
position is formed on the bottom side of the slide. To push the
slide forwards, the user exerts a considerable force on the
rearward frustoconical edge section of the slide, said force
effecting a bending out of the bolt of the slide in the manner of a
spring, so that the bolt can slide over the curved projection until
it impinges on the vertical stop of the bottom section, whereby the
advance movement of the slide is stopped. The stopper can now be
levered off from the container with the help of the slide section
projecting beyond the container.
[0006] Since the slide together with the head sections assumes a
frustoconical shape virtually without any seam and since neither a
trough-like recess nor an upwardly protruding projection that may
attract an infant's interest in playing with the stopper is
positioned in the upper side of the slide, the child does not
recognize that the slide can be pushed in one direction out of the
head sections of the stopper, especially since a considerable force
would have to be exerted on the edge section of the slide for this
purpose. Hence, the stopper according to the invention is
childproof.
[0007] According to further details of the invention the front
circumferential section of the slide that can be pushed forwards
out of the head sections of the stopper is broader than the
remaining body of the slide, and the laterally projecting members
rest in the retracted initial position of the slide on stops of the
head sections of the stopper. Thus, the retracted initial position
of the slide is fixed in a position in which the circumferential
sections of the slide pass smoothly into the circumferential
sections of the head sections of the stopper. When the slide is
pushed back into said initial position, the bolt slides again on
the bottom side of the slide with elastic deformation over the
curved stop on the bottom of the head sections, locking in place
directly behind the projection, whereby the slide is immovably
retained.
[0008] The upper side of the slide is in alignment with the upper
side of the head sections, the slide on the upper side
substantially resting on the upper side of the head sections, which
is also true for the circumferential sections, so that the slide is
hardly noticeable as an independent component. The upper side of
the slide is preferably smooth, as should also be the upper side of
the head sections.
[0009] Viewed in cross section, the slide substantially has the
shape of a downwardly broadening trapezoid and is seated in
correspondingly shaped recesses of the head sections, so that
although it is movable in its longitudinal direction, it is not
upwardly movable between the head pieces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container comprising an
inventive stopper having a slide which is in the retracted initial
position,
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but with the
slide being advanced or pushed forwards;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the combination
consisting of container and stopper according to FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a vertical section through the combination
consisting of container and stopper according to FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a cross section through the area of the slide
along a plane positioned in a direction perpendicular to the
sectional plane of FIGS. 3 and 4.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] FIG. 1 shows a container 1 with a stopper provided with
reference numeral 2 on the whole, in which a slide 3 is centrally
arranged, passing from one edge to the other. In the retracted
initial position of the slide 3, which is shown in FIG. 1, the two
lateral members 4 of the stopper 2 together with the slide 3 assume
a frustoconical shape, with the outsides of said members
substantially abutting on each other, so that the slide 3 in the
illustrated closed state is hardly noticeable.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a vertical section through the arrangement of FIG.
1 through the central longitudinal axis of the slide 3. The stopper
2 includes a circular bottom section 5 which closes the container 1
and rests with its edge on an annular shoulder in the container
wall so that the circumference of the bottom section presents no
possible means of attack for levering off the stopper.
[0017] The bottom section 5 has formed thereon an annular shoulder
7 whose curved outside 8 firmly rests on the inner wall of the
container 1, whereby the stopper 2 is held in a fixed clamping fit
in the container opening. In the inner wall of the container 1, a
surrounding recess may be formed for receiving a bulged-out section
of the annular shoulder 7.
[0018] Radially inside the annular shoulder 7, a further annular
shoulder 9 is formed on the bottom section 5, said shoulder 9
possibly forming a drying agent chamber.
[0019] Furthermore, the bottom section 5 has formed thereon two
head sections opposite to each other at some distance, which
accommodate the slide 3 thereinbetween. Said head sections 10 have
an obliquely inwardly extending circumferential wall 11 whose
height and inclination are matching with circumferential sections
12, 13 of the slide 3. The circumferential sections 11, 12 and 13
jointly form a surrounding ring of a frustoconical shape.
[0020] A projection 15 of semicircular cross-section which extends
in a direction transverse to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 3 and
which has positioned thereon a bolt or web 16 extending along a
straight line downwards on the bottom side of the slide 3 is formed
in a recess 14 in the bottom section 5. The web 16 is so
dimensioned that whenever a predetermined force is exerted on the
circumferential section 12 of the slide 3 it is elastically
deformed such that it can slide beyond the projection 15, i.e. up
to a step 17 on the bottom section 5 which defines the advance
movement of the slide in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. In
this position, the slide 3 projects beyond the rim of the container
1 such that it can be gripped from below by a user to lever off the
stopper from the container 1.
[0021] The front circumferential section 13 of the slide 3 has a
larger width than the otherwise straight slide 3. The laterally
projecting sections 18 rest in the retracted initial position of
the slide 3 on stops 19 of the two head sections of the stopper 2,
said position being fixed by the bolt 15 which is now again locked
in place behind the projection 15.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 5, the slide 3 has a downwardly broadening
trapezoidal shape in the cross section perpendicular to its
longitudinal axis and is held in a correspondingly shaped recess
between the two lateral head sections, so that it is not upwardly
movable relative to the two head sections.
* * * * *