Abstract:
A plastic container having a storage chamber which graduates from a shoulder section into a bottle neck, in such a way that the length of the bottle neck can be changed about its axis. Thus, this invention provides a constriction between the shoulder section and a pour-out area. The constriction is adjacent the shoulder section and is followed by an area which can be axially compressed. The constriction can serve as a sealing area. Liquid, free-flowing and pourable media can be discharged in doses using a metering element which is fixed to the top of the bottle neck and which penetrates the constriction. By exerting pressure on the metering element, it is possible to establish an open or closed connection between the metering element and the storage chamber of the plastic container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a plastic container which is suitable for use with a metering element, and to a metering element with a closure for metered dispensing of liquid, free-flowing and pourable media. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Normally a plastic container represents a storage space and the metering element has a metering chamber. The exit of the medium is effected from the storage space to the outside via the metering chamber. 
     Such devices often known as metering systems are in varied embodiment forms. While the storage space practically with all solutions is a plastic bottle, the formation of the metering chamber is completely different. In the simplest form the metering chamber is a separate cuplet pushed over the closure which closes the storage space. This solution is simple in manufacture, can be understood and is relatively inexpensive in manufacture. However the handling is problematic. If for example the storage space is relatively large and the cuplet which serves as a metering chamber is small, then material is often spilled. Often the cuplet is not completely filled so that an under-metering takes place. 
     If the medium to be metered is a washing agent, then the consequences are not particularly relevant, but if it is a medicament, for example a cough syrup, then this is much more unpleasant. A further problem with such metering chambers which are formed as metering cuplets is that after use the dirtied cuplet must first be washed out, otherwise there is a complete dirtying of the closure and of the container. 
     For these reasons in various systems the metering chamber forms part of a complex closure system. With various movable parts a fixed quantity of a flowable medium first may flow into the chamber. The chamber in an active movement is closed with respect to the storage space, and the metered quantity may flow out of the metering chamber to the outside or may be delivered to the outside. This depends on whether the metering system functions with the piston principle or not. Both are known in various embodiment forms. 
     Such metering systems are mostly complex and are accordingly expensive, which is why they have only prevailed where the medium to be metered is relatively expensive. Such systems in particular with medicaments are known. Also with the metering of various fine chemicals or adhesives such systems are considered, in particular when an air exchange to the outside is to be avoided. 
     Finally there are also known metering systems with which the plastic container has a storage space and a connected metering chamber. Such systems are known with fluids, wherein the metering chamber represents a siphon space. The metering is accomplished by allowing fluid flow into the siphon space and afterwards emptying the siphon space. With all these siphon systems the metering is not completely and correctly solved, in particular because in a deformable plastic container, wherein there is an undesired pressure on the plastic container when emptying the metering container, medium may flow from the storage space into the storage space so that an increased dosage is delivered. 
     Also, when using this system practically only the metering of fluids is possible. The dispensing of free-flowing and pourable media may hardly be realized by way of siphon systems. This is hardly possible with systems with which the metering is effected by way of piston cylinder units. It is one object of this invention to provide a plastic container particularly suitable for use with metering elements or other means which demand an active movement of means relative to the storage space of the plastic container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This object is achieved by a plastic container described in this specification and in the claims. Because of possible axial relative movement, according to this invention, of the container edge to the storage space of the plastic container, there is a movement component which considerably simplifies the formation of an active movement element, such as a pump or metering element. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a metering element which provides an inexpensive and simply manufacturable metering system which is suitable for liquid as well as free-flowing or pourable media. 
     This object is achieved with a metering element with a closure, which is particularly simple since it does not have any active-moving elements. The active movement is assumed for example by a plastic container. Unusually for the metering capability, the closure is actively involved in the functioning. 
     Further advantageous embodiment forms of this invention are deduced from the dependent claims and are explained in the subsequent description with regard to the functioning and significance. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings show two embodiment forms of this invention which are described by the subsequent description, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a plastic container alone in a vertical section; 
     FIG. 2 is a plastic container with a closure according to this invention, in a vertical section in the metering position; 
     FIG. 3 shows the plastic container in the dispensing position, in a vertical section, in which the metering space is emptied; 
     FIG. 4 is a vertical section showing the metering position in which the metering space is filled; 
     FIG. 5 is a vertical section showing the position in which the metering space is emptied; 
     FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of a metering element having a closure as one piece, in the metering position; 
     FIG. 7 shows the metering element of FIG. 6 but in the dispensing position; 
     FIG. 8 shows an embodiment with a metering element which is particularly suitable for free-flowing and pourable media, again in the metering position; 
     FIG. 9 shows the metering element of FIG. 8 but in the dispensing position; 
     FIG. 10 is a vertical section showing one embodiment for liquid media, with a siphon metering system in the metering position; and 
     FIG. 11 shows the metering element of FIG. 10 but in the dispensing position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a plastic container according to this invention in a vertical centric section. The plastic container is indicated in its entirety as element  1 . It comprises a storage space  10  connected to a shoulder section  11  which merges into the container neck  12 . The container neck  12  comprises fastening means  13  suitable for fastening a closure or a metering element. In the case shown the fastening means is an outer thread. Other fastening means include, for example, a retaining cam or retaining bulge, both means with which a closure or a metering element may be knocked on or pressed on. Other fastening means are known to those skilled in the art and may also be considered. 
     The container neck  12  has three regions which are named according to function. Directly connected to the shoulder section  11  there is a constriction  121  as a sealing region  14 . The sealing region  14  may in the axial extension be formed differently long and thus form a guide region  122 . As later described the guide region may also be formed by a separate guide element. 
     Following the sealing region  14  in the pour-out direction is an axially compressible region  15  which is formed of one or more annular folds  123  arranged behind one another in the axial direction. This axially compressible region  15  may be shortened in its axial extension by pressure above on the container neck  12 . By way of the intrinsic elasticity the compressible region  15  again assumes its initial position as soon as the pressure in the axial direction is lifted. Should the intrinsic elasticity not be sufficient then additionally in the compressible region  15  there may be arranged a compression spring, not shown. This may be avoided by changing the restoring force alone by increasing the wall thickness of the annular folds in certain regions. This technique is known to those skilled in the art of plastic processing, particularly in the manufacture of spring bellows. 
     Finally, following the axially deformable region  15  is the pour-out region  16  on which the already mentioned fastening means  13 , here the outer thread, is arranged or formed. 
     As later described, such a plastic container may be applied in a diverse manner. The subsequent embodiment forms of this invention as described are in no way conclusive. 
     The plastic container according to this invention may also be used as a simple bottle without the axially compressible region. The constriction  121  would then merely serve as a holding region. 
     FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of a metering element according to this invention in use with a plastic container of the previously described type, in a vertical section. Again in its entirety the plastic container is indicated as element  1 . In the embodiment shown the plastic container  1  is manufactured of one piece, in particular as a blown bottle. This blown bottle has two recognizable spaces, specifically a storage space  10  and the axially compressible region  15 . In the pour-out direction the compressible region  15  is connected after the storage space  10 . In principle it is possible to manufacture the storage space  10  as a blown receptacle, while the compressible region  15  may be manufactured separately with the pour-out region  16 , for example as an injection molded element. The compressible region  15  may then be connected to the storage space  10  in the most varied of manners. This may be done purely mechanically as well as also by way of welding or adhering. The connection is effected in the region of the constriction  121 . In particular when the connection of the two parts is a screw connection, it may be useful in the region of the restriction  121  to design the connection simultaneously as the guide region  122 . But also for welding or adhering the guide region  122  may be used. In the case of a mechanical coupling of the storage space  10  and the compressible region  15  the guide element  122  may be two-part, for example as concentric, annular parts which may be screwed to one another. 
     On the container neck  12  there is fastened a metering element  20  fixed in a positionally fixed manner. This metering element  20  passes through the axially compressible region  15  completely and reaches up to into the region of the constriction  121 . Effectively even the lower end of the metering element  20  projects at least a little further through the constriction  121  into the storage space  10 . The peg-like metering element  20  comprises a closed base  23  and forms in the relaxed condition of the axially compressible region  15  a closing peg which lies in the constriction  121  as a cork. The peg-like metering element  20  comprises a cylindrical section  24  connecting on the closed base  23  and then merges into a conical section  25  which bears directly on the pour-out region  16  of the bottle neck or, as is shown here, merges into a pour-out region  16 ′. The peg-like metering element  20  comprises several longitudinal openings  21  in the lateral walls, which extend from the lower cylindrical section over the subsequent conical section  25  upwards into the region near to the bottle pour-out  16 . Just at the top the peg-like metering element  20  is completely open and forms either directly the pour-out or communicates with a pour-out which forms part of a closure placed on the bottle neck  12 . 
     FIG. 3 shows a plastic container according to this invention with a metering element  20  according to this invention with a closure, in the dispensing position. The closure  2 , which is shown dashed as a snap hinge closure having a lower part and of a cap which is hingedly connected thereto, is in this position open. By turning the container  1  around the entire contents of the metering element  20  goes through the lateral openings  21  and the pour-out opening  22  out of the space  17  which is enclosed by the axially compressible region  15 , and directly or via the closure  2  passes to the outside. In this position the bellows-like variable space  17  is completely relaxed. The lower region of the metering element  20  with its closed base  23  lies in the region of the constriction  121  and thus seals the passage from the storage space  10  into the variable space  17 . If the metering element  20  and the variable space  17  is emptied one closes the closure  2 . With the closure closed one may press onto this, by which means the bellows-like, axially compressible region  15  is shortened in the axial direction. Because the peg-like metering element  20  is connected to the bottle neck region by way of the axial shortening of the compressible region  15  the peg-like metering element  20  with its lower part is pushed into the storage space  10 . With this the lateral openings  21  come into the storage space  10  in a communicating manner so that through the lateral openings  21  medium may flow out of the storage space  10  through the lateral openings  21  into the peg-like metering element  20  and from this to the outside into the variable space  17 . If the metering element and the space  17  is filled, one removes the pressure on the closure, the compressible region  15  is relaxed again and with this in turn pulls the peg-like metering element  20  upwards so that again the lower closed region  23  lies in the constriction. With this the communicating connection between the storage container  10  and the variable space  17  is interrupted. This solution is suitable also for containers which are stored hanging on their heads. Only when one exerts a pressure on the bottle neck from below can the storage space  10  come into communicating connection with the variable space  17 . As long as the closure is open one would not want to press this upwards. 
     With the previously shown embodiments, the peg-like metering element  20  has a collar  4 . To the collar  4  is connected a pour-out part  5  with an outer thread and there is placed on a hinge closure  2 . In FIG. 4, in contrast, instead of the hinge closure there is shown dashed a rotary closure  6 . 
     In the same FIGS. 4 or  5  also the sealing region  14  is formed with a separate part as a guide part  31 . The guide part  31  with a two-part container  1  may be added during assembly. With a one-part container this demands the width of the pour-out region  16  to be shaped so large that the part may be introduced from above and pressed into the correct position. 
     The pour-out of the metering element  20  is indicated as element reference numeral  22  and may be formed in any manner with regard to shaping. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 show that the metering element  20  also simultaneously may be part of a hinge closure  2 . The circumferential collar  4  is via a circumferential web  40  connected to the metering element  20 . Via the film hinge  7  there is formed on a pivotable cap  8 . The cap  8  has on the inner surface  81  a sealing peg  82  which projects into the pour-out  22  and seals this from the inside. For this the sealing peg  82  has a sealing bulge  83 . The pour-out  22  has a pour-out lip  84 . 
     One formation of the metering element  20  is shown in detail in the FIGS. 8 and 9. The plastic container  1  corresponds again to the formation according to FIG.  1 . The lengthened sealing region  14  and the axially compressible region  15  are clearly recognizable. The metering element has only in the region near to the base  23  a communicating opening  29  extending in the axial direction only a little upwards. The openings  29  in the position according to FIG. 8, the so-called metering position, are in communicating connection with the storage space  10  of the plastic container  1 . The medium present in the storage space may thus flow into the peg-like metering element  20  and fill up the entire hollow space  20 ′. It may however, in contrast to the previously described embodiments, not get into the variable space  17 . The annular fold thus only has the function of spring-loading and permits the axial displacement of the metering element  20  and its guiding back into the initial position. In particular, with the metering of free-flowing and pourable media, such as for example washing powder, such a metering is advantageous. If no washing powder gets into the variable space then the medium may also not agglomerate, by which means the whole function of the system would be inhibited. 
     In the metering position with a closed closure the entire hollow space  20 ′ is filled. For this it is useful to manufacture the plastic container as well as the metering element  20  out of transparent plastic. If the metering element  20  is full, one removes the pressure on the closure, the openings come to lie in the sealing region  14  and one may open the closure or the lid  8 . Now the free-flowing or pourable medium may be emptied straight out of a measuring cuplet. 
     Also the sealing region  14  may be realized with a guide part  31 . 
     FIGS. 10 and 11 show a siphon-like solution. The variants described up to now show the axially compressible region used to fill a metering quantity, but the axially compressed region permits the change, in particular the reduction of the metering quantity. The variable space  17  is also used for achieving a communicating connection between the metering element  20  and the storage space  10 , however it serves for setting the metering quantity. 
     The metering element  20  has in the base  23  an inlet  200  to which there connects an upwardly extending ascending tube  201 . In the ascending tube  201  is held a supply tubing  202  which extends from the upper end of the ascending tube  201  up to the base of the container  1 . 
     There may be any height of the ascending tube  201 . The lateral longitudinal openings  21  extend away practically over the entire length of the peg-like metering element so that the fluid medium to be metered also gets into the variable space  17 . The variable space  17  serves also as a metering chamber and may have level markings. 
     With pressure on the storage space  10  of the plastic container  1 , medium flows via the supply tubing  202  and the ascending tube  201  into the metering element  20  and the variable space  17 . If the metered quantity exceeds the ascending tube  201  then it flows back again by itself or is even actively suctioned back since pressure no longer bears on the storage space  10 . With this the metering element and the space  17  are filled up to the upper limit of the ascending tube  201 . 
     By way of pressure on the closed closure  2  the longitudinal openings  21  may be brought into communicating connection with the storage space  10  below the constriction  121  and a corresponding desired quantity may flow back. Thereafter the closure  2  may be opened and the desired quantity may be poured out. 
     One could manufacture the plastic container transparently. Applications of such systems are with mouthwash, fabric softener liquids or with certain foodstuffs or drinks which are to be diluted.