Snap-fit closure system

Abstract

A container for pourable washing and cleaning agents, comprising: a threadless circular container opening onto whose outwardly directed distal end is shaped a cylindrical holding ring whose outside diameter is larger than the outside diameter of the container opening, so that the container opening is set back inward with respect to the holding ring toward the center axis of the container opening; a substantially cylindrical pouring aid that comprises at least at one distal end a catch spring element, the catch spring element and the holding ring being configured in such a way that by snapping the pouring aid onto the holding ring, a liquid-tight connection that is nonreleasable for a user is constituted, and that comprises at its other distal end means for releasable connection of the pouring aid to a closure cap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container ( 1 ) for pourable washing and cleaning agents, comprising
 a threadless circular container opening ( 2 ) onto whose outwardly directed distal end is shaped a cylindrical holding ring ( 3 ) whose outside diameter (Dh) is larger than the outside diameter (Db) of the container opening ( 2 ), so that the container opening ( 2 ) is set back inward with respect to the holding ring ( 3 ) toward the center axis of the container opening ( 2 );   a substantially cylindrical pouring aid ( 4 )
 that comprises at least at one distal end a catch spring element ( 5 ), the catch spring element ( 5 ) and the holding ring ( 3 ) being configured in such a way that by snapping the pouring aid ( 4 ) onto the holding ring ( 3 ), a liquid-tight connection that is nonreleasable for a user is constituted; and 
 that comprises at its other distal end means ( 6 ) for releasable connection of the pouring aid ( 4 ) to a closure cap ( 7 ). 
   
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the catch spring element ( 5 ) comprises a flank ( 5   a ) having an axial slope angle β of flank ( 5   a ) between 2° and 85°. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the catch spring element ( 5 ) of the pouring aid ( 4 ) is embodied as a resilient peripheral collar ( 5   b ). 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that a sealing ring ( 8 ), which in the state snapped onto the holding ring ( 3 ) abuts against the inwardly directed peripheral wall of the holding ring ( 3 ), is shaped onto the pouring aid ( 4 ). 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the means ( 6 ) for releasable connection of the pouring aid ( 4 ) to a closure cap ( 7 ) is embodied as an internal thread shaped into the pouring aid ( 4 ) and as a corresponding external thread in the closure cap ( 7 ), so that the closure cap ( 7 ) can be screwed into the pouring aid ( 4 ). 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the means ( 6 ) for releasable connection of the pouring aid ( 4 ) to a closure cap ( 7 ) is embodied as a snap-on connection releasable by a user. 
     
     
         7 . A method for manufacturing a container according to  claim 1 , comprising the following steps:
 a) furnishing a preform having a threadless circular container opening ( 2 ) onto whose outwardly directed distal end is shaped a cylindrical holding ring ( 3 ) whose outside diameter (Dh) is larger than the outside diameter (Db) of the container opening ( 2 ), so that the container opening ( 2 ) is set back inward with respect to the holding ring ( 3 ) toward the center axis of the container opening ( 2 ),   b) inflating the preform into a container having a threadless circular container opening ( 2 ) onto whose outwardly directed distal end is shaped a cylindrical holding ring ( 3 ) whose outside diameter (Dh) is larger than the outside diameter (Db) of the container opening ( 2 ), so that the container opening ( 2 ) is set back inward with respect to the holding ring ( 3 ) toward the center axis of the container opening ( 2 ),   c) snapping a substantially cylindrical pouring aid ( 4 ) onto the holding ring ( 3 ) of the container ( 1 ), where the pouring aid ( 4 ) comprises a catch spring element ( 5 ) at least at one distal end, where the catch spring element ( 5 ) and the holding ring ( 3 ) are configured in such a way that by snapping the pouring aid ( 4 ) onto the holding ring ( 3 ), a liquid-tight connection that is nonreleasable for a user is constituted, and that comprises at its other distal end means ( 6 ) for releasable connection of the pouring aid ( 4 ) to a closure cap ( 7 ).   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the closure cap ( 7 ) is already connected to the pouring aid ( 4 ) in method step c). 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the closure cap ( 7 ) is connected to the pouring aid ( 4 ) in a method step d) following the method step.