Refill container

Abstract

The invention discloses a refill container (100) for free-flowing and pourable contents, comprising a container (20) with a container neck (21). An emptying opening (22) is formed on the container neck (21). The refill container also comprises a closure cap (30) for closing the emptying opening (22). The closure cap (30) has a top plate (31) and a first lateral surface (32), which projects from the top plate. A securing element is arranged on the closure cap (30) in order to prevent the container (20) from advancing towards the closure cap (30). The closure cap (30) has a second lateral surface (35), wherein connecting elements corresponding with a main container (200) are provided on this second lateral surface (35). A predetermined breaking region (36) is provided in the top plate (31). Once the securing element has been removed or destroyed, this predetermined breaking region (36) is broken by the container (20) advancing towards the closure cap (30).

Description

[0001] Refill container

[0002] The present invention relates to a refill container for flowable and pourable filling material, in particular for a concentrate, according to the preamble of the independent claims.

[0003] Various devices and methods for refilling bottles or containers are known from the prior art. This need arises on the one hand because elaborately designed containers are intended to be used multiple times and refill bottles or refill containers for single use, for example, have to be less robust. There is also a need to design packaging materials in such a way that resources are conserved. This also results, for example, in containers that are manufactured to be sufficiently robust so that they can be used again and again on a daily basis and in refill containers that are made from relatively thin materials and are only intended for single use. Refill containers can, for example, be manufactured in the form of bags.

[0004] It may be intended to provide only a concentrate in the refill container, which can, for example, be diluted with water before use. This makes it possible to provide smaller and therefore more gentle refill containers. However, such concentrates carry the risk that their high concentration may make them corrosive or even irritate the skin upon contact.

[0005] From GB 2 342 347 A, for example, a refill container is known which has a special closure which is screwed onto the refill container. This closure has a breakable wall which is broken open by the container to be refilled being screwed onto the refill container provided with the closure. The closure shown in GB 2 342 347 A connects the refill container to the container to be refilled. However, due to the specific design of the closure, it is not possible to completely empty the refill container.

[0006] The cap is screwed onto the refill container. Whether this cap has ever been removed, or whether the refill container contains the original product, cannot be determined. Accidental opening is not prevented.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the invention to remedy at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a refill container is to be provided that allows it to be emptied essentially completely and, in particular, makes it possible to check whether the refill container is unused and / or to prevent potentially harmful concentrates from being removed unnoticed.

[0008] This problem is solved by the device defined in the independent patent claim. Further embodiments emerge from the dependent patent claims.

[0009] A refill container according to the invention for free-flowing and pourable filling material, in particular for a concentrate, comprises a container with a container neck. An emptying opening is formed on the container neck. The refill container also comprises a closure cap for closing the emptying opening. The closure cap has a cover plate and a first jacket projecting therefrom. Corresponding connecting elements are arranged on the first jacket and on the container neck. A securing element for preventing a feeding movement of the container relative to the closure cap is arranged on the closure cap. The closure cap has a second jacket, wherein connecting elements corresponding to a main container are arranged on this second jacket. A predetermined breaking region is arranged in the cover plate.After the removal or destruction of the securing element, this predetermined breaking zone can be breached, or is breached, by the container's advancing movement relative to the closure cap. In particular, the predetermined breaking zone is breached, or is breached, by an edge of the container's discharge opening.

[0010] Force is thus transferred from the container to the closure, and the main container, i.e., the reusable, refillable container, is not subjected to stress. A specific design of a corresponding container element of the main container for breaking or opening the predetermined breaking area is unnecessary.

[0011] Due to the arrangement of the cover plate on the closure cap, particularly on the first shell of the closure cap, the feed movement moves the cover plate toward the main container, i.e., in the flow direction of the filling material to be refilled, for example, a liquid. This arrangement ensures that the filling material does not stick to the cover plate and that residual volumes do not form, remaining in dead spaces and cannot be emptied.

[0012] The provision of a security element prevents the uncontrolled opening of the refill container and simultaneously provides a first-opening guarantee. The customer can see whether the container has been opened or tampered with before. The first-opening guarantee also ensures that the contents of the container correspond to the original contents.

[0013] The first jacket is preferably located within the second jacket. In particular, the first jacket, i.e. the jacket that is in operative connection with the container, has a smaller diameter than the second jacket, which is or can be brought into operative connection with the main container.

[0014] The first jacket extends inside the second jacket toward the container to be refilled, i.e., the main container. This configuration eliminates dead space during the refilling process, and no filling material remains in the refill container or in the cap.

[0015] The container's movement toward the closure cap also moves the container toward the main container, and thus, in particular, into the main container. This promotes complete emptying, as dead spaces can be avoided or at least reduced.

[0016] It can be provided that an internal thread is arranged on the first shell and an external thread is arranged on the container neck as corresponding connecting elements. This enables simple production and easy filling of the refill container. The container can be filled in a production line and subsequently closed by simply screwing on the cap.

[0017] The securing element is preferably in the form of a tamper-evident strip. This is connected to the first casing at a free end, in particular via predetermined breaking webs. The tamper-evident strip is arranged, in particular, such that it is located between the closure and the container; in other words, a stop surface on the container with the tamper-evident strip is spaced apart from the rest of the closure.

[0018] By designing it in the form of a tamper-evident strip, the security element can be constructed as an element running all the way around the closure. This enables a position-independent design in this respect. The tamper-evident strip can, for example, be designed in such a way that it cannot be completely detached from the closure cap and, for example, remains permanently connected to it at one end. This ensures that no individual parts of the closure cap, such as the tamper-evident strip, are accidentally released into the environment. Separate, in particular one-piece, connecting elements, such as film hinges or flexible connecting webs, can be provided. In particular, it can also be provided for the predetermined breaking webs to be provided only on a partial area of ​​the security element, so that it cannot be completely separated.

[0019] Additional engagement means may be provided on the security element, which interact with a correspondingly projecting element, in particular a projecting ring, on the container. Such a configuration makes it possible to prevent the closure from being separated from the container as long as the guarantee band, or security element, is undamaged and / or not removed.

[0020] Corresponding retaining elements can be arranged on the closure cap and on the container to prevent the connection between the closure cap and the container from becoming loose. Such a configuration makes it possible to prevent the closure from being separated from the container even after the security element has been destroyed or removed.

[0021] The corresponding holding elements on the container and on the closure cap can be designed as projections.

[0022] The corresponding holding elements on the container and on the closure cap can be designed as circumferential projections.

[0023] The projections prevent the container from twisting relative to the closure. If the projections are designed as circumferential projections, axial movement of the closure relative to the container is prevented in at least one direction. The projections, as well as the circumferential projections, are arranged such that they engage behind one another when ready for use, so that movement is only possible in one direction.

[0024] In particular, it can be provided that, when designed as circumferential projections, these are designed with interruptions on the casing, i.e. partially circumferential.

[0025] This offers the advantage that less force has to be applied when applying the closure and that plastic deformation of the closure can be reduced.

[0026] It can be provided that corresponding sealing elements are arranged on the closure cap and on the container to seal the interior of the container from the environment.

[0027] Appropriate sealing elements can prevent, for example, the ambient air from contaminating the contents in the refill container or the contents from escaping from the refill container in an uncontrolled manner.

[0028] Preferably, the corresponding sealing elements are designed as circular-cylindrical sealing surfaces. The diameter of the sealing surface on the container is larger than the corresponding diameter on the closure cap.

[0029] The corresponding sealing surface on the container can thus be clamped within the closure cap, ensuring a clean seal. Nevertheless, such an arrangement allows the closure cap and the container to be moved axially relative to one another. The closure cap can have a second shell, with connecting elements corresponding to a main container being formed on this second shell. The closure cap can thus be easily connected to the main container.

[0030] As a corresponding connecting element on the second casing, an internal thread for engagement with an external thread on the main container can be arranged.

[0031] Accordingly, the refill container can be connected to the main container by simply screwing it on.

[0032] The container may have a container body with container walls and a container bottom for forming a cavity.

[0033] The main container is specifically a spray bottle.

[0034] Preferably, the cover plate is arranged at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the refill container. When breaking the predetermined breaking area, the force is applied only at a specific point, which facilitates the initial breaking of the predetermined breaking area.

[0035] For containers, the longitudinal axis is typically the axis extending from the container base to the container opening. For rotationally symmetrical containers, this axis coincides with the container's axis of rotation.

[0036] The invention is explained below with reference to schematic figures. It shows:

[0037] Figure 1 : A refill container ;

[0038] Figure 2 : a container ;

[0039] Figure 3: a closure cap; Figure 4: a sectional view through the refill container according to Figure 1;

[0040] Figure 5: another embodiment of a container;

[0041] Figure 6 : a closure cap for the container of Figure 5 ;

[0042] Figure 7 : a sectional view analogous to Figure 4 ;

[0043] Figure 8 : a main container and an associated refill container;

[0044] Figure 9 : the first step of a refilling process;

[0045] Figure 10 : the second step of a refilling process;

[0046] Figure 11 : the third step of a refilling process;

[0047] Figure 12 : a sectional view during the first step according to Figure 9 ;

[0048] Figure 13 : a sectional view during the third step according to Figure 11 .

[0049] Figure 1 shows a refill container 100. The refill container 100 comprises a container 20 and a closure cap 30. Of particular note is the securing element, which in this case is designed as a tamper-evident band 34. The tamper-evident band 34 is arranged on the closure cap 30.

[0050] Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the container 20 with a focus on the container neck 21. A thread 23, which is designed as an external thread, is arranged on the container neck 21. Also arranged on the container neck 21 is a projection 24 for preventing an opposite movement of the closure cap 30 after it has been screwed onto the container neck 21. The container neck 21 opens into an emptying opening 22 and has an upper edge 27. A sealing element 25 is arranged below the upper edge 27 on the container neck 21. The sealing element 25 is designed in the present case as a circumferential circular cylindrical surface. A projecting ring 26 is arranged in the lower region of the neck 21 in the present illustration.

[0051] Figure 3 shows a closure cap 30. The closure cap 30 has a cover plate 31 and a jacket 32 ​​projecting therefrom. A thread 33 is arranged inside the jacket 32, which is correspondingly designed as an internal thread. Also arranged inside the jacket 32 ​​is a projection 37, which interacts with the projection 24 (see Figure 2).

[0052] As soon as the internal thread 33 engages with the external thread 23 and has been completely rotated together, the projection 24 jumps over the projection 37, so that they engage behind each other. An opposite rotation, i.e., opening, of the closure cap 30 is no longer possible.

[0053] Also visible in Figure 3 is a second casing 35, which in this case extends opposite to the first casing 32, or has a receiving opening in the opposite direction to the first casing 32. Also arranged within the second casing 35 is an internal thread (not further designated), which interacts with a corresponding external thread of a main container (see, for example, Figure 12).

[0054] The first shell 32 is located within the second shell 35. The first shell 32 has a smaller diameter than the second shell 35.

[0055] The first jacket 32 ​​extends into the second jacket 35 and within the second jacket 35 in the direction of the container to be refilled, i.e., the main container. This configuration avoids dead spaces during a refilling process, and no filling material remains in the refill container or in the closure cap 30. This is particularly evident in Figure 12.

[0056] A security element in the form of a tamper-evident band 34 is arranged on the closure cap 30. In this case, the tamper-evident band is arranged at the free end 321 of the first casing 32.

[0057] The tamper-evident strip 34 is connected to the free end 321 of the first casing 32 by predetermined breaking webs (not further described here). Arranged on the tamper-evident strip 34 are engagement means 39, which are designed as inwardly extending elevations. These are intended to engage with the projecting ring 26 (see Figure 2).

[0058] The cover plate 31 is connected to the first casing 32 projecting therefrom via a predetermined breaking region 36. The predetermined breaking region 36 is formed in the present case as a circumferential thin material area.

[0059] Figure 4 shows a sectional view through the refill container 100 according to Figure 1 in the ready-to-use state, that is to say after the closure cap 30 has been placed on the container 20. As can be seen, the closure cap 30 is applied to the container 20 and in this case to the container neck 21. The thread 23 is in engagement with the thread 33 and the projecting ring 26 is in engagement with the engagement means 39. The projections 24 and 37 are also in engagement with one another, although this is not visible in the present illustration. However, it is visible that the neck 21 extends in the direction of the cover plate 31, but an upper edge 27 is spaced from the cover plate 31. In the area of ​​this upper edge 27, the container neck 21 has a sealing element 25, which is in contact with a corresponding sealing element 38 on the closure cap 30. This separates the interior of the container 20 from the environment.The sealing effect is achieved by a l l.

[0060] The outer diameter of the sealing element 25 is larger than the corresponding inner diameter of the sealing element 38.

[0061] A tamper-evident band 34 is essentially arranged between the closure cap 30 and a shoulder or a support element on the container 20. This tamper-evident band 34 prevents the container 20 from being screwed further into the closure cap 30. The closure cap 30 and the container 20 are thus fixed in their position relative to one another, and the distance between the upper edge 27 and the cover plate 31 cannot be reduced.

[0062] Figure 5 shows a detailed view of the container 20 with a focus on the container neck 21, analogous to Figure 2. A thread 23, which is designed as an external thread, is arranged on the container neck 21. Also arranged on the container neck 21 is a projection 24' for preventing an opposite movement of the closure cap 30 after it has been screwed onto the container neck 21. The projection 24' is designed as a circumferential projection. The container neck 21 opens into an emptying opening 22 and has an upper edge 27. A sealing element 25 is arranged below the upper edge 27 on the container neck 21. The sealing element 25 is designed in the present case as a circumferential circular cylindrical surface. A projecting ring 26 is arranged in the lower region of the neck 21 in the present illustration.

[0063] Figure 6 shows a closure cap 30, analogous to the closure cap 30 in Figure 3. The closure cap 30 according to Figure 6 has a cover plate 31 and a jacket 32 ​​projecting therefrom. A thread 33 is arranged inside the jacket 32 ​​and is correspondingly designed as an internal thread. Also arranged inside the jacket 32 ​​is a projection 37' which interacts with the projection 24' (see Figure 5). The projection 37' is also designed as a circumferential projection.

[0064] As soon as the internal thread 33 engages with the external thread 23 and has been completely rotated together, the projection 24' jumps over the projection 37', so that they engage behind each other. An opposite rotation, i.e., opening, of the closure cap 30 is no longer possible.

[0065] Also visible in Figure 6 is a second casing 35 which, in this case, extends opposite to the first casing 32, or has a receiving opening in the opposite direction to the first casing 32. Also arranged within the second casing 35 is an internal thread (not further designated), which interacts with a corresponding external thread of a main container (see, for example, Figure 12).

[0066] A security element in the form of a tamper-evident band 34 is arranged on the closure cap 30. In this case, the tamper-evident band is arranged at the free end 321 of the first casing 32.

[0067] The tamper-evident strip 34 is connected to the free end 321 of the first casing 32 by predetermined breaking webs (not further described here). Arranged on the tamper-evident strip 34 are engagement means 39, which are designed as inwardly extending elevations. These are intended to engage with the projecting ring 26 (see Figure 5).

[0068] The cover plate 31 is connected to the first casing 32 projecting therefrom via a predetermined breaking region 36. The predetermined breaking region 36 is formed in the present case as a circumferential thin material area.

[0069] Figure 7 shows a sectional view through a refill container 100 analogous to the refill container in Figure 1 in the ready-to-use state, the container 20 and the closure cap 30 being designed according to Figures 5 and 6. As can be seen, the closure cap 30 is applied to the container 20 and in this case to the container neck 21. The thread 23 is in engagement with the thread 33 and the projecting ring 26 is in engagement with the engagement means 39. The projections 24' and 37' are also in engagement with one another. It can be seen that movement is only possible in one direction. It can also be seen that the neck 21 extends in the direction of the cover plate 31, but an upper edge 27 is spaced from the cover plate 31. In the area of ​​this upper edge 27, the container neck 21 has a sealing element 25 which is in contact with a corresponding sealing element 38 on the closure cap 30.The interior of the container 20 is thus separated from the environment. The sealing effect is achieved by the fact that an outer diameter of the sealing element 25 is larger than the corresponding inner diameter of the sealing element 38.

[0070] A tamper-evident band 34 is arranged essentially between the closure cap 30 and a shoulder or a support element on the container 20. This tamper-evident band 34 prevents the container 20 from being screwed further into the closure cap 30. The closure cap 30 and the container 20 are thus fixed in their position relative to one another. A distance between the upper edge 27 and the cover plate 31 cannot therefore be reduced.

[0071] Figure 8 shows a main container 200 and an associated refill container 100. The main container 200 is designed as a spray bottle, but the spray system has already been removed. The refill container contains a concentrate.

[0072] A refilling process is described below with reference to Figures 9 to 13. Figure 9 shows the first step of a refilling process, in this case the time after the refill container 100 has been screwed onto the main container 200. For screwing on, an internal thread on the second container casing 35 was connected to a corresponding external thread on the main container 200 and the refill container was accordingly screwed onto the main container 200. A corresponding sectional view is shown in Figure 12. It can be seen that the guarantee strip 34 is arranged in such a way that the container 20 can not be moved any further in the direction of the main container 200.

[0073] Likewise evident in Figure 12 is that the cover plate 31 is arranged at an angle to a longitudinal axis. In other words, on the left-hand side in the illustration according to Figure 12, the upper edge 27 is at a smaller distance from the cover plate 31, and thus from the predetermined breaking point 36, than on the right-hand side. When the upper edge 27 is advanced towards the cover plate 31, there is therefore initially point-like contact, and the effect of the force is thus concentrated. This allows the predetermined breaking point 36 to be easily broken open.

[0074] Figure 10 shows the second step of a refilling process. As can be seen, the guarantee strip 34 has been detached from the refill container, so that an area between the closure cap 30, or rather its upper end 321, and the container 20 is exposed. The guarantee strip is still held on the closure cap 30 at least by one end, so that it does not get lost and can be disposed of together with the refill container 100. Such connections can be provided, for example, by the predetermined breaking points not being completely circumferential, so that the guarantee strip cannot be completely torn off. Figure 11 shows the third step of a refilling process. The container 20 of the refill container 100 can be screwed into the closure cap 30.As can be seen from the cross-section according to Figure 13, the screwing process causes an axial movement of the container 20 within the closure cap 30, so that an upper edge 27 comes into contact with the cover plate 31 and this is accordingly separated at the predetermined breaking region 36 from the jacket 32 ​​extending therefrom. As a result of this process, the cover plate 31 is pressed in the direction of the main container 200 or moved into it. The container 20 can be screwed into the closure cap 30 until it rests on a corresponding region of the closure cap, which is designated A in the present case. This region consists of two complementary, essentially conical surfaces on the container 20 and on the closure cap 30. As can be seen, the container 20 now projects into a corresponding region of the main container 200.Dead spaces are completely avoided in this configuration and the contents can be completely emptied from the container 20.

[0075] During the breaking process, the sealing elements 25 and 38 slide against each other in the axial direction and the sealing effect is maintained.

[0076] The support in area A ensures that the screwing-in movement is stopped. This also ensures that the sealing elements 25 and 38 do not separate from each other.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Refill container (100) for flowable and pourable filling material, in particular for a concentrate, comprising - a container (20) with a container neck (21), wherein an emptying opening (22) is formed on the container neck (21), and - a closure cap (30) for closing the emptying opening (22), wherein the closure cap (30) has a cover plate (31) and a first jacket (32) projecting therefrom, wherein connecting elements corresponding to one another are arranged on the first jacket (32) and on the container neck, wherein a securing element is arranged on the closure cap (30) to prevent an advancing movement of the container (20) relative to the closure cap (30), wherein the closure cap (30) has a second jacket (35), wherein connecting elements corresponding to a main container (200) are arranged on this second jacket (35), characterized in that a predetermined breaking region (36) is arranged in the cover plate (31), wherein this predetermined breaking region (36), after the removal or destruction of the securing element, can be or is broken through by the advancing movement of the container (20) relative to the closure cap (30).

2. Refill container (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that an internal thread (33) is arranged on the first casing (32) and an external thread (23) is arranged on the container neck as corresponding connecting elements.

3. Refill container (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the securing element is designed in the form of a guarantee band (34) which is connected to a free end (321) of the first casing (32), in particular via predetermined breaking webs.

4. Refill container (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the guarantee band (34) is designed such that it cannot be completely separated from the closure cap (30), in particular is permanently connected to the latter at one end.

5. Refill container (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that mutually corresponding holding elements are arranged on the closure cap (30) and on the container (20) to prevent the connection between the closure cap (30) and the container (20) from becoming loose.

6. Refill container (100) according to claim 5, characterized in that projections (24, 37) are formed as mutually corresponding holding elements on the container (20) and on the casing (30).

7. Refill container (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that circumferential projections (24', 37') are formed as mutually corresponding holding elements on the container (20) and on the casing (30), wherein in particular a projection ( 37 ' ) is interrupted on the casing (32).

8. Refill container (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that mutually corresponding sealing elements for sealing the interior of the container from the environment are arranged on the closure cap (30) and on the container (20).

9. Refill container (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that the mutually corresponding sealing elements are designed as circular-cylindrical sealing surfaces (25, 32), wherein a diameter of the sealing surface (25) on the container (20) is larger than the corresponding diameter (38) on the closure cap (30).

10. Refill container (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the closure cap (30) has a second jacket (35), wherein connecting elements corresponding to a main container (200) are formed on this second jacket (35).

11. Refill container (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that an internal thread for engagement with an external thread on the main container is arranged as corresponding connecting elements on the second casing (35).

12. Refill container (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the container has a container body with container walls and a container bottom for forming a cavity.

13. Refill container (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the cover plate (31) is arranged inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the refill container (100).

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