The present invention relates to a container with at least one closure means according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention is particularly concerned with lubricant cartridges and caps for sealing same.

Today, consciousness towards the environment is greater than in the past and containers must fulfill high safety demands, particularly for substances which are detrimental to the environment.

Nevertheless, such containers should be simple and easy to produce at low costs and their handling should also be easy and simple, both as to filling, preferably fully automatic sealing as well as repeated sealing at great and maintained safety, even after repeated opening and closing operations. The closure means should even be able to resist outer and interior strain up to a certain level, so that leakage may be avoided with comparatively great security. Furthermore, the contents of such a container must be fed out in a simple and reliable way.

The previously known containers and their closure means do not fulfill these demands, at least not in combination.

Caps which are previously known in this technical field, serve as sealing means for a cartridge or the like between its filling and use. When using the cartridge, the cap is normally removed and thrown away and has, therefore no further function to fulfill.

Beyond this limited function, previously known caps suffer often from the drawback, that they do not seal the container sufficiently safely. Leakage may thus occur easily and frequently and often a full container and maybe even adjacent containers, the contents of which has leaked out, are thrown away, as it can be rather unpleasant to get hands, clothes etc polluted.

Apart from possible leakage, the previously known caps are never¬ theless hard to remove, particularly caps which are not designed as

screwcaps. If the caps are designed as screwcaps, i.a. increased material thickness is required as well as extra means to provide the cap with interior threads and furthermore extra means to provide the one cartridge end with outer threads.

By US-A-4 934 570, there is previously known a cap for sealing one end of a container for fast food in accordance with the preamble of present claim 1. This cap is, in the middle of an interior collar, furnished with a circumferential incision, which is torn apart, when a plunger is pushed against the cap bottom, whereupon said bottom with app. half the axial length of the interior collar serves as plunger disk for feeding out fast food. Such a design shows drawbacks, as it may be very difficult and quite remarkable forces may be needed to make the collar crack within the area of the incision, where the collar continues on both sides in a straight way with the incision at right angle in relation thereto. For this reason, as clearly revealed by fig. 8, a need has occurred to increase substantially the thickness of the interior collar above the incision, in which way obviously the upper part of the interior collar and the outer collar should be prevented from following the plunger disk, in case the incision does not crack in spite of high pressure. Furthermore, this cap is not fixedly secured at the container in any way and pressures arising within the latter, e.g. when squeezing the container, would immediately lead to gliding of the cap away from the container. Even the feeding out of the contents of the container has to be regarded disadvantageous, as that part of the interior collar which forms part the plunger disk undergoes a change of shape from a position of rest with a converging shape towards the contents of the container to a parallel position at applied plunger pressure, whereby some of the contents of the container most probably will enter between the interior collar and the container wall thus preventing a normal plunger function or leaking out backwards along the free edge of the interior collar. Finally, the remainder of the interior collar and the outer collar left behind on the container end are not secured in any way. These parts may be dislodged unintentionally at any time and do thus constitute a waste problem.

Such a closure means may, to a limited extend, be tolerated for harmless substances, e.g. fast food. It is, however, undoubtedly unsuitable for substances which are detrimental to the environment, as lubricants and the like.

One objective of the present invention is therefore to provide an advantageous container with likewise advantageous closure means which, avoiding or counteracting the above-mentioned drawbacks, fulfill the above-mentioned demands in combination.

Another objective of the invention is to improve previously known containers and their closure means in various respects, particularly as to facilitating application of caps, guarantee the applied position of the caps in spite of considerable outer and/or interior strain, such as pressure, and to make possible a fast, easy and simple removal of said caps when so desired.

Furthermore, there should be material saving, and a fast, simple and safe transition to a plunger function of the one cap without damage on said cap or other parts of the container, which should be safeguarded. The cap parts remaining in certain cases at the container after separation of the plunger should be secured against unintended release. The transition of the cap from sealing to plunger function should be achievable in a simple way arbitrarily manually, e.g. by tearing off an outer collar, or mechanically/ automatically by placing the container into e.g. a pistol like tool. There should be means for safe control, guiding/sealing of the plunger and the line of fraction in the cap with plunger function shall permit-relatively easy desired separation and great safety against undesired separation. Furthermore, the choice of this region should positively affect both separability and subsequent guiding, control and sealing. Relevant parts of these properties should also prevail at an optional cap sealing the other container end and having solely sealing function and the container as such should be designed to further such properties in a far- reaching way, whereby e.g. tolerances, shrinking etc shall be controlled.

These objectives are achieved according to the invention by a container and at least one closure means, respectively, of the initially described kind being shaped substantially as defined in the characterizing clause of claim 1.

Further characteristics of and advantages with the invention are revealed by the following detailed specification with reference to the accompanying drawings, which in a partly schematic way show preferred embodiments. In the drawings: fig. 1 is a diametrical axial sectional view of a first embodiment of a container according to the invention consisting of circular cylindric tube and two caps sealing same, fig. 2 is a partial diametrical axial sectional view of a second embodiment of a closure means according to the invention similar to the one of fig. 1 but with a modified cap, figs. 3 and 4 are partial diametrical axial sectional views of a circular cylindrical tube according to the invention sealed at the one end by a cap similar to the one shown in fig. 2 and at the other end by a third embodiment of a cap according to the invention, fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the container shown in fig. 1, fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the tube shown in figs. 1 and 5, fig. 7 is a diametrical axial sectional view of a tube shown in figs.l, 5 and 6, fig. 8 is a magnified sectional view of the one end profile of a tube according to fig. 7, fig. 9 is a side elevational view similar to the one of fig. 5 of a modified embodiment, fig. 10 is a diametrical axial sectional view of a container according to fig. 9, fig. 11 is a side elevational view similar to the one of fig. 5 of a further modified embodiment, fig. 12 is a diametrical axial sectional view of the container according to fig. 11, fig. 13 is a magnified diametrical axial sectional view of a plunger cap according to figs. 1, 4, 5 and 9 - 12,

fig. 14 is a magnified view of the upper part of fig. 12, figs. 15 - 18 show the plunger cap according to fig. 13 in a perspective view from above as well as a top plan view, a side elevational view and an underneath plan view, fig. 19 is a perspective view from above of a modified cap similar to the one of figs. 15 - 18, figs. 20 - 22 show the cap according to fig. 14 seen from below, from the side and in a perspective view from above, and figs. 23 - 26 show the spout cap of fig. 10 seen from below, from the side, from above and in a perspective from above.

A container according to the invention is designated in its entirety by 1. This container comprises a preferably circular cylindric tube 2, which preferably is made of plastic material by injection molding. The other part of the container, which is optional, is a cap 3, which is at least partially matching in shape. The tube is preferably made of polyethylene HD 7028 and the cap of polyethylene LD + HD.

Characterizing for the tube 2 may be a flange 5, which preferably surrounds the one tube end 4. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, this flange extends radially both inwardly and outwardly from the respective cylindrical surfaces 7 and 8 of the tube wall 6 to form an interior flange 9 and an exterior flange 10.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the interior flange 9 projects longer from the adjacent cylindrical surface 7 than the outer flange 10 does from its adjacent surface 9. Typically, the interior flange may project 1 - 3 mm, preferably app. 2 mm, while the exterior flange may project 0.5 - 2.5 mm, preferably app. 1 mm. This makes the interior flange creating a greater retaining force in relation to the cap 3 than the exterior flange. In this way, a cap attached to the tube may resist comparatively great strain, particularly such strain which arises when the contents of the container is subjected to squeezing propagating a pressure on the cap from the inside, e.g. when a tube falls down or is harshly grasped. At the same time, it is nevertheless relatively easy to

remove the cap e.g. temporarily, as for this the free exterior edge of the cap outside the tube is grasped and heeled over and away from tube end 4 with the radially shorter exterior flange offering less resistance.

The interior flange 9 and the exterior flange 10 do suitably share a common upper delimitation surface 11 forming the free axial end surface of tube end 4.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the interior flange 9 is shorter in axial direction than the exterior flange 10. Typically, the interior flange can be 1 - 3, preferably approximately 2 mm long, while the exterior flange can measure 2 - 4, preferably approximately 2.5 mm in axial direction, whereby an interior sealing surface 12 and an exterior sealing surface 14 are formed, which preferably are situated within cylindrical, mutually coaxial surfaces. While the exterior flange 10 is terminated at its axial end which is turned away from surface 11 by a shoulder 15, which is preferably situated within a radial plane, the interior flange is terminated within a corresponding region preferably as an under¬ cut surface 13, which may be straight or concave to form a pointed annular edge 18, the purpose of which is to exert an extra sealing effect in relation to cap 3. The angle included between surfaces 12 and 13 amounts to 30° - 85°, preferably approximately 70°. Even another angle than 90° between surfaces 11 and 12 is conceivable, namely a larger angle than 90°, e.g. 90° - 130°, preferably app. 110°. It is also possible to provide at the outer part of surface 12 a bevel or curve to facilitate pushing of a cap onto the tube.

The cap 3 itself is partially matching the shape of tube end 4 as shown and described. Accordingly, the cap shows situated within a radial plane, a ring part 16, which inwardly connects to a circular cylindric ring part 17, which is closed by a bottom 19, which preferably is slightly concave seen from outside. These three parts 16, 17 and 19 show e.g. app. same material thickness, e.g. app. 1 mm. Outwardly, ring part 16 connects to an outer circular cylindric ring part 20, which is equally long as or somewhat longer in axial

direction than the interior ring part 17, measured from ring part 16.

Parts 16, 17 and 20 define an annular groove 21 for receiving and arresting tube end 4. To this purpose, parts 17 and 20 are provided with circumferential shoulders, bulges or the like 24 and 28, respectively, which are facing each other but are offset somewhat in axial direction in relation to one another corresponding to the previously described and shown difference in axial extension between interior and exterior flange. With a cap firmly applied, said shoulders, bulges or the like 24 and 28 are provided directly below surfaces 13 and 15, so that the cap may not be removed without considerable stretching away from tube end 4.

The free axial half 27 of ring part 20 may optionally be bent out¬ wardly somewhat or provided with a circumferential interior bevel 29 for facilitating pushing the cap onto the tube end. For the same purpose, that half of ring part 17, which connects to bottom 19, may be provided with a bevel 25.

As the outer ring part 20 does not have to develop similar resis¬ tance properties as to unintended release of the cap and the cap furthermore to a certain extend should be removable intentionally, this ring part is suitably shaped somewhat thinner, e.g. 0.7 mm thick, while the other two parts and even the bottom may be shaped app. 1 mm thick, all in accordance with one non-limiting embodiment.

Beyond the effects described hereinbefore, the closure means according to the invention is characterized by following properties. In the normal sealed position according to fig. 1, excellent sealing is achieved around the entire periphery of both inside, endside and outside of the tube. If so desired, ring groove 21 may be furnished with a sealing agent, e.g. silicon, in connection with the filling and sealing of the tube at a factory. In this way, extra great safety against leakage during handling onward to the user is achieved.

If a filled tube sealed by a cap as described and shown is exposed to interior pressure for a reason as described before, such pressure will affect primarily the cap bottom, which is pushed up¬ wards to attain a more flat shape, whereby ring part 17 is pressed against or towards the tube wall within the connecting region between this part and the bottom and will increase the sealing pressure of the shoulder, bulge or the like 24 against and around ring edge 18. The pointed shape of the latter guarantees in a far- reaching way, that the cap may not be released at minor or medium size pressures from the inside.

When applying pressure from the outside on e.g. the cap bottom in axial direction, parts 16 and 20 and particularly the shoulder, bulge or the like 28 will resist such pressures to a practically unlimited extent. The shoulder, bulge or the like 28 functions here as some kind of heeling stop, which prevents in combination with shoulder 15, that the peripheral channel part of the cap may "glide" inwardly around tube end 4.

On the other hand, if it is desired to remove the cap, possibly only temporarily, this may be achieved comparatively simply and easily by grasping from outside the cap part 27 at any place and pulling and bending that place upwardly in fig. 2, so that the shoulder, bulge or the like 28 may pass beyond shoulder 15. This is facilitated by shaping ring part 20 somewhat thinner in combination with manufacturing the cap in general of flexible plastic material and/or of material which is less flexible per se but flexible due to material thickness chosen. At continued pulling away of the cap, the shoulder, bulge or the like 24 glides along and eventually beyond ring edge 18, until the cap is entirely removed.

If desired to seal the tube again, the cap is attached loosely to tube end 4 and is then pushed until the shoulders or bulges of the cap have glided past the shoulders of the tube end, with elasti- cally deforming the cap parts concerned and eventually have snapped behind the tube shoulders or bulges and arrest the cap in this position.

As can be seen, the embodiment according to figs. 1 and 2 differs from the one shown in fig. 3 only in that the shoulders 24 and 28 have been replaced by bulges and by shaping the bevels 25 and 29 in a more reduced way.

Figs. 3 and 4 show an at least principally preferred embodiment of a tube according to the invention provided with two different closure means, one at each end. The one cap and the one tube end are suitably identically with or similar to the upper part of fig. 1 or fig. 2, while the other closure means differs there from and is designated in its entirety by 30. The latter means comprises a cap 31 having a preferably flat bottom 32 which substantially fills the interior of the tube, and which centrally may be provided with a circular recess 33 with a central protrusion 34 and a peripheral annular groove 35. Parts 33 - 35 are provided to be abutted by a plunger rod of e.g. a grease gun and/or may these parts be removed by pushing away this central bottom part which, however, remains connected to the surrounding bottom part via a small radial bridge 63, which is not shown in fig. 4 but in figs. 15 - 19. In the so formed hole, a spout of some kind, e.g. similar to the one shown in fig. 1, may be inserted.

The bottom 32, which is provided inserted into tube 2 is surrounded by an interior collar 36, which reaches up to and somewhat beyond the respective tube end 50 and is, at this end, provided with an annular groove 38, which cross-sectionally suitably is wedge-shaped opening outwardly in preferably axial direction, and which is provided in a bridge part 39 abutting said tube end 50 in a butt way. Said bridge part connects immediately outside of said tube end to an exterior collar 40 abutting said tube end from the outside and showing, app. in the middle of its axial extent, an annular bulge 41 abutting said tube end and being provided to grasp around and beyond an annular bulge 43 at this tube end, which latter bulge in its turn forms an annular groove 51 on the inside of the tube, into which interior groove the interior collar 36 is inserted with a circumferential bulge 37. The free end part of the exterior collar 40 may be bent somewhat outwardly and/or form an interior

bevel 42 for facilitating pushing of the cap onto this tube end.

The latter cap is even a plunger to its function, the exterior collar 40 being provided to be torn away or may the bottom with the interior collar be sheared away without preceding tearing away of the exterior collar, which is facilitated by the substantially reduced thickness of the bottom of the annular groove 38 and in that the bottom of the annular groove is placed directly against the interior edge of the tube end concerned, which edge normally is relatively sharp, and in that the bridge part 39 is placed butt against said tube end, whereupon a plunger rod of a grease gun (not shown) may push the so formed plunger part of the cap longer into the tube overcoming the retaining force created by bulges and grooves 37, 43 and 51, the retaining force of the bulge 41 of the outer collar possibly having been eliminated before by tearing away the outer collar.

With remained outer collar on the tube, the collar does partly not have to be provided with a special tearing means and is partly secured in its position after separation from the interior collar and the bottom in that the bridge part even after separation will abut the respective tube end from the one direction and the collar bulge 41 will grasp around the tube bulge 43 from the opposite direction. Furthermore, when separating the plunger constituted by bottom and interior collar with the outer collar remaining in position, this will render the advantage, that the bulge 37 of the interior collar will be retained in the interior groove of the tube, until a certain pressure has developed, with which the plunger rod acts upon the cap bottom. When exceeding this pressure, bulge 37 is released in a snap-like way out of groove 51 and the actual pressure level will then have a sudden impact on the bottom of the annular groove 38 and shear off the thin bottom against the underlying interior edge of the tube end. In this way, a high threshold is achieved against unintended breakaway of this closure means at the same time creating a desirably very limited region for intended breaking up.

The spout 44 according to figs. 1, 5, 9, 10 and 23 - 26 may be an outwardly conically converging pipe having an annular bulge 45 at its free end, which bulge is intended to be surrounded by a small cap 46 with a bottom 47 and a sleeve wall 48, on the inside of which there is an interior annular bulge 49. The spout is prefer ^¬ ably integrated with the cap according to figs. 2, 3, 9, 10 or 23 - 26.

The cap 3 shown in figs. 2 and 3 by way of two different embodi¬ ments is shown, in figs. 9 - 12, 14 and 20 - 26, in a third, preferred embodiment. The ring part or flange 16 of cap 3 does preferably not project radially beyond tube flange 10 but terminates somewhat before reaching the latter ^' s outer edge.

Figs. 21 and 24 reveal clearly, how the bulge 24 projects from the lateral wall of the cap. Beyond the bulge, the cap begins two incline obliquely inwardly for connecting to a bowl-like bottom 19. Within the region for such a cap, tube 2 is either shaped to follow the outside of the cap corresponding to the shape of tube end 50 or is shaped as shown in figs. 10, 12 and 14. This shape prevents the contents of the cartridge from being spilt and keeps the cap securely fixed. The attachment of the cap is facilitated and its unintended removal is counteracted in that the bulge downwardly forms a longer bevel with a minor angle, e.g. 30° - 45°, in relation to lateral wall 17, while the remainder upwardly is rounded at a minor radius with an angle of e.g. 45° - 90° close to the sidewall.

Fig. 22 shows the cap seen obliquely from above disclosing an almost triangular gripping handle 52, which is intended to facili¬ tate removal of the cap. The gripping handle is shaped in one piece with the cap and is connected to a spot-like region uppermost at sidewall 17 via a small tongue 53 forming a transition into the upper inside of the flange of the cap. The wide upper flange prevents the cap from being pushed into the tube. The cap is preferably manufactured as one homogeneous piece, e.g. by injection molding, preferably of PVC.

A combination of figs. 22 and 14 makes obvious that, when pulling the handle 52 thanks to the latter ^' s position within the upper cavity 54 of the cap and the spotlike connection to side wall 17, the applied pulling force will have a direction substantially in line with the upper curving of bulge 23. Consequently, an initial spot-like removal of the bulge and of the cap from the interior groove 51 of the tube are facilitated, which spot-like "cracking" of the connection cap/tube then will continue fast along the entire interior groove, until the cap is totally removed. If the cap is provided with a spout, a handle is preferably omitted.

A cap 3 is, however, suitably provided at a container end according to figs. 2, 3 or preferably uppermost in figs. 1, 6, 7 and 8 where, like in fig. 14, the profile of this tube end is shown clearly. This profile shows parts 6 - 15 and 18 similar to corresponding parts in figs. 2 and 3. The extension of interior flange 9 inwardly may, however, be less, while the undercut surface 13 may be more vigorously shaped by an acute angle of e.g. app. 30° in relation to a radial plane.

The ring edge 18 is shaped as a pointed lip, which projects obliquely downwardly and inwardly from surface 12 and includes with its upper side 55 an angle of 100° - 160°, preferably app. 140°, while the radial length from surface 12 in a practical example may be 0.5 - 5 mm, preferably app. 1 mm. Fig. 14 shows clearly, how lip 18 with its edge enters into the angled region between wall 17 and bulge 24 of the cap. The lip, which is flexible at least thanks to its shape, will thereby easily follow certain deviations and movements and accordingly will easily compensate for e.g. material shrinking, even in combination with the cap. The lip contributes even to pressing and keeping the cap in place and increases the efficiency of such a sealing arrangement both at arising interior pressures with expansion of the cap bottom in accordance with previous description and initially, when removing the cap, by elastically following all movements. The lip enters even thanks to its pointed shape somewhat into the cap material and increases the sealing effect even more. By showing a bevel 56 uppermost in the

transitional region between surfaces 5 and 12, the profile facili tates insertion of particularly a cap 3, particularly in combi nation with a cap bottom bevel 25.

Fig. 19 shows a modified plunger cap embodiment having a maximum o possible features, of which all but the ring groove in the bridg may be dispensed with.

At preferably one location, the outer collar 40 is cut apart o slit by an axial cut 57, which may lack width or form a gap of e.g. app. 1 mm width. This cut extends radially at least through th major part, preferably the entire outer collar and even through th bridge 39. It is, however, conceivable that the cut does no penetrate the outer collar entirely in radial direction but leaves a thin skin 58, which preferably is situated at the inside of th outer collar, i.e. makes that the outer collar extends uninterrupt¬ edly around the outside of the cap or contributes to an uninter¬ rupted outside of the cap, the importance of which will be explained more explicitly below. Within the region of the bridge, the cut may possibly be enlarged from an axial to a peripheral extension connecting to groove 38, in which way a tearing-off-means may be provided, which will be explained more explicitly below.

Connecting to cut 57, there projects from the outer collar 40 either in the same direction as the collar or within a radial plane a tongue 59, which at its free end on the upper side is provided with a protrusion 60 serving as gripping means. By gripping the tongue and its protrusion and pulling them outwardly, one can tear off the outer collar, whereby the thin bottom of groove 38 will be torn apart, whereby preferably a thin and pointed circumferential lip forms the remainder of the groove bottom in radial direction at the axially and radially outermost situated part of the interior collar.

In parallel relation to cut 57, there may possibly be similar cuts or the like 61 leaving a flap 62 of some millimeters width of the outer collar. Hereby it is conceivable, that the tongue 59

alternatively may be attached to or commence from said flap or may the importance of one or several extra cuts or the like, which possibly may be distributed along the periphery of the outer collar, reside in that in this way a certain expansion of the outer collar will easily be possible, when the cap is applied to one end of e.g. a lubricant cartridge, which end will enter into an annular gap 63 formed between the outer collar 40, the interior collar 36 and the bridge 39 as bottom limitation. Hereby, it is conceivable, when attaching such a cap, to introduce simultaneously a bonding agent, which possibly is applied to the inside of the outer collar and/or the bridge, whereby an extra safety against leakage will be achieved. The other end of e.g. a lubricant cartridge may possibly as an alternative to a cap 3 be sealed by a bonded skin or a laminate of plastic material and/or metallic foil and/or cardboard, which skin or the like easily may be pierced by e.g. a pointed part of a spout, out of which lubricant is to be fed.

A lubricant cartridge or the like sealed by a cap according to the invention offers great security against leakage, as the interior collar will seal against the inside of the cartridge along a substantial axial extent, while the bridge effects further sealing within a radial plane and the outer collar finally will render an extra sealing even on the outside of a lubricant cartridge along a substantial part of its actual length. The attachment of a cap according to the invention is a simple procedure, which rapidly may be performed by means of conventional machines. In further respects, this plunger cap has been described hereinbefore and shown in e.g. figs. 4 and 13.

When e.g. a lubricant is to be fed out of a tube, said tongue is grasped and rapidly and simply the outer collar is torn away, so that only the bottom 32 with the interior collar and a pointed minor part of the bridge remains at the free end of the interior collar, which parts all are situated within the tube, where the remainder of the cap now advantageously may be used as plunger for feeding out the contents. Hereby, a plunger rod or the like is brought against the outside of the cap bottom, possibly with the

projections 35 as localization and centering means, and can the so formed plunger be displaced by means of a plunger rod along the entire cartridge, until its contents has been completely fed out. Hereby, it may be advantageous, if the interior collar runs slightly divergingly away from bottom 32, so that the free edge and said lip of the interior collar abut with certain tension the inside of a tube. Hereby is safeguarded, that the contents is pressed solely forwardly and can not penetrate in between the interior collar and the wall of the tube.

An annular bulge or the like 37 at the outside of the interior collar may be a further means acting upon the tube wall, either in combination with only said lip-shaped remainder of the interior collar or even with the transitional region between cap bottom and interior collar, which parts accordingly may be aligned depending on the above-mentioned designing possibilities.

The present invention offers accordingly a very advantageous and practical double function of a cap and the entire lubricant handling may thanks to the invention be free of spillage and much more simple and sensitive to the environment and even cost saving.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described hereinbefore, which may be modified and completed within the frame¬ work of the inventive idea and following claims.