Patent Description:
Receptacles of this kind are used for many applications including the packaging of beauty products such as mascara. For attaching the cap to the container, multiple systems are known, e.g. profiled threads, a bayonet lock, a swiveling cap in combination with snap on, a wire hanger as clip lock, an eccentric handle to compress a sealing, or a bistable snap cover.

Further prior art is disclosed in documents <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT>.

The systems mentioned above are complex in shape, are difficult to produce, or need more parts. There is a need for a receptacle which allows attaching the cap to the container in a simple, fast and reliable manner.

This need is satisfied by a receptacle according to claim <NUM> and in particular by a receptacle comprising a container and a cap, the cap being repeatedly attachable to the container for closure of the receptacle, the cap having a passage having an opening formed therein, the container having a neck for insertion into the passage via the opening of the cap along a longitudinal axis of the receptacle, wherein the opening of the cap has a non-circular shaped inner contour formed complementary to a non-circular shaped outer contour of the neck,.

Embodiments of the receptacle are defined by the dependent claims and described in the following disclosure.

The non-circular shaped inner contour of the cap can extend along a subsection of the passage or along substantially the whole passage. Accordingly, the non-circular shaped outer contour of the neck can extend along a subsection of the neck or along substantially the whole neck.

According to an embodiment, the inner circumferential surface of the passage is formed as a twisted non-cylindrically shaped pipe that is twisted so that sections of this pipe in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis are non-circular, so that the cap can be attached onto the neck of the container. In other words, the neck has non-circular shaped cross-sections with constant sizes along the longitudinal axis, but the orientation of the non-circular cross-sections changes constantly so that points of the surface that are equally distanced from the longitudinal axis of the neck are arranged along a helix.

According to an embodiment, the non-circular contour of the neck and/or the passage has a symmetrical circumferential shape. The circumferential shape can be mirror-symmetrical, e.g. can have an oval shape. This allows to attach the cap onto the neck starting in two different angular positions. Alternatively, the circumferential shape can be rotationally symmetrical, e.g. can be shaped like a hyperbolic polygon, e.g. trigon. This simplifies attaching the cap to the neck because it allows placing the cap onto the neck in, e.g. three, different angular positions.

According to a further embodiment, the inner circumferential surface of the passage and the outer circumferential surface of the neck are formed and/or configured so that by rotating the cap relative to the container around the longitudinal axis, the cap is forced towards the container along the longitudinal axis. This allows that the cap can be attached onto the neck of the container easily.

In order to generate a press-fitting engagement between the neck of the container and the cap in a radial direction, the inner circumferential surface of the passage can have multiple concave surfaces and the outer circumferential surface of the neck can have corresponding convex circumferential surfaces that allow jamming the cap onto the neck by rotating the cap relative to the neck of the container. In particular, this should be only possible in regular operation when the cap is fully attached onto the neck of the container.

Generally, in order to be able to fairly quickly attach the cap onto the container and detach the cap from the container, the outer circumferential surface of the neck can be formed as an outer circumferential surface of a non-circular element twisted by <NUM>° or less and the inner circumferential surface of the passage can be correspondingly formed as an inner circumferential surface of a non-circular pipe twisted by <NUM>° or less.

In order to create a quick lock function, i.e. in order to be able to quickly attach the cap onto the container and detach the cap from the container, the outer circumferential surface of the neck can be formed as an outer circumferential surface of a non-circular element twisted about <NUM>° and the inner circumferential surface of the passage can be correspondingly formed as an inner circumferential surface of a non-circular pipe twisted about <NUM>°. This allows to fully attach the cap onto the neck of the container by rotating the cap relatively to the neck by about half of a turn. The press-fitting engagement can be generable by proceeding to rotate the cap relative to the neck by <NUM>° to <NUM>° after being fully attached onto the neck.

In order to have a smooth outer surface on the neck that can be cleaned easily, the contour of the neck along the longitudinal axis and/or the circumferential direction can be continuous.

Furthermore, an even smoother surface can be achieved if a pitch of the contour of the neck along the longitudinal axis and/or the circumferential direction is continuous. In particular, the contour of the neck along the longitudinal axis and/or the circumferential direction can be continuous in curvature and gradient. This creates a smooth and easy to clean surface.

In other words, the neck can have a continuous outer peripheral extent in a majority of sectional planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, in particular in all of its sectional planes. Furthermore, the outer circumference of the neck in these sectional planes can be formed by non-concentric sections.

Similarly, in order to be able to clean the inner circumferential surface of the passage of the cap more easily, the contour of the passage along the longitudinal axis and/or the circumferential direction can be continuous. Furthermore, for the reasons mentioned above, a pitch of the contour of the passage along the longitudinal axis and/or the circumferential direction can be continuous. In particular, the contour of the passage along the longitudinal axis and/or the circumferential direction can be continuous in curvature and gradient.

Furthermore, the inner contour of the passage can be continuous in a majority of sectional planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, in particular in all of its sectional planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The inner contour of the passage in these sectional planes can be formed by non-concentric sections.

According to an embodiment, the non-circular shaped inner contour of the opening of the cap and/or the non-circular shaped outer contour of the neck is selected from the group of shape members consisting of an oval shape, an elliptical shape, a hyperbolic shape, and a hyperbolic trigon, i.e. a triangle with rounded edges. In general, the non-circular contour preferably is symmetrical and/or does not form any sharp edges.

According to a further embodiment, a ratio of the width to height of the non-circular shaped inner contour of the opening in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the receptacle is selected in the range of: <NUM>-<NUM>% dependent on the diameter of the receptacle. In other words, a smallest diameter of the contour is between <NUM> to <NUM> times as long as a longest diameter of the contour.

According to an embodiment, the inner contour of the cap and the outer contour of the neck form a clearance fit when the cap attached onto the neck. In particular the inner contour of the cap is <NUM> % to <NUM> % larger than the outer contour of the neck. In other words, each inner diameter of the passage is <NUM> % to <NUM> % larger than the respective outer diameter of the neck.

According to an embodiment, one or more seals are arranged between the neck and the cap for sealing between the neck and the cap when the cap is installed at the container. The seal is preferably arranged between an inner surface of the neck and the cap, in particular an inner support structure of the cap.

In order to be able to apply content of the container, e.g. a beauty product, more precisely, an applicator can be arranged at the cap. In this case, the seal can be arranged between an inner surface of the neck and a support structure for the applicator.

According to an embodiment, the receptacle further comprises a securing device, the securing device configured to provide at least one of an audible click and a tangible resistance when the cap is completely installed at the neck. This securing device can comprise an undulating surface, in particular a plurality of peaks separated by a plurality of valleys. Alternatively, or additionally, the securing device can comprise one or more domes. The securing device can be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the passage and the outer circumferential surface of the neck. The securing device may break through the general continuity of the inner and outer circumferential surfaces as long as they do not disturb the attachability of the cap onto the neck.

The container can have a material stored therein, with said material being a liquid, a paste, or a pourable solid material. In particular, said material can be selected from the group of members consisting of: a beauty product, a cosmetic product, a cleaning product, a skin care product, a medical product, a dental product, a pharmaceutical product, an adhesive, a paint, and a building material. In other words, the container is configured to hold at least one of said materials.

<FIG> depicts a receptacle <NUM> with a container <NUM> and a cap <NUM>. The cap <NUM> is repeatedly attachable to the container <NUM> in order to close the receptacle <NUM>. To attach the cap <NUM> to the container <NUM>, the cap <NUM> has a passage <NUM> extending in a longitudinal axis A of the receptacle <NUM> with an opening 16a in one of its end regions. In other words, the cap <NUM> has a blind hole formed therein. The container <NUM> has a neck <NUM> that is configured to be inserted into the passage <NUM> via the opening 16a.

As can be seen e.g. by comparing the sectional views of <FIG>, the passage <NUM> has an inner circumferential shape along the longitudinal axis, i.e. an inner contour <NUM>, that is non-circular shaped at least over a majority of the length of the passage <NUM>, with the majority of the length being at least <NUM> % preferably at least <NUM> % of the length of the passage <NUM>. The non-circular shaped inner contour <NUM> varies along the longitudinal axis so that points on the contour being equidistant to the longitudinal axis form a helix <NUM>. In other words, the passage <NUM> has an inner circumferential surface that is formed as an inner circumferential surface of a twisted non-circular pipe.

Accordingly, the neck <NUM> has an outer circumferential shape along the longitudinal axis, i.e. an outer contour <NUM>, that is non-circular shaped. The outer contour <NUM> is shaped complementary to the inner contour <NUM>, to enable the cap <NUM> to be attached to the neck <NUM> by rotating the cap <NUM> relative to the container <NUM>.

The non-circular shaped outer contour <NUM> varies along the longitudinal axis so that points on the contour being equidistant to the longitudinal axis A form a helix <NUM> (see <FIG>) having the same pitch or gradient as the helix <NUM> formed by the inner contour <NUM>. In other words, the neck <NUM> has an outer circumferential surface that is formed as an outer circumferential surface of a twisted non-circular element.

As can be seen from <FIG> and <FIG>, the outer contour <NUM> of the neck <NUM> has a convex outer surface 22a and the inner contour <NUM> of the cap <NUM> in a fully attached state forms a corresponding concave surface 20a. In contrast hereto, as can be seen in <FIG>, in a second sectional view, the outer contour <NUM> of the neck <NUM> has a concave outer surface 22b and the inner contour <NUM> of the cap <NUM> in a fully attached state forms a corresponding convex surface 20b.

The outer contour <NUM> of the neck <NUM> comprises a surface which includes both the convex outer surface 22a and the concave outer surface 22b, with a relative position of the different shapes of the outer contour <NUM> varying both radially and axially relative to the longitudinal axis A to form an engagement surface 22c that interacts with the inner contour <NUM> of the cap <NUM> for attachment of the cap <NUM>. The inner contour <NUM> has a correspondingly shaped counter engagement surface 20c.

The outer contour <NUM> of the neck <NUM> and the corresponding inner contour <NUM> of the cap <NUM> allow the cap <NUM> to be attached to the neck <NUM> creating a form-fitting engagement in the axial direction without having a classical thread present.

Next, referring to <FIG>, it is explained how a press-fitting engagement is generated after the cap <NUM> is fully attached to the neck <NUM>. When the cap <NUM> is fully attached to the neck <NUM>, the outer circumferential surface of the neck <NUM> and the inner circumferential surface of the cap <NUM> face each other with a constant distance (see <FIG>). In particular, since the outer circumference of the neck <NUM> and the inner circumference of the cap <NUM> are non-circular, in this example they are oval, the largest outer diameter of the neck <NUM> matches the largest inner diameter of the cap <NUM> regarding its angular orientation and the smallest outer diameter of the neck <NUM> matches the smallest inner diameter of the cap <NUM> regarding its angular orientation. When the cap <NUM> is then rotated further relative to the neck <NUM>, the largest outer diameter of the neck <NUM> is placed at an angular position where the inner diameter of the cap <NUM> is smaller than the largest outer diameter of the neck <NUM> (see <FIG>). Therefore, the cap <NUM> and the neck <NUM> form a press-fitting engagement with the force caused by the press-fitting engagement being directed generally in a radial direction.

<FIG> depict how the outer contour <NUM>, i.e. the form of the engagement surface 22c, of the neck <NUM> is formed. <FIG> shows how the outer contour <NUM> would look like if manufactured out of different oval rings <NUM> with a certain thickness. A first oval ring 24A would be placed on the bottom. Next, a second, identical oval ring 24B would be placed on top of the first oval ring 24A but with an angular offset with respect to the longitudinal axis A. The next oval ring 24C is placed on the oval ring 24B with the same angular offset with respect to the longitudinal axis A and so on.

In order to create a continuous outer surface of the neck <NUM>, as can be seen in <FIG>, the actual outer contour can be described thereby that oval rings <NUM> having an infinitesimal small thickness are placed on top of each other with a constant angular offset with respect to the longitudinal axis A and the previously and subsequently placed respective oval ring <NUM>. In other words, the outer contour <NUM> of the neck can be described in that an angular position of each of the oval contours is controlled by a helix <NUM> that is arranged along the longitudinal axis A of the neck <NUM>.

Alternatively, the continuous outer surface of the neck <NUM> can be described functionally as an ellipsoid <NUM> controlled by a helix <NUM> extending in the longitudinal direction A.

It is noted that the general shape of the rings <NUM> and therefore the contour <NUM> does not have to be oval, but could have other shapes as well. This results in a continuous outer surface with points being equidistant to the longitudinal axis A forming the helix <NUM>.

The inner contour <NUM> of the cap <NUM> is formed by correspondingly shaped rings having an inner surface shaped complementary to the outer shape of the neck <NUM>, depicted by the oval rings <NUM>.

<FIG> show a structure to form a securing device <NUM> that interrupts the continuity of the outer circumferential surface of the neck <NUM>. The securing device <NUM> is formed by multiple parallel valleys or grooves 26a arranged at least substantially in parallel to one another or in parallel to one another that are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cap <NUM> and a plurality of correspondingly shaped elevations or peaks 26b formed on the outer circumferential surface of the neck <NUM>.

The securing device <NUM> is configured to provide multiple defined locking positions for the cap <NUM> relative to the neck <NUM> with each locking position providing an audible click and a tangible resistance when the cap is rotated into said locking position after the cap <NUM> is fully attached onto the neck <NUM>.

It should be noted that also only one valley or groove 26a could be provided at the inner contour <NUM> of the cap <NUM>, with also only one correspondingly shaped elevation or peak 26b formed on the outer circumferential surface of the neck <NUM>.

In this connection it should be noted that the securing device <NUM> may comprise one or more valleys or grooves 26a arranged at least substantially in parallel to one another or in parallel to one another at the inner circumferential surface of the cap <NUM>.

It should further be noted that the securing device <NUM> may comprise one or more elevations or peaks 26b arranged at least substantially in parallel to one another or in parallel to one another the outer circumferential surface of the neck <NUM>.

It should yet further be noted that the securing device <NUM> may be arranged at least substantially in parallel to at least one of the respective helices <NUM>, <NUM>.

In <FIG> an embodiment of the securing device <NUM>' is shown which comprises a groove or elevation that extends along a majority of the neck along a helix. On the inner circumferential surface of the cap <NUM>, there is at least one corresponding elevation or groove to form a form-fitting engagement between the cap <NUM> and the neck <NUM>.

Similarly, <FIG> shows a further embodiment of the securing device <NUM>". In this embodiment, the securing device comprises a dome <NUM>" or depression. Furthermore, the securing device <NUM>" comprises a corresponding depression or dome on the inner circumferential surface of the cap <NUM>. The dome <NUM>" can be brought into engagement with the corresponding depression to form a form-fitting engagement to secure the cap <NUM> on the neck <NUM>.

In <FIG>, a first embodiment of the neck <NUM> is shown. As can be seen best in <FIG>, the outer circumferential surface or outer contour <NUM> has an oval cross-sectional shape. While the smallest diameter of the oval shape is <NUM>, the largest diameter of the oval shape is <NUM>. The measurements can vary depending on the size of the receptacle <NUM>.

Generally speaking the ratio between the smallest diameter of the oval shape and the largest diameter of the oval shape is selected in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>, in particular <NUM> to <NUM>, especially of <NUM> to <NUM>. In particular, the ratio between the smallest diameter of the oval shape and the largest diameter of the oval shape can be <NUM>.

The neck <NUM> also has an inner circumferential surface <NUM> which defines an inner cross-sectional shape which is a circular shape. The inner circumferential surface <NUM> defines a passage <NUM> that leads to a volume <NUM> (<FIG>) defined by the container <NUM> to store a product, e.g. a beauty product.

In <FIG>, a second embodiment of the neck <NUM> is shown. As can be seen best in <FIG>, the outer circumferential surface has a cross-sectional shape that is - like the embodiment shown in <FIG> - axially symmetrical, but - in contrast to the embodiment shown in <FIG> - has <NUM> largest outer diameters <NUM>. In particular, the shown neck <NUM> has a cross sectional shape in the form of a hyperbolic trigon. This embodiment has the advantage that the cap <NUM> can be placed on the neck <NUM> in three different angular positions each being <NUM>° apart from each other making it easier to attach the cap <NUM> onto the neck <NUM>.

As can be seen in <FIG>, the cap <NUM> further comprises a support structure <NUM> for an applicator (not shown). The support structure <NUM> extends along the longitudinal axis A of the cap <NUM> and is partly surrounded by the caps inner circumferential surface. At the inner circumferential surface <NUM> of the neck <NUM>, a sealing <NUM> is located. The sealing <NUM> is configured to seal against the support structure <NUM> when the cap <NUM> is attached to the neck <NUM> of the container <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A receptacle (<NUM>) comprising a container (<NUM>) and a cap (<NUM>), the cap (<NUM>) being repeatedly attachable to the container (<NUM>) for closure of the receptacle (<NUM>), the cap (<NUM>) having a passage (<NUM>) having an opening (16a) formed therein, the container (<NUM>) having a neck (<NUM>) for insertion into the passage (<NUM>) via the opening (16a) of the cap (<NUM>) along a longitudinal axis (A) of the receptacle (<NUM>), wherein the opening (16a) of the cap (<NUM>) has a non-circular shaped inner contour (<NUM>) formed complementary to a non-circular shaped outer contour (<NUM>) of the neck (<NUM>), and
wherein an outer circumferential surface of the neck (<NUM>) is formed as an outer circumferential surface of a twisted non-circular element; characterized in that
an inner circumferential surface of the passage (<NUM>) is correspondingly formed as an inner circumferential surface of a twisted non-circular pipe so that the cap (<NUM>) can be attached onto the neck (<NUM>) of the container (<NUM>) by rotating the cap (<NUM>) relative to the container (<NUM>).