Abstract:
The invention relates to a bottle ( 1 ) for a cleaning agent ( 20 ), comprising a container ( 10 ) for receiving the cleaning agent ( 20 ), which container has a container opening ( 17 ), a closure cap ( 30 ), which closes the container opening ( 17 ) in a closure position, and a pretreatment element ( 40 ), which is fastened to or molded onto the closure cap ( 30 ), wherein the pretreatment element ( 40 ) lies inside the container ( 10 ) in the closure position of the closure cap ( 30 ). According to the invention, the pretreatment element ( 40 ) is visible from outside in the closure position of the closure cap ( 30 ). The invention further relates to a package, comprising such a bottle and a dyed cleaning agent.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a bottle for a cleaning agent, comprising a receptacle, a closure cap and a pre-treatment element. The invention further relates to a package comprising a bottle and a cleaning agent. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    WO 2014/004456 A1 discloses a bottle for a cleaning agent, comprising a receptacle, a closure cap and a pre-treatment element. The receptacle is used to hold the cleaning agent. The receptacle has a receptacle opening that can be closed by the closure cap when said cap is in a closed position. The pre-treatment element is integrally attached to or molded on the closure cap in the form of an arrangement of a plurality of bristles sticking upwards. The bristles can be used to apply the cleaning agent to a heavily soiled area in order to pre-treat an object to be cleaned. 
         [0003]    The bristles on the closure cap increase the active height of the bottle, so that more space is required when bottles of this type are stacked one on top of the other on a pallet. Furthermore, the bristles on top of the closure cap adversely affect a stable bearing surface for a layer placed thereabove in a stack. The bottles can thus no longer be stacked on top of one another as effectively. In addition, the bristles are exposed and can therefore get dusty or dirty during transport or when on the shelf. If the pre-treatment element is merely only mounted on the closure cap, there is also the risk of it easily being separated from the bottle and getting lost. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,209 also discloses a bottle for a cleaning agent comprising a receptacle, a closure cap and a pre-treatment element, the pre-treatment element being provided on a base part of the closure cap so that the pre-treatment element lies inside the receptacle when the closure cap is in the closed position. The arrangement of the pre-treatment element inside the receptacle is advantageous over the bottle in WO 2014/004456 A1 in that it is protected from getting lost or dirty. However, it is not readily discernible whether such a bottle is provided with a pre-treatment element. A prospective customer or consumer may hesitate when purchasing, and then instead reach for a bottle in which the pre-treatment element is directly visible. 
         [0005]    Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a bottle for a cleaning agent, comprising a well-protected pre-treatment element that can, however, positively contribute to the customer&#39;s buying decision. The term “cleaning agent” includes washing agent. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    A bottle ( 1 ) for a cleaning agent ( 20 ), comprising a receptacle ( 10 ) for holding the cleaning agent ( 20 ), which has a receptacle opening ( 17 ); a closure cap ( 30 ) which closes the receptacle opening ( 17 ) when in a closed position; and a pre-treatment element ( 40 ) attached to or integrally molded on the closure cap ( 30 ), the pre-treatment element ( 40 ) being positioned inside the receptacle ( ) when the closure cap ( 30 ) is in the closed position, characterized in that the pre-treatment element ( 40 ) is visible from the outside when the closure cap ( 30 ) is in the closed position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a bottle according to the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of the bottle according to the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows the embodiment in  FIG. 1  in the open state; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a closure cap having a pre-treatment element according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of the closure cap comprising a pre-treatment element; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the pre-treatment element. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description of the invention. 
         [0016]    The instant bottle ( 1 ) for a cleaning agent ( 20 ), comprises
       a receptacle ( 10 ) for holding the cleaning agent ( 20 ), which has a receptacle opening ( 17 ),   a closure cap ( 30 ) which closes the receptacle opening ( 17 ) when in a closed position, and   a pre-treatment element ( 40 ) attached to or integrally molded on the closure cap ( 30 ), the pre-treatment element ( 40 ) being positioned inside the receptacle ( ) when the closure cap ( 30 ) is in the closed position,       
 
         [0020]    characterized in that the pre-treatment element ( 40 ) is visible from the outside when the closure cap ( 30 ) is in the closed position. 
         [0021]    Although the pre-treatment element is arranged inside the receptacle when the closure cap is in the closed position, according to the invention the pre-treatment element is visible from the outside, i.e. from outside the receptacle. In one embodiment, the receptacle comprises at least one transparent wall region for this purpose, through which the pre-treatment element can be seen from the outside. If the receptacle is largely made of a material that is not transparent, the transparent wall region constitutes a window, through which the customer can look into the receptacle and can then perceive the pre-treatment element located in the receptacle. It is also possible for the receptacle to be made entirely of a transparent material. The transparent wall region would then extend over the entire outer receptacle surface. 
         [0022]    The transparent wall region can be part of a front wall of the receptacle. It is therefore possible for the customer, when standing directly in front of the receptacle, to be able to see the pre-treatment element located in the receptacle. The front wall can be equipped with a label, this however not being intended to block the view of the pre-treatment element. Since products in shops are generally oriented on a shelf such that the front side or the front wall is facing forwards, the customer can therefore see, at a glance, both the product information provided on the label and the pre-treatment element. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment of the invention, the receptacle comprises, in addition to the transparent wall region, at least one light-permeable wall region. Light can also enter the receptacle through this light-permeable wall region, so that the pre-treatment element is also visible. In addition, this light-permeable or non-opaque wall region can also be transparent. However, it is also possible for this region to only allow the light to enter the receptacle as scattered light, like in milk glass. 
         [0024]    The higher the permeability or transparency of the transparent wall region, the better the pre-treatment element can be perceived inside the receptacle. However, the permeability can be limited for other reasons (material selection, costs, marketing aspects). The transparency should, however, be greater than 30% and preferably greater than 65 or even 80%. 
         [0025]    The transparent wall region, the pre-treatment element and the light-permeable wall region preferably lie on one line of sight. As a result, the contours of the pre-treatment element clearly stand out and are therefore easily visible to the customer or viewer from the outside. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment of the invention, the light-permeable region is provided at the same vertical height as the pre-treatment element when the closure cap is in the closed position. If the bottle stands on a flat receptacle base, for example, the vertical spacing between the light-permeable region and the receptacle base is equal to the vertical spacing between the pre-treatment element and the receptacle base. The customer can directly readily perceive the pre-treatment element in the receptacle when such a bottle is on the shop shelf at eye level. 
         [0027]    The pre-treatment element can have a first color, and the closure cap can have a second color, a first color contrast between the first color and the second color being greater than 10. The color contrast is calculated on the basis of the L*a*b* color system (see EN ISO 11664-4) in this case, and is calculated according to the following formula: 
         [0000]      ΔE 1 , =((a 1 -a 2 )̂2+(b 1 -b 2 )̂2+(L 1 -L 2 )̂2)̂ 0 . 5 
 
         [0028]    whereby ΔE 1 =the first color contrast 
         [0029]    a 1 =a*value of the first color 
         [0030]    a 2 =a*value of the second color 
         [0031]    b 1 =b*value of the first color 
         [0032]    b 2 =b*value of the second color 
         [0033]    L 1 =L*value of the first color 
         [0034]    L 2 =L*value of the second color 
         [0035]    The value range for the a * value ranges from −150 (green) to 100 (red). The value range for the b * value ranges from −150 (blue) to 100 (yellow). The L * value or brightness value is between 0 (black) and 100 (white). According to the above formula, the color contrast corresponds to the square root of the sum of the differences between the individual * values, in which the differences between the * values are squared. 
         [0036]    A color contrast ΔE of 76.69 is produced using the values listed in the following table by way of example. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 a* 
                 b* 
                 L* 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 first color (light blue) 
                 −33 
                 −59 
                 49 
               
               
                   
                 second color (light green) 
                 −77 
                 2 
                 64 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0037]    In a preferred embodiment, the first color contrast is greater than 30 or even greater than 70. By means of this color contrast, the pre-treatment element attached to or integrally molded on the closure cap is clearly set apart from the closure cap. 
         [0038]    The pre-treatment element and/or the closure cap do not necessarily have to each be one color. The pre-treatment element can thus also only comprise the first color at least in part, which then differs from the second color to a correspondingly large degree, it also being possible in this case for the closure cap to only comprise this second color in part or in regions. 
         [0039]    A receptacle wall can comprise a third color, a second color contrast between the first color and the third color being greater than 10, preferably greater than 30 or even 50. If, for example, the customer catches sight of the pre-treatment element having the first color through the transparent wall region or through the window, the receptacle wall, which is in the line of sight of the customer behind the pre-treatment element, thus provides a considerable color contrast with respect to the pre-treatment element. 
         [0040]    The closure cap can be substantially cylindrical, the closure cap comprising, at a closed end, an end top surface to which a side wall is connected and which forms, at an open end of the closure cap, an edge that delimits an opening of the closure cap. The closure cap therefore forms a cup-shaped inner space, which can be used to meter the cleaning agent. If the pre-treatment element is arranged near the edge, cleaning agent in the inner space of the closure cap can first be tipped onto a stain on a shirt, for example, in order to pre-treat it, and then rubbed into the soiled shirt material using the pre-treatment element without having to change the gripping position of the closure cap. 
         [0041]    The pre-treatment element and the closure cap can be separate parts, the pre-treatment element being releasably connected to the closure cap, preferably mounted on the edge. It is also possible for the pre-treatment element to be integrally molded on the closure cap, preferably in turn arranged near to the edge. 
         [0042]    The closure cap can comprise a skirt having an internal thread which interacts with an external thread on the receptacle opening when the closure cap is in the closed position. The closure cap is then unscrewed in order to open the receptacle. A diameter of the receptacle opening is preferably from 2 to 20% larger than a diameter of the edge or the cylindrical side wall of the closure cap. 
         [0043]    The pre-treatment element can comprise a plurality of surface irregularities, by means of which the cleaning agent can be applied or rubbed in at the desired point. The surface irregularities can be stars, spheres, dots, lines or other raised or depressed portions. 
         [0044]    The surface irregularities are preferably formed as bristles having a length of from 4 to 20 mm. The bristles, which are preferably arranged in rows or in other patterns (concentrically, helically, etc.) can also be clearly perceived from the outside in this case as being capable of facilitating pre-treatment (distributing the cleaning agent and rubbing it in). The bristles preferably have a diameter of from 0.3 to 3 mm. 
         [0045]    Another object of the invention, whereby a package comprising a bottle and a cleaning agent is provided, which protects the pre-treatment element and is attractive for the customer, is exemplified wherein the cleaning agent (for example a washing agent for cleaning laundry) has a fourth color, a third color contrast, which is based on the L*a*b* color system, between the fourth color and the first color of the pre-treatment element being greater than 10, preferably greater than 30 or even 50. 
         [0046]    The invention is intended to be explained in more detail on the basis of the embodiments show in the figures, in which: 
         [0047]      FIG. 1  shows a bottle that is denoted as a whole by reference numeral  1 . The term “bottle” is intended to generally mean any packaging for a pourable or liquid product. 
         [0048]    The bottle  1  comprises a receptacle  10  having a receptacle base  11  and a transparent front wall  12 . A cut-out  13  for forming a handle  14  is made in the receptacle  10 . The receptacle  10  is preferably made of plastics material. 
         [0049]    The receptacle base  11 , the front wall  12  and additional side walls of the receptacle  10  delimit a receptacle inner space  15  containing a liquid cleaning agent  20 . The cleaning agent  20  is shown by hatching and almost completely fills the receptacle inner space  15  (see fill level line  21 ). 
         [0050]    The vessel  10  comprises a receptacle neck  16  on an upper end or on an end remote from the receptacle base  11 , which neck defines a receptacle opening  17 . The receptacle opening  17  is closed by a closure cap  30 . Accordingly, in the view in  FIG. 1 , the closure cap  30  is in a closed position. A pre-treatment element  40  comprising bristles  41  is arranged at a lower end of the closure cap  30 . Since the front wall  11  of the embodiment in  FIG. 1  is transparent, it is possible to see the pre-treatment element  40  comprising the bristles  41  from the outside. 
         [0051]      FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of the bottle  1  according to the invention. Features or components which are similar or identical to those in  FIG. 1 , are provided with the same reference numerals. This also correspondingly applies to all the other figures. 
         [0052]    However, in the embodiment in  FIG. 2 , the front wall  12  is not intended to be transparent, but merely only comprise a transparent region or a transparent window  18 . As in the embodiment in  FIG. 1 , the pre-treatment element  40  comprising the bristles  41  can be seen through this window  18 . In addition, the fill level  21  of the cleaning agent  20  in the almost completely full receptacle  10  can be read off through the window  18 . The window  18  is positioned in this case so as to be at the same height as the pre-treatment element  40 . 
         [0053]    The non-transparent front wall  12  can, however, be light-impermeable. Therefore, light can enter the receptacle inner space  15  not only through the window  18 , but also through the non-opaque front wall  12  and through the preferably likewise non-opaque side walls of the receptacle  10 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 3  shows the bottle  1  in  FIG. 1  in an open state. In addition, the bottle  1  in  FIG. 3  is not filled with the cleaning agent  20  in  FIG. 1 . The receptacle neck  16 , which has a circular cross section and comprises the likewise circular receptacle opening  17 , comprises an external thread  19  (not shown separately), which is used to attach the closure cap  30  to the receptacle  10 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  is a slightly enlarged view of the closure cap  30  and the closure element  40  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the closure element  40  not being mounted on the closure cap  30  in this figure but being at a small spacing therefrom. The closure cap  30  comprises a substantially cylindrical structure having an end top surface  31  and a side wall  32  connected thereto. The side wall  32  forms the lateral face of the cylindrical closure cap  30 . The closure cap  30  comprises a circular edge  34  at a lower end or at an end  33  remote from the top surface  31 , which edge delimits a cap opening  35  of the closure cap  30 . When turned upside down, i.e. with the top surface  31  as a supporting surface, the closure cap  30  can be used as a metering cap. The top surface  31  and side wall  32  delimit a cup-shaped cap inner space  36 . 
         [0056]    A skirt  37  that is open towards the lower end  33  and is intended to comprise an internal thread (not shown) on the inner side  38  thereof (see  FIG. 5 ) is provided approximately equidistantly from the top surface  31  and the edge  34 . When the closure cap  30  is in the closed position, said internal thread interacts with the external thread  19  of the receptacle  10  so that the closure cap  30  seals the receptacle opening  17 . In order to open the bottle  1 , the closure cap is then unscrewed and can, when held so the top surface  31  is facing downwards, hold a certain amount of cleaning agent which can then be poured into a washing machine, for example. 
         [0057]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of the closure cap  30  comprising the pre-treatment element  40  mounted thereon.  FIG. 5  in particular also shows additional details of the pre-treatment element  40 . The pre-treatment element  40  comprises an insertion ring  42  and a bristle connecting piece  43  on which the bristles  41  are arranged. An internal diameter of the insertion ring  42  approximately corresponds to an external diameter of the side wall  32  of the closure cap  30 , and therefore the pre-treatment element  40  sits fast on the open end  35  of the closure cap  30  by its insertion ring  42 . Using a certain amount of force, the pre-treatment element  40  can be detached from the lower edge  35  of the closure cap  30  and, if desired, mounted on the upper end, i.e. on the end of the closure cap comprising the top surface  31 . 
         [0058]    As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the connecting piece  43  does not cover the whole cap opening  35  of the closure cap  30 . The lug  43  is approximately semi-circular and therefore covers approximately half of the cap opening  35 . 
         [0059]    In the same plane as the connecting piece  43 , there is a circumferential annular edge zone  44 , by means of which the pre-treatment element  40  abuts the closure cap  30 . Therefore, the position of the pre-treatment element  40  is fixed in the axial direction of the substantially cylindrical closure cap  30 . 
         [0060]    A length L of the bristles  41  (distance from the plane of the connecting piece  43  to a bristle tip  45 ) can be from 8 to 12 mm. The bristles preferably have a diameter of approximately 0.5 mm. 
         [0061]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the pre-treatment element  40 , some details of which differ from the embodiment of the pre-treatment element  40  shown in  FIG. 5 . A circumferential collar  46  is integrally molded on the outer edge of the lug  43 , the height of which corresponds to approximately 20 to 35 percent of the length L of the bristles  41 . If, for example, the pre-treatment element  40  is mounted on the upper end of the closure cap  30 , the collar  46  and the lug  43  form a small reservoir for cleaning agent which still adheres to the bristles  41  after pre-treatment has taken place and could possibly run down the side wall  32  in the absence of the collar  46 . 
         [0062]    Furthermore, the embodiment in  FIG. 6  comprises two gripping regions  47  which are arranged on the outer side of the insertion ring  42  so as to be offset from one another by 180 degrees ( FIG. 6  merely shows just one gripping region). The gripping region  47  comprises small parallel notches or small parallel ribs  48  having a height of from 0.1 to 0.3 mm. A chamfer  49  is provided on the inner side of the insertion ring  42  and makes it easier to mount the pre-treatment element  40  on the closure cap  30 . 
         [0063]    By means of corresponding coloring of the closure cap  30  and pre-treatment element  40  and of the pre-treatment element  30  and receptacle  10 , the pre-treatment element can be easily perceived by the customer, even when it is located in the receptacle  10  so as to be well protected. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0064]      1  bottle 
         [0065]      10  receptacle 
         [0066]      11  receptacle base 
         [0067]      12  front wall 
         [0068]      13  cut-out 
         [0069]      14  handle 
         [0070]      15  receptacle inner space 
         [0071]      16  receptacle neck 
         [0072]      17  receptacle opening 
         [0073]      18  transparent region/window 
         [0074]      19  external thread 
         [0075]      20  cleaning agent 
         [0076]      21  fill level line 
         [0077]      30  closure cap 
         [0078]      31  top surface 
         [0079]      32  side wall 
         [0080]      33  lower end 
         [0081]      34  edge 
         [0082]      35  cap opening 
         [0083]      36  cap inner space 
         [0084]      37  skirt 
         [0085]      38  inner side 
         [0086]      40  pre-treatment element 
         [0087]      41  bristles 
         [0088]      42  insertion ring 
         [0089]      43  connecting piece 
         [0090]      44  edge zone 
         [0091]      45  bristle tip 
         [0092]      46  collar 
         [0093]      47  gripping region 
         [0094]      48  notch/rib 
         [0095]    While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.