U.S. patent application number 11/923050 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-24 for plastic element for a bottle in particular a cosmetic bottle.
This patent application is currently assigned to SHB GMBH & CO. KG. Invention is credited to Hans-Werner Stolle.
Application Number | 20080093327 11/923050 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39155004 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080093327 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stolle; Hans-Werner |
April 24, 2008 |
Plastic Element For A Bottle In Particular A Cosmetic Bottle
Abstract
A closure element contains a cap element for closing a bottle.
The cap element has a first bottleneck section that is configured
for attachment to a bottleneck of the bottle. In addition, at least
one adapter is provided for placement between the cap element and
the bottle. The adapter has a second bottleneck connection, which
is similar to the first bottleneck connection, and a bottleneck
piece onto which the cap element can be placed with its first
bottleneck connection. The bottleneck connections are preferably
configured as snap closures. Due to the two-part construction of
the closure element with the cap element and the adapter a
multitude of variants is made possible for the closure element in
an inexpensive manner.
Inventors: |
Stolle; Hans-Werner;
(Crailsheim, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER GREENBERG STEMER LLP
P O BOX 2480
HOLLYWOOD
FL
33022-2480
US
|
Assignee: |
SHB GMBH & CO. KG
Crailsheim
DE
|
Family ID: |
39155004 |
Appl. No.: |
11/923050 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
215/235 ;
215/316 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/0804
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
215/235 ;
215/316 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/00 20060101
B65D041/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 24, 2006 |
DE |
DE 202006016478.2 |
Claims
1. A plastic closure element for a bottle, the plastic closure
element comprising: a cap element for closing the bottle, said cap
element having a first bottleneck connection for placement on a
bottleneck of the bottle; and at least one adapter disposed between
said cap element and the bottle, said adapter having a second
bottleneck connection being similar to said first bottleneck
connection and a bottleneck piece connected to said second
bottleneck connection, said cap element disposed with said first
bottleneck connection onto said bottleneck piece.
2. The plastic closure element according to claim 1, wherein said
first bottleneck connection of said cap element is inserted into
said bottleneck piece such that said second bottleneck connection
of said adapter is flush in its connection to said first bottleneck
connection.
3. The plastic closure element according to claim 1, wherein said
adapter has a peripheral outer jacket and said second bottleneck
piece protrudes upward above said peripheral outer jacket toward
said cap element.
4. The plastic closure element according to claim 1, wherein: said
adapter further has a peripheral outer jacket and an intermediate
plate extending outward from said peripheral outer jacket; and said
second bottleneck connection and said bottleneck piece are disposed
in a central area of said adapter and extend outward in opposite
directions.
5. The plastic closure element according to claim 4, wherein said
intermediate plate rises toward said cap element.
6. The plastic closure element according to claim 1, wherein said
second bottleneck connection and said bottleneck piece form a
cylindrical apron with an upper apron part and a lower apron part
having different inside diameters.
7. The plastic closure element according to claim 1, wherein said
adapter has an outer jacket with an embossing.
8. The plastic closure element according to claim 1, wherein said
cap element and said adapter each have a peripheral outer jacket
which are flush with one another.
9. The plastic closure element according to claim 1, further
comprising a closure cover with a hinge, said closure cover
pivotably moveably attached via said hinge to said cap element.
10. The plastic closure element according to claim 1, wherein said
first and second bottleneck connections are snap closures.
11. The plastic closure element according to claim 1, wherein said
adaptor is configured for a cosmetic bottle.
12. An adapter for a cap element to form a closure element, the cap
element having a first bottleneck connection for placement on a
bottleneck of the bottle, the adapter comprising: a second
bottleneck connection being similar to the first bottleneck
connection of the cap element; and a bottleneck piece connected to
said second bottleneck connection, the cap element with the first
bottleneck connection being placed into said bottleneck piece.
13. An assortment of closure elements, comprising: a plurality of
differently configured cap element types, said cap element types
each have a first bottleneck connection configured for attachment
to a bottleneck of a bottle; and at least one adapter type fitting
said cap element types, said adapter having a second bottleneck
connection being similar to said first bottleneck connection, and a
bottleneck piece connected to said second bottleneck connection,
and said cap element types being attachable with said first
bottleneck connection onto said bottleneck piece.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119, of German application DE 20 2006 016 478.2, filed Oct. 24,
2006; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference
in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a plastic closure element
for a bottle, in particular a cosmetic bottle.
[0003] Liquid body care products such as soaps, shampoos, shower
products, lotions, etc., are often offered to the end customer in
bottles as retail packaging. Such bottles, hereinafter also
referred to as cosmetic bottles, are made of plastic and can be
closed with a cap-shaped closure element. A large versatility is
possible here with regard to the shaping and coloration of both the
bottles and the closure elements.
[0004] The closure elements are often formed as so-called snap
closures. Snap closures are understood to refer to a closure that
need only be snapped or pressed against the neck of the bottle,
optionally inducing a slight rotational movement. In the case of a
snap closure, it is therefore no longer necessary to screw a cap on
in a tedious operation such as that with conventional screw
closures. A closure cover is frequently hinge-connected to the cap
element via a hinge. The cap element and the closure cover here
form a one-piece component and are usually configured as a standard
injection molded plastic part.
[0005] Because of the complex mechanism to form the flat hinge,
production of such a snap closure with a cover attached by a hinge
is comparatively complex and therefore expensive, so that such
closure elements can usually be offered only when a very large
number of items are to be manufactured. It is therefore hardly
possible to offer inexpensive variations on such a closure
element--apart from color variations--to comply with specific
customer requests, for example, where the customer wants an
exclusive closure element as a customer-specific configuration. The
customers in question here are generally understood to be the
providers and manufacturers of body care products.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a
plastic element for a cosmetic bottle which overcomes the
above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices of this
general type, which will permit a great versatility in variants in
an inexpensive manner.
[0007] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is
provided, in accordance with the invention, a plastic closure
element for a bottle. The plastic closure element contains a cap
element for closing the bottle. The cap element has a first
bottleneck connection for placement on a bottleneck of the bottle.
At least one adapter is disposed between the cap element and the
bottle. The adapter has a second bottleneck connection being
similar to the first bottleneck connection and a bottleneck piece
connected to the second bottleneck connection. The cap element is
disposed with the first bottleneck connection onto the bottleneck
piece.
[0008] According to the invention, the closure element has a cap
element for closing a cosmetic bottle in particular. The cap
element here contains a first bottleneck connection that is
configured for attachment to a bottleneck of the bottle
corresponding to the bottleneck connection. In addition, at least
one adapter is provided for arrangement between the cap element and
the bottle. The adapter has a second bottleneck connection which is
similar to the first bottleneck connection and to which a
bottleneck piece is connected, the cap element with its first
bottleneck connection being attachable thereto. The plastic closure
element is therefore characterized by a two-part configuration on
the whole, formed of a traditional cap element and an adapter
piece. The adapter is configured so it is identical to the cap
element for attachment to the neck of the bottle on the one hand
while on the other hand the adapter also simulates the neck of the
bottle so that any traditional cap element can be placed on the
adapter just as it would be placed on a bottleneck. The adapter
therefore simulates the head area of the bottle on the side facing
its cap element.
[0009] The two-part configuration with the adapter creates an
additional degree of freedom in design for an individual
customer-specific embodiment of the closure element. At the same
time, costs are kept low because the cap element, as a traditional
cap element, may optionally be combined with an adapter or without.
In principle, several adapters could even be arranged in a row so
that additional degrees of freedom are created.
[0010] To ensure a secure and reliable seating of the cap element
on the adapter, according to a preferred embodiment, the first
bottleneck connection of the cap element is inserted into the
bottleneck piece in such a way that the second bottleneck
connection of the adapter is connected to the first bottleneck
connection so that it is flush. In particular the bottleneck
connection sits on a peripheral edge of the adapter between its
bottleneck piece and the bottleneck connection with a supporting
effect. With regard to the desired simulation of the head area of
the bottle by the adapter, the latter has an outer circumferential
jacket in a preferred embodiment, the bottleneck piece protruding
upward beyond the jacket in the direction of the cap element. The
bottleneck piece therefore extends freely upward, like the
bottleneck of a normal bottle.
[0011] In addition, in an expedient embodiment, an intermediate
plate is provided, the plate starting from the outer jacket, the
bottleneck connection and the bottleneck piece of the adapter being
arranged in the central area, these parts extending in opposite
directions starting from the intermediate plate. The intermediate
plate is configured here in particular so that it rises toward the
cap element.
[0012] With regard to a simple structural design, the second
bottleneck connection and the bottleneck piece of the adapter are
configured as a joint cylindrical apron containing an upper apron
part and a lower apron part, the two apron parts having different
inside diameters. The upper apron part forms the bottleneck piece
with an enlarged inside diameter into which the first bottleneck
connection of the cap element is inserted with an accurate fit. The
inside diameter of the second bottleneck connection is smaller and
corresponds to the inside diameter of the first bottleneck
connections of the cap element so that the two bottleneck
receptacles are flush with one another when stuck together.
[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the outer jacket of the
adapter has at least one embossing. Due to the embossing,
additional differentiating features can be made available
inexpensively and in a simple manner. For example, this makes it
possible to emboss the closure with a logo or the brand name of the
manufacturer of the cosmetic article. In terms of manufacturing
technology, such embossing in the jacket is accomplished very
easily. The adapter, like the cap element, is an injection molded
plastic part. For the design of the embossing in production, a
replaceable insert plate is now mounted in the area of the jacket
in the mold required for the injection molded plastic part in this
embodiment. To be able to perform different embossings here, it is
therefore necessary only to replace the insert plate without having
to redesign the entire mold.
[0014] To achieve a high level of operating convenience and to give
a high quality impression, the cap element expediently has a
closure cover attached so that it is pivotably movable via a hinge.
The cap element here together with the closure cover and the hinge
forms a one-piece injection molded plastic part. In addition, the
bottleneck connections on the adapter as well as the cap element
are each configured as a snap closure to thereby permit simple and
inexpensive assembly.
[0015] The object is achieved according to the present invention by
an adapter and by an assortment of closure elements. The advantages
and preferred embodiments described with regard to the closure
element are appropriately also applicable to the adapter and the
assortment of closure elements as well. In the case of the
assortment of closure elements, a plurality of types of cap
elements and at least one but preferably several types of adapters
are provided. The different types of adapters are each configured
to fit with the different types of cap elements, so that the
different types of adapters may optionally be combined with the
different types of cap elements. In this way, a great choice of the
assortment and thus an extensively individual embodiment of a
specific plastic closure element are made possible with a
comprehensible selection of parts due to the different combination
options.
[0016] Other features which are considered as characteristic for
the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
[0017] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein
as embodied in a plastic element for a cosmetic bottle in
particular it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the
details shown, since various modifications and structural changes
may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the
invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the
claims.
[0018] The construction and method of operation of the invention,
however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof
will be best understood from the following description of specific
embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, front view of a cosmetic bottle
with a traditional closure element;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of the closure
element configured as a traditional snap closure with a closure
cover hinge-connected via a hinge;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of the closure
element containing a cap element and adapter according to the
invention;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, perspective inside view of the
closure element according to FIG. 3 as seen in the direction from
the adapter to the cap element;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic, perspective, cut-away view of the
sectional plane V shown in FIG. 3;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic, sectional view of the closure
element according to the sectional plane VI shown in FIG. 3;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic, sectional detail view through the
cosmetic bottle in the area of the closure element; and
[0026] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic, sectional detail view like that in
FIG. 7 of another variant of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Parts that have the same effect in the figures are labeled
with the same reference numerals. Referring now to the figures of
the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1, there is
shown a cosmetic bottle 2 that has a traditional closure element 4,
which is configured in the manner of a snap closure and can easily
be snapped onto the bottleneck of the bottle 2, which is not shown
in greater detail here, by pressing it on, thereby attaching
it.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows a traditional closure element 4, which is also
configured as a snap closure element. The closure element 4 here is
formed by a cap element 6, which has a closure cover 10
hinge-connected by a hinge 8.
[0029] The configuration of an inventive closure element 4 can be
seen from FIGS. 3 through 6, formed of a traditional cap element 6
and an adapter 12 that has been specially adapted. As shown in the
figures, the cap element 6 is placed on the adapter 12. An outer
jacket 14 of the cap element 6 develops into a jacket 16 on the
adapter 12, so that it is flush or almost flush. Therefore, in the
assembled state, the outer jacket 16 of the adapter is visible from
the outside. The adapter 12 is configured as an injection molded
plastic part, as is the cap element 6. Due to the two-part
configuration of the closure element 4, the two parts in any color
combinations may be brought together to form different variations.
Furthermore, the jacket 16 of the adapter surrounds a marking area
18, which is provided with an embossing (not shown in greater
detail here). The embossing is formed in the injection molding of
the plastic part by inserting a special insert plate in the
injection mold.
[0030] The basic configuration of the adapter 12 here is such that
it generally simulates the head area of the bottle 2 on its top
side and in its lower area it simulates the snap closure mimicry of
the traditional cap element 6. Due to this basic design, the
adapter 12 can be combined with a very large number of additional
cap elements, so that multiple adapters can be disposed one after
the other due to this selected design. In addition, due to the
selected design as a snap closure of the adapter 12 as well as the
cap element 6, a simple and inexpensive assembly is possible. On
the whole, this creates a broad assortment with a large number of
different possible variations, so that a customer-specific
individualization of the closure element is made possible. The cap
element 6 corresponds here in particular to the cap element 6 shown
in FIG. 2, but the closure element 10 is not shown in FIG. 3
through 6.
[0031] The adapter 12 contains the above-mentioned outer jacket 16,
forming at its upper edge a supporting edge 20 on which the jacket
14 of the cap element 6 is supported (see FIG. 5). Starting from
the supporting edge 20, an intermediate plate 22 extends, rising
slightly toward the center and forming a dome-like elevation in the
center. The dome-like elevation contains an approximately
cylindrical apron 24 with an upper apron part and a lower apron
part. The upper apron part simulates a bottleneck piece 24a and the
bottleneck of the bottle 2. The lower apron part simulates a
bottleneck connection 24b, which engages in the bottleneck of the
bottle 2 and/or in bottleneck piece 24a of another adapter 12. The
bottleneck connection 24b has an insertion bevel at its lower edge
with which it is inserted into the bottleneck of the bottle 2.
[0032] Another supporting edge 26 is formed at the upper end of the
bottleneck connection 24b with a bottleneck connection 28 of the
cap element 6 being supported on this edge. The cylindrical
bottleneck piece 24a is connected to the additional supporting edge
26 on the outside radially. The radial offset between the
bottleneck piece 24a and the bottleneck connection 24b corresponds
to the wall thickness of the bottleneck connection 28 of the cap
element 6, so that this conforms at its circumferential wall to the
inside wall of the bottleneck piece 24a and at the same time is
flush with the bottleneck connection 24b on the inside.
[0033] The cap element 6 is supported with its outer jacket 14 on
the supporting edge 20 of the adapter 12. A cover plate 30 that
seals the cap element 6 except for an outlet opening 32 extends
from the upper edge of the jacket 14. The bottleneck connection 28
extends downward around the outlet opening, starting from the cover
plate 30, likewise in the manner of an apron. Supporting struts 34
are disposed on the underside of the intermediate plate 22 and
preferably the cover plate 30 for an improvement mechanical
stiffness, these struts extending generally radially inward from
the jacket 14, 16, as shown in particular in FIGS. 4 and 6.
[0034] In the upper area of the cap element 6, a shoulder in the
manner of a recess is formed peripherally to the cover plate 30,
with the closure cover 10 with its peripheral jacket (not shown in
these figures) sitting on this recess, thus forming a continuous
flush outer lateral surface of the entire closure element 4. As an
alternative to the precisely flush alignment of the lateral
surfaces 14, 16 of the cap element 6 of the adapter 16, the lateral
surface 14 of the cap element 6 may be recessed somewhat, as
indicated in FIGS. 3 through 6, so that the adapter 12 is
emphasized somewhat.
[0035] The contour of the adapter 12 and its fastening to the
cosmetic bottle 2 are illustrated again clearly in the sectional
diagrams according to FIGS. 7 and 8. These two figures show
different variants of cosmetic bottles 2 that differ here in
particular with regard to their width and also with regard to their
outer contour. Specifically, the cosmetic bottle 2 according to
FIG. 7 bulges outward following the closure element 4, whereas the
cosmetic bottle 2 that remains slender according to FIG. 8 is flush
with the closure element 4 on the whole.
[0036] FIGS. 7 and 8 show the general contour of the cosmetic
bottle 2 in the area of the closure element 4. Starting from the
outer circumference of the cosmetic bottle 2, it has a cover
section 40 in the area of the closure element, developing into a
bottleneck 42 in the central area. The cover section 40 has a
peripheral shoulder 44 which acts as a supporting edge for the out
jacket of the adapter 16. The jacket 16 is therefore supported with
its end face on the shoulder 44. Following the shoulder 44, the
cover section 40 runs parallel to the jacket 16 in a pinched area
46. With the closure element 4 set in position, the adapter 12 sits
on the cover section 40 in the pinched area 46 with a pinching
effect. The dimensions of the pinched area 46 and of the jacket 16
are adapted here mutually for a pinch fit. Following the pinched
area 46, the cover section runs toward the inside and develops into
the bottleneck 42. The bottleneck connection 24 of the adapter 12
is in contact with the inside of the bottleneck 42. The bottleneck
42 here forms an additional pinching contact surface for the
adapter 12. Therefore, on the whole, the adapter 12 with its jacket
16 on the one hand and with its bottleneck connection 24 on the
other hand sits with a pinching effect on the cosmetic bottle 2.
The inside distance between the insides of the jacket 16 and the
bottleneck connection 24 facing one another therefore corresponds
essentially to the distance between the outsides of the pinched
area 46 and the bottleneck 42, so that a pinch fit is formed on the
whole for secure seating of the adapter 12 on the cosmetic bottle
2.
[0037] In basically the same way as the adapter 12 is placed on the
cosmetic bottle 2 in the manner of a pinch fit, the cap element 6
is also placed on the adapter 12 in the manner of a pitch fit. To
do so, an intermediate plate 22 of the adapter 12 has a pinched
section 48 which extends vertically in the exemplary embodiment and
with which the jacket 14 of the cap element is in contact. By
analogy with the shoulder 44, the adapter 12 forms the supporting
edge 20. The bottleneck piece 24a of the adapter continues to
simulate the bottleneck 42 in a similar design. The cap element 6,
which is shown here only in a detail in an outer area, engages in
the opening formed by the bottleneck piece 24a with its bottleneck
connection 28, which is not shown here. Thus a pinch fit is also
achieved between the cap element 6 and the adapter 12. Therefore,
the distance between the insides of the jacket 14 of the cap
element and the bottleneck connection 28 (see in particular FIG. 5)
corresponds to the distance between the outsides of the pinched
section 48 and of the bottleneck piece 24.
[0038] On the whole the adapter 12 assumes the geometry of the
cosmetic bottle 2 in its head area due to this special geometry in
its area oriented toward the cap element 6. At the same time, the
adapter 12 has a fastening geometry that corresponds to the
geometry of the cap element 6 in its area oriented toward the
cosmetic bottle 2. Therefore, the adapter forms a universal
connecting member between the cosmetic bottle 2 and the cap element
6 and may be used universally for different cap elements 6. This
adapter functionality is manifested in particular in the fact that
the outside of the pinched section 48 is flush with the outside of
the pinched area 46 of the cosmetic bottle 2 and furthermore the
outside of the bottleneck piece 24a of the adapter 12, which is
oriented toward the bottleneck opening, is still also flush with
the bottleneck 42.
* * * * *