Abstract:
The invention relates to a closure for a container that holds a free-flowing product. The container is characterized by the following: a fixed lower part which can be fastened to a container neck that surrounds a container opening in order to seal said neck; a cover comprising a protruding connecting piece that forms a passage for the free-flowing product; a displaceable upper part which can be coaxially displaced on the lower part in and against the direction of the container between an outer resting position and an inner actuating position; a breaker or dish-shaped diaphragm valve which has a base consisting at least of a flexible elastic material and whose upper edge seals the underside of the upper part; perforations in the base of the diaphragm valve which are closed in the testing position of the upper part; and a diameter of the base that is greater than the inner cross section of the connecting piece. The outer end of the connecting piece continuously supports the base of the diaphragm valve, and the latter continuously pre-tensions the upper part in the direction of its resting position in such a way that, when axial pressure is exerted on the upper part in the direction of the container, the diaphragm valve is bent outwards, thus opening the perforations in the base.

Description:
This application is an application filed under 35 U.S.C. Sec. 371 as a national stage of international application PCT/EP2005/002315, which was filed Mar. 4, 2005. 
   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The invention pertains to a closure for a container that holds a free-flowing product as claimed in the preamble of claim  1 . 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIOR ART 
   The preamble of claim  1  considers the state of the art known from DE 44 17 569 A1 which describes a closure for a container that holds a free-flowing product. This closure has a fixed lower part, which can be closely fastened to a container neck and a cover with an externally protruding connecting piece, whereby a displaceable upper part is coaxially displaceable on the lower part between an outer position and an inner position. Except during ventilation, the upper edge of a beaker-shaped diaphragm valve consisting of a flexible elastic material seals the underside of the upper part, and said valve has perforations in its base, which are closed in the resting position of the upper part, and continuously pretensions the upper part in the direction of its outer position. When pressure is exerted on the container, a side room of the closure can be filled with the pressurized product. As a result, the upper edge of the valve is sealingly pressed against the upper part and the valve is bent outwards by pressure onto its side walls through an extraction opening and is opened for the release of the product. 
   CH 275 750 describes a container with a device for delivery of limited amount of a fluid, wherein the device is provided with a closing means consisting of a elastic flexible material which comprises at least one through hole automatically closing due to the effect of elasticity. A pressure piece is provided for deforming the closing means for reducing the volume of the container und for being adapted to open the through hole for discharging fluid. The closing means is provided as a diaphragm, while the pressure piece is axially displaceable in front of the diaphragm so that by means of displacement of the pressure piece the diaphragm can be bent to the inside of the container. This, the through hole is opened and at the same time the volume of the inside of the container is reduced so that a certain amount of fluid is extruded to the through hole. 
   With closures for containers that hold a free-flowing product, the metering of the amount of the free-flowing product that is to be released in dependence on its viscosity is often difficult because the fine-tuning of the displaceable upper part of such a closure is often not only cumbersome and difficult to handle but also time-consuming. Furthermore, to fulfill the purpose of fine-tuning, the constructive effort for such closures is often economically disproportionate. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is thus based on the object of providing a closure that enables a very sensitive release of desired amounts of the free-flowing product held in the container with an extremely simple design of the closure. 
   The invention solves this object in that the diameter of the base of the diaphragm valve is dimensioned larger than the inner cross section of the connecting piece, the outer end of which continuously supports the base of the diaphragm valve so that, when axial pressure is exerted on the upper part in the direction of the container, the base of the diaphragm valve is bent outwards and the perforations in the base are opened. 
   According to the invention, the opening process of the diaphragm valve can be operated or controlled, respectively, in an extremely sensitive manner by actuating the upper part of the closure. The closure, in dependence on the type of container, with the solid or flexible wall being made from glass or plastic serving to squeeze the container content, can be used in an upside-down position as well as in a more or less upright position for releasing free-flowing products of very different viscosity. The upper part containing the release opening for the free-flowing product can be provided with a hinged lid for closing the outlet opening. If applicable, the hinged lid can also be connected with the upper part by means of a film hinge and form a single component therewith. Furthermore, it is also possible to use a protective cap for covering the upper part that is detachably applied on the lower part. Finally, a spring element that amplifies the pretensioning force of the diaphragm valve exerted on the upper part can additionally be used between the lower part and the upper part. Furthermore, as is customary, the closure can be screwed, chattered, or welded to the container, or can also be provided as a standard component of the container. 
   Further embodiments of the invention are contained in the subclaims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Below, the invention will be explained in more detail by means of the schematic drawing of exemplary embodiments, in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a closure in closed position in perspective view with a lateral release opening in the upper part, 
       FIG. 2  shows a center longitudinal view of the closure of  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG. 3  shows a further center longitudinal view of the closure in  FIG. 1 , which is displaced by 90° in relation to the sectional illustration of  FIG. 2 , 
       FIG. 4  shows a second embodiment of a closure with a modified upper part with an opened cover according to the invention in perspective illustration, 
       FIG. 5  shows a center longitudinal view of the closure of  FIG. 4 , 
       FIG. 6  shows the closure according to  FIG. 5  with a spring element clamped between the lower part and the upper part, 
       FIG. 7  shows the closure according to  FIG. 6  in actuated open position, 
       FIG. 8  shows a diaphragm valve in top view, and 
       FIG. 9  shows an upper part of the closure with a ventilation opening in perspective top view. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a closure  10  for a non-illustrated container that holds a free-flowing product, such as suntan lotions or oils, shaving creams or gels, sauces, ketchup, or the like. Customarily, the container has a neck provided with an outlet opening, whereby the closure at the outlet opening of the container can be fastened by screwing, chattering or welding. If necessary, container and closure can also be designed in a single piece. The container can consist of a solid material, such as glass or ceramic, or also of plastic, whereby the walls of a plastic container can be rigid or flexible. Preferably, it should be possible to empty the container in an upside-down position. 
   It can be seen from  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in particular, that the closure  10  consists of a fixed lower part  12  and a displaceable upper part  14 , whereby the closure  10  is fastened to the outlet opening of the container with the lower part  12 , as described. The lower part  12  has a cap shape with a rotary jacket  16 , preferably being cylindrical or oval, but can also have other, angled forms, for example. The jacket  16  can be provided with an inside thread, which can be screwed onto an outer thread at the container neck, or arc-shaped or ring-shaped bosh bulges can be provided on the inner surface of the jacket  16  for chattering or overlapping, respectively, of corresponding protrusions at the container neck for attaching the closure on the container. Furthermore, the closure can also be welded or glued to the container or even produced in a single piece with the container, as is known from the prior art. 
   The lower part  12  is provided with a cover  18  having a connecting piece  20  that gradually conically tapers inwards and outwards that ends in a central passage  22  which is coaxial to the main axis x-x. A cylindrical guide piece  24  extends in a radial distance outside of the connecting piece  20 , but, by forming a ring-shaped arresting shoulder  26 , in a radial distance from the circumference of the jacket  16 , to the height of the connecting piece  20  outwardly. At the outer end, the outside of the guide piece  24  is provided with at least one bulge-shaped protrusion  28  that extends on the same height in a ring-shaped or arc-shaped manner around the guide piece  24 . 
   The upper part  14  is also cap-shaped and provided with a guide jacket  30  that overlaps the guide piece  24  on the outside and is coaxially guided thereon such that it can be moved to and fro. On its inner end, the inner peripheral surface of the guide jacket  30  is also provided with at least one bulge-shaped protrusion  32  that extends on the same height in a ring-shaped or arc-shaped manner via the inner peripheral surface of the guide jacket  30 , but is arranged, as is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , below the protrusion  28 . 
   As can be seen from  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the at least one protrusion  28  of the lower part  12  and the at least one protrusion  32  of the upper part  14  form an arresting or locking device that determines the outer or upper resting position of the upper part  14 . The arresting shoulder  26  of the lower part  12  limits the actuating lift of the upper part  14 . Naturally, it is also possible, but less practical, to allow the guide jacket  30  of the upper part  14  to mesh with the guide piece  24  of the lower part  12  and to guide the same on its inner wall. 
   An end wall  34  of the upper part  14  extends vertically to the main axis x-x of the closure  10  and is provided with an inlet opening  36  for the free-flowing container content in the center of its underside. The inlet opening  36  ends in an outlet channel  38  ( FIG. 3 ) that extends radially outwardly through the end wall  34  and ends in an outlet opening  40 . 
   A preferably annular holder  52  for the diaphragm valve  42  protrudes from an inner side or underside  54  of the end wall  34  at a slight axial length and in a radial distance from the guide jacket  30 . 
   A diaphragm valve  42  is arranged between the lower part  12  and the upper part  14  and has, as is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a beaker-shaped or dish-shaped part  44  with an approximately cylindrical outer wall  46 , a base  48  being slightly arched towards the inside or downwards, as well as a flange-shaped, radially outwardly reinforced outer edge  50 . The diaphragm valve  42  or at least its base  48 , consist of a flexible elastic material, such as silicone, rubber or caoutchouc, or a plastic, such as polyethylene or a similar elastomeric material. 
   It can be seen from  FIGS. 2 and 3  that the outside of the outer edge  50  of the diaphragm valve  42  sealingly abuts on the underside  54  of the end wall  34 , as well as on the ring-shaped inner surface of the holder  52  with its radial outer surface. The diaphragm valve  42  is supported with its base  48  on the upper orifice of the connecting piece  20  and seals the connecting piece  20  in the closed position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and thus the container located therebelow, which is not illustrated in the drawings. The diaphragm valve  42  is axially clamped between the lower part  12  and the upper part  14  so that the displaceable upper part  14  is continuously pre-tensioned by the diaphragm valve  42  in the direction of its closed position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and fixed by the protrusions  28 ,  32 . Consequently, the base  48  of the diaphragm valve  42  is also pressed onto the connecting piece  20  in terms of its secure sealing of the passage  22  of the connecting piece  20  in the closing position of the closure  10  by means of pretensioning. 
   As can be seen from  FIG. 7  and, in particular, from  FIG. 8 , the center of the base  48  is provided in radial distance from the ring-shaped contact line or surface with the upper front face  43  of the connecting piece  20  with at least one slit-shaped perforation  45  that is made so that it opens when the upper part  14  is moved by an operator in the opening direction, i.e., in the direction of the container or towards the inside or downwards, as will be described below in more detail. Preferably, the base  48  contains a plurality of slit-shaped perforations  45  that are arranged on a surface of the base  48  that is smaller than the inner cross section of the passage  22  of the connecting piece  20 .  FIG. 8  shows a plurality of slits  47  that extend in a star-shaped manner diametrically through the center of the base  48  at equal circumferential angular distances. The ends of the slits  47  are located at an appropriate radial distance from the circular front face  43  of the connecting piece  20  and thus have a smaller length, as compared to the inner cross section of the passage  22  of the connecting piece  20 . The slits  47  thus limit triangular hinged covers  49  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ), the tip of which is located in the region of the center of the diaphragm base  48  and can bulge outwards or bend about their base in opening direction ( FIG. 7 ). 
   As soon as a pressure is exerted by an operator onto the upper part  14  in the direction of the lower part  12 , the compression force is transferred from the flange-shaped outer edge  50  of the diaphragm valve  42  via its cylindrical wall  46  to the outer edge  51  of the base  48  of the diaphragm valve  42  located outside of the front face of the connecting piece  20 . Consequently, this outer edge  51  of the base  48  is pushed through the front face  43  of the connecting piece  20  onto its outside and beyond its front face  43  inwards or downwards and the base  48  is bulged outwardly via the passage  22  of the connecting piece  20  by stretching the flexible elastic material of at least the diaphragm base  48  so that the triangular hinged covers  49  formed by the slit-shaped perforations in the base  48  of the diaphragm valve  42  leave their closing position located approximately in the section of the base  48  and are bent outwards about their base and thus opened so that the free-flowing product can be released from the container in an amount determined by the opening measure of the diaphragm base  48 . If the operator is resetting the upper part  14 , the flexible elastic release capability of the diaphragm valve  42  is designed to be so large that it again assumes its beaker-shaped or dish-shaped form and thus lifts the upper part  12  in its outer or upper outlet or resting position. The base  48  thus returns into its closing position illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , whereby the hinged covers  49  again close in the section of the base  48  and seal the passage  22  of the connecting piece  20 . 
   It can thus be seen that the diaphragm valve  42 , in addition to the actual function as a valve, fulfills additional functions, i.e. the sealing of the interior of the container at the connecting piece  20  outwardly and as return spring, the constant exertion of a pretensioning force onto the displaceable upper part  14  in the direction of its upper defined resting position. 
   It is understood that, instead of or in combination with the slits  47  being arranged in a star-shaped manner, dot-shaped perforations can also be provided in the diaphragm valve  42 , if necessary, as long as their ability is ensured to safely seal the passage  22  of the connecting piece  20  when the diaphragm valve  42  is closed and to sufficiently open the same when the upper part  12  is actuated. 
   The second exemplary embodiment of the invention in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , where parts corresponding to the first embodiment are provided with the same reference numerals, differs from the first only in a modified form of an upper part  60 , while the lower part  12  and the diaphragm valve  42  correspond to the first embodiment.  FIGS. 4 and 5  show that the upper part  60  has an end wall  62  from which a central, outwardly facing, tube-shaped discharging piece  64  extends, which discharging piece  64  can also be used as drinking piece if the container content is a beverage. The discharging piece  64  is provided with a ring-shaped sealing bulge  66  at its upper inner end. At the level of the end wall  62 , a hinged lid  70  is connected to the upper part  60  via a film hinge  68 , whereby the film hinge  68  causes a dead center position. To overcome this dead center position during the opening and closing of the hinged lid  70 , the film hinge  68  exerts an additional force onto the hinged lid  70  in closing direction or in opening direction, respectively. The hinged lid  70  has a head side  72 , from the outer edge of which a jacket  74  extends that, when the hinged lid  70  is closed, engages into an external stepped shoulder surface  76  of the end wall  62  of the upper part  60  and aligns itself with its peripheral surface. A cylindrical sealing stopper  78 , which sealingly engages with the discharging piece  64  when the hinged lid  70  is in its closed position, is arranged at the center of the inside of the hinged lid  70 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 7  show a third embodiment of a closure that is essentially identical with the closure according to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , with the exception that, additionally, a spring element  80  in the form of a helical compression spring amplifies the pretensioning force exerted onto the upper part  60  in opening direction. The upper end of the spring element  80  abuts on the inside or underside  61  of the end wall  62  of the upper part  60  between the outer periphery of the ring-shaped holder  52  and the inner periphery of the guide jacket  30 . The lower end of the spring element  80  is supported on the cover  18  between the conical, stepped connecting piece  20  and the guide piece  24  of the lower part  12 . The use of the spring element  80  is reasonable in cases where, for example for functional reasons, which, inter alia, can be ascribed to the consistency, such as the viscosity, of the free-flowing product, the diaphragm valve  42  cannot steadily exert that pretensioning or restoring force onto the upper part  60  that is necessary and desired for a reliable operation of the closure. 
   A further modification in the third embodiment of the closure according to the invention in  FIGS. 6 and 7  pertains to the configuration of the passage  22  in the connecting piece  20 . This is so, because the passage  22  is partly closed by a hole wall  77 , which, where applicable, contains a plurality of holes  79  of different size and form. The hole wall  77  fulfills a support function for the base  48  of the diaphragm valve  42  in cases where, due to the fact that the diameter of the passage  22  of the connecting piece  20  is too large, for example, the closing function of the hinged covers  49  appears to desire additional safety measures. 
   In the top view onto the diaphragm valve  42  in  FIG. 8 , the outer wall  46  of the diaphragm base  48  and the outer front face  43  of the connecting piece  20  are illustrated in a dashed line to clarify the bending axis that is represented by the outer edge of the front face  43 , when, during actuation of the upper part  14  of the closure  10  by the relatively stiff outer wall  46  of the diaphragm valve  42 , the outer edge  51  is pushed inwards and a torque is exerted onto the bases of the hinged covers  49 , in each case in the opening direction of the hinged covers  49 . 
   In  FIG. 9 , the lower part  12  is shown in a perspective illustration in a partial top view so that a ventilation opening  82  can be seen that is arranged closely to the passage  22  and that enables a ventilation of the container during and after the release of free-flowing product. The size of the ventilation opening  82  is measured so that it allows air, but not the free-flowing product in the container to pass.