PLASTIC CANISTER FOR HOLDING A LIQUID

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a plastic canister for holding a liquid, for example mineral oil.

[0002] Prior art is disclosed, for example, in EP 1 803 650 A1. Disclosed is a plastic container with a ventilation channel extending from a spout for filling and emptying the liquid to a rear section of the container. The ventilation channel ensures uniform emptying of the container. It allows the negative pressure that develops in the container to be equalized by the inflow of air. This prevents interruptions or disturbances in the pouring process, such as gurgling or a sudden, uncontrolled flow.

[0003] US 6,360,924 B1 discloses a container with a liquid chamber, a pouring spout in the upper part of the chamber with a substantially vertical longitudinal axis, and a handle located above the chamber. The handle contains an air duct that opens into the chamber at one end and into the pouring spout at the other. The pouring spout has a partition between a liquid compartment connected to the chamber and an air compartment into which the other end of the air duct opens. An opening is provided in the partition between the liquid compartment and the air compartment.

[0004] US 5,538,165 A discloses a container for storing and transporting liquids, particularly hazardous liquids, with an inlet and outlet spout on a side wall, manufactured from plastic by blow molding, and featuring a vent channel that runs substantially horizontally across the top of the container with an underside inclined at 3 to 15° and opens into the interior of the container near the side wall opposite the inlet and outlet spout, above the fill level of the liquid. The outlet opening of the vent channel extends up the inlet and outlet spout to the level of the uppermost thread of the closure thread. During the blow molding process, the vent channel is separated from the container by a crimp edge of the molding tool, forming a bridge between the container and the top of the container, as well as between the inlet and outlet spout and the uppermost thread of the spout.The ventilation channel is inflated by a secondary blowing mandrel when the container is inflated, which in the process forms its inlet opening.

[0005] Further state of the art is shown in US 4 838 464 A, US 10 472 138 B2 and BE 892 392 A.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a plastic canister for holding liquids which, with simple manufacture, in particular by blow molding, enables the safest possible pouring of the liquid.

[0007] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claim. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0008] The invention relates to a plastic canister for holding a liquid. The plastic canister comprises a bottom, side walls, and an upper wall. The side walls connect the bottom to the upper wall. Preferably, the plastic canister has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

[0009] The upper wall of the container features a spout for filling and emptying the container. This spout has a thread, specifically an external thread, for attaching a screw cap. Such a screw cap allows the plastic container to be tightly sealed. The spout is located at the front of the container. A vent runs from the spout to the rear of the container. This vent runs from an opening in the spout to the rear of the container. This vent allows the vacuum created during pouring to be equalized, ensuring safe and, in particular, sloshing-free pouring.

[0010] The following defines the axes and planes of the plastic canister. The terms "vertical" and "horizontal" refer to the canister's usual upright position. The canister's base is oriented horizontally. A nozzle axis is located vertically and centrally within the nozzle. A horizontal longitudinal axis is defined perpendicular to this nozzle axis. This horizontal longitudinal axis extends from the front to the rear of the plastic canister. The described ventilation channel preferably runs substantially parallel to this longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis intersects the nozzle axis. A vertical median plane is defined by the nozzle axis and the longitudinal axis. This median plane can be a plane of symmetry of the plastic canister. During the blow molding process, the seam between the two molds preferably forms along this median plane.

[0011] The channel opening is preferably arranged such that the median plane intersects the channel opening.

[0012] The nozzle contains a partition wall that separates the ventilation duct and its opening from the rest of the nozzle's interior. This partition wall is essentially parallel to the nozzle axis. Preferably, the partition wall is essentially perpendicular to the central plane. The partition wall tapers towards the central plane. If the partition wall is viewed in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the central plane and passing through the nozzle axis, it is higher at its outer ends than in the middle.

[0013] The partition's primary function is to separate the channel opening or ventilation duct from the rest of the nozzle's interior, necessitating a certain size. However, tests have shown that contact occurs between the liquid and the partition during pouring. For example, due to adhesion forces, this contact can cause turbulence or a breakdown of laminar flow, allowing the liquid to flow over the partition and into the channel opening. To ensure smooth, gurgling pouring, the entire cross-section of the ventilation duct should be available for airflow. To minimize this negative effect—liquid ingress into the channel opening—the partition is designed to taper towards the central plane.This reduces the surface area available for contact with the liquid, thus preventing liquid from entering the ventilation duct as much as possible.

[0014] For a further description of the tapered partition, a partition surface is considered. This partition surface is the surface of the partition that faces the nozzle axis. In particular, the partition surface is essentially parallel to the nozzle axis. Furthermore, the partition surface can be essentially perpendicular to the central plane; however, it can also be slightly concave. The partition surface has an upper edge and a lower edge. A first gap is defined between the upper and lower edges. This first gap tapers from both sides towards the central plane. The partition surface thus has the shape of a horizontal hourglass. The taper is designed such that the upper and lower edges are not perpendicular to the central plane, but are inclined towards it.

[0015] The partition preferably tapers so sharply that the first gap decreases by at least 25%. For example, the largest first gap, in the area furthest possible from the central plane, is 4 mm, and the smallest first gap in the area of ​​the central plane is 3 mm. More preferably, the first gap decreases by at least 50%.

[0016] The channel opening is preferably located below the thread. For this purpose, a second distance is defined, measured vertically from the lower end of the thread to the upper end of the channel opening. This second distance is preferably at least 1 mm, and more preferably at least 3 mm.

[0017] The channel opening preferably has a triangular cross-section. This triangular shape may have outwardly curved sides.

[0018] Preferably, one apex of the triangular cross-section faces the nozzle axis. This allows the central plane to preferably intersect approximately at the apex of the triangular cross-section. This orientation of the triangular cross-section of the channel opening ensures that a large portion of the channel opening's cross-sectional area is located as far away as possible from the nozzle axis. This has the advantage that when liquid flows over the partition wall towards the channel opening during pouring, as little of the channel opening's area as possible—i.e., only the apex of the triangular shape facing the nozzle axis—is available for the liquid to enter the ventilation channel. The majority of the channel opening's area is thus located as far away as possible from the nozzle axis and can continue to be available for airflow.

[0019] The ventilation channel preferably extends along an inner side of the upper wall.

[0020] Preferably, the plastic canister includes a handle on its upper wall. Alternatively or additionally, the ventilation channel may extend inside this handle.

[0021] The entire plastic canister, in particular including the nozzle and any handle as well as including the ventilation channel, is preferably manufactured in one piece using a blow molding process.

[0022] The invention also includes a method for manufacturing the described plastic canister, in which the plastic canister is produced using a blow molding process. The low positioning of the channel opening, i.e., the selected second spacing, results in simple production of the plastic canister, since a double blow molding mandrel is not required during the blow molding process. This eliminates the need for the complex design of a vertically running ventilation channel in the nozzle, which would extend upwards to the threaded area.

[0023] Further details, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a top view of the plastic canister according to the invention in an exemplary embodiment Fig. 2 the in Fig. 1 section AA, Fig. 3, a detail from Fig. 1 , and Fig. 4den in Fig. 1 marked section BB.

[0024] An embodiment of a plastic canister 1 according to the invention is explained in detail below. Unless otherwise stated, reference is always made to all figures.

[0025] The plastic canister 1 comprises side walls 2 that connect a bottom (not shown) with an upper wall 3. Fig. 1Figure 1 shows a top view of this upper wall 3. The bottom, the side walls 2 and the upper wall 3 form an interior space 4 of the plastic canister 1.

[0026] A nozzle 5 is located in the upper wall 3. A thread 6 is located on the outside of the nozzle 5. Furthermore, the exemplary embodiment shows a handle 7 on the upper wall 3.

[0027] How especially the AA cut in Fig. 2 To illustrate, the plastic canister 1 includes a ventilation channel 8 that extends inside the upper wall 3 and is separated from the interior 4 by an inner channel wall 16. This is shown schematically by a dashed line. Fig. 2 , that in addition to or as an alternative to the ventilation channel 8 on the inside of the upper wall 3, a ventilation channel 8 can also run through the handle 7.

[0028] Figures 1 and 2To illustrate that the plastic canister 1 has a front section 11 and a rear section 12. The nozzle 5 is located in the front section 11.

[0029] Furthermore, the figures show a vertical nozzle axis 13, which runs centrally through the nozzle 5. Perpendicular to and intersecting the nozzle axis 13, a longitudinal axis 14 runs from the front area 11 to the rear area 12. The handle 7 and the ventilation channel 8 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis 14.

[0030] As explained in the general part of the description, the longitudinal axis 14 and the nozzle axis 13 define a central plane. The ventilation channel 8 extends from a channel opening 9 to a discharge 10. The channel opening 9 is located in the nozzle 5 and thus in the front area 11 of the plastic canister 1. The discharge 10 is located in the rear area 12 of the plastic canister 1 and opens into the interior 4.

[0031] In the area of ​​the nozzle 5, the inner channel wall 16 transitions into a partition 15. This partition 15 separates a small part of the nozzle 5. Behind this partition 15 is the channel opening 9. (See details below.) Figures 3 and 4 this partition 15.

[0032] According to Fig. 3 The channel opening 9 is located behind the partition 15. In the exemplary embodiment, the channel opening 9 has a triangular cross-section. The sides of the triangular cross-section are slightly convex. One apex of the triangular cross-section faces the nozzle axis 13. Accordingly, the median plane intersects this apex.

[0033] Fig. 4 shows the in Fig. 1 section BB is marked. This section runs through the stub axis 5 and is perpendicular to the center plane. In this sectional view, the partition wall 15, or the partition wall surface mentioned in the general part of the description, can be seen. The partition wall, and thus also the one in Fig. 4 The visible partition surface is tapered towards the middle plane.

[0034] It can be seen that the partition surface has an upper edge 17 and a lower edge 18. A first distance 19 is defined between the upper edge 17 and the lower edge 18. This first distance 19 decreases towards the median plane, resulting in the tapered shape. The tapering is specifically designed such that the upper edge 17 and the lower edge 18 are not perpendicular to the median plane, but are inclined towards it.

[0035] Fig. 4 Figure 1 shows the design of the partition surface in the form of a horizontally oriented hourglass. This shape is achieved in particular by the fact that the first distance is tapered and at the same time the upper edge 17 and the lower edge 18 are inclined towards the nozzle axis 13.

[0036] Furthermore, they Figures 2 and 4, that the channel opening 9 is positioned so deep in the nozzle 5 that the channel opening 9 has a second distance 20 from the lower end of the thread 6, as explained in the general part of the description. Reference symbol list

[0037] 1 Plastic canister 2 Side walls 3 Top wall 4 Interior 5 Spigot 6 Thread 7 Handle 8 Ventilation duct 9 Duct opening 10 Discharge 11 Front area 12 Rear area 13 Spigot axis 14 Longitudinal axis 15 Partition 16 Inner duct wall 17 Top edge 18 Bottom edge 19 First gap 20 Second gap

Claims

1. Plastic canister (1) for receiving a liquid, comprising • a base, side walls (2) and an upper wall (3), • a spout (5) for filling in and pouring out the liquid, wherein the spout (5) is arranged in the upper wall (3) in a front region (11) of the plastic canister (1) and has a thread (6) for screwing on a screw cap, • a ventilation duct (8) which leads from a duct opening (9) in the spout (5) into a rear region (12) of the plastic canister (1) and opens into the interior (4) of the plastic canister (1), • wherein a spout axis (13) is defined vertically and centrally in the spout (5), wherein a horizontal longitudinal axis (14) which intersects the spout axis (13) and extends from the front region (11) to the rear region (12) of the plastic canister (1) is defined perpendicularly to the spout axis (13), wherein a vertical central plane is spanned by the spout axis (13) and the longitudinal axis (14), • wherein a partition wall (15) which is parallel to the spout axis (13) and separates the ventilation duct (8) together with the duct opening (9) from the rest of the interior of the spout is formed in the spout (5), • wherein the partition wall (15) is formed so as to taper towards the central plane, characterized in that the partition wall (15) has a partition wall surface which faces the spout axis (13), wherein a first distance (19) is defined between the upper edge (17) and lower edge (18) of the partition wall surface, wherein the first distance (19) tapers from both sides towards the central plane and the upper edge (17) and the lower edge (18) are inclined with respect to the central plane.

2. Plastic canister according to Claim 1, wherein the first distance tapers by at least 25%.

3. Plastic canister according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the channel opening (9) is arranged at a second distance (20) of at least 1 mm below the thread (6).

4. Plastic canister according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the channel opening (9) has a triangular cross section.

5. Plastic canister according to Claim 4, wherein the sides of the triangular cross section are curved outwards.

6. Plastic canister according to either of Claims 4 and 5, wherein a tip of the triangular cross section lies on the central plane.

7. Plastic canister according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ventilation channel (8) extends on an inner side of the upper wall (3).

8. Plastic canister according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a handle (7) on the upper wall (3).

9. Plastic canister according to Claim 8, wherein the ventilation duct (8) extends in the interior of the handle (7).

10. Plastic canister according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the entire plastic canister is produced in one piece in the blow moulding process.