U.S. patent application number 15/246727 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-09 for closure for a vessel and vessel comprising such a closure.
The applicant listed for this patent is fischer automotive systems GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Gunter LEOPOLD.
Application Number | 20170066575 15/246727 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58054616 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170066575 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEOPOLD; Gunter |
March 9, 2017 |
CLOSURE FOR A VESSEL AND VESSEL COMPRISING SUCH A CLOSURE
Abstract
A closure for a vessel is provided, including a first closure
part to which a cover is pivotably attached, which can be kept
closed by way of a push-push locking mechanism. The invention
enables a large-surface-area cover, which does not impair filling
and emptying of the vessel. The closure covers a seal of the
vessel.
Inventors: |
LEOPOLD; Gunter;
(Baiersbronn, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
fischer automotive systems GmbH & Co. KG |
Horb a.N. |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
58054616 |
Appl. No.: |
15/246727 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2251/0021 20130101;
B65D 43/22 20130101; B65D 2251/0025 20130101; B65D 47/0871
20130101; B65D 2251/0028 20130101; B65D 51/18 20130101; B65D 43/16
20130101; B65D 2251/0093 20130101; B65D 2251/009 20130101; B65D
2251/0081 20130101; B65D 43/0225 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/18 20060101
B65D051/18; B65D 43/16 20060101 B65D043/16; B65D 43/22 20060101
B65D043/22; B65D 43/02 20060101 B65D043/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 4, 2015 |
DE |
10 2015 114 788.2 |
Claims
1. A closure for a vessel, comprising a first closure part, which
can be attached to the vessel and has an opening for filling and/or
emptying the vessel, wherein the closure comprises a cover for
closing the opening, which is connected to the first closure part,
or can be connected to the first closure part for closing the
opening, and the closure comprises a push-push locking mechanism so
as to keep the cover closed.
2. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a
pivot axis close to the edge, by way of which the cover is
pivotably connected to the first closure part.
3. The closure according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the
first closure part has a large-surface-area design.
4. A closure according to claim 1, wherein the closure comprises a
gasket, which provides sealing between the first closure part and
the cover when the cover is closed.
5. The closure according to claim 4, wherein the gasket acts on the
cover in an opening direction.
6. A vessel having an opening and comprising a closure according to
claim 1, wherein the closure is disposed on the opening of the
vessel so that the cover of the closure can be used to close the
opening of the vessel.
7. The vessel according to claim 6, wherein the opening of the
vessel comprises a seal.
8. The vessel according to claim 7, wherein, on an edge of the
opening of the vessel, the seal is covered by the first closure
part of the closure.
9. A vessel according to claim 1, wherein the closure is connected
to the vessel by way of a threaded connection and/or by way of a
detent connection.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 USC
.sctn.119 to German Patent Application No. 10 2015 114 788.2 filed
on Sep. 4, 2015, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated
herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a closure for a vessel and
to a vessel comprising such a closure having the features described
herein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0003] A closure for a vessel is known from U.S. Pat. No.
5,265,777, which includes two cup-shaped closure parts, one of
which surrounds the other, which are axially movable in relation to
each other. In one area of a circumference, the known closure
includes a releasable detent device having two cooperating catch
lugs on an outer circumference of the one closure part and on an
inner circumference of the other closure part, which engage with
each other when the two closure parts are pressed together. Against
the force of elastic spring elements, the detent device holds the
two closure parts in the pushed-together position, in which an
outlet in a center of the closure is open. So as to release the
detent device, the two closure parts are pressed together in a
circumferential area located opposite the detent device, whereby
the catch lugs become disengaged and the spring elements press the
two closure parts apart, thereby closing the outlet. The closure
can be screwed or snapped onto a vessel, for example, so that it
covers an opening of the vessel.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present invention relates to an alternative closure for
a vessel having an opening for filling and/or emptying the
vessel.
[0005] According to the invention, this object is achieved by the
features described herein. The closure according to an aspect of
the invention for a vessel comprises a first closure part and a
cover. The first closure part can be attached to the vessel, in
particular in the region of an opening of the vessel. The first
closure part itself has an opening for filling and/or emptying the
vessel, which can be closed by way of the cover. The cover is
connected to the first closure part either directly or indirectly
via further elements of the closure, or it may be connected, for
closing, directly or indirectly to the first closure part. The
connection can, in particular, be configured such that the cover is
pivotably connected to the first closure part. The first closure
part of the closure is attached to a vessel having an opening for
filling and/or emptying, such that the opening of the closure part
and the opening of the vessel communicate with each other, and in
particular are congruent, so that the vessel can be filled and/or
emptied when the cover is open, and the opening of the vessel is
closed when the cover is closed. While, in principle, a
hermetically sealed closure is provided for the opening of the
vessel, the invention also covers unsealed or pervious
closures.
[0006] So as to keep the cover closed, the closure according to an
aspect of the invention includes a push-push locking mechanism,
which due to a typical shape of a control cam used for locking is
also referred to as a cardioid control element or mechanism. The
push-push locking mechanism provides locking in a closing direction
by a movement and is triggered by being moved out of a locked
position a short distance further in the closing direction, whereby
two locking parts are disengaged, so that the locking mechanism is
released. Such push-push locking mechanisms are known and will not
be described in greater detail here. It is not essential for the
invention for the locking mechanism to have a cardioid. The
invention allows the push-push locking mechanism to be produced
inexpensively and easily, since a portion of the locking mechanism,
and in particular a control cam, can be implemented on the cover,
so that no separate part is necessary for this, and thus assembly
work is eliminated.
[0007] One refinement of the invention provides for the cover to
comprise a pivot axis close to the edge, by way of which the cover
is pivotably connected to the first closure part. "Close to the
edge," shall mean that the pivot axis is located close to the outer
circumference of the cover, and in particular such that the pivot
axis is located outside the opening of the first closure part
and/or of the vessel. The pivot axis can also be located outside
the first closure part.
[0008] In a further refinement of the invention, the opening of the
first closure part has a large-surface-area design.
"Large-surface-area" shall signify at least approximately 50%, and
preferably approximately 70% or more, of an area surrounded by a
circumference of the closure, or of the opening of the vessel. The
opening of the first closure part is preferably approximately the
same size as the opening of the vessel, which is to say this does
not constrict the opening of the vessel, or in any case does not
significantly constrict it, and therefore does not impair filling
or emptying of the vessel.
[0009] Both the pivot axis of the cover, close to the edge, and the
large-surface-area opening of the first closure part enable easy
filling and/or emptying of the vessel when the cover is open. The
pivot axis of the cover, close to the edge, and the
large-surface-area opening of the first closure part can each be
implemented individually, or together.
[0010] One embodiment of the invention provides for a vessel having
an opening and comprising a closure of the type described above,
which is disposed on the opening of the vessel, so that the cover
of the closure can be used to close the opening of the vessel. For
example, the cover is screwed onto the vessel by way of a threaded
connection, or snapped onto the vessel in the manner of a snap
fastener by way of a detent connection, and connected to the vessel
in this way.
[0011] The opening of the vessel can preferably include a seal,
which is to say a paper, a cardboard or a film, for example, which
seals the opening, preferably hermetically. So as to open the
vessel, the seal must be destroyed or removed.
[0012] One refinement of the invention provides for the first
closure part of the closure to cover the seal of the opening of the
vessel on an edge of the opening of the vessel. The first closure
part can in particular be designed such that the closure must first
be removed from the vessel in order to be able to remove the seal.
This precludes inadvertent removal of the seal.
[0013] One embodiment of the invention provides for a gasket, which
provides sealing between the cover and the first closure part when
the cover is closed, wherein the gasket in particular is directly
seated against the cover and/or against the first closure part.
This embodiment of the invention enables a hermetically sealed
closure. The gasket can moreover provide sealing between the first
closure and the vessel.
[0014] One refinement provides for the gasket to act on the cover
in an opening direction, and in particular elastically, so that the
gasket acts in the manner of a spring element. The gasket
cooperates with the push-push locking mechanism and holds the
push-push locking mechanism in the locked position; for unlocking,
the cover must first be moved a short distance further in the
closing direction against the action provided by the gasket,
whereby the locking mechanism is released, and the cover is opened
at least a certain distance by the gasket.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The invention will be described hereafter in greater detail
based on one exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings. In the
drawings:
[0016] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a vessel comprising a
closure according to the invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 shows the vessel comprising the closure from FIG. 1
having a closed cover; and
[0018] FIG. 3 shows the vessel comprising the closure from FIGS. 1
and 2 having an open cover.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The vessel 1 shown in the drawing is used, for example, to
store foods having a pasty consistency, for example. This has a
large, circular opening 2 for filling and for emptying, which is
surrounded by a cylindrical collar 3 comprising a thread 4. After
initial filling, the opening 2 can be hermetically sealed by way of
a seal 5 in the form of a film or the like, which is glued to an
edge 6 of the opening 2. A closure 7 is screwed onto the opening 2
of the vessel 1, wherein the closure 7 may also be attached to or
on the opening 2 of the vessel 1 in a manner other than screwing
on; for example, the closure 7 may be snapped on (not shown). The
closure 7 comprises a first closure part 8 in the form of a
threaded ring having an internal thread 9 matching the thread 4 on
the collar 6 of the opening 2 of the vessel 1. In the case of a
detent connection, for example, the first closure part 8 comprises
a peripheral bead or catch lugs or the like, for example, for
snapping onto the collar 3, which comprises corresponding detent
elements (not shown). As a result of the ring shape, the first
closure part 8 has a large-surface-area opening 10, which is no
smaller than, or only little smaller than, the opening 2 of the
vessel 1. When the closure 7 is disposed on the vessel 1, the two
openings 2, 10 cover each other, so that the vessel 1 can be filled
and emptied equally well when the closure 7 is attached on or to
the opening 2 of the vessel 1 as without the closure 7.
[0020] The first closure part 8 covers the edge 6 surrounding the
opening 2 of the vessel 1 when the closure is attached to the
vessel 1, so that the seal 5 cannot be pulled off the edge 6 when
the first closure part 8 is attached to the vessel 1. The closure 8
must be removed from the vessel 1, or the seal 5 must be destroyed,
to pull off the seal 5. After the seal 5 has been pulled off, the
closure 7 can be disposed on the opening 2 of the vessel 1 again,
or in the exemplary embodiment this can be screwed onto the collar
3 comprising the thread 4.
[0021] A cover 11 is pivotably attached to the closure part 8 by
way of two tenons 12 and directly connected to the closure part 8.
The tenons 12 are provided on the cover 11 close to the edge and
define a pivot axis. As a result of the arrangement close to the
edge, the cover 11 completely exposes the openings 2, 10 when
opened, as can be seen in FIG. 3. The opened cover 11 does not
protrude into an axial projection of the openings 2, 10.
[0022] The first closure part 8 comprises a lip sealing ring 13,
which surrounds the opening 10, the cover 11 being seated against
the lip sealing ring 13, when closed. FIG. 2 shows the vessel 1
having a closed cover 11. In the exemplary embodiment, the lip
sealing ring 13, which is made of a rubber-elastic plastic
material, is attached to the first closure part 8 by way of
two-component injection molding. However, the lip sealing ring 13,
or another sealing ring, can also be attached to the first closure
part 8, or to the cover 11, in another manner; for example, it may
be mounted in a groove (not shown).
[0023] Opposite the tenon 12 of the pivot mounting, the cover 11
comprises a tab 14 formed integral therewith, which projects from
the cover 11 at an angle of 90 degrees. When the cover 11 is
closed, the tab 14 is seated in a cut-out 15 in the circumference
of the first closure part 8 of the closure 7, as can be seen in
FIG. 2. On an inner side facing the first closure part 8, the tab
14 comprises a control cam 16, which cooperates with a control
tenon 17 projecting outward from a slide 18. The slide 18 is curved
cylindrically in keeping with a radius of the circular first
closure part 8 and is seated, displaceably in the circumferential
direction, in the region of the cut-out 15 in the first closure
part 8 within the tab 14 of the closed cover 11. When the cover 11
is being closed, the control tenon 17 engages the control cam 16
and reaches a locking position there, in which it holds the cover
11 in the closed position. The cover 11 is seated against the lip
sealing ring 13, which elastically acts on the cover 11 in an
opening direction and thereby holds the control tenon 17 in the
locked position in the control cam 16, so that the cover 11 remains
closed, and the vessel 1 remains hermetically sealed, even if the
seal 5 has been destroyed or removed. For opening, the closed cover
11 is moved a short distance further in a closing direction,
whereby the control tenon 17 is released from the locking position
in the control cam 16. The rubber-elastic lip sealing ring 13 acts
on the cover 17 in an opening direction and pivots the same a short
distance beyond the closed position, in which, as can be seen in
FIG. 2, it is seated flush in the first closure part 8, so that the
cover 11 can be gripped and opened without difficulty. The tab 14
on the cover 11 comprising the control cam 16 on the inside, and
the slide 18 comprising the control tenon 17, which cooperates with
the control cam 16 in the described manner, form what is known as a
push-push locking mechanism 16, 17, 18 so as to keep the cover 11
closed.
[0024] Although the device has been shown and described with
respect to certain embodiments, it is obvious that equivalents and
modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the
reading and understanding of the specification. The device includes
all such equivalents and modifications, and is limited only by the
scope of the following claims.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0025] 1 vessel 2 opening of vessel 1 3 flange 4 thread 5 seal 6
edge 7 closure 8 first closure part 9 internal thread 10 opening of
first closure part 8 11 cover 12 tenon 13 lip sealing ring 14 tab
15 cut-out 16 control cam 17 control tenon 18 slide
* * * * *