FLAP CLOSURE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a hinged closure with a closure body and a hinged lid, which are connected to each other by at least one hinge and at least one tension band to achieve a snapping effect when opening and / or closing the hinged lid.

[0002] The hinged closure is preferably made of plastic, particularly by injection molding. In this case, the closure body and the hinged lid, including the at least one hinge and the at least one tension band, can be injection molded together, i.e., as a single piece. However, it is also possible to first injection mold one component, in particular the closure body, and then injection mold the other components, in particular the hinged lid with the at least one hinge and the at least one tension band, onto it. Conversely, the hinged lid can also be injection molded first, and then the closure body can be injection molded onto it. In both cases, the at least one hinge and the at least one tension band can be injection molded together with the closure body or together with the hinged lid.

[0003] The injection position of the hinged closure, i.e., the position in which the closure body and the hinged lid are injection-molded together, is preferably a position in which the hinged lid is open by approximately 180 degrees. Since the hinged closure is formed in this position, no mechanical forces act on its individual components. In particular, the at least one tension band is thus unloaded in the injection position, i.e., it is not subjected to any tensile or bending stresses or other mechanical forces.

[0004] At least one hinge is preferably designed as a film hinge, i.e., as a thin section in the material along a line corresponding to the hinge's axis of rotation. The hinge function results from the increased flexibility of the material at this thin section.

[0005] By pivoting the hinged lid about the axis of the at least one hinge, the hinged lid can be brought into at least one, in particular completely, closed position and into at least one open position.

[0006] The closure body preferably has an opening for dispensing a product, which is covered by the hinged lid in its closed position, preferably in a sealing manner.

[0007] The closure body is designed to be attached to a container, particularly a bottle, especially by screwing or snapping it on. Flip-top closures of the type considered are used for dispensing a variety of liquid, pasty, powdery, granular, lumpy, or otherwise free-flowing or pourable products from the container, for example, personal care products, other care products, cosmetics, oils or fats, cleaning agents, medicines, food, or beverages.

[0008] When the closure mechanism is attached to the container, the hinged lid can preferably be opened with a single finger, ideally the thumb, and snaps into a stable open position once a certain opening angle, the "snap angle," is overcome. In this open position, the hinged lid does not obstruct dispensing the product from the container. Particularly when using the container as a drinking bottle, the hinged lid does not hinder the user's drinking by coming into contact with their mouth or nose.

[0009] Conversely, the hinged lid can be closed from its open position, preferably again with a single finger, and preferably snaps into a fully closed or nearly closed position when a certain opening angle, in particular the snap-over angle, is overcome, and preferably can be brought from the nearly closed position into the fully closed position by further pressure with the finger.

[0010] The aforementioned snap-action effect is achieved by arranging at least one tension band such that it is only slightly tensioned when the hinged lid is closed, is gradually tensioned as the lid is opened until it reaches its maximum tension at the snap-action angle, and then contracts and relaxes again as the lid is further opened after the snap-action angle has been overcome. Preferably, the corresponding process also occurs in reverse when the hinged lid is closed, so that the aforementioned snap-action effect is also produced in this case.

[0011] To achieve the snap-lock effect, the connection points of the tension band with the locking mechanism or the hinged lid are typically positioned lower than the pivot axis of the hinge (when the hinged lid is fully open). This is based on the orientation of the hinged lid in which the locking mechanism is located below the hinged lid when it is fully closed.

[0012] When the hinged lid is fully closed, the connection points of the tension band with the locking body and / or the hinged lid are preferably aligned vertically, so that the tension band also runs vertically between these connection points. Preferably, recesses are formed in the outer wall of the locking body and / or in the outer wall of the hinged lid, in which the tension band rests when the hinged lid is fully closed.

[0013] The hinged closure can, in particular, include a central hinge and two tension bands arranged on either side of the hinge (viewed circumferentially), or conversely, a central tension band and two hinges arranged on either side of the tension band. Other combinations of at least one hinge and at least one tension band are also conceivable.

[0014] Due to the described kinematics of the hinged closure, at least one tension band is subjected to both tensile stresses and bending stresses when opening and / or closing the hinged lid - due to the rotation of the hinged lid around the hinge axis.

[0015] In a typical, state-of-the-art hinged closure, as in Fig. 1 und 2 As illustrated by example, the tension band is connected to the closure body or the hinged lid by two curved sections, which are connected to each other by a flat section (or, in cross-section, a straight section). When the hinged lid pivots, the flat section is primarily subjected to tensile stress, while the curved sections experience a superposition of bending and tensile stress. The curved sections thus also function as bending zones or pivot points. Due to this superposition of bending and tensile stresses, the highest stress states occur in these bending zones, particularly because the bending zones are completely "straightened" during use of the hinged closure when the maximum load is applied.These stresses, particularly due to material aging, environmental influences such as cold, or user error, can cause the tensioning strap to break or tear during use. In practice, a high number of such failures are observed.

[0016] US Patent 5,785,193 relates to a hinged closure of the type considered here, featuring a film hinge and two tension bands. Each tension band, in side view, has a compressed V-shape with a curved section and is generally realized as a fairly thick band, exhibiting its greatest thickness in the curved section and a reduced thickness towards the connecting sections with the closure body and the lid, respectively.

[0017] JP 2005-350139 A also relates to a hinged closure of the type considered here with a film hinge and two tension bands, wherein in one embodiment the tension bands have approximately the shape of a circular segment in the side view.

[0018] US Patent 4,854,473 also relates to a hinged closure of the type considered here, with a film hinge and two tension bands, wherein the tension bands are held at their ends in recesses in the housing walls and have an approximately uniform cross-section along their entire length. In one embodiment, this cross-section has the shape of a semicircle.

[0019] The present invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a hinged closure of the type under consideration in which breaking or tearing of the at least one tension band occurs less frequently.

[0020] This problem is solved by a hinged closure according to claim 1. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is contained in dependent claim 2.

[0021] The hinged closure considered here comprises a closure body and a hinged cover. These are connected to each other by at least one hinge and at least one tension band to achieve a snap-action effect when the hinged cover is opened and / or closed. A tension band is understood to be a band-shaped, preferably elastic element with two ends, one end being connected to the closure body and the other end to the hinged cover.

[0022] In a first solution according to the invention to the aforementioned problem, the at least one tension band, in its unloaded state, has four curved sections in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the at least one hinge, and a straight section between each pair of adjacent curved sections. Furthermore, the at least one tension band does not curve in opposite directions in this cross-section. This latter condition means that all the curved sections in this cross-section curve in the same direction, i.e., all clockwise or all counterclockwise.

[0023] This means that the bending stresses occurring during use of the toggle closure are distributed across more curved sections, i.e., more bending zones, within the tension band than if, for example, there were only two curved sections. At the same time, the average angle of curvature of the curved sections becomes smaller. The angle of curvature of a curved section is defined as the angle by which the tension band's cross-section (when unloaded) is deflected at that curved section. As mentioned above, each curved section is pulled completely straight under maximum load on the tension band. Therefore, the smaller the angle of curvature of an individual curved section, the less frequently that curved section will break or tear during use of the toggle closure.

[0024] Due to the curvature of the tension band in the same direction, the average angle of curvature at the curved sections is also smaller than it would be for a tension band with the same number of curved sections, but curved in different directions at these sections. In the first case according to the invention (curvature in the same direction), the total angle of curvature of the curved sections occurring in cross-section between the connection point of the tension band with the locking body and the connection point of the tension band with the hinged cover is composed only of individual angles of curvature with the same sign, whereas in the second case (curvature in different directions), it is composed of individual angles of curvature with different signs. Thus, the individual angles of curvature are, on average, smaller in magnitude in the first case than in the second case.As explained above, this also means that breaking or tearing of this curved section occurs less frequently.

[0025] The inventive design of the curved sections of the tension band reduces the frequency of breakage or tearing, while simultaneously allowing the number of curved sections to be kept low. This simplifies the shape of the tension band and thus—particularly given its very small dimensions—the production of the area in the injection mold for the hinged closure where the tension band is formed.

[0026] Another advantage of this solution is that, when the flap closure is closed, the tension band no longer protrudes radially outwards beyond the circumference of the flap closure, or hardly at all.

[0027] In a non-inventive embodiment of this solution, the curved sections in this cross-section are arranged essentially symmetrically to the center of the at least one tension band between the connection point of the tension band with the locking body and the connection point of the tension band with the hinged lid. This ensures that the tension band is also subjected to tensile and bending stresses symmetrically and therefore particularly uniformly.

[0028] However, according to the invention, it is possible that the curved sections in this cross-section are not arranged substantially symmetrically to the center of the at least one tension band between the connection point of the tension band with the closure body and the connection point of the tension band with the hinged lid.

[0029] In a second, non-inventive solution to the aforementioned problem, in a hinged closure of the type considered, the distance from a tangent to a center line between the edges of the at least one tension band at a connection point of the at least one tension band with the closure body and / or from a tangent to a center line between the edges of the at least one tension band at a connection point of the at least one tension band with the hinged cover to the axis of rotation of the at least one hinge is at most three times, preferably at most twice, more preferably at most once, and particularly preferably at most 0.5 times the thickness of the at least one tension band at the respective connection point.

[0030] This solution to the aforementioned problem is based on the observation that, due to the kinematics of the hinged closure, the maximum tensile stress on at least one tension band is reached when the pivot axis of the hinge lies on a straight line through the connection points of the tension band with the closure body or with the hinged lid, specifically between these two connection points. Because of this alignment of one and / or the other connection point, there is no or only very low bending stress at the respective connection point when the maximum tensile stress occurs. Therefore, the respective connection point is not subjected to additional bending stress when the maximum tensile stress occurs, which reduces the likelihood of the tension band breaking or tearing, in this case at its connection points with the closure body or with the hinged lid.

[0031] Another advantage of this solution is that, when the flap closure is closed, the tension band no longer protrudes radially outwards beyond the circumference of the flap closure, or hardly at all.

[0032] In a particularly preferred embodiment of this solution, the at least one tension band is curved throughout this cross-section. This results in a tension band that is curved in cross-section in the shape of a circular arc, an elliptical arc, or in some other way.

[0033] Of course, features of the first, inventive and the second, non-inventive solution to the aforementioned problem can also be combined in a hinged closure, apart from the fact that the at least one tension band is curved everywhere in cross-section, since in this case the tension band has no straight sections in cross-section.

[0034] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in conjunction with the following description. These show: Fig. 1: A perspective view of a prior art hinged closure in the injection position; Fig. 2: A view of a tension band of the prior art hinged closure according to Fig. 1 in a mixed perspective and sectional view; Fig. 3: a view accordingly Fig. 2 of a tension band of a design of a hinged closure similar to the first solution to the problem; Fig. 4: a view accordingly Fig. 2 of a tension band of a design of a hinged closure according to the first, inventive solution to the problem; Fig. 5: a view accordingly Fig. 2 of a tension band of a flap closure according to the second, non-inventive solution to the problem; Fig. 6: the tension band of the flap closure according to Fig. 5 in a partially open position of the flap closure at maximum tensile stress; Fig. 7: a view accordingly Fig. 2 a further embodiment of a tension band of a flap closure according to the second, non-inventive solution to the problem; Fig. 8: the tension band of the flap closure according to Fig. 7 in a partially open position of the flap closure at maximum tensile tension.

[0035] Fig. 1 This shows a perspective view of a prior art hinged closure in the injection position, which corresponds to the hinged lid being opened by 180 degrees. Also, the Fig. 2 bis 5 show excerpts from a hinged closure in this position.

[0036] The folding closure according to Fig. 1 The closure body 1 has a cylindrical outer surface 3 and a closed top surface 4, which seals the outer surface 3 at its upper end face. Of course, the outer surface 3 can also have other shapes, for example, oval or polygonal. The top surface 4 has two sections at different heights. In the middle of the higher section of the top surface 4 is a dispensing opening 5 through which a product, for example, shower gel or shampoo, can be dispensed.

[0037] A connecting device is arranged on the inside of the cladding surface 3 (in Fig. 1 (not visible), in particular an internal thread by means of which the closure body 1 can be attached to a container, especially one with a corresponding external thread. The connection device can also be part of a snap closure, with the other part of the snap closure being located on the container. Furthermore, a seal can be arranged in the area of ​​the connection between the closure body 1 and the container to prevent leakage of the product between the closure body 1 and the container.

[0038] The hinged lid 2 also has a cylindrical surface 6, which has almost the same radius as the surface 3 of the closure body 1. This (in the in Fig. 1 In the illustrated open position of the hinged lid 2), the lower end face of the outer surface 6 of the hinged lid 2 is closed by a cover surface 7. In the center of the cover surface 7, a sealing plug 8 projects into the interior of the outer surface 6, which engages in the dispensing opening 5 when the hinged lid 2 is closed and seals it.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the closure body 1 and the hinged lid 2 are manufactured in one piece by injection molding. The pivotability of the hinged lid 2 relative to the closure body 1 is achieved by a film hinge 9, which connects the closure body 1 at the level of the lower section of the cover surface 4 of the closure body 1 to the edge of the outer surface 6 of the hinged lid 2 facing away from the cover surface 7. As shown in Fig. 2 As can be clearly seen, the upper edge of the lower section of the cover surface 4 of the closure body 1, the hinge 9 and the (in the open position) upper edge of the outer surface 6 of the hinged cover 2 are on the same plane.

[0040] Furthermore, the locking body 1 and the hinged cover 2 are connected by two tension bands 10, which are arranged on both sides of the hinge 9 in the circumferential direction.

[0041] Fig. 2 shows a view of one of the tension bands 10 of the hinged closure from the prior art according to Fig. 1 in a mixed perspective and sectional view, where the axis of hinge 9 runs perpendicular to the image plane. The same reference symbols in the figures also denote the same elements of the hinged closure.

[0042] The connection points 15a, 15b of the tension band 10 with the locking body 1 and with the hinged cover 2 are arranged on the respective lateral surfaces 3 and 6 and are therefore lower than the plane of the hinge 9. Immediately above the connection points 15a, 15b of the tension band 10, recesses 11 and 12 are arranged in the lateral surfaces 3 and 6, in which the tension band 10 comes to lie when the hinged cover 2 is completely closed.

[0043] As in Fig. 2 As can be seen, the tension band 10 has a curved section 13a or 13b at its connection points 15a, 15b with the closure body 1 and with the hinged cover 2, respectively. A flat or straight section 14a extends between these.

[0044] When the hinged cover 2 is closed from the open position shown, or conversely, opened from the closed position, the distance between the connection points 15a, 15b of the tension band 10 with the locking body 1 and the hinged cover 2 increases due to their arrangement. The tension band 10 is thus stretched. The straight section 14a is then primarily subjected to tensile stress, while the curved sections 13a and 13b are subjected to a superposition of bending and tensile stress. This superposition of forces results in the highest stress states within the tension band 10 in the curved sections 13a and 13b, which are completely stretched, i.e., "straightened," when the maximum load is applied. This can lead to the tension band 10 breaking or tearing, particularly in the area of ​​the connection points 15a, 15b with the locking body 1 and the hinged cover 2, respectively.

[0045] Fig. 3 shows a view accordingly Fig. 2 A tension band 10 of a first embodiment of a hinged closure similar to the first solution to the problem. The tension band 10 has three curved sections 13a, 13b, 13c, with a straight section 14a running between the curved sections 13a and 13b and a straight section 14b running between the curved sections 13b and 13c. The bending stresses occurring in the curved sections 13a, 13b, 13c are thus distributed over more curved sections and are therefore smaller per curved section.

[0046] At the same time, the tension band 10, in its cross-section, is always curved in the same direction from its connection point 15a with the closure body 1 to its connection point 15b with the hinged cover 2, namely in the direction shown in Fig. 3 The view shown is clockwise. This allows the average angle of curvature at the curved sections 13a, 13b, 13c to be kept smaller than if, with the same number of curved sections, different sections were to curve in opposite directions.

[0047] By arranging the curved sections 13a, 13b, 13c, in particular some of the bending stress is transferred from the more fracture-critical areas at the connection points 15a, 15b to the less critical center of the tension band 10, thereby reducing the bending stress at the connection points 15a, 15b.

[0048] Furthermore, when the hinged closure is closed, the tension band 10 does not protrude radially outwards beyond the outer surfaces 3 and 6, or hardly at all, and is therefore barely perceptible to the user.

[0049] Fig. 4 shows a view accordingly Fig. 2 a tension band 10 of an embodiment of a hinged closure according to the first solution to the problem according to the invention. The tension band 10 has four curved sections 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, wherein the straight section 14a runs between the curved sections 13a and 13b, the straight section 14b runs between the curved sections 13b and 13c, and the straight section 14c runs between the curved sections 13c and 13d.

[0050] The increased number of curved sections 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d further reduces the bending stress in each of these curved sections 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d.

[0051] Fig. 5 shows a view accordingly Fig. 2 of a tension band 10 of a hinged closure according to the second, non-inventive solution to the problem.

[0052] The tension band 10 has a straight section 14a, 14b at each of the connection points 15a, 15b with the locking body 1 and the hinged cover 2, respectively, with a curved section 13a running between them. The straight sections 14a and 14b are of different lengths. However, they could also be the same length. The straight sections 14a and 14b are connected to the locking body 1 and the hinged cover 2, respectively, at such an angle that the center lines T1, T2 of the straight sections 14a and 14b (corresponding to the tangents to these center lines if they were curved sections) pass exactly or almost exactly through the axis of the hinge 9 when extended. The distance from the respective center lines T1, T2 to the axis of rotation of the hinge 9 is therefore almost or exactly zero.

[0053] Fig. 6 The tension band 10 of the folding closure is shown according to Fig. 5 in a partially open position of the hinged lid 2. The opening position of the hinged lid 2 is chosen such that the axis of the hinge 9 lies between the connection points 15a, 15b of the tension band 10 with the locking body 1 and with the hinged lid 2, respectively. In this position, the tensile stress acting on the tension band 10 is at its maximum, and the tension band 10 is fully extended into a straight line. Due to the described angular position of the connection points 15a, 15b of the tension band 10 with the locking body 1 and with the hinged lid 2, respectively, no or only slight bending stresses occur at these connection points 15a, 15b. As a result, breakage or tearing of the tension band 10 occurs less frequently at these points.

[0054] Fig. 7 shows a view accordingly Fig. 2 a further embodiment of a tension band 10 of a hinged closure according to the second, non-inventive solution to the problem and Fig. 8 the tension band 10 of the folding fastener according to Fig. 7 in a partially open position of the hinged lid 2.

[0055] The order according to the Fig. 7 und 8 differs from the arrangement according to the Fig. 5 und 6 essentially, firstly, by the fact that the tension band 10 is in the stretched state ( Fig. 8 ) in cross-section does not run exactly through the axis of rotation of the hinge 9, but at a small distance from it. Furthermore, the center lines T1, T2 of the straight sections 14a and 14b, when extended, do not run exactly through the axis of the hinge 9. However, the distance from the respective center lines T1, T2 to the axis of rotation of the hinge 9 is less than the thickness of the tension band 10 at the respective connection point 15a, 15b.

[0056] Otherwise, the arrangement and function of the tension band 10 correspond to the Fig. 7 und 8 largely those of the tension band 10 in the Fig. 5 und 6and are therefore not described again.

Claims

1. A flap closure comprising a closure body (1) and a flap cover (2) which are connected to one another by at least one hinge (9) and by at least one tensioning band (10) in order to achieve a snap-effect upon the opening and / or closing of the flap cover (2), characterized in that the at least one tensioning band (10) in the unloaded state has four curved sections (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) and a straight section (14a, 14b, 14c) between each of two respectively adjacent curved sections (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) in a cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the at least one hinge (9), and that the at least one tensioning band (10) is not curved in opposite directions in said cross section.

2. The flap closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the curved sections (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) in said cross section are not arranged substantially symmetrically to the center of the at least one tensioning band (10) between the connection point (15a) of the tensioning band (10) to the closure body (1) and the connection point (15b) of the tensioning band (10) to the flap cover (2).