US 5,632,440 AGranted

Container with plug-in closure unit

AssigneeTetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.

InventorsPaul Tragardh, Elmar Mock, Matthias Hell

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Abstract

A combination of a container and a plug-in closure unit, and a method of manufacturing the container of the combination. The container has a wall having an opening therein defining an edge. The closure unit can be inserted into the opening, and further comprises a closure part including an opening lip defining an opening lip region, and a hinge disposed opposite the opening lip of the closure part and defining a hinge region. The closure unit also includes a pouring part connected to the closure part by the hinge. The pouring part includes a neck which can be inserted into the opening of the container, and a pouring opening. The pouring part further includes an inner retaining member extending beyond the edge of the opening on the interior of the container when the closure unit is inserted into the opening thereby defining an inner retaining plane C. The inner retaining member consists of a first inner retaining element to be disposed exclusively in the hinge region, and a second inner retaining member to be disposed exclusively in the opening lip region. The pouring part also includes an outer retaining member extending beyond the edge of the opening on the exterior of the container when the closure unit is inserted into the opening. The outer retaining member thereby defines an outer retaining plane C'. A portion of the wall of the container is retained between the inner and the outer retaining member between planes C and C'.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A combination of a container and a plug-in closure unit, the container having an interior, an exterior, a wall and an oblong opening in the wall, the opening having a width and a length longer than its width and further defining an edge, the closure unit being adapted to be inserted into the opening, the closure unit further having a closed state and an open state and comprising:

a closure part including an opening lip defining an opening lip region;
a hinge disposed opposite the opening lip of the closure part and defining a hinge region;
and
a pouring part connected to the closure part by the hinge, the pouring part including:
an oblong neck adapted to be retained in the opening of the container, the neck having a width and a length longer than its width and further being configured such that an area circumscribed by a circumference of the neck is larger than an area circumscribed by the edge of the opening, wherein a difference between the widths of the opening and the neck is larger than a difference between the lengths of the opening and the neck;
a pouring opening operatively associated with the neck, the closure part being adapted to tightly close the pouring opening by fitting thereupon and further being adapted to open the pouring opening by being removed therefrom for placing the closure unit in its closed state and in its open state, respectively;
an inner retaining means for retaining the neck in the opening by extending beyond the edge of the opening on the interior of the container when the closure unit is inserted into the opening thereby defining an inner retaining plane C, the inner retaining means consisting of:
a first inner retaining means disposed exclusively in the hinge region when the closure unit is inserted into the opening;
and
a second inner retaining means disposed exclusively in the opening lip region when the closure unit is inserted into the opening;
and
an outer retaining means for retaining the neck in the opening by extending beyond the edge of the opening on the exterior of the container when the closure unit is inserted into the opening, the outer retaining means thereby defining an outer retaining plane C', a portion of the wall of the container being adapted to be retained between the inner retaining means and the outer retaining means between planes C and C'.

9 more elements

A combination of a container and a plug-in closure unit, the container having an interior, an exterior, a wall and an opening in the wall, the opening defining an edge, the closure unit being adapted to be inserted into the opening, the closure unit further having a closed state and an open state and comprising:

a closure part including an opening lip defining an opening lip region;
a hinge disposed opposite the opening lip of the closure part and defining a hinge region;
and
a pouring part connected to the closure part by the hinge, the pouring part including:
a neck adapted to be retained in the opening of the container, the neck being configured such that:
an area circumscribed by a circumference of the neck is larger than an area circumscribed by the edge of the opening;
and
a contour defined by the circumference of the neck does not correspond in shape to a contour defined by the edge of the opening, wherein the contour defined by the edge of the opening includes linear portions, and portions of the contour defined by the circumference of the neck which are disposed adjacent the linear portions of the opening when the closure unit is inserted into the opening are arched;
a pouring opening operatively associated with the neck, the closure part being adapted to tightly close the pouring opening by fitting thereupon and further being adapted to open the pouring opening by being removed therefrom for placing the closure unit in its closed state and in its open state, respectively;
an inner retaining means for retaining the neck in the opening by extending beyond the edge of the opening on the interior of the container when the closure unit is inserted into the opening thereby defining an inner retaining plane C, the inner retaining means consisting of:
a first inner retaining means disposed exclusively in the hinge region when the closure unit is inserted into the opening;
and
a second inner retaining means disposed exclusively in the opening lip region when the closure unit is inserted into the opening;
and
an outer retaining means for retaining the neck in the opening by extending beyond the edge of the opening on the exterior of the container when the closure unit is inserted into the opening, the outer retaining means thereby defining an outer retaining plane C', a portion of the wall of the container being adapted to be retained between the inner retaining means and the outer retaining means between planes C and C'.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.