Plug, packaging container and method for manufacturing a plug

Abstract

An aspect of the present invention relates to a spout having a spout body, a cap, a band portion, and a rib portion. The spout body has a cylindrical side wall, an external thread, and a flange provided at one end side of the side wall. The cap has a top plate, a peripheral wall connected to an outer periphery of the top plate, and an internal thread that is screwed with the external thread. The band portion is connected to one end of the peripheral wall and fixes the cap to the spout body between the peripheral wall and the spout body. The rib portion connects the peripheral wall and the band portion and protrudes from an inner peripheral surface of the end portion of the peripheral wall and an inner peripheral surface of the band portion toward an inner side of the cap. The spout body further has a protrusion provided to the side wall and limiting movement of the cap and the band portion with respect to the spout body. The band portion and the peripheral wall are divided by a slit located at a position higher than a portion of the protrusion opposite to the peripheral wall, the slit extending to an inside of the rib portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to suppositories, packaging containers, and methods for manufacturing suppositories. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a dispensing stopper for containers holding liquids, etc. A cap is installed at the nozzle of the stopper, and the cap can be opened by rotation. When the packaging container is in the unopened state, a strap is attached to this cap for securing it to the nozzle. Patent Document 2 discloses a bolt-type nozzle structure that enhances tamper-proof functionality. Patent Document 3 discloses a composite container cap consisting of a cap body, a sheet metal inner cap, and a top cap.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 6780793

[0004] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-112357

[0005] Patent Document 3: Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 3-11649 Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention provides a mouth plug, a packaging container, and a method for manufacturing the mouth plug, which are beneficial to stabilizing the quality of the strap portion.

[0007] One aspect of the invention relates to a nozzle comprising a nozzle, a cap, a strap portion, and a rib. The nozzle has: a cylindrical sidewall; an external thread disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the sidewall; and a flange disposed at one end of the sidewall. The cap has: a top plate; a peripheral wall connected to the outer peripheral edge of the top plate; and an internal thread disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall, engaging with the external thread. The strap portion is connected to one end of the peripheral wall, securing the cap to the nozzle between the peripheral wall and the nozzle. The rib connects the peripheral wall and the strap portion, protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the end of the peripheral wall and the inner peripheral surface of the strap portion toward the inside of the cap. The nozzle also has a protrusion disposed on the sidewall, restricting movement of the cap and strap portion relative to the nozzle. The strap portion and the peripheral wall are divided by a slit located above the portion of the protrusion opposite to the peripheral wall, the slit extending into the interior of the rib.

[0008] Regarding this stopper, the slits formed at the boundary between the strap portion and the peripheral wall, and at the rib portion, are located between the portion of the protrusion opposite the peripheral wall and the top plate. Therefore, when the slits are formed using a cutting edge such as a tool, the ribs abut against the protrusion, thereby preventing the peripheral wall and strap portion from deflecting inward. Thus, the slits can be formed stably. Therefore, this stopper contributes to the stabilization of the quality of the strap portion.

[0009] The thickness of the rib can be 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. In this case, a thin-walled portion can be easily obtained by forming a slit in a part of the rib.

[0010] The strap portion can be connected to one end of the cover's peripheral wall in a manner that separates it from the cover when it is removed from the nozzle. A gap can be provided between the lower end of the strap portion and the portion of the flange opposite to the lower end of the strap portion. The width of the gap can be greater than or equal to 0.5 mm. In this case, the strap portion is temporarily separated from the cover, and a gap is formed between the strap portion and the cover when the cover is reinstalled on the nozzle. Moreover, the width of this gap can be greater than or equal to approximately 0.5 mm, thus improving the visual confirmation of the gap after opening.

[0011] The distance between the lower end of the strap and the slit can be less than or equal to 6.0 mm. In this case, it is easy to ensure the size of the cover or the aforementioned gap.

[0012] The strap portion may have: a cylindrical body with ribs; and a hook that slopes from the lower end of the body toward the top plate. The hook can abut against a protrusion to prevent the cover from separating from the nozzle. In this case, accidental opening of the cover can be prevented.

[0013] The hook can be configured to face the lower surface of the protrusion when separated from the nozzle. Bending the hook can sometimes generate a restoring force that causes it to tilt towards the nozzle. Due to this restoring force, the hook clamps the nozzle while in contact with it, which may cause the strap to remain in its original position and fail to fall downwards when the cover is removed. With the above structure, the hook is configured to face the lower surface of the protrusion when separated from the nozzle, thus reducing the likelihood of the hook contacting the nozzle when the cover is removed. As a result, with the above structure, the separated strap can fall smoothly. Therefore, it is beneficial to stabilize the quality of the strap.

[0014] Multiple hooks can be arranged spaced apart from each other along the circumference of the central axis of the cover. The strap portion can have multiple thin-walled portions that connect adjacent hooks to each other, with a thickness less than the number of hooks. Even if any hook were to tilt towards the central axis due to restoring force, the connection by the multiple thin-walled portions would limit the tilting action. Therefore, the possibility of a hook tilting towards the central axis and contacting the nozzle can be reduced. This contributes to the stabilization of the quality of the strap portion.

[0015] One aspect of the invention relates to a packaging container having any of the aforementioned latches and a container body for mounting the latches. The packaging container having the aforementioned latches thus facilitates the stabilization of the quality of the strap portion.

[0016] A method for manufacturing a plug according to one aspect of the present invention includes the following steps: a step of preparing a nozzle having: a cylindrical sidewall having external threads; a flange having one end of the sidewall; and a protrusion protruding outward from the sidewall; a step of preparing a cover member having: a top plate; a peripheral wall connected to the outer peripheral edge of the top plate having internal threads on its inner peripheral surface; and a rib protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall; a step of screwing the internal threads and external threads together to install the cover member into the nozzle; and a step of forming a slit extending from the outer edge of the peripheral wall to the interior of the rib at a position above the portion of the protrusion opposite to the peripheral wall while the cover member is installed in the nozzle.

[0017] Regarding this manufacturing method, for example, when forming the slit using a cutting edge such as a tool, the rib abuts against the protrusion, thereby suppressing the inward deflection of the peripheral wall of the cap component. Therefore, the slit can be formed stably. Thus, this manufacturing method contributes to the stabilization of the quality of the strap portion included in the plug.

[0018] The effects of the invention

[0019] According to the present invention, a mouth plug, a packaging container, and a method for manufacturing a mouth plug are provided, which are beneficial to stabilizing the quality of the strap portion. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing an example of a packaging container with a spout assembly.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a side view of an example of a plug in an unopened state.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a mouth plug.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a side view showing an example of a plug after it has been opened.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the boundary between the cover and the strap section.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a perspective view showing an example of the interior of the cover and the strap section.

[0026] Figure 7 This is a top view showing an example of a cover.

[0027] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of the plug involved in variation example 1.

[0028] Figure 9This is a bottom view showing an example of a strap section.

[0029] Figure 10 It is Figure 8 The image shows a magnified portion of the X-ray.

[0030] Figure 11 (a) is a schematic diagram illustrating the bending of the hook. Figure 11 (b) is a schematic diagram used to illustrate the shape of the thin-walled section.

[0031] Figure 12 This is a cross-sectional view of the plug involved in variation example 2.

[0032] Figure 13 This is a bottom view of the plug involved in variation example 3. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Several embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are merely examples for illustrating the invention and are not intended to limit the invention to these specific details. In the description, elements having the same characteristics or functions are represented by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, positional relationships such as up, down, left, and right are based on those shown in the accompanying drawings. The dimensional ratios of the elements are not limited to those shown in the drawings. Some of the drawings show an orthogonal coordinate system defined by the X, Y, and Z axes.

[0034] [Packaging Containers]

[0035] Figure 1 The diagram shows a perspective view of a packaging container according to one embodiment. The packaging container 1 is a container for holding contents. The contents held in the packaging container 1 can be liquid; specific examples include alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, and condiments. The packaging container 1 has a container body 2 and a stopper 4. The container body 2 is the main part that holds liquid or other contents. Materials for the container body 2 include paper, resin, and glass. The container body 2 can be made of a paper-resin laminate. A stopper 4 is installed on the container body 2.

[0036] (mouth plug)

[0037] The plug 4 is a component that forms an outlet for dispensing the contents from the packaging container 1 (container body 2). Figure 2 The image shows a side view of the plug 4. Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 The longitudinal section of the plug 4 is shown. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the nozzle 4 has a cover 10, a nozzle 40, and a strap 50. The cover 10 is fixed (installed) to the nozzle 40.

[0038] The cap 10, nozzle 40, and strap portion 50 can all be made of resin. For example, the cap 10 and strap portion 50 can be made of polypropylene resin. The nozzle 40 can be made of low-density polyethylene resin, wherein it can be made of linear low-density polyethylene resin. The cap 10, nozzle 40, and strap portion 50 will be described separately below. In the following description, the central axis Ax of the plug 4 (refer to...) Figure 3 The terms "inner" and "outer" are used as a reference. The direction toward the central axis Ax is defined as "inner," and the direction away from the central axis Ax is defined as "outer." The central axis Ax of the plug 4 is the same as the central axis Ax of the cover 10. The direction along the central axis Ax is defined as "up and down direction." The direction of the cover 10 away from the nozzle 40 is defined as "upper," and the direction of the cover 10 approaching the nozzle 40 is defined as "lower."

[0039] The cover 10 has a top plate 12, a peripheral wall 14, internal threads 15, and an inner ring 16. The top plate 12 is formed in a circular plate shape. A conical portion 18 is formed on the outer periphery of the top plate 12. The peripheral wall 14 extends downward from the conical portion 18 and has a cylindrical shape. Thus, the upper end of the peripheral wall 14 is connected to the outer periphery of the top plate 12. The central axis Ax of the latch 4 (the central axis Ax of the cover 10) can pass through the center of the top plate 12 and is orthogonal to the upper surface of the top plate 12. A knurled portion 20 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 14.

[0040] For example, Figure 2 As shown, the knurled portion 20 is composed of a plurality of protrusions 22 and a plurality of bases 24. The plurality of protrusions 22 and the plurality of bases 24 are arranged alternately one by one along a circumferential direction centered on the central axis Ax of the cover 10. That is, in this circumferential direction, each protrusion 22 is held by a pair of bases 24, and each base 24 is held by a pair of protrusions 22. The protrusions 22 and bases 24 will be described in detail later.

[0041] The peripheral wall 14 may include a base portion 28 disposed below the knurled portion 20. The base portion 28 has a cylindrical shape. The strap portion 50 is connected to the lower end of the base portion 28. Providing the base portion 28 facilitates the molding of the cover 10 and its connection with the strap portion 50. In this invention, connection (installation) to a component includes not only direct connection to that component, but also connection (installation) via other fastening components. The knurled portion 20 is formed between the lower end of the conical portion 18 and the upper end of the base portion 28. Furthermore, the cover 10 does not necessarily have to have the conical portion 18 and the base portion 28; for example, the knurled portion 20 may be formed on the entire peripheral wall 14 of the cover 10.

[0042] like Figure 3As shown, the internal thread 15 is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 14. The inner ring 16 is provided on the inner surface (lower surface) of the top plate 12. The inner ring 16 extends from the inner surface of the top plate 12 along the peripheral wall 14 and has a cylindrical shape. The inner ring 16 is disposed on the inner side of the peripheral wall 14 with a gap between it and the peripheral wall 14.

[0043] The nozzle 40 has a sidewall 42, an external thread 43, and a flange 44. The sidewall 42 has a cylindrical shape. The diameter of the sidewall 42 is smaller than the diameter of the peripheral wall 14 of the cover 10. That is, the distance between the sidewall 42 and the central axis Ax is smaller than the distance between the peripheral wall 14 and the central axis Ax. The external thread 43 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the sidewall 42 (located on the outer peripheral surface of the upper half of the sidewall 42). The internal thread 15 of the peripheral wall 14 of the cover 10 is screwed into the external thread 43. The upper end of the sidewall 42 (the upper end and its vicinity) is inserted between the peripheral wall 14 and the inner ring 16 of the cover 10. The sidewall 42 is in close contact with the peripheral wall 14 and the inner ring 16 at multiple locations. This suppresses leakage (e.g., liquid leakage) of contents from between the nozzle 40 and the cover 10.

[0044] A flange 44 is disposed at one end of the sidewall 42. The flange 44 is connected to the lower end of the sidewall 42 and extends outward beyond the sidewall 42. The flange 44 has a cylindrical shape (formed as an annular shape). The flange 44 is the engagement point when the plug 4 is installed on the container body 2. The packaging of the container body 2 can be joined with one surface 44a of the flange 44. The joining of the packaging to the flange 44 can be performed by ultrasonic welding or bonding.

[0045] The flange 44 includes an annular portion 46 that connects the portion having the aforementioned surface 44a (hereinafter referred to as "flange portion 45") to the sidewall 42. The annular portion 46 is disposed inside the flange portion 45, for example, near the lower end of the sidewall 42 (the side of the lower end).

[0046] A strap portion 50 is mounted on the lower end of the peripheral wall 14 of the cover 10. The strap portion 50 is connected to the lower end of the base portion 28 included in the peripheral wall 14. The strap portion 50 has a cylindrical shape. The diameter (outer diameter) of the strap portion 50 is approximately the same as the diameter (outer diameter) of the peripheral wall 14 of the cover 10. The strap portion 50 functions to fix the cover 10 to the nozzle 40 between the peripheral wall 14 and the nozzle 40. The strap portion 50 is disposed between the peripheral wall 14 and the annular portion 46 of the nozzle 40, restricting the cover 10 from separating from the nozzle 40.

[0047] A gap g is provided between the lower end of the strap portion 50 and the portion of the flange 44 opposite to the lower end of the strap portion 50. Figure 3 In the example shown, a gap g is formed between the lower end of the strap portion 50 and the upper end of the annular portion 46 of the flange 44. This gap g is provided for the purpose of preventing tampering.

[0048] More specifically, the strap portion 50 is connected to the peripheral wall 14 in such a way that when the cover 10 is removed from the nozzle 40 in its unopened state (the state where the cover 10 is fixed to the nozzle 40), the strap portion 50 is separated from the cover 10. The unopened state (unsealed state) is the initial state in which the cover 10 has never been removed. If the strap portion 50 is separated from the cover 10 (cut apart), the strap portion 50 and the cover 10 become unconnected. That is, if the cover 10 is removed from the nozzle 40, the strap portion 50 and the cover 10 are connected to each other in such a way that the strap portion 50 remains in the nozzle 40. In this case, if the cover 10 is removed from the nozzle 40 and opened, the strap portion 50 remains in the nozzle 40.

[0049] The strap portion 50, which is cut and separated from the cover 10, can move downwards such that its lower end abuts against the annular portion 46 of the flange 44. The gap g is formed such that the strap portion 50 falls downwards when it is cut and separated from the cover 10. When the cover 10, which has been opened once, is reinstalled on the nozzle 40, a gap g1 is formed between the lower end of the cover 10 and the upper end of the strap portion 50 remaining in the nozzle 40. Figure 4 The diagram shows a side view of the plug 4 when the cover 10 is opened once and then reinstalled on the nozzle 40. The width (size) of the gap g1 formed at this time is approximately the same as the width of the gap g in the unopened state. After the cover 10 is opened once, a gap is formed between the lower end of the cover 10 and the upper end of the strap portion 50, making it visually identifiable that the cover 10 has been opened.

[0050] The width w of the gap g (the width of gap g1) can be greater than or equal to 0.5 mm. The width w of the gap g corresponds to the shortest distance between the lower end of the strap portion 50 and the upper end of the annular portion 46 of the flange 44. From the viewpoint of visual confirmation (more specifically, visual confirmation of the gap after opening the bolt), the width w can be greater than or equal to 0.7 mm, greater than or equal to 0.8 mm, greater than or equal to 0.9 mm, or greater than or equal to 1.0 mm. From the viewpoint of ensuring the size of the cover (the length along the direction of the central axis Ax), the width w can be less than or equal to 2.0 mm, less than or equal to 1.8 mm, less than or equal to 1.6 mm, or less than or equal to 1.4 mm. In one example, the width w is 1.0 mm to 1.4 mm, or 1.1 mm to 1.3 mm.

[0051] Figure 5 The text shows along Figure 3 The cross-section of the VV line is shown. The VV line corresponds to the boundary between the strap portion 50 and the peripheral wall 14 of the cover 10. Figure 6The diagram schematically shows the interior of the strap portion 50 and the cover 10. The strap portion 50 has a main body 52 (strap body) and a plurality of hook portions 54. The main body 52 is disposed below the peripheral wall 14 of the cover 10 and has a cylindrical shape. The diameter (outer diameter) of the main body 52 is approximately the same as the diameter (outer diameter) of the base portion 28 of the peripheral wall 14.

[0052] Multiple hooks 54 are connected to the lower end of the main body 52, and extend obliquely from this lower end (the lower part of the inner circumferential surface) toward the top plate 12 of the cover 10. The hooks 54 are obliquely positioned such that the distance between the central axis Ax and the hook 54 decreases as they approach the top plate 12. Figure 5 As shown, a plurality of hooks 54 are arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumference around the central axis Ax. The hooks 54 have the function of preventing the cover 10 from separating relative to the nozzle 40. The hooks 54 are sometimes also referred to as flaps.

[0053] The plug 4 has a fracture portion 60. The fracture portion 60 connects the main body 52 to the peripheral wall 14 of the cover 10 in such a way that the strap portion 50 separates from the cover 10 when the cover 10 is removed from the nozzle 40. The fracture portion 60 has a plurality of ribs 70. The plurality of ribs 70 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the main body 52 of the strap portion 50 and protrude inward (towards the central axis Ax) (see also...). Figure 6 Multiple ribs 70 are provided at predetermined intervals along the circumference of the central axis Ax. For example, multiple ribs 70 and multiple hooks 54 are arranged alternately one after another in the circumferential direction around the central axis Ax. The thickness of the ribs 70 (the amount of protrusion relative to the inner circumferential surface of the body 52) is less than the amount of protrusion of the hooks 54 relative to the inner circumferential surface of the body 52.

[0054] More specifically, such as Figure 3 As shown, ribs 70 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the main body 52 and the inner peripheral surface of the base portion 28 of the cover 10 (protruding from the aforementioned inner peripheral surfaces). Furthermore, in Figure 3 The left half of the cross-sectional view shows the section where the hook 54 is located, while the right half shows the section where the rib 70 is located. A slit 80 extending into the interior (e.g., approximately the center) of the rib 70 is formed at the boundary between the lower end of the base portion 28 of the peripheral wall 14 of the cover 10 and the upper end of the body 52 of the strap portion 50. Thus, the slit 80 divides the cover 10 and the strap portion 50.

[0055] In one example, a slit 80 is formed at the height of the portion corresponding to the cover 10, the portion corresponding to the strap portion 50, and at the height of the boundary between the base portion 28 and the strap portion 50 after being integrally formed with the rib 70. This slit 80 extends from the outside of the cover 10 to a position not separated from the rib 70. The slit 80 is continuously formed circumferentially around the central axis Ax. Thus, the cover 10 and the strap portion 50 (separated) are formed, and the peripheral wall 14 (base portion 28) and the strap portion 50 are connected to each other via the portion of the slit 80 where the rib 70 is not formed (hereinafter referred to as "thin-walled portion 82"). That is, multiple ribs 70 connect the peripheral wall 14 and the strap portion 50. The thin-walled portion 82 is the portion of the rib 70 where the slit 80 is not formed at the height of the slit 80.

[0056] The nozzle 40 has a protrusion 48. The protrusion 48 is formed in the sidewall 42 of the nozzle 40 and protrudes outward from the sidewall 42. The protrusion 48 has a cylindrical shape and is continuously provided circumferentially on the outer peripheral surface of the sidewall 42 below the external thread 43. The protrusion 48 includes a facing surface 48a that faces the inner peripheral surface of the base portion 28 and the main body 52 when the cover 10 is fixed to the nozzle 40. The facing surface 48a extends along the peripheral wall 14 (or the main body 52). A portion of the facing surface 48a is close to the rib 70.

[0057] The hook 54 is configured such that its front end is opposite to the lower end (lower surface) of the protrusion 48. Each hook 54 abuts against the protrusion 48 to restrict the separation of the cover 10 relative to the nozzle 40. That is, the protrusion 48 restricts the movement of the cover 10 and the strap portion 50 relative to the nozzle 40.

[0058] When a consumer or other user dispenses the contents from the unopened packaging container 1, the cap 10 is rotated relative to the nozzle 40 in order to remove it from the nozzle 40. As the cap 10 rotates relative to the nozzle, the engagement between the internal thread 15 of the peripheral wall 14 and the external thread 43 of the side wall 42 is gradually released, causing the cap 10 and the strap portion 50 to gradually separate from the flange 44 (annular portion 46) of the nozzle 40.

[0059] If the cover 10 and the strap portion 50 begin to separate from the flange 44, the hook portion 54 of the strap portion 50 soon comes into contact with the protrusion 48. This generates tensile stress between the base portion 28 of the cover 10 and the strap portion 50 (thin-walled portion 82), restricting the separation of the cover 10 and the strap portion 50 from the flange 44 of the nozzle 40. Furthermore, if the relative rotation of the cover 10 continues and the tensile stress reaches a predetermined value, the thin-walled portion 82 breaks. The breakage of the thin-walled portion 82 releases the restriction on the movement of the cover 10.

[0060] Each of the multiple ribs 70 has a thin-walled portion 82 formed to the point that it will break if the tensile stress reaches a specified value. All the thin-walled portions 82 break, causing the cover 10 and the strap portion 50 to physically separate (cut apart). The strap portion 50, separated from the cover 10, moves downward to a position where it contacts the annular portion 46 of the nozzle 40. Thus, even after the cover 10 is removed from the nozzle 40, the strap portion 50 can remain in the nozzle 40, preventing the strap portion 50 from becoming disorganized.

[0061] The aforementioned slit 80 is located higher than the opposing surface 48a (the upper end of the opposing surface 48a) of the protrusion 48. With the lower end of the flange 44 as the reference, the height of the slit 80 is higher than the height of the upper end of the opposing surface 48a. In this case, the vertical distance between the slit 80 and the top plate 12 is less than the vertical distance between the opposing surface 48a of the protrusion 48 and the top plate 12.

[0062] The distance d between the lower end of the strap portion 50 and the slit 80 (i.e., the upper end of the strap portion 50) can be less than or equal to 6.0 mm. From the perspective of ensuring the size of the cover 10 or the size of the gap g, the distance d can be less than or equal to 5.5 mm, less than or equal to 5.0 mm, or less than or equal to 4.5 mm. From the perspective of making the cover 10 more reliably fixed relative to the nozzle 40, or the ease of forming the hook portion 54, the distance d can be greater than or equal to 3.0 mm, greater than or equal to 3.5 mm, or greater than or equal to 4.0 mm. In one example, the distance d can be 3.0 mm to 6.0 mm, or 3.5 mm to 5.5 mm. The distance d is defined by the shortest distance between the lower end of the strap portion 50 and the slit 80.

[0063] The thickness h of the rib 70 can be from 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. Thickness h is the shortest distance between the inner circumferential surface of the rib 70 and the surface facing the central axis Ax of the rib 70. From the viewpoint of ease of forming the slit 80, the thickness h can be greater than or equal to 0.42 mm, greater than or equal to 0.44 mm, greater than or equal to 0.46 mm, or greater than or equal to 0.48 mm. From the viewpoint of ensuring the thickness (length in the lateral direction) of the protrusion 48, the thickness h can be less than or equal to 0.58 mm, less than or equal to 0.56 mm, less than or equal to 0.54 mm, or less than or equal to 0.52 mm. In one example, the thickness h can be from 0.42 mm to 0.58 mm, or from 0.44 mm to 0.56 mm.

[0064] Next, also refer to Figure 7 The protrusion 22 and the base 24 of the knurled part 20 will be described in detail. Figure 7 The image shows a top view of cover 10. (As shown) Figure 7As shown, the knurled portion 20 can be composed of 6 protrusions 22 and 6 bases 24. That is, 6 sets of protrusions 22 and bases 24 can be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 14.

[0065] The ridges of the protrusion 22 (the outer edge of the protrusion 22 when viewed from above) are saw-shaped. That is, the protrusion 22 is a saw-shaped protrusion. The ridges of the protrusion 22 are not linearly symmetrical about the virtual line segment L1 passing through its top 22a and central axis Ax. In this case, the lengths of the two ridges divided by line segment L1 in the ridges of the protrusion 22 are different. Therefore, when a consumer holds the cover 10 with their fingers and rotates it, the way the fingers hold it and the tactile sensation vary depending on the direction of rotation.

[0066] With the nozzle 40 fixed in place, while the cover 10 is in Figure 7 When rotated in the direction of arrow OP (counterclockwise), the cover 10 is formed with internal thread 15 and external thread 43 of the nozzle 40 in a manner that allows the cover 10 to be removed from the nozzle 40. On the other hand, with the nozzle 40 fixed, if the removed cover 10 is inserted into the nozzle 40 and the cover 10 is rotated in the direction of arrow CL (clockwise), the internal thread 15 and external thread 43 engage to install the cover 10 onto the nozzle 40.

[0067] When the stopper 4 is not open, the cover 10 is connected to the strap portion 50 via the thin-walled portion 82, thus requiring a greater rotational force compared to rotating the cover 10 relative to the nozzle 40 after temporary opening. Here, when viewed only in the rotational direction of arrow OP, the top 22a of the protrusion 22 is closer to the base 24 adjacent to the upstream side than the base 24 adjacent to the downstream side. In other words, the top 22a of the protrusion 22 is located circumferentially closer to the base 24 adjacent to the upstream side of the protrusion 22 than the base 24 adjacent to the downstream side of the protrusion 22.

[0068] The protrusion 22 protrudes further outward than the virtual circle (hereinafter referred to as the "virtual circle") passing through the boundaries of adjacent protrusions 22 and base 24. More specifically, most of the protrusion 22, including the top 22a, is located further outward than the virtual circle. The center of the virtual circle is approximately aligned with the central axis Ax, and the virtual circle passes through all boundaries of the protrusion 22 and base 24 (the points where the edges of the protrusion 22 and base 24 meet each other when viewed from above).

[0069] Base 24 (the edge of base 24) is located further inward than the aforementioned virtual circle. The edge of base 24 can be a straight line segment connecting the aforementioned boundaries adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction around the central axis Ax. Alternatively, it can be... Figure 7Different examples are shown; the edge of base 24 can be a curve that connects adjacent boundaries and bulges inward (concave). When the edge of base 24 is a straight line segment, the outer peripheral surface formed by base 24 is a plane. When the edge of base 24 is an inwardly bulging curve, the outer peripheral surface formed by base 24 is a curved surface whose central portion bends towards the central axis Ax.

[0070] [Manufacturing method of oral plugs]

[0071] Next, an example of a method for manufacturing the nozzle 4 will be described below. The method for manufacturing the nozzle 4 includes at least the following steps: preparing the nozzle 40; preparing the cover component; screwing the internal thread 15 into the external thread 43 and installing the cover component onto the nozzle 40; and forming a slit 80 with the cover component installed on the nozzle.

[0072] In the manufacturing process of the plug 4, for example, the initial step is to fix the cap component to the nozzle 40. In this step, the portion corresponding to the cap 10, the portion corresponding to the strap portion 50, and the cap component and nozzle 40 that integrate the multiple ribs 70 are prepared. Except for not having the thin-walled portion 82 (no slit 80 is formed), the cap component has the same shape as the cap 10, the strap portion 50, and the ribs 70. Therefore, the names of the structural components of the cap 10 and the strap portion 50 will be used for description below. Furthermore, the peripheral wall of the cap component corresponds to the peripheral wall 14 of the cap 10 and the main body 52 of the strap portion 50 before they are separated from each other.

[0073] Furthermore, the upper end of the sidewall 42 of the nozzle 40 is inserted into the interior of the peripheral wall of the cover member. If the cover member is positioned relative to the nozzle 40... Figure 6 When rotated in the CL direction, the internal thread 15 engages with the external thread 43, and the cover component moves in the direction approaching the flange 44 of the nozzle 40. Furthermore, after the multiple hooks 54 abut against the protrusion 48 (the upper inclined surface of the protrusion 48), they begin to climb onto the protrusion 48. Additionally, the upper end of the sidewall 42 of the nozzle 40 begins to insert between the peripheral wall of the cover component and the inner ring 16.

[0074] If the cover member is rotated further in the CL direction relative to the nozzle 40, it is configured such that each hook 54 passes over the protrusion 48 and the upper end of the side wall 42 of the nozzle 40 is inserted between the peripheral wall of the cover member and the inner ring 16. Thus, the nozzle 40 is covered by the cover member (the cover member is installed on the nozzle 40).

[0075] Next, the process of forming a slit 80 (thin-walled portion 82) on the cover component is performed. For example, the slit 80 is formed by forming a slit around the entire circumference of the peripheral wall 14 of the cover component using a scribing cutter. In one example, the blade of the scribing cutter contacts the portion corresponding to the boundary between the base portion 28 and the strap portion 50 of the peripheral wall 14 (which subsequently becomes the boundary of the peripheral wall 14) and the portion corresponding to the boundary of each rib 70. The blade of the scribing cutter is inserted into the approximate central portion of each rib 70.

[0076] Furthermore, while the engraving cutter is in contact with the inside of the cover component and the rib, the cover component and the nozzle 40 are rotated around the central axis Ax to form a slit 80. This forms a thin-walled portion 82 in the rib 70. As described above, in the process of forming the thin-walled portion 82, the slit 80 is formed while the cover component and the nozzle 40 are fixed to each other.

[0077] The cap component is divided into a cap 10 and a strap portion 50 by forming a thin-walled portion 82, thus obtaining the plug 4. By adjusting the size of the slit 80, the size and thickness of the thin-walled portion 82 can be changed to adjust the force required for its breakage. Furthermore, the packaging container 1 is manufactured by performing the process of installing the plug 4 onto the container body 2.

[0078] The above description describes one embodiment, and the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment in any way. Several variations will be described below.

[0079] (Variation Example 1)

[0080] Figure 8 The diagram shows the mouth plug 4A involved in Modification 1. The mouth plug 4A differs from the mouth plug 4 in that it has a strap portion 140 instead of a strap portion 50, and that the nozzle 40 has a protrusion 138 instead of a protrusion 48.

[0081] Protrusion 138 is formed in the same manner as protrusion 48. Protrusion 138 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of sidewall 42, protruding outward from sidewall 42. Protrusion 138 is annular and continuously provided on the outer peripheral surface of sidewall 42 in the circumferential direction around the central axis Ax. Protrusion 138 is located below the external thread 43 and is provided in the central portion in the vertical direction of sidewall 42. Protrusion 138 has the function of restricting the movement of the strap portion 140.

[0082] Figure 9 A bottom view of the strap section 140 viewed from below along the central axis Ax is shown, omitting some elements of the cover 10 and the illustration of the nozzle 40. Figure 8 The left half shows Figure 9 The cross section of line VIIIA in Figure 8 The right half shows Figure 9The cross-section of line VIIIB in the diagram. The strap portion 140 has a main body 52, a plurality of hook portions 142 and a plurality of thin-walled portions 148.

[0083] Hook 142 has the same function as hook 54. Hook 142 is connected to the lower end of body 52 and extends from its lower end toward the top plate 12 of cover 10. Hook 142 is inclined relative to the central axis Ax and the plane orthogonal to the central axis Ax (the XY plane in the figure). Hook 142 is configured such that the distance between the central axis Ax and hook 142 decreases as it approaches the top plate 12.

[0084] Multiple hooks 142 function to prevent the cover 10 from separating relative to the nozzle 40. At least a portion of the front end 142a (upper end face) of the hook 142 is opposite to the lower surface 138a of the protrusion 138 of the nozzle 40. When the cover 10 is to be removed, each hook 142 abuts against the lower surface 138a of the protrusion 138 to prevent the cover 10 from separating relative to the nozzle 40.

[0085] The hook portion 142 can be configured to face the lower surface 138a of the protrusion 138 when separated from the nozzle 40. Any part of the hook portion 142 can be formed in a manner that does not contact the sidewall 42 or the protrusion 138. The front end 142a (upper end face) of the hook portion 142 can be separated from the nozzle 40. When the front end 142a of the hook portion 142 is separated from the nozzle 40, it does not contact the sidewall 42 or the protrusion 138 of the nozzle 40. The front end 142a of the hook portion 142, based on the nozzle 40, may not contact the inner peripheral surface of the main body 52 (it can be separated from the inner peripheral surface of the main body 52).

[0086] Each hook portion 142 includes: a base end portion 143, which is connected to the lower end of the body 52 and bends downward; and an inclined portion 144, which is connected to the base end portion 143 and is formed to extend toward the top plate 12. The base end portion 143 bends downward so that the base end portion 143 has a downward convex shape. The front end of the inclined portion 144 (the end face opposite to the end face connected to the base end portion 143) corresponds to the front end 142a of the hook portion 142.

[0087] like Figure 9 As shown, a plurality of hooks 142 are arranged circumferentially around the central axis Ax. The plurality of hooks 142 are arranged at intervals (specified intervals) around the central axis Ax. The number of hooks 142 can be eight. Figure 9Different examples are shown, and the number of hooks 142 can be 9 to 12. When the number of hooks 142 is greater than or equal to 8, the hooks 142 engage with the protrusion 138, easily generating a force that causes the fracture portion 60 to break when the cover 10 is removed. Conversely, when the number of hooks 142 is less than or equal to 12, it is easier to perform bending processing on the hooks 142. Each hook 142 is formed in a plate shape, extending circumferentially around the central axis Ax. The hooks 142 can have the same shape as each other.

[0088] Multiple thin-walled portions 148 connect adjacent hook portions 142 of multiple hook portions 142 in the circumferential direction around the central axis Ax. One hook portion 142 and one thin-walled portion 148 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction around the central axis Ax. One thin-walled portion 148 connects (links) to a pair of hook portions 142 that are separated from it in the circumferential direction around the central axis Ax. The thin-walled portions 148 are formed in a plate-like shape extending circumferentially around the central axis Ax. The multiple thin-walled portions 148 may have the same shape as each other.

[0089] The thickness Th2 of the multiple thin-walled portions 148 is less than the thickness Th1 of the multiple hook portions 142 (see also...) Figure 11 (a) and Figure 11 (b) The thickness Th2 of the plurality of thin-walled portions 148 can be approximately the same as each other, and the thickness Th1 of the plurality of hook portions 142 can be approximately the same as each other. From the viewpoint of suppressing the restoring force of the hook portions 142, the ratio of the thickness Th1 of the hook portions 142 to the thickness Th2 of the thin-walled portions 148 can be less than or equal to 5.0, less than or equal to 4.5, less than or equal to 4.0, or less than or equal to 3.5. From the viewpoint of the ease of machining the hook portions 142, the ratio of the thickness Th1 of the hook portions 142 to the thickness Th2 of the thin-walled portions 148 can be greater than or equal to 1.5, greater than or equal to 2.0, greater than or equal to 2.5, or greater than or equal to 3.0. The ratio of the thickness Th1 of the hook portions 142 to the thickness Th2 of the thin-walled portions 148 can be 1.5 to 5.0, or 2.0 to 4.5.

[0090] From the viewpoint of suppressing the restoring force of the hook portion 142, the thickness Th2 of the thin-walled portion 148 can be greater than or equal to 0.15 mm, greater than or equal to 0.18 mm, greater than or equal to 0.20 mm, or greater than or equal to 0.22 mm. From the viewpoint of the ease of machining the hook portion 142, the thickness Th2 of the thin-walled portion 148 can be less than or equal to 0.35 mm, less than or equal to 0.32 mm, less than or equal to 0.30 mm, or less than or equal to 0.28 mm. The thickness Th2 of the thin-walled portion 148 can be 0.15 mm to 0.35 mm, or 0.22 mm to 0.28 mm. The thickness Th2 of the thin-walled portion 148 can be measured at the front end of the thin-walled portion 148 (the front end face located on the opposite side of the main body 52).

[0091] From the viewpoint of maximizing the function of the hook portion 142, the thickness Th1 of the hook portion 142 can be greater than or equal to 0.60 mm, greater than or equal to 0.62 mm, greater than or equal to 0.64 mm, or greater than or equal to 0.65 mm. From the viewpoint of ease of machining the hook portion 142, the thickness Th1 of the hook portion 142 can be less than or equal to 0.80 mm, less than or equal to 0.78 mm, less than or equal to 0.76 mm, or less than or equal to 0.75 mm. The thickness Th1 of the hook portion 142 can be 0.6 mm to 0.8 mm, or 0.65 mm to 0.75 mm. The thickness Th1 of the hook portion 142 can be measured at the front end of the hook portion 142 (the front end face located on the opposite side of the main body 52).

[0092] The multiple hooks 142 are each formed such that their width decreases as they approach the lower end of the main body 52 from the front end (the end near the central axis Ax). In this case, while maintaining the range where the hooks 142 abut against the protrusions 138 when the cover 10 is removed, it is easy to perform bending processing at the base of the hooks 142. Figure 9 As shown, viewed from below along the central axis Ax, the width of the hook 142 along the circumference of the central axis Ax decreases from the inside to the outside. Viewed from below along the central axis Ax, the length of the line segment connecting the two ends of the inner peripheral edge 147a of the hook 142 is less than the length of the line segment connecting the two ends of the outer peripheral edge 147b of the hook 142. The length of the line segment connecting the two ends of the outer peripheral edge 147b can be 1 / 5 to 4 / 5 times the length of the line segment connecting the two ends of the inner peripheral edge 147a. The distance between the pair of side edges 147c connecting the inner peripheral edge 147a and the outer peripheral edge 147b decreases as they move away from the central axis Ax.

[0093] The thin-walled portion 148 may not be connected to the front end (inner peripheral edge 147a) of the hook portion 142. Viewed from below along the central axis Ax, the protrusion y1 of the hook portion 142 relative to the inner peripheral surface of the main body 52 is greater than the protrusion y2 of the thin-walled portion 148 relative to the inner peripheral surface of the main body 52. ​​The protrusion y2 can be 0.7 to 0.95 times the protrusion y1.

[0094] Figure 10 The text shows that it will be generated by... Figure 8 A magnified cross-sectional view of the area enclosed by X-rays. Figure 8 and Figure 10 A longitudinal section is shown, including the central axis Ax and cut through the plug 4A with a plane passing through any hook portion 142. Hereinafter, the longitudinal section including the central axis Ax and passing through the hook portion 142 will be referred to as the "observation section". The observation section can be set to include the central axis Ax and pass through the center of the circumference of the hook portion 142 surrounding the central axis Ax. In the observation section, the direction orthogonal to the central axis Ax is defined as the "transverse direction". Figure 10 In the example shown, the observed cross-section corresponds to the XZ plane, and the transverse direction corresponds to the X-axis direction.

[0095] In the cross-section, from the viewpoint of more reliably avoiding contact between the hook 142 and the nozzle 40, the lateral distance d1 between the hook 142 and the nozzle 40 can be greater than or equal to 0.30 mm, greater than or equal to 0.35 mm, greater than or equal to 0.40 mm, or greater than or equal to 0.45 mm. From the viewpoint of maximizing the function of the hook 142, the distance d1 can be less than or equal to 0.70 mm, less than or equal to 0.65 mm, less than or equal to 0.60 mm, or less than or equal to 0.55 mm. The distance d1 can be 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm, or 0.45 mm to 0.55 mm. The distance d1 is defined by the shortest lateral distance between the hook 142 and the nozzle 40. Figure 10 In the example shown, distance d1 corresponds to the shortest lateral distance between the front end 142a of hook 142 and nozzle 40.

[0096] In the cross-section, from the viewpoint of maximizing the function of the hook 142, the lateral distance d2 between the outermost point A of the protrusion 138 and the innermost point B of the hook 142 can be greater than or equal to 0.50 mm, greater than or equal to 0.55 mm, greater than or equal to 0.60 mm, or greater than or equal to 0.65 mm. From the viewpoint of more reliably avoiding contact between the hook 142 and the nozzle 40, the lateral distance d2 between point A and point B can be less than or equal to 0.9 mm, less than or equal to 0.85 mm, less than or equal to 0.80 mm, or less than or equal to 0.75 mm. The distance d2 can be 0.5 mm to 0.9 mm, or 0.65 mm to 0.75 mm.

[0097] In the cross-section, from the viewpoint of more reliably avoiding contact between the hook 142 and the nozzle 40, the minimum value of the tilt angle relative to the lateral direction of the side of the inclined portion 144 facing the central axis Ax (the portion of the side 145 of the hook 142 corresponding to the inclined portion 144) can be greater than or equal to 50°, greater than or equal to 55°, greater than or equal to 60°, or greater than or equal to 65°. From the viewpoint of maximizing the function of the hook 142, the minimum value of the above-mentioned tilt angle can be less than or equal to 85°. The maximum value of the above-mentioned tilt angle can be less than or equal to 85°. When the side of the inclined portion 144 facing the central axis Ax has multiple tilt angles, the multiple tilt angles (the minimum angle among the multiple tilt angles) can be greater than or equal to 50°, or be between 50° and 85°. Figure 10 In the example shown, multiple tilt angles are represented by "θ1" and "θ2", with tilt angle θ2 being smaller than tilt angle θ1. Tilt angle θ2 can be greater than or equal to 50°.

[0098] Here, the portion of the sidewall 42 of the nozzle 40 located above the protrusion 138 is defined as the "upper portion 42a", and the portion located below the protrusion 138 is defined as the "lower portion 42b". The protrusion 138 may include: a protruding portion 139a extending along the central axis Ax to form a side surface 137a opposite to the inner circumferential surface of the body 52; and an inclined portion 139b formed on an inclined surface 137b extending from the upper end of the side surface 137a of the protruding portion 139a to the upper portion 42a. The upper portion 42a of the sidewall 42 is located above the upper end of the inclined portion 139b, and the lower portion 42b of the sidewall 42 is located below the lower end of the protruding portion 139a. The slit 80 is located above the upper end of the protruding portion 139a (side surface 137a) of the protrusion 138 that forms the side surface 137a.

[0099] In the cross-section, from the viewpoint of more reliably avoiding contact between the hook 142 and the nozzle 40, the transverse width wb of the lower portion 42b can be less than or equal to 1.40 mm, less than or equal to 1.35 mm, less than or equal to 1.30 mm, or less than or equal to 1.25 mm. From the viewpoint of the strength of the nozzle 40, the width wb can be greater than or equal to 1.0 mm, greater than or equal to 1.05 mm, greater than or equal to 1.10 mm, or greater than or equal to 1.15 mm. The width wb can be 1.0 mm to 1.4 mm, or 1.15 mm to 1.25 mm. The width wb can be less than the width wa of the upper portion 42a. The width wb can be 0.5 to 0.8 times the width wa.

[0100] In the cross-section, the lateral distance xb (the shortest lateral distance) between the lower portion 42b and the outermost point A of the protrusion 138 can be greater than the lateral distance xa (the shortest lateral distance) between the upper portion 42a and point A. In this case, the possibility of contact between the hook 142 and the nozzle 40 can be reduced. From the viewpoint of more reliably avoiding contact between the hook 142 and the nozzle 40, the ratio of distance xb to distance xa can be greater than or equal to 1.5, greater than or equal to 1.6, greater than or equal to 1.7, or greater than or equal to 1.8. From the viewpoint of ease of manufacturing the nozzle 40, the ratio of distance xb to distance xa can be less than or equal to 3.0.

[0101] From the viewpoint of more reliably avoiding contact between the hook 142 and the nozzle 40, the lateral distance xb between the lower portion 42b and point A can be greater than or equal to 1.00 mm, greater than or equal to 1.05 mm, greater than or equal to 1.10 mm, or greater than or equal to 1.15 mm. From the viewpoint of the strength of the nozzle 40, the distance xb can be less than or equal to 1.40 mm, less than or equal to 1.35 mm, less than or equal to 1.30 mm, or less than or equal to 1.25 mm. The distance xb can be 1.0 mm to 1.4 mm, or 1.15 mm to 1.25 mm. The width direction distance xa between the upper portion 42a and point A can be 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm.

[0102] Figure 11 (a) schematically shows an example of the situation when the hook 142 is formed. Figure 11 (b) schematically shows an example of a cross-section of the thin-walled portion 148. It is manufactured by resin molding while the cover 10 and the strap portion 140 are integrally formed. In its immediate post-molding state, as... Figure 11 As shown by the dashed lines in (a), the hook portions 142 (multiple hook portions 142 and multiple thin-walled portions 148) protrude outward into the internal space formed by the cover 10 and the strap portion 140. The hook portions 142 and thin-walled portions 148, which are protruding outward, are bent toward the internal space using a clamp or the like, thereby forming the hook portions 142 and thin-walled portions 148. At this time, a base end portion 143 and an inclined portion 144 are formed in the hook portion 142. As the hook portion 142 is bent, the bent base end portion 143 is formed, which may generate a restoring force that would cause the hook portion 142 to return to its original state (a restoring force that would cause it to tilt toward the central axis Ax).

[0103] The upper surface 143a of the base end 143 is curved downwards. From the viewpoint of reducing the restoring force of the inclined portion 144, the radius of curvature of the upper surface 143a can be less than or equal to 0.75 mm, less than or equal to 0.72 mm, less than or equal to 0.70 mm, or less than or equal to 0.68 mm. From the viewpoint of maximizing the function of the hook portion 142, the radius of curvature of the upper surface 143a can be greater than or equal to 0.55 mm, greater than or equal to 0.57 mm, greater than or equal to 0.60 mm, or greater than or equal to 0.62 mm. The radius of curvature of the upper surface 143a can be from 0.55 mm to 0.75 mm.

[0104] The plug 4A is manufactured in the same manner as the plug 4. Regarding the cap component after resin molding, multiple hook portions 142 and multiple thin-walled portions 148 protrude outwards from the interior space of the cap component. After resin molding, the multiple hook portions 142 and multiple thin-walled portions 148, which are connected to each other, are bent (folded in) into the interior space of the cap component using a jig or the like. A base end portion 143 and an inclined portion 144 are formed on the hook portion 142 by bending using the jig or the like. The hook portion 142 is folded into the interior space of the cap component until the front end 142a of the hook portion 142 does not contact the nozzle 40 and the inner peripheral surface of the main body 52.

[0105] (Variation Example 2)

[0106] Regarding oral plug 4A, such as Figure 12 As shown, the nozzle 40 can replace the protrusion 138 and have a protrusion 138A. The protrusion 138A differs from the protrusion 138 in that it includes an inclined portion 139c in addition to the protruding portion 139a and the inclined portion 139b. The inclined portion 139c is a portion of an inclined surface 137c that extends toward the sidewall 42 in an inclined state from the lower surface of the protruding portion 139a. The inclined surface 137c of the inclined portion 139c can extend from the lower surface of the protruding portion 139a to the sidewall 42. In the above-described cross-section including the central axis Ax, the point C where the inclined surface 137c of the inclined portion 139c intersects with the lower surface of the protruding portion 139a is located further inward than the side surface 137a of the protruding portion 139a (the outermost point A of the protrusion 138A).

[0107] The protrusion 138A includes an inclined surface 137c. Even if the hook 142 tilts towards the nozzle 40 due to the aforementioned restoring force, the tip 142a of the hook 142 may still contact the inclined surface 137c. Because of this contact with the inclined surface 137c, the hook 142 can easily slide, allowing the strap portion 140 to fall smoothly. Therefore, the possibility of the strap portion 140 remaining in its original position can be reduced.

[0108] The lower portion 42b of the sidewall 42 is located further below the lower end of the inclined portion 139c. In the observation section, when the boundary between the outer peripheral surfaces of the inclined portion 139c and the lower portion 42b (the lower end of the inclined surface 137c) is set as point D, point D can be lower than the front end 142a of the hook portion 142. In this case, in the observation section, the shortest lateral distance orthogonal to the central axis Ax between the hook portion 142 (the front end 142a of the hook portion 142) and the nozzle 40 is defined by the shortest lateral distance between the front end 142a and the inclined portion 139c.

[0109] In the cross-section, from the viewpoint of maximizing the function of the hook 142, the lateral distance xc between the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion 42b and point C can be less than or equal to 55%, less than or equal to 50%, less than or equal to 45%, or less than or equal to 40% of the lateral distance xb between the outer peripheral surface of the lower portion 42b and point A. From the viewpoint of maximizing the function of the hook 142, the distance xc can be less than or equal to 0.6 mm, less than or equal to 0.55 mm, less than or equal to 0.50 mm, or less than or equal to 0.45 mm.

[0110] In the cross-section, the angle of the front end 142a of the hook 142 near the side wall 42 can have an arc shape. In the cross-section, based on the assumption that the hook 142 is prone to sliding when in contact with the side wall 42 of the nozzle 40, the radius of curvature of the angle 144R formed by the front end 142a and the side surface 145 facing the central axis Ax of the hook 142 can be greater than or equal to 0.30 mm, greater than or equal to 0.32 mm, greater than or equal to 0.34 mm, or greater than or equal to 0.35 mm. In the cross-section, the radius of curvature of angle 144R can be less than or equal to 0.6 mm.

[0111] (Variation Example 3)

[0112] The plug 4A can replace the strap portion 140, thus having a strap portion 140A. The strap portion 140A differs from the strap portion 140 in that it replaces the plurality of hook portions 142 and the plurality of thin-walled portions 148, thus having a plurality of hook portions 142A. The plurality of hook portions 142A are the same as the hook portions 142, having the function of preventing the cover 10 from separating relatively from the nozzle 40. Each hook portion 142A includes a base end portion 143 and an inclined portion 144. Figure 13 The image shows a bottom view of the strap section 140A viewed from below along the central axis Ax.

[0113] Figure 13 The cross section of the XX line and Figure 10 or Figure 12Corresponding to the cross-section. In a longitudinal section (the aforementioned observation section) that includes the central axis Ax and passes through the center of any hook 142A in the circumferential direction, the shape and various dimensions of the hook 142A can be the same as those of the hook 142. In the observation section, the relationship between the hook 142A and the surrounding components (nozzle 40 and body 52) can be the same as the relationship between the hook 142 and the surrounding components.

[0114] like Figure 13 As shown, a plurality of hooks 142A are arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumference surrounding the central axis Ax. The number of hooks 142A can be eight. Figure 13 The examples shown may differ, but the number of hooks 142A can be 9 to 12. Each hook 142A is formed in a plate-like shape, extending circumferentially around the central axis Ax. Viewed from the direction along the central axis Ax, the area (circumferential range) on the inner circumferential surface of the body 52 where multiple hooks 142A are formed can be larger than the area (circumferential range) where no hooks 142A are formed. Viewed from the direction along the central axis Ax, the area on the inner circumferential surface of the body 52 where multiple hooks 142A are formed can be 3 to 6 times larger than the area where no hooks 142A are formed.

[0115] The side 145 of the hook 142A facing the central axis Ax (see reference) Figure 10 It includes a front edge 145a, a pair of side edges 145b, and a pair of connecting edges 145c. The front edge 145a is curved in a manner extending along a circumference around the central axis Ax. Viewed from below along the central axis Ax, the front edge 145a is located inside the inner periphery of the body 52. ​​The pair of side edges 145b extend in a manner intersecting the body 52 and are connected to the inner periphery of the body 52 when viewed from below along the central axis Ax.

[0116] A pair of connecting edges 145c connect the end of the front edge 145a to the end of the side edge 145b, respectively. The connecting edges 145c extend in a manner that intersects both the front edge 145a and the side edge 145b. The connecting edges 145c can be straight or curved. Figure 13 As shown in the enlarged view, the connecting edge 145c is located between the intersection point CP and the main body 52. ​​The intersection point CP is the intersection of the virtual line IL1 extending along the front edge 145a on the circumference around the central axis Ax and the virtual line IL2 extending along the side edge 145b. Viewed from below along the central axis Ax, the pair of connecting edges 145c are located in the area divided by the inner circumferential surface of the main body 52, the virtual line IL1, and the virtual line IL2. Thus, cutouts are formed at a pair of corners near the central axis Ax of the side surface 145.

[0117] Based on the assumption that the hook 142A is prone to sliding when it contacts the sidewall 42 of the nozzle 40, the radius of curvature of the angle RP formed by the front edge 145a and the connecting edge 145c can be greater than or equal to 0.30 mm, greater than or equal to 0.32 mm, greater than or equal to 0.34 mm, or greater than or equal to 0.35 mm. From the viewpoint of ease of manufacturing the strap portion 140A, the radius of curvature of the angle RP can be less than or equal to 0.55 mm, less than or equal to 0.50 mm, less than or equal to 0.47 mm, or less than or equal to 0.45 mm. The radius of curvature of the angle RP can be 0.30 mm to 0.55 mm, or 0.35 mm to 0.45 mm.

[0118] (Other variations)

[0119] The shape of the packaging container 1 (container body 2) is not limited to Figure 1 The shape shown can also be cylindrical. The mounting position of the plug 4 relative to the container body 2 is not limited to... Figure 1 The location shown can be any location.

[0120] In the above example, the knurled portion 20 is composed of 6 protrusions 22 and 6 bases 24, and the number of protrusions 22 and the number of bases 24 are each greater than or equal to 2. For example, the knurled portion 20 can be composed of 12 protrusions 22 and 12 bases 24. Instead of the bases 24, a mountain-shaped protrusion with a top lower than the height of the top 22a of the protrusion 22 can be provided. The knurled portion 20 only needs to have a plurality of protrusions protruding outwards and portions located inwards relative to the protrusions, and can be constructed in any manner.

[0121] Any two or more examples of the above embodiments and variations can be applied to each other. For example, the protrusion 138A of variation 2 can be applied to the plug 4A involved in variation 3. Some aspects of any one example of the above embodiments and variations can be applied to any other example.

[0122] [Effects of the Implementation Method]

[0123] The plugs 4 and 4A described in the above embodiments have a nozzle 40, a cover 10, strap portions 50, 140, and 140A, and a rib 70. The nozzle 40 has: a cylindrical sidewall 42; an external thread 43 disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the sidewall 42; and a flange 44 disposed at one end of the sidewall 42. The cover 10 has: a top plate 12; a peripheral wall 14 connected to the outer peripheral edge of the top plate 12; and an internal thread 15 disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 14 and screwed onto the external thread 43. The strap portions 50, 140, and 140A are connected to one end of the peripheral wall 14, and the cover 10 is fixed to the nozzle 40 between the peripheral wall 14 and the nozzle 40. Ribs 70 connect the peripheral wall 14 to the strap portions 50, 140, and 140A, protruding from the inner circumferential surface of the end of the peripheral wall 14 and the inner circumferential surface of the strap portions 50, 140, and 140A toward the inside of the cover 10. The nozzle 40 also has protrusions 48, 138, and 138A, which are disposed on the sidewall 42 and restrict the movement of the cover 10 and the strap portions 50, 140, and 140A relative to the nozzle 40. The strap portions 50, 140, and 140A and the peripheral wall 14 are separated by a slit 80 in the protrusions 48, 138, and 138A located above the portion opposite to the peripheral wall 14, the slit 80 extending into the interior of the rib.

[0124] For example, if the slit is formed further below the opposite surface 48a of the protrusion 48 (side surface 137a of protrusions 138, 138A), the peripheral wall and the strap portion will bend inward when the slit is formed if it comes into contact with the cutting edge of a tool or similar device. In this case, the formation of the slit may be unstable (e.g., deviations in the dimensions of each individual piece may occur), potentially affecting the quality of the strap portion. In contrast, regarding the aforementioned latches 4, 4A, the slit 80 formed at the boundary between the strap portions 50, 140, 140A and the peripheral wall 14, and at the rib 70, is located higher than the portion of protrusions 48, 138, 138A opposite to the peripheral wall 14 (opposite surface 48a or side surface 137a). Therefore, when the slit 80 is formed using the blade of a cutting tool (e.g., a scribing cutter), the rib 70 abuts against the protrusions 48, 138, and 138A, thus preventing the peripheral wall 14 and the strap portions 50, 140, and 140A from deflecting inward. Therefore, the slit 80 can be formed stably. Therefore, the plugs 4 and 4A contribute to the stabilization of the quality of the strap portions 50, 140, and 140A.

[0125] The thickness of the rib 70 can be 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. If the rib 70 is too thin, the nozzle 40 may be scratched when the slit 80 is formed. In this structure, the rib 70 has the above-mentioned thickness, so that a slit can be easily formed in a part of the rib 70 to obtain a thin-walled portion 82.

[0126] The strap portions 50, 140, 140A are separated from the cover 10 when the cover 10 is removed from the nozzle 40, and are connected to one end of the peripheral wall 14 of the cover 10. A gap g can be provided between the lower end of the strap portions 50, 140, 140A and the portion of the flange 44 opposite to the lower end of the strap portions 50, 140, 140A. The width of the gap g can be greater than or equal to 0.5 mm. In this case, when the strap portions 50, 140, 140A are temporarily separated from the cover 10 and the cover 10 is reinstalled on the nozzle 40, a gap g1 is formed between the strap portions 50, 140, 140A and the cover 10. Moreover, the width of this gap g1 can also be greater than or equal to about 0.5 mm, thus improving the visual confirmation of the gap g1 after opening. Furthermore, by setting the gap g, compared to the case where the gap g is not formed, the degree of deflection of the peripheral wall and the belt portion may increase when the slit is formed. However, in this structure, the rib 70 abuts against the protrusion 48 (opposite surface 48a) or the protrusions 138, 138A (side surface 137a) and the slit is easily formed.

[0127] The distance between the lower ends of the strap portions 50, 140, and 140A and the slit 80 can be less than or equal to 6.0 mm. In this case, it is easy to ensure the size of the cap 10 or the gap g. For example, it is possible to sufficiently ensure the area of ​​the knurled portion 20 formed to improve operability when opening.

[0128] The strap portions 50, 140, and 140A may have: a cylindrical body 52 with ribs 70; and hook portions 54, 142, and 142A that are inclined from the lower end of the body 52 toward the top plate 12. The hook portions 54, 142, and 142A can abut against the protrusions 48, 138, and 138A to restrict the cover 10 from separating from the nozzle 40. In this case, accidental opening of the cover 10 can be prevented.

[0129] Hooks 142 and 142A can be configured to face the lower surface 138a of protrusions 138 and 138A when separated from the nozzle 40. When hooks 142 and 142A are bent, a restoring force may sometimes be generated in them, causing them to tilt towards the nozzle 40. This restoring force causes hooks 142 and 142A to clamp into the nozzle 40 while in contact with it, so that when the cover 10 is removed, the straps 140 and 140A may remain in their original position and not fall downwards. Regarding the latch 4A, hooks 142 and 142A are configured to face the lower surface of protrusions 138 and 138A when separated from the nozzle 40, thus making it difficult for the hooks to contact the nozzle when the cover is removed. As a result, regarding the latch 4A, the cut and separated straps 140 and 140A can fall off smoothly. Therefore, it is beneficial to stabilize the quality of the belt section 140 and 140A.

[0130] Multiple hooks 142 can be arranged spaced apart from each other along the circumference of the cover 10 around the central axis Ax. The strap portion 140 can have multiple thin-walled portions 148 that connect adjacent hooks 142 to each other and have a thickness smaller than the multiple hooks 142. Assuming that even if any hook 142 is about to tip over due to restoring force towards the central axis Ax, it is connected by the multiple thin-walled portions 148, thus limiting the tipping action. Therefore, when the hook 142 tips towards the central axis Ax, the possibility of contact with the nozzle 40 can be reduced. Therefore, it is beneficial to stabilize the quality of the strap portion 140.

[0131] Explanation of the label

[0132] 1… Packaging container, 2… Container body, 4, 4A… Plug, 10… Cap, 12… Top plate, 14… Peripheral wall, 15… Internal thread, 40… Nozzle, 42… Side wall, 43… External thread, 44… Flange, 48, 138, 138A… Protrusion, 50, 140, 140A… Strap, 52… Body, 54, 142, 142A… Hook, 148… Thin-walled part, 70… Rib, 80… Slit, g, g1… Gap.

Claims

1. A type of oral plug, wherein, The plug has the following characteristics: The nozzle has: a cylindrical sidewall; an external thread disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the sidewall; and a flange disposed on one end of the sidewall; A cover having: a top plate; a peripheral wall connected to the outer periphery of the top plate; and an internal thread disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall and engaged with the external thread; A strap portion, which is connected to one end of the peripheral wall, secures the cover to the nozzle between the peripheral wall and the nozzle; as well as A rib, which connects the peripheral wall to the strap portion, protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the end of the peripheral wall and the inner peripheral surface of the strap portion toward the inside of the cover. The nozzle also has a protrusion disposed on the sidewall, which restricts movement of the cover and the strap portion relative to the nozzle. The strap portion and the peripheral wall are defined by a slit located higher than the portion of the protrusion opposite the peripheral wall, and this slit extends into the interior of the rib. The thickness of the rib is 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. The strap portion is connected to one end of the peripheral wall of the cover in such a way that it separates from the cover when the cover is removed from the nozzle. A gap is provided between the lower end of the strap portion and the portion of the flange opposite to the lower end of the strap portion. The width of the gap is greater than or equal to 0.7 mm and less than or equal to 2.0 mm. The distance between the lower end of the strap portion and the slit is greater than or equal to 3.0 mm and less than or equal to 5.5 mm.

2. The oral plug according to claim 1, wherein, The strap portion has: a cylindrical body having the ribs provided; and a hook portion that is inclined from the lower end of the body toward the top plate. The hook abuts against the protrusion, thereby preventing the cover from separating relative to the nozzle.

3. The oral plug according to claim 2, wherein, The hook is configured to face the lower surface of the protrusion when separated from the nozzle.

4. The oral plug according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The strap portion has multiple hook portions, including the hook portion. The plurality of hooks are arranged at intervals around each other along the circumference of the central axis of the cover. The strap portion also has a plurality of thin-walled portions that connect adjacent hook portions among the plurality of hook portions, and the thickness of the thin-walled portions is less than that of the plurality of hook portions.

5. A packaging container, wherein, The packaging container has: The oral plug according to any one of claims 1 to 4; and The container body is for mounting the plug.

6. A method for manufacturing a mouth plug, which is the method for manufacturing a mouth plug according to any one of claims 1 to 4. It includes the following processes: The process of preparing a nozzle, the nozzle having: a cylindrical sidewall with external threads on its outer circumferential surface; a flange disposed at one end of the sidewall; and a protrusion protruding outward from the sidewall; The process of preparing a cover component, the cover component having: a top plate; a peripheral wall connected to the outer peripheral edge of the top plate and having an internal thread on its inner peripheral surface; and a rib protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall. The process of screwing the internal thread into the external thread to install the cover component onto the nozzle; as well as With the cover component installed on the nozzle, a process is performed to form a slit extending from the outer edge of the peripheral wall to the interior of the rib at a position higher than the portion of the protrusion opposite to the peripheral wall.

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