U.S. patent application number 15/046620 was filed with the patent office on 2016-08-25 for bottle and a corresponding bottle cap.
The applicant listed for this patent is Henkel AG & Co. KGaA. Invention is credited to Julia Breisinger, Rainer Geberzahn.
Application Number | 20160244196 15/046620 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55273168 |
Filed Date | 2016-08-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160244196 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Geberzahn; Rainer ; et
al. |
August 25, 2016 |
BOTTLE AND A CORRESPONDING BOTTLE CAP
Abstract
A bottle (1) comprising: a neck (4) comprising an opening (2),
the opening having a circular cross-section; an inner volume for
receiving a flowable, preferably a liquid, composition through the
opening; wherein the neck (4) comprises an external thread (15),
comprising a thread-start (8) and a thread-end (9), the
thread-start (8) being arranged closer to the opening than the
thread-end (9); and wherein the neck further comprises an external
helical slope (10), comprising a slope-start (11) and a slope-end
(12), the slope-start (11) being arranged closer to the opening
than the slope-end (12); wherein the external thread and the
helical slope have the same handedness; and wherein the
thread-start (8) and the slope-end (11) have a common cylindrical
axis and are radially aligned relative to the common cylindrical
axis (12); and wherein the slope-end (12) preferably ends at a
radial wall (13).
Inventors: |
Geberzahn; Rainer; (Juechen,
DE) ; Breisinger; Julia; (Duesseldorf, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Henkel AG & Co. KGaA |
Duesseldorf |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
55273168 |
Appl. No.: |
15/046620 |
Filed: |
February 18, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 41/0471 20130101;
B65D 41/04 20130101; B65D 1/0246 20130101; B65D 2251/04
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/02 20060101
B65D001/02; B65D 41/04 20060101 B65D041/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 19, 2015 |
DE |
10 2015 001 964.3 |
Claims
1. A bottle (1) comprising: a neck (4) comprising an opening (2),
the opening having a circular cross-section; an inner volume for
receiving a flowable, preferably a liquid, composition through the
opening; wherein the neck (4) comprises an external thread (15),
comprising a thread-start (8) and a thread-end (9), the
thread-start (8) being arranged closer to the opening than the
thread-end (9); and wherein the neck further comprises an external
helical slope (10), comprising a slope-start (11) and a slope-end
(12), the slope-start (11) being arranged closer to the opening
than the slope-end (12); wherein the external thread and the
helical slope have the same handedness; and wherein the
thread-start (8) and the slope-end (11) have a common cylindrical
axis and are radially aligned relative to the common cylindrical
axis (12); and wherein the slope-end (12) ends at a radial wall
(13).
2. A bottle according to claim 1, wherein the slope (10) and thread
(15) are arranged parallel in axial direction relative to the
common axis.
3. A bottle according to claim 1, wherein the neck (15) further
comprises a stopper at a predefined angular position.
4. A bottle according to claim 1, wherein the slope-end (12) and
the slope-start (11) are radially aligned relative to the common
axis (12) so that the radial wall (13) is a step (16) bridging the
slope-end (11) to the slope-start (12).
5. A bottle according to claim 1, wherein the thread-end (9) ends
at a radial wall (14), so that when a suitable counter-thread is
threaded over the thread (15), it stops when reaching the radial
wall (14).
6. A bottle according to claim 1, wherein the step (16) of claim 4
is the stopper according to claim 3.
7. A bottle according to claim 6, wherein the radial wall (14) is
an auxiliary stopper, is aligned with the step (16) at the
pre-defined angular position.
8. A bottle according to claim 1, wherein major thread diameter of
the thread (15) is smaller than the minor slope diameter
9. An upper part suitable for a bottle according to claim 1, the
upper part being able to close the opening, and comprising: a
counter-thread (17) arranged to cooperate with the thread (15); a
counter-slope (18) arranged to cooperate with the slope (10); the
counter-thread (17) and the counter-slope (18) configured such that
when unscrewing the upper part on the bottle, on at least one
angular position, the counter-thread (17) contacts the thread (15)
and the counter-slope (18) contact the slope (10)
simultaneously;
10. An upper part according to claim 9, wherein the counter-thread
(17) and the counter-slope (18) have an angular length of at least
90.degree., so that, when unscrewing the upper part on the bottle,
the simultaneous contact extends to an angular length of at least
90.degree..
11. An upper part according to claim 9, wherein the counter-thread
comprises a counter-radial-segment at its end configured to
cooperate with the radial-wall (14) when screwed on the bottle.
12. An upper part according to claim 9, wherein the counter-slope
(17) comprises a counter-step, in axial direction, configured to
cooperate with the step (16).
13. An upper part according to claim 9, further comprising an
annular contact surface, configured to seal a bottle, when the
upper part is screwed to the bottle until at least one of the
following conditions is satisfied: (i) the counter-stopper contacts
the stopper; (ii) the counter-radial-segment contacts the
radial-wall (14).
14. An upper part according to claim 9, wherein the bottle cap is
configured to provide a tight seal for a composition to the
bottle.
15. An upper part according to claim 9, wherein the bottle cap is
configured to provide a tight seal to the bottle for closing the
inner volume of the bottle and thus configured to retain liquid
inside when the bottle is filled.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a bottle with an
inner volume for receiving a flowable, preferably a liquid,
composition. The present invention further concerns an upper part,
preferably a cap, for this bottle, as well as a set of bottle and
upper part.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Bottles for receiving and thus storing liquids are known to
be used in the most varied kinds of shapes, and materials. Very
common bottles for holding liquids, such as detergent compositions,
are made of plastic material. Such bottles also comprise caps for
closing the inner volume, such that when filled and closed the
flowable composition (which excludes gases and vapours) is kept
inside the bottle, independently of the orientation of the
bottle.
[0003] However, when shipping the bottles, external forces acting
on the bottle may distort the bottle neck, opening and/or cap, such
that the closure is not tight enough and the flowable composition
may leak. This is specially a problem when single units are
shipped, e.g. by post or small parcel delivery, because the kinds
of external forces cannot be controlled as well as on a pallet.
[0004] The present invention relates to addressing this problem of
providing a tight seal with a bottle.
[0005] Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of
the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent
detailed description of the invention and the appended claims,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this
background of the invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A bottle (1) comprising: a neck (4) comprising an opening
(2), the opening having a circular cross-section; an inner volume
for receiving a flowable, preferably a liquid, composition through
the opening; wherein the neck (4) comprises an external thread
(15), comprising a thread-start (8) and a thread-end (9), the
thread-start (8) being arranged closer to the opening than the
thread-end (9); and wherein the neck further comprises an external
helical slope (10), comprising a slope-start (11) and a slope-end
(12), the slope-start (11) being arranged closer to the opening
than the slope-end (12); wherein the external thread and the
helical slope have the same handedness; and wherein the
thread-start (8) and the slope-end (11) have a common cylindrical
axis and are radially aligned relative to the common cylindrical
axis (12); and wherein the slope-end (12) preferably ends at a
radial wall (13).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention will hereinafter be described in
conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like
numerals denote like elements, and
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a bottle neck (4) with an
opening (2), a thread (15) comprising a thread-start (8) and a
slope (10); and
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the bottle neck (4) of FIG. 1
with an opening (2), a thread (15) comprising a thread-start (8)
and a slope (10). The thread ends at a radial wall (14). The slope
ends at a step (16).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The following detailed description of the invention is
merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the
invention or the application and uses of the invention.
Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory
presented in the preceding background of the invention or the
following detailed description of the invention.
[0011] The invention concerns a bottle comprising a neck. The neck
comprise an opening, and the opening has a circular cross-section.
The bottle has an inner volume for receiving a flowable, preferably
a liquid, composition through the opening. The neck comprises an
external thread. An example of such a thread is a right-handed
external thread of a plastic bottle suitable for a plastic screw
cap. The thread according to the invention comprises a thread-start
and a thread-end, the thread-start being arranged closer to the
opening than the thread-end.
[0012] The neck further comprises an external helical slope,
comprising a slope-start and a slope-end, the slope-start being
arranged closer to the opening than the slope-end. The external
thread and the helical slope have the same handedness. Thus, the
thread and the slope are either both right handed or both left
handed.
[0013] The thread is preferably arranged at a position of the neck,
which is closer to the opening. Thus, closer to the top of the
bottom for a bottle which has the opening on the top when standing
on a base. The slope is preferably arranged at a position of the
neck that is further from the opening as the position for the
thread. Thus, the slope is preferably below the thread for a bottle
having the opening on the top when standing on a base.
[0014] The thread-start and the slope-end have a common cylindrical
axis and are radially aligned relative to the common cylindrical
axis.
[0015] The slope-end preferably ends at a radial wall. A radial
wall is a wall that extends along a radius starting from the common
cylindrical axis.
[0016] In one preferred embodiment of the invention the neck
comprises a first cylindrical section, a second cylindrical
section, wherein the first cylindrical section has a smaller outer
diameter than the outer diameter of the second cylindrical section
and is closer to the opening than the second cylindrical section.
In this embodiment, it is further preferred that the neck further
comprises a third cylindrical section; wherein the second
cylindrical section has a smaller outer diameter than the outer
diameter of the third cylindrical section and is closer to the
opening than the third cylindrical section. The first and second
sections, preferably also the third if available, have a common
cylindrical axis. The thread is arranged on the first cylindrical
section and the slope is arranged on the second cylindrical
section. When the third cylindrical, if available, has the function
to flush close the outer surface of the bottle with an outer
surface of a suitable closing upper part, or cap, so that the
thread and slope can be hidden from the exterior.
[0017] It is envisaged that the slope and the thread are arranged
parallel in axial direction relative to the common axis. Thus, they
have the same lead.
[0018] In any case or possible combination of the invention, it is
highly preferred that the thread has a single start. This ensures
that the end position of the upper part is always the same
pre-determined position when threaded on the neck.
[0019] It is preferred that the diameter of the neck immediately
following the lower side of the slope, thus the side which is
facing away from the thread, is equal or greater than the external
diameter of the slope. That reinforces the slope against axial
forces.
[0020] The neck preferably comprises a stopper at a predefined
angular position. Because of the stopper, it is possible to screw a
suitable counter-thread over the thread, the screw movement
stopping at the pre-defined angular position. The angular position
is relative to the common axis (as named herein as common
cylindrical axis).
[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the slope-end and the slope-start
are radially aligned relative to the common axis so that the radial
wall is a step bridging the slope-end to the slope-start. That
means that the slope's angular length is preferably multiple of
360.degree.. In one preferred embodiment the step is the
stopper.
[0022] It is also preferred that the thread-end ends at a radial
wall, so that when a suitable counter-thread is threaded over the
thread, the radial wall is suitable to stop the screw motion when
the counter-thread reaches the radial wall. In one preferred
embodiment the radial wall is an auxiliary stopper, and is
preferably aligned with the step at the same pre-defined angular
position.
[0023] It is preferred that the major thread diameter of the thread
is smaller than the minor slope diameter. The minor slope diameter
is the diameter of the neck at the position extending from the
slope towards the thread.
[0024] A second aspect of the invention concerns an upper part for
the bottle according to the invention. Thus, upper-part and bottle
are made to cooperate with each other. The upper-part is preferably
a cap.
[0025] The upper part is able to close the opening, and
comprises:
[0026] a counter-thread arranged to cooperate with the thread of
the bottle's neck;
[0027] a counter-slope arranged to cooperate with the slope of the
bottle's neck;
[0028] the counter-thread and the counter-slope are configured such
that when unscrewing the upper part on the bottle, on at least one
angular position, the counter-thread contacts the thread and the
counter-slope contact the slope simultaneously. Therefore, the
counter-thread is an inner thread so that it can cooperate with the
external thread of the bottle. The counter-slope and the
counter-thread have preferably a common cylindrical axis. In all
embodiments of the upper part, the counter-thread is arranged on
the inner side of a cylindrical wall.
[0029] Preferably, the counter-thread and the counter-slope have an
angular length of at least 90.degree., preferably at least
180.degree. so that, when unscrewing the upper part on the bottle,
the simultaneous contact extends to an angular length of at least
90.degree., more preferably at least 180.degree..
[0030] Preferably, wherein the counter-thread comprises a
counter-radial-segment at its end configured to cooperate with the
radial-wall of the thread-end, when screwed on the bottle.
[0031] Preferably, the slope and the thread are arranged parallel
in axial direction relative to the common axis, therefore providing
two contact points for a suitable cap with a counter thread and a
corresponding counter slope. Thus, while unthreading the upper
part, there are two contact points exerting a force to separate the
upper part from the bottle.
[0032] The counter-slope preferably comprises a counter-step,
preferably in axial direction, configured to cooperate with the
step of the slope-end. In one preferred embodiment, the wall of the
cylindrical wall, on which the thread is arranged has, at one end
which is suitable to face the slope when the upper part is screwed
on the bottle, an axially protruding wall segment, preferably as a
slope shaped cut, which is suitable to cooperate with the slope.
The advantage of having the protruding segment axially is that the
cylinder can be taken out of a mould. This is especially an
advantage when the upper part is double walled.
[0033] Preferably the upper part further comprises an annular
contact surface, configured to seal a bottle at the bottle opening,
when the upper part is screwed the bottle, preferably when the
upper part is screwed to the bottle until at least one, preferably
both, of the following conditions is satisfied:
[0034] (i) the counter-stopper contacts the stopper;
[0035] (ii) the counter-radial-segment contacts the
radial-wall.
Accordingly, due to the thread and slope, and the pre-determined
angle defining the end-position up to which the upper part can be
screwed on the bottle, a tight seal is achieve with the
pre-determined strength, because the use knows when the end
position is achieved, and an over-screwing is not possible.
[0036] In one embodiment of the invention, the upper part is a cap
for the bottle, the cap being configured to provide a tight seal to
the bottle. Particularly preferably, the cap provides a tight seal
to the bottle for closing the inner volume of the bottle and thus
configured to retain liquid inside when the bottle is filled.
[0037] The present invention also foresees a set of bottle with cap
comprising a bottle and an upper part as described herein.
Preferably is a closed bottle, further preferably a closed bottle
comprising liquid detergent.
[0038] The bottle and/or the set according to the invention is
especially advantageously when being used with an upper part having
a spout. The upper part when screwed on the bottle will always be
oriented on the bottle at a pre-determined orientation, thus the
spout will have the pre-determined orientation.
[0039] In all embodiments and variants of the invention, it is
advantageous that the external thread is a trapezoidal thread. The
profile of such a thread has a trapezoidal outline. Such thread
profiles are known, although for other uses. Such a thread, as also
shown in the figures, provide a secure screwing and unscrewing for
the upper part on the bottle. Larger forces can be applied without
damaging the screw, thus enabling a tight lock of the upper part on
the bottle to be achieved.
[0040] In one alternative of the invention above, the neck is free
of an external helical slope; the neck comprises an abutment
serving as a stopper to the counter-slope. In this alternative, it
is further required that the thread be a trapezoidal thread. The
abutment is configured to cooperate with the counter-step of the
counter-slope when a suitable counter-thread is threaded until the
end over the thread. Thus, providing a stop position to the
screwing action when the upper-part is screwed on the neck. The
abutment thus shares a function in common with the step of the
helical slope (which slope is not provided in this case). This
alternative of the invention can be combined with all the
description for the bottle and neck in this document, with the
according changes as described in this paragraph.
[0041] Further definitions:
[0042] Screw motion, screwing, threading, or when threaded have all
the same meaning within the current invention disclosure.
[0043] External thread means it is a male thread.
[0044] Diameter of the neck is the external diameter.
[0045] A helical slope is slope is defining a helicoid in axial
direction.
[0046] The outer diameter of the neck includes the major diameter
of the thread at the threads position.
[0047] The outer diameter of the slope includes the major diameter
of the thread at the slope's position.
[0048] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of an embodiment according to
the invention.
[0049] FIG. 1 shows one view of a neck according to the invention,
a neck (4) with an opening (2), a thread (15) comprising a
thread-start (8) and a slope (10).
[0050] FIG. 2 shows the other side view of the neck of FIG. 1, a
neck (4) with an opening (2), a thread (15) comprising a
thread-start (8) and a slope (10). The thread ends at a radial wall
(14). The slope ends at a step (16).
[0051] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented
in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should
be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should
also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary
embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the
scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way.
Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those
skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an
exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that
various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of
elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing
from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims
and their legal equivalents.
* * * * *