CLOSING UNIT TO BE CONNECTED TO A WATER BOTTLE

Abstract

Closure unit (100) to be connected to a bottle (200'), with at least one spout element, which surrounds at least one pouring opening that can be closed, and with a lid (30'), which in the closed state covers the pouring opening, characterized in that: - the lid (30') has a fastening area (80') for the attachment of an accessory (60'), in which a lid wall is perforated with at least one hollow (81') into which a coupling element (61') of the accessory (60') can be inserted, which can be connected to the lid (30') by cooperation of forms as a result of a rotational movement; and - an elastic membrane (70'), which covers the hollow (81'), is disposed below the hollow (81'), the membrane (70') during the introduction of the coupling element (61') into the hollow (81') deviates by elastic deformation and after the implementation of the rotational movement applies against the coupled coupling element (61'). Fig.13.

Description

Title of the invention: CLOSING UNIT TO BE ATTACHED TO A WATER BOTTLE Scope of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a closure unit to be connected to a gourd. State of the art

[0002] For mobile use of the water bottle, it is desirable to be able to carry it, for example, on the wrist or to secure it to a backpack when it is inserted into a side pocket. A retaining loop or ring could be attached to the bottle or the lid using protruding studs or recessed mounting points. However, protruding studs would be visually and tactilely bothersome. Perforations in the lid would also be visually bothersome; moreover, nothing would prevent residual drips from leaking out. Furthermore, accessories fixed to the lid area, such as retaining loops, are inconvenient when the bottle is used in another way, for example, when it is placed in a car cup holder. Disclosure of the invention

[0003] The object of the invention is therefore to allow a releasable connection of a closure unit to accessories, for example to a retaining loop or a retaining ring, without having to provide optically or haptically annoying fixing points and / or without compromising the anti-drip security of the closure unit.

[0004] This objective is achieved by a closure unit to be connected to a bottle, with at least one spout element, which surrounds at least one pouring opening that can be closed, and with a lid, which in the closed state covers the pouring opening, characterized in that: - the cover has a fastening area for the attachment of an accessory, in which a wall of the cover is perforated with at least one hollow, into which a coupling element of the accessory can be inserted, which can be connected to the cover by cooperation of shapes as a result of a rotational movement; and - an elastic membrane, which covers the hollow, is disposed below the hollow, the membrane being designed such that when the coupling element is introduced into the hollow, it deflects by elastic deformation and after the implementation of the rotational movement applies itself against the coupled coupling element.

[0005] The invention provides for providing the closure unit with at least one attachment zone, in which a coupling element can be connected to the cover by cooperation of forms and be detached again, without increasing the construction height of the cover in a deleterious manner and without producing openings in the cover through which residual liquid could leak or dust could enter, including when no coupling element is inserted in the attachment zone.

[0006] The membrane is considered to be a part made of an elastomeric material, preferably having a small thickness relative to its surface area, so as to be easily deformable, and which is fixed to the cover, preferably on the edge side. The deformability should be chosen so that the coupling element can be inserted into the recess without excessive force. The surface area of ​​the membrane is at least as large as the recess, and an edge area surrounding it is completely covered. Preferably, the membrane is designed in an annular area between the central recess and its attachment on the edge side as a rubber skin with a layer thickness of 1 mm to 2 mm.

[0007] The membrane ensures that the cavity required for the passage of the coupling element always remains closed towards the interior space of the cover, regardless of whether a coupling element is inserted or not.

[0008] A key advantage of the invention lies in the fact that covering the cavity with the membrane provides a fastening zone which has no distracting optical effect and does not require any additional mounting height in the lid. The fastening zone can therefore also be provided in very flat lid designs.

[0009] Attaching an accessory is achieved by a combined insertion and rotation movement of the coupling element, as is its removal. The pre-stressed membrane applied to the bottom of the coupling element after the accessory is attached provides additional locking to the connection due to friction forces, so that no additional, difficult-to-overcome snap-fit ​​connection is required in the cooperative connection of the shapes of the coupling element and the cover to lock the accessory attached to the closing unit.

[0010] The use of the closure unit according to the invention is described below in association with a water bottle. This includes water bottles, cups, or other insulated beverage containers.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments of the invention provide: - that the cover has below the recess a receiving support, in which the membrane is held and in which the coupling element or parts of This can be immobilized by cooperation of forms following a rotational movement; - that a closing element is provided, which is connected to the elastic membrane and which is placed inside the periphery of the hollow, as long as no coupling element is inserted; - that the closing element is made in one piece in conjunction with the membrane; - that the membrane has on its underside at least one trunnion, which is also made of an elastomer and with which the membrane rests on another fixed part in the lid; - that the membrane has on its lower face at least one deformable trunnion, which is also made of an elastomer and / or which is made in one piece with the membrane and with which the membrane rests on another fixed piece in the closure unit; - that the closing unit includes at least one accessory that can be coupled in the area of ​​attachment with a coupling element that has a locking element, which can be guided through the hollow and after a rotational movement passes under the cover shell; - that the hollow and the locking element are respectively in the shape of an oblong hole and that the receiving support has a guide slide for the locking element, in which the locking element is guided so that it can be rotated to an angle of less than 360; - that a closing element also in the form of an oblong hole is connected to the membrane or formed on it, that the guide slide is made in such a way that the locking element introduced through the hollow can be rotated 90° into a final position, that in the final position the closing element is arranged transversely with respect to the locking element and that the locking element has on its underside a recess into which the closing element engages; - that the accessory includes a retaining loop or a ring, which is connected to the coupling element.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments are described in more detail below.

[0013] Since the attachment area is advantageously located in the center of a cylindrical lid, a receiving support, which holds the membrane, can be situated entirely below one underside of the lid. The partial sections, which in any case hardly protrude downwards from the lid wall, are located, when the lid is closed, around the spout opening. inside the recessed area, which is surrounded by a spout edge on the closing unit.

[0014] The coupling element can, for example, be used to attach a retaining loop or a retaining ring. This facilitates the mobile use of a water bottle equipped with the closure unit according to the invention. It is also possible to permanently attach the coupling element to a backpack in order to secure the water bottle, cup, or other beverage container to it. Furthermore, decorative elements such as figurines can be attached to the lid via the coupling element.

[0015] Preferably, the membrane has a closing element on its upper surface, shaped so that it engages from below in the recess in the lid housing when the membrane is initially relaxed. The recess can be closed by means of this element, so that the closing element is flush with the outer surface of the lid and is visually purely decorative. When the coupling element is inserted into the recess, the closing element has an elastic stroke, as the membrane is stretched elastically. Preferably, the closing element is made as a single piece with the membrane. However, it can also be a part made of a hard plastic material, which is attached, for example, by gluing, to the membrane.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the closing element engages with the membrane from below in a recess in the locking element and creates a connection through the cooperation of additional shapes. This connection prevents the coupling element from being unintentionally rotated. The connection through the cooperation of additional shapes is broken by elastic deformation, due to the user returning the coupling element to the unlocked position by reverse rotation.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the invention, the recess in the lid housing and the locking element are respectively oblong in shape, with geometrically similar contours. A gap remains between the outer contour of the locking element and the inner contour of the recess. The locking element is inserted through the recess and engages in a receiving support below the recess. The coupling by mutual contact is achieved by rotating the coupling element by 90°. In doing so, the locking element is guided in a guide slide within the receiving support until it comes to rest against fixed stops that define the angle.

[0018] The connection can also be established following a rotational movement of the locking element through a larger angle, but this should be less than 360°, so fixed stops can be provided, so that the element The locking mechanism occupies a defined angular position relative to the cover element, in which a durable bond through cooperation of forms is guaranteed.

[0019] Another preferred embodiment of the invention provides for the accessory a coupling element comprising a disc-shaped support plate and, below it, a connecting trunnion with a diameter reduced compared to the support plate. A locking element, which has an oblong-shaped outer contour, is attached to the connecting trunnion. On the upper face of this element is a guide cam, through which guidance is provided during rotation for immobilization by means of the cooperation of forms within the cover.

[0020] Furthermore, it is advantageous here that the membrane has, in the area of ​​the closing element located above on its underside, at least one central trunnion, which is also made of an elastomer and with which the membrane rests against another fixed part in the cover. In this way, the membrane with the closing element can not only be held in the recess due to its residual stress, but can also be pushed upwards by the trunnion. As soon as the coupling element is inserted from above, the trunnion is crushed or bent, so that the free movement of the membrane is maintained during the coupling process.

[0021] Alternatively or in addition, such support can be obtained from the fact that the membrane has in the area of ​​the outer edge on its lower face at least one edge bead extending downwards, which is also formed of an elastomer and with which the membrane rests on another fixed part in the cover. Description of the figures

[0022] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The figures show, respectively, in perspective view:

[0023] [Fig.1] an insulated cup with a closed closure unit;

[0024] [Fig.2] the insulated cup with the open closure unit;

[0025] [Fig.3] an exploded view of the insulated cup with the closing unit;

[0026] [Fig.4] an accessory with a retaining loop;

[0027] [Fig.5] a cover for the closing unit with the accessory that can be coupled in cup;

[0028] [Fig.6] the lid with the accessory coupled in cup;

[0029] [Fig.7] a detailed enlarged representation of [Fig.6]

[0030] [Fig.8] the lid from below

[0031] [Fig.9] a closing unit according to a second cross-sectional embodiment;

[0032] [Fig. 10] the closing unit according to [Fig.9] with a coupled accessory;

[0033] [Fig. 11] a closing unit according to a third embodiment in section;

[0034] [Fig. 12] the closing unit according to [Fig. 11] with a coupled accessory; and

[0035] [Fig. 13] a sequence of movements to remove a coupled accessory from the unit closing time. Detailed description of the invention

[0036] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a sealable insulated cup consisting of an insulated bottle 200 and a closure unit 100 screwed onto it. The closure unit 100 comprises a base element 20, which is directly connected to the bottle 200, and a pivoting lid 30, which is pivotally connected to the base element 20 by means of pivot axes 31.

[0037] [Fig.2] shows in another perspective view the drinking container made up of the flask 200 and the closure unit 100. The lid 30 is pivoted downwards about the pivot axes 31 compared to [Fig.1].

[0038] Due to the pivoting of the lid 30, a spout element 10 mounted elastically inside the base element 20 is no longer held by cooperation of shapes, so that due to the force of a spring acting between the base element 20 and the spout element 10, it was pushed vertically upwards.

[0039] As can also be seen in [Fig. 2], a particular contour of a spout edge 12 is provided on the spout element 10. On the face opposite the lid 30, the spout edge 12 extends with its upper edge in a horizontal plane to which the median axis extends as a normal. Conversely, the upper edge of the spout edge 12 descends on the face facing the lid 30 and follows the pivoting path of the lid 30. This allows the lid 30 to slide over the spout edge 12 during subsequent closure, thereby pressing the spout element 10 further inside the base element 20, again against the force of the internal spring element.

[0040] When the lid 30 is in the closed position shown in the figure, the elastically mounted spout element 10 is also held in its lowered position. This is why the lid 30 forms a stop device.

[0041] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the bottle 200 with the closure unit 100. In the upper area, the spout element 10 with its spout edge 12 can be seen. It has an inlet tube 11 projecting downwards.

[0042] The basic element 20 has a joint with an upper edge, which forms a spout edge 22. Its contour extends analogously to the contour of the upper edge of the spout edge 12 on the spout element 10, of so that the two together form a uniform edge, when the spout element 10 is lowered into the base element 20.

[0043] The base element 20 has a bearing 21 for the pivot axes of the lid 30. A neck seal 55 is integrated between the neck 210 of the bottle 200 and the base element 20, in order to seal the connection between them.

[0044] A fungiform sealing element 51 is fixedly positioned in the base element 20 and serves to seal a pouring opening in the spout element 10. The sealing element 51 is made of an elastomeric material.

[0045] In addition, a spring element 52 is provided, which is also made of an elastomeric material, in particular silicone, and which has the shape of a short tubular section. Inside the spring element 52 is a sealing tunnel through which the inlet tube 11 of the base element is guided. Furthermore, the spring element 52 can be compressed axially in the direction of its median axis, so that an elastic deformation is induced, which allows the spout element 10 to be lifted vertically relative to the base element 20 as soon as the lid 30 has been moved laterally away by pivoting.

[0046] Another elastomer part is a ventilation closure element 16, which is fixed to the underside of the spout element 10 and which closes a ventilation opening not visible here in the base element 20, when the spout element 10 is lowered onto the base element 20.

[0047] Figure 4 shows an accessory 60, which also has a retaining loop 64 a coupling element 61, which includes a disc-shaped support plate 63 and, below it, a connecting trunnion 62 with a diameter reduced compared to the support plate 63. A locking element 65, which has an oblong-shaped outer contour, is connected to the connecting trunnion 62. On its lower face is a recess 66 and on its upper face a guide cam 67, through which guidance is provided during rotation for immobilization by cooperation of forms in the cover.

[0048] Figure 5 shows the cover 30 together with the accessory 60 which can be coupled. The cover 30 has a mounting area 80 on its upper surface. The mounting area 80 is formed here within a cover shell, which is manufactured as a separate part. Different types of cover shells allow the cover 30 to be produced with or without the optional mounting area 80 for connection to an accessory 60.

[0049] The attachment zone 80 has in its center a hollow 81 in the shape of an oblong hole, which is surrounded by a receiving support 82. In the receiving support 82, below the hollow 81, is fixed an elastic membrane 70, which moves into position with a lower edge zone on the subjection zone 80 and covers the hollow 81 with a central zone.

[0050] The broad arrows indicate the movements required to couple the accessory 60, namely a downward movement to insert the connecting trunnion 62 through the recess 81 into the receiving support 82, and a rotational movement to immobilize the locking element 65 formed at the bottom of the connecting trunnion 62 by the cooperation of shapes on the cover. Removal is carried out in the reverse order.

[0051] Fig. 6 shows the accessory 60 already connected to the cover 30. The marked area is shown enlarged in Fig. 7.

[0052] The coupling element 61 rests in the attachment zone 80 with the edge of its support plate 63 on a shoulder, which surrounds the hollow 81. The locking element 65 is located below it in the receiving support 82. The elastic membrane 70 is deformed by the pressed locking element 65.

[0053] Figure 8 shows portions of the cover 30 viewed from below. On the underside of the clamping zone 80, two guide paths for a guide slide 83 are formed, originating respectively from the recess 81. The guide cams 67 of the coupling element 61 (see Figure 4) engage in these paths and predefine the possible angle of rotation around which the coupling element 61 can be rotated relative to the clamping zone 80. Near the ends of the guide paths of the guide slide 83, stop elements 84 are formed, which the locking element 62 strikes in its final position, thereby limiting the angle of rotation.

[0054] Figure 9 shows another embodiment of a closed insulated bottle 200 and a closure unit 100' screwed onto it in cross-section. The closure unit 100' comprises a base element 20' with a spout edge 22', which is directly connected to a thread 201' of the bottle 200', and a simple lid 30' for screwing into a base element 20'. The lid 30' covers a pouring opening 24' inside the spout edge 22'. The lid 30' engages via a male thread 35' into a female thread 23' on the base element 20' and establishes a liquid-tight seal with respect to the liquid via a sealing ring 32'.

[0055] A fastening zone 80' has in its center an oblong-shaped hollow 81', which is surrounded by a receiving support 82'. An elastic membrane 70' is fixed below the hollow 81' in the receiving support 82'. This membrane is positioned with an edge zone from below onto the fastening zone 80' and covers the hollow 81' with a central zone. At the top, the membrane 70' is completed by a shaped closure element 71', also made of elastomer, which engages in the hollow 81' and fills this one. With its upper face, it is flush with the recessed area on the upper face of the subjection zone 80', which surrounds the hollow 81'.

[0056] Figure 10 shows the same gourd 200' that can be closed with the closure unit 100' as in Figure 9. An accessory 60' is connected to the lid 30'. The accessory 60' includes a retaining ring 64', which is pivotally housed on a coupling element 61'. The coupling element 61' rests with the edge of a support plate 63' on a shoulder in the clamping area 80', which surrounds the recess 81'. A locking element 65' is located below the recess 81' in a receiving support 82'. An elastic membrane 70', which seals the receiving support 82' from below, is deformed by the locking element 65' being pushed in and is applied with a closing element 65' in a recess 66' against the locking element 65'.

[0057] Figure 11 shows a third embodiment of a 100” closure unit in cross-section. This comprises a 20” base element with a 22” spout edge and a simple 30” lid that screws into the 20” base element. The 20” base element can be connected to a beverage container such as a water bottle or insulated cup via a 25” thread. The 30” lid covers a 24” pouring opening inside the 22” spout edge. It engages with a 23” female thread on the 20” base element via a 35” male thread and establishes a liquid-tight connection with it via a 32” sealing ring.

[0058] A holding zone 80” has in its center an oblong-shaped hollow 81” which is surrounded by a receiving support 82”. An elastic membrane 170 is fixed below the hollow 81” in the receiving support 82”. This membrane is positioned with an edge zone from below onto the holding zone 180 and covers the hollow 81” with a central zone. At the top, the membrane 70” is completed by a shaped closure element 71”, also elastomer, which engages in and fills the hollow 81”. Its upper face is flush with the recessed area on the upper face of the holding zone 80”, which surrounds the hollow 81”.

[0059] The difference compared to the previously described variants of closure units lies, on the one hand, in the fact that the membrane 70” has a trunnion 72” in the center with which it rests on an intermediate base 36” in the cover 30”. In this way, the area of ​​the membrane 70”, which is immediately below the hollow 81”, is pressed from below onto the edge area of ​​the cover 30” around the hollow 81”, so that the closure element 71” engages completely in the hollow 81”.

[0060] Another difference lies in the attachment of the 70” membrane. This membrane has a 74” bead on its edge, with which it is clamped in an annular groove. The An annular groove is formed between the underside of the upper cover shell and a separate 34” insert element. The 34” insert element also includes a lower screw body with a male thread and the 36” intermediate base.

[0061] Figure 12 shows the same locking unit 100" as Figure 11, the accessory 60 already described for Figure 4 with the retaining loop 64 being connected to the cover 30". The coupling element 61 rests with the edge of its support plate 63 in the clamping area 80. A locking element 65 is located below the recess 81". The elastic membrane 70" is stretched by the depressed locking element 65, which is retained in the groove due to its edge clamping. It applies pressure with its locking element 71" against the locking element 65. Its pivot 72" is compressed and elastically deformed, so that a spring return force is created, which increases the pressure of the locking element 71" on the locking element 65.

[0062] After the removal of the accessory 60, the membrane 70 returns to its initial position, and the trunnion 72” again occupies its initial cylindrical configuration, so that the closing element 71” engages in the hollow 81” and is held there, as shown in [Fig.1 1].

[0063] Figure 13 shows the sequence of movements during the removal of the accessory unit 60' with the retaining ring 64'. In the image on the left, the accessory unit 60' is fixed in the fastening area 80' on the cover 30'. Part of the coupling element 61' is located above the upper face of the cover 30'.

[0064] For the central image, the accessory unit 60' was rotated 90°. Thus, the oblong hole-shaped locking element is now directly below the similarly shaped hollow.

[0065] As shown on the far right, the joint created by the cooperation of shapes is thus broken and the locking element 65' of the coupling element 61' can be extracted. The recess 81 closes immediately because the closing element 71 of the membrane 70, shaped with the same contour as the recess 81, slides into it.

[0066] Reference signs 100; 100'; 100” closing unit 10 spout elements 11 inlet pipe 12 spout edge 16 ventilation closure element 20; 20'; 20" basic element 21st floor 22; 22'; 22" spout edge 23"; 23" female thread 24; 24'; 24" opening of payment 25” thread 30, 30'; 30" lid 31 pivot axis 32"; 32" sealing ring 33 caliper 34” insert element 35"; 35" male thread 36” intermediate bottom 51 sealing element 52 spring element 55 neck joint 60; 60' accessory unit 61; 61' coupling element 62; 62' connecting trunnion 63; 63' support plate 64 restraint loop 64' retaining ring 65; 65' locking element 66; 66' obviously 67 guide cam 70; 70'; 70” membrane 71; 71'; 71" closing element 72” trunnion 74” bead 80; 80'; 80" zone of subjection 81; 81'; 81" hollow 82; 82'; 82" receiving support 83 guide slide 84 stop elements 200; 200' gourde 201 thread 210 bottleneck

Claims

Demands

1. A closure unit (100; 100'; 100") for connection to a water bottle (200; 200'), with at least one spout element (10; 10') surrounding at least one pouring opening (24'; 24") that can be closed, and with a lid (30; 30'; 30") that, in the closed state, covers the pouring opening (24'; 24"), characterized in that: - the lid (30; 30'; 30") has a fastening zone (80; 80'; 180) for attaching an accessory (60; 60'), in which a lid wall is perforated with at least one recess (81; 81'; 81") into which a coupling element (61; 61') of the accessory (60; 60') can be inserted, which can be connected to the cover (30; 30'; 30") by cooperation of shapes as a result of a rotational movement; and - an elastic membrane (70; 70'; 70"), which covers the hollow (81; 81'; 81"), is disposed below the hollow (81; 81'; 81"), in which the membrane (70; 70';70”) is designed such that when the coupling element (61; 61') is introduced into the hollow (81; 81'; 81”), it deflects by elastic deformation and after the implementation of the rotational movement is applied against the coupled coupling element (61; 61').

2. Closure unit (100; 100'; 100") according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover has below the hollow (81; 81'; 81") a receiving support (82; 82') in which the membrane (70; 70'; 70") is held and in which the coupling element (61; 61') or parts thereof can be immobilized by cooperation of forms as a result of a rotational movement.

3. Closure unit (100; 100'; 100") according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a closure element (71; 71'; 71") is provided, which is connected to the elastic membrane (70; 70'; 70") and which is placed inside the periphery of the hollow (81; 81'; 81"), as long as no coupling element (61; 61') is inserted into it.

4. Cl. Closure unit (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the closure element (71; 71'; 71") is made in one piece jointly with the membrane (70; 70'; 70").

5. Closure unit (100”) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the membrane (70”) has on its underside at least one deformable trunnion (72”), which is also formed of an elastomer and / or which is made in one piece with the membrane (70”) and with which the membrane (70”) rests on another fixed piece in the closure unit (100”).

6. Closure unit (100; 100'; 100") according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the membrane has in the area of ​​the outer edge on its lower face at least one downward-extending edge bead, which is also formed of an elastomer and with which the membrane rests on another fixed part in the closure unit.

7. A closing unit (100; 100'; 100") according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by at least one accessory (60; 60') that can be coupled in the attachment zone (81; 81'; 81") with a coupling element (61; 61'), which has a locking element (65; 65'), which can be guided through the hollow (81; 81'; 81") and passes under the cover wall after a rotational movement.

8. Locking unit (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that - the hollow (81; 81'; 81") and the locking element (65; 65') are respectively in the form of an oblong hole and - the receiving support (82; 82') has a guide slide (83) for the locking element (65; 65'), in which the locking element (65; 65') is guided so as to be able to be rotated to an angle of less than 360°.

9. A closure unit (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that: - a closure element (71; 71'; 71") also in the form of an oblong hole is connected to or formed on the membrane (70; 70'; 70"), - the guide slide (83) is made such that the locking element (65; 65') inserted through the recess (81; 81'; 81") can be rotated 90° into a final position; - in the final position, the closure element (71; 71'; 71") is arranged transversely with respect to the locking element (65; 65') and - the locking element (65; 65') has on its lower face a recess (66; 66') into which the closing element (71; 71'; 71") engages in the final position.

10. Closure unit (100; 100'; 100") according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the accessory (60; 60') comprises a retaining loop (64) and / or a retaining ring (64'), which is connected to the coupling element (61; 61').

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