Screw cap and container

Abstract

This invention aims to provide a screw cap that is easy to open and close without wasting raw materials. The screw cap includes: a cap body 4; an outer cylinder 5 surrounding the outer circumference of the cap body; and a plurality of ribs 7, which are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder and engage the outer cylinder with the cap body. The plurality of ribs extend from a position lower than the upper end of the outer cylinder to an edge 6, and there is space in the radial direction between the outer cylinder and the cap body in the portion excluding the plurality of ribs, thus reducing the amount of raw materials used. Due to the outer cylinder 5, opening and closing operations are easier than operating the cap body. When the outer cylinder is divided vertically into a first region 5h1 extending from the upper end of the outer cylinder to the plurality of ribs 7 and a second region 5h2 where the plurality of ribs are arranged, the first region can elastically deform in the radial direction, thus preventing pain when the fingers squeeze the outer cylinder and providing a good tactile feel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to screw caps and containers including the screw caps. Background Technology

[0002] The basic structure of a screw cap involves internal threads formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cap body. The screw cap is attached to the opening of the container body. External threads are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the opening. If the outer diameter of the cap body is much larger than the outer diameter of the opening, the thickness of the cap body in the radial direction becomes too large. To avoid wasting material on the screw cap, it is preferable to design the outer diameter of the cap body to be only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the opening. In other words, the outer diameter of the cap body is related to the outer diameter of the opening. The outer diameter of the cap body is also related to the ease of opening and closing the screw cap. Therefore, when the outer diameter of the opening is small, the outer diameter of the cap body will also be small, which makes it difficult to open and close the screw cap.

[0003] A conventional screw cap is conceived to be easy to open and close even when the outer diameter of the opening is small, while avoiding waste of raw materials. As an example of such a conventional screw cap, a screw cap is known to have a large number of ribs protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the cap body, and these ribs are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the cap body (Patent Document 1).

[0004] The wider the distance between adjacent ribs in the circumferential direction (the fewer the ribs), the less raw material can be used. However, when there are more ribs, the outer circumference of the screw cap becomes approximately cylindrical, thus providing a better feel when the screw cap is pinched with fingers.

[0005] The aforementioned ribs protrude outwards in the radial direction from the outer circumferential surface of the cap. The greater the radial protrusion of the ribs, the larger the outer diameter of the screw cap, making the screw cap easier to open and close. Furthermore, when opening and closing the screw cap, rotational force is transmitted from the fingers gripping the cap to the ribs; therefore, the circumferential thickness of the ribs is designed to withstand this rotational force. Citation List Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. JP-A-2005-271922 Summary of the Invention The problem to be solved by the present invention

[0007] The present invention was created in view of the screw cap disclosed in Patent Document 1 under the above circumstances. The object of the present invention is to provide a screw cap that can achieve both easy opening and closing and minimize waste of raw materials by using a construction different from that of the screw cap in Patent Document 1. The object of the present invention is also to provide a container including the screw cap. Technical solutions to the problem

[0008] The screw cap of the present invention includes a screw cap body having a cap body, an outer cylinder, and a plurality of ribs. An internal thread is formed in the inner circumferential surface of the cap body, and the cap body is used to open and close the opening of the container body. The outer cylinder surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the cap body. The plurality of ribs are arranged at intervals from each other in the circumferential direction of the cap body, and the plurality of ribs engage the outer cylinder with the cap body. The plurality of ribs extend downward from a position lower than the upper end of the outer cylinder. In the vertical direction, the outer cylinder is divided into a first region and a second region, the first region extending from the upper end of the outer cylinder to the plurality of ribs, and the second region having the plurality of ribs arranged therein. Furthermore, the screw cap of the present invention is characterized in that a portion of the first region of the outer cylinder is capable of elastic deformation in the radial direction.

[0009] The screw cap body also has: an edge extending along the outer periphery of the cap body, and engaging the cap body with the outer cylinder at a lower position of the cap body below the plurality of ribs.

[0010] The eaves are also provided with through holes.

[0011] The dimension of the rib in the vertical direction is smaller than that of the outer cylinder in the vertical direction. Specifically, with the lower end of the outer cylinder as the baseline, the dimension of the rib in the vertical direction is 1 / 3 (one-third) to 5 / 6 (five-sixths) of the dimension of the outer cylinder in the vertical direction.

[0012] The cover includes a cylindrical body, a sealing plate, and an inner ring. The cylindrical body is a portion with internal threads, the sealing plate is a portion for closing the opening, and the inner ring protrudes downward from the sealing plate and cooperates with the cylindrical body to clamp the opening in the radial direction.

[0013] The cover includes a contact ring that protrudes downward from the sealing plate between the cylindrical body and the inner ring, and the contact ring is capable of contacting the end face of the opening.

[0014] In addition to the screw cap body, the screw cap may also include an tamper-evident ring that engages with the screw cap body and is capable of breaking off on the underside of the edge when it gets stuck with the opening during the first opening operation.

[0015] The container of the present invention includes a screw cap and a container body. The container body has a dispensing spout and a flexible packaging body. The dispensing spout is a drinking spout that can be opened and closed by rotating the screw cap, and the flexible packaging body is a bag attached to the dispensing spout. Effects of the present invention

[0016] The screw cap of this invention achieves both ease of opening and closing and minimizes waste of raw materials. The container of this invention also possesses the advantages of a screw cap. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 (A) Figure 1 (B) and Figure 1 (C) in the figure shows the front view, top view and bottom view of the screw cap according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 It is along Figure 1 Enlarged cross-section view of line ABC in (B); Figure 3 This is a front view of the container shown in the first embodiment; Figure 4 It is along Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of line DD in the diagram; Figure 5 It is along Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of line EE in the diagram; Figure 6 (A) and Figure 6 (B) in the figure is a top view showing the state of the screw cap before elastic deformation and during elastic deformation; Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view showing a variant of the screw cap; and Figure 8 This is an exploded perspective view of the container of the first embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0018] like Figure 8 As shown, the container 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention includes a container body 2 and a screw cap 3. The container body 2 has a discharge port 2a as a drinking spout, and the screw cap 3 can be opened and closed by rotating relative to the discharge port 2a.

[0019] In this specification, the line centered when the screw cap 3 rotates is referred to as "axis L". The direction in which axis L extends is referred to as "axis direction". (See reference...) Figure 8 , Figure 2 and Figure 3In this embodiment, the "axial direction" is the up-down direction. When the container body 2 is closed, the screw cap 3 travels in the "downward direction." When the container body 2 is opened, the screw cap 3 travels in the "upward direction." As will be described later, the direction in which the outlet 2a, which is part of the container body 2, is held by the opening of the soft packaging body 2s, which is also part of the container body 2, is called the "front-back direction." Directions orthogonal to both the up-down and front-back directions are called the "left-right directions." Note that the front-back and left-right directions are defined merely for ease of explanation. Therefore, the front-back and left-right directions do not necessarily have to be consistent with the front-back and left-right directions when the container body 2 is in use; in other words, the front-back and left-right directions can be switched. Furthermore, when viewed from the up-down direction, all directions orthogonal to the axis L are called the "diameter direction" or "radial direction." In the "diameter direction" or "radial direction," the direction toward the axis L is called the "inward direction," and the opposite direction is called the "outward direction." Components or parts located in the inward direction can be described as located on the inside, while components or parts located in the outward direction can be described as located on the outside. For a ring-shaped object viewed from above, the direction of rotation around the ring-shaped object is called the "circumferential direction".

[0020] (Container body and flexible packaging) The container body 2 includes a flexible packaging body 2s and a dispensing port 2a. In this embodiment, the flexible packaging body 2s is a bag. The flexible packaging body 2s includes at least two sheet members that overlap each other in the front-back direction, and its periphery is sealed. These two sheet members are flexible, so that the contents can be squeezed out when the user squeezes the flexible packaging body 2s. When the flexible packaging body 2s is not filled with contents, the two sheet members of the flexible packaging body 2s overlap each other in the front-back direction, and when the flexible packaging body 2s is filled with contents, the two sheet members of the flexible packaging body 2s expand in the front-back direction.

[0021] (Discharge port) The parts of the discharge port 2a, from top to bottom, are referred to as the port 10, the gripping part 20, and the attachment part 30. The gripping part 20 is the part held by the fingers of a hand different from the hand that pinches the screw cap 3 when the user rotates the screw cap 3 relative to the container body 2. The attachment part 30 is the part used to attach the discharge port 2a to the flexible packaging body 2s. The discharge port 2a is, for example, an injection-molded part made of synthetic resin. Polypropylene or polyethylene can be used as synthetic resins, but the synthetic resin is not limited to these. Polyolefin is suitable because this material is inexpensive and has good processability. The dispensing port 2a is attached to an opening (not shown) formed at the upper end of the flexible packaging body 2s. The dispensing port 2a includes a drinking spout 2b and a member extending radially from the drinking spout 2b. The drinking spout 2b has a cylindrical shape extending vertically. Fluid flows through the interior of the drinking spout 2b. The drinking spout 2b includes a first channel 11, a second channel 21, and a third channel 31. The first channel 11, the second channel 21, and the third channel 31 form the central portion of the dispensing port 2a. The first channel 11 is the upper part of the drinking spout 2b and forms part of the opening 10. The second channel 21 is the middle part of the drinking spout 2b in the vertical direction and forms part of the grip portion 20. The third channel 31 is the lower part of the drinking spout 2b and forms part of the attachment portion 30.

[0022] (mouth) The opening 10 includes a first channel 11, an external thread 12, and a first flange 13. The external thread 12 is a thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first channel 11. The first flange 13 is a flange extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the first channel 11 at a position below the external thread 12. In this embodiment, the first flange 13 includes two flange members 14 spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction.

[0023] (Holding part) The grip portion 20 includes a second channel 21 and a grip portion body 22. The grip portion body 22 includes a plurality of flanges 23 extending outward in a radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the second channel 21.

[0024] (Main body of the gripping part) When viewed from above, the gripping body 22 is point-symmetrical about axis L. The gripping body 22 includes a plurality of flanges 23, which are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the gripping body 22 includes three flanges 23. When it is necessary to distinguish these three flanges 23 from each other, these flanges are referred to as the second flange 23, the third flange 23, and the fourth flange 23 from top to bottom.

[0025] Each of the second to fourth flanges 23 includes a pair of protrusions 24. These protrusions 24 extend symmetrically from left to right to a position further outward in the radial direction than the first flange 13. Figure 4As shown, when viewed from above, each of the second to fourth flanges 23 has a generally rectangular shape that is longer in the left-right direction. The grip body 22 has two long sides 25 and two short sides 26. Specifically, when viewed from above, the grip body 22 has an octagonal shape obtained by chamfering the four corners of the elongated rectangle, and the two long sides 25 are longer than the other six sides. The two short sides 26 are the edges of the pair of protrusions 24. When viewed from above, the second, third, and fourth flanges 23 have substantially the same shape. These flanges 23 overlap each other in that the third and fourth flanges 23 are hidden beneath the second flange 23.

[0026] (Attached section) like Figure 8 As shown, the attachment portion 30 includes a third channel 31 and a pair of upright members 32. The pair of upright members 32 extend to the left and right respectively from the outer peripheral surface of the third channel 31 to the outer side in the radial direction. The pair of upright members 32 are bilaterally symmetrical and protrude from below the fourth flange 23 of the grip body 22. When viewed from above, the pair of upright members 32 overlap each other in a state hidden below the fourth flange 23 of the grip body 22. The pair of upright members 32 extend in a diametrical direction parallel to the two long sides 25 of the grip body 22 and extend towards the middle of the two short sides 26 of the grip body 22. The thickness of the pair of upright members 32 in the direction parallel to the short sides 26 is sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter of the third channel 31. Specifically, the right upright member 32 extends to the right from the right side of the outer peripheral surface of the third channel 31, and the thickness of the right upright member 32 in the front-back direction decreases as it extends to the right. The left vertical member 32 extends from the left side of the outer peripheral surface of the third channel 31 to the left, and the thickness of the left vertical member 32 in the front-back direction decreases as it extends to the left.

[0027] (Screw cap) The screw cap 3 includes a screw cap body 3a as its basic structure, and may also include a tamper-evident ring 8, described later. For example, the screw cap 3 is an injection-molded part made of a synthetic resin. Polypropylene or polyethylene can be used as a synthetic resin, but the synthetic resin is not limited to these. Polyolefins are suitable because this material is inexpensive and has good processability.

[0028] (Screw cap body) like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5As shown, the screw cap body 3a has the following function: by squeezing the screw cap body 3a with fingers, the screw cap body 3a can be rotated relative to the opening 10, thereby opening and closing the opening 10. The screw cap body 3a includes a cap body 4, an outer cylinder 5, and a rib 7, and may also include a rim 6 and an anti-deformation body V. (Cover body) The cover 4 includes a cylindrical body 41, a sealing plate 42, an inner ring 43, and a contact ring 44.

[0029] (Cylindrical body and enclosed plate) The cylindrical body 41 has a cylindrical shape and functions to cover the opening 10 from the outer side in the radial direction. The lower end of the cylindrical body 41 is an open end. The outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 41 is a cylindrical surface. An internal thread 45 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 41. The closing plate 42 has a disc shape and closes the upper end of the cylindrical body 41.

[0030] (Inner Ring) The inner ring 43 is an annular body that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the closed plate 42. In other words, the inner ring 43 can be described as having a cylindrical shape. The inner ring 43 is located inside the cylindrical body 41. (Contact ring) The contact ring 44 is an annular body protruding downward from the lower surface of the closed plate 42. In the vertical direction, the contact ring 44 is sufficiently shorter than the inner ring 43. The contact ring 44 is located outside the inner ring 43 and inside the cylindrical body 41. In other words, in the radial direction from the outside to the inside, the cylindrical body 41, the contact ring 44, and the inner ring 43 are arranged sequentially and spaced apart from each other. In other words, it can be said that both the inner ring 43 and the contact ring 44 are concentrically arranged relative to the cylindrical body 41 with respect to the axis L. like Figure 5 As shown, with container 1 closed, the inner ring 43 and the cylindrical body 41 cooperate to clamp the opening 10 in the radial direction, and the contact ring 44 contacts the upper end of the opening 10. Thus, after container 1 is filled with contents, the contents can be sealed.

[0031] (outer cylinder) like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the outer cylinder 5 includes an outer cylinder body 51 and a plurality of protruding members 52. The outer cylinder 5 has a cylindrical shape centered on the axis L. The inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 5 is a cylindrical surface. The plurality of protruding members 52 are arranged side by side along the circumferential direction on the outer circumferential surface of the outer cylinder body 51. That is, the outer circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 5 becomes a surface with asperities in the circumferential direction due to the presence of the plurality of protruding members 52. The protruding members 52 have the functions of improving the strength of the outer cylinder 5 in the radial direction and for anti-slip purposes. The outer cylinder 5 is joined to the outer edge of the edge 6 at the lower end of the outer cylinder. In addition, the outer cylinder 5 is located on the outer side of the cylindrical body 41 in the radial direction. In other words, it can be said that the outer cylinder 5 and the cylindrical body 41 form a concentric double cylinder centered on the axis L.

[0032] In the vertical direction, the outer cylinder 5 is divided into a first region 5h1 and a second region 5h2. The first region 5h1 extends from the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 to the rib 7, and the rib 7 is arranged in the second region 5h2. A first annular space S1 is formed in the radial direction between the first region 5h1 and the cover 4. On the other hand, multiple second spaces S2, defined in the circumferential direction by multiple ribs 7, are formed in the radial direction between the second region 5h2 and the cover 4. Note that the vertical dimension 5h of the outer cylinder 5 does not include the portion that joins with the edge 6.

[0033] For example, the thickness of the protruding member 52 in the radial direction is less than twice the thickness of the outer cylinder body 51. Furthermore, the maximum outer diameter of the outer cylinder 5 and the maximum outer diameter of the tamper-evident ring 8 are substantially the same. That is, the outer cylinder 5 and the tamper-evident ring 8 are outwardly located on the same cylindrical surface. The thickness (maximum value) of the outer cylinder 5 in the radial direction can be greater than the thickness (maximum value) of the tamper-evident ring 8 in the radial direction. The thickness of the outer cylinder 5 in the radial direction is set such that the outer cylinder 5 can undergo elastic deformation in the first region 5h1, but does not undergo substantial elastic deformation in the second region 5h2.

[0034] (Eaves) When viewed from above, the rim 6 is annular, and the rim 6 joins the lower end of the cover 4 at its inner edge. Figure 1 As shown in (B), when viewed from above, the rim 6 extends circumferentially along the outer periphery of the lower end of the cover 4. Multiple through holes 6a are formed in the rim 6, penetrating it vertically. These through holes 6a are arranged to be spaced apart from each other circumferentially. In this embodiment, one through hole 6a is formed between adjacent ribs 7 in the circumferential direction. Each through hole 6a is formed such that it is slightly separated from both the inner and outer peripheries of the rim 6 in the radial direction. The position of the through hole 6a in the circumferential direction differs from the midpoint in the circumferential direction between two adjacent ribs 7.

[0035] (rib) Rib 7 is a thin plate-like member extending in both the vertical and radial directions. In the radial direction, rib 7 joins the inner end of the cylindrical body 41 and the outer end of the cylindrical body 51. The lower end of rib 7 joins the upper surface of the edge 6. Rib 7 extends upwards from the upper surface of the edge 6 to a point where it does not reach the upper end of the outer cylindrical body 51. In other words, rib 7 can be said to extend downwards from a position lower than the upper end of the outer cylinder 5. The length of rib 7 in the vertical direction will be described later. In this embodiment, four ribs 7 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the axis L. In other words, when viewed from the vertical direction, the four ribs 7 are arranged circumferentially spaced 90 degrees apart from each other. like Figure 2 As shown, rib 7 extends vertically from a position a certain distance away from the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 in the downward direction until it reaches the edge 6. In other words, with the upper surface of the edge 6 as the reference line, the vertical dimension 7h of rib 7 is shorter than the vertical dimension 5h of the outer cylinder 5. Preferably, the vertical dimension 7h of rib 7 is more than 1 / 3 and less than 9 / 10 of the vertical dimension 5h of the outer cylinder 5, more preferably more than 1 / 3 and less than 1 / 2, and more preferably more than 1 / 3 and less than 7 / 10. When viewed from above, all ribs 7, edge 6, and through holes 6a are visually identifiable. If the vertical dimension 7h of the rib 7 is less than one-third of the vertical dimension 5h of the outer cylinder 5, then, as will be described later, when the outer cylinder 5 is squeezed to open the container 1, the supporting force provided by the rib 7 is small, resulting in very large elastic deformation of the outer cylinder 5. Therefore, the fingers squeezing the outer cylinder 5 often experience an uncomfortable tactile sensation. If the vertical dimension 7h of the rib 7 is greater than nine-tenths of the vertical dimension 5h of the outer cylinder 5, then the supporting force provided by the rib 7 is large, resulting in very small elastic deformation of the outer cylinder 5. Therefore, the ease of opening and closing operations may be compromised. Preferably, the vertical dimension 7h of the rib 7 is more than one-third and less than one-half of the vertical dimension 5h of the outer cylinder 5, so that a balance can be struck between the tactile sensation of the fingers when opening the container 1 and the ease of opening and closing operations. If the dimension 7h of the rib 7 in the vertical direction is more than 1 / 3 and less than 7 / 10 of the dimension 5h of the outer cylinder 5 in the vertical direction, then it can be further adapted to the cap holding force provided by the capper of the filling device when the container 1 is filled with contents, which is even more preferred.

[0036] (Deformation-resistant body) The anti-deformation body V protrudes downward from the lower surface of the edge 6. Specifically, the anti-deformation body V is formed at a position different from that directly below the through hole 6a. The anti-deformation body V includes: an annular inner ring portion V1, which is located radially inside the through hole 6a; and a protrusion V2, which protrudes radially outward from the inner ring portion V1 at positions on both sides of the circumference of the through hole 6a. Note that in Figure 1 In section (C), between two adjacent protrusions V2 in the circumferential direction, there exists a portion containing the through hole 6a and a portion exposing the lower surface of the edge 6. That is to say, in Figure 1 In (C), the two protrusions V2 are located between two through holes 6a that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. Even when other screw caps 3 are pressed onto the tamper-evident ring 8, or when a radial force from the outside to the inside is applied to the tamper-evident ring 8 for some purpose of tampering, the deformation-resistant body V can prevent the tamper-evident ring 8 from being pushed towards the inside of the screw cap 3 in the radial direction. Specifically, when in Figure 2 When a force is applied from the left side of the tamper-proof ring 8, the inner circumferential surface of the tamper-proof ring 8 will come into contact with the anti-deformation body V, thereby preventing the tamper-proof ring 8 from deforming or shifting inward.

[0037] (Anti-tamper ring) As previously described, the screw cap 3 may include an tamper-evident ring 8. In this embodiment, the screw cap 3 includes an tamper-evident ring 8. When viewed from below, the tamper-evident ring 8 is annular. In other words, the tamper-evident ring 8 is a thin, strip-shaped ring extending in both the vertical and circumferential directions. The tamper-evident ring 8 is attached to the lower surface of the edge 6. Therefore, the tamper-evident ring 8 is located below the edge 6. The tamper-evident ring 8 is a so-called tamper-proof ring used to ensure the container 1 remains unopened. During the initial opening operation, the tamper-evident ring 8 will engage with the discharge port 2a, and a portion of the tamper-evident ring 8 is designed to break. The tamper-evident ring 8 includes a strip 81 and a joint 82. The distance between the lower end of the cover 4 and the lower end 8P of the tamper-evident ring 8 is referred to as the vertical dimension 8h of the tamper-evident ring 8. The vertical dimension 8h of the tamper-evident ring 8 is shorter than the vertical dimension 7h of the rib 7.

[0038] (Zodiaceous body) The strip-shaped body 81 surrounds the discharge port 2a in the circumferential direction. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the strip 81 is arranged on the outer side of the deformation-resistant body V in the radial direction and at a certain distance from the deformation-resistant body V. Figure 1 and Figure 4As shown, the strip 81 includes a robust portion 84 and a vulnerable portion 85 continuously formed in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the tamper-proof ring 8 includes: two robust portions 84 arranged at intervals from each other in the circumferential direction; and two vulnerable portions 85 that join the two robust portions 84 together in a state that allows them to break. When viewed from above, the robust portion 84 has an arc shape with an angle slightly less than 180 degrees. The thickness of the vulnerable portion 85 in the radial direction is less than the thickness of the robust portion 84 in the radial direction, and the dimension of the vulnerable portion 85 in the vertical direction is less than the dimension of the robust portion 84 in the vertical direction.

[0039] (Joint) Each of the two joints 82 joins the reinforcing portion 84 of the strip 81 and the screw cap body 3a at a portion of its own circumferential direction. For example, as... Figure 1 As shown in (C), one of the two joints 82 is located near the rear side of the right vulnerable portion 85, while the other joint 82 is located at... Figure 1 Near the front side of the unseen left-side vulnerable portion 85. The joint 82 is located at one of the two ends in the circumferential direction of the rigid portion 84. The structure for causing the vulnerable portion 85 to break is located on the other end side opposite to the joint 82. (As shown...) Figure 4 As shown, one end refers to the end of the screw cap 3 in the direction of rotation (closing direction) when the container 1 is closed. The other end, opposite to the joint 82, refers to the end of the screw cap 3 in the direction of rotation (opening direction) when the container 1 is first opened, opposite to the joint 82.

[0040] (Occlusal part) The structure used to break the vulnerable part 85 is the biting part 9, which enables circumferential engagement between the inner circumferential surface of the rigid part 84 and the outer circumferential surface of the mouth part 10. The biting part 9 includes: internal teeth 91 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the rigid part 84; and external teeth 92 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the mouth part 10 and engaging with the internal teeth 91 in the circumferential direction. The rigid part 84 includes: an arc-shaped rigid part body 84a; and internal teeth 91 protruding inward in the radial direction from the inner circumferential surface of the rigid part body 84a. The mouth part 10 includes external teeth 92 at its lower end extending outward in the radial direction from the outer circumferential surface of the first channel 11. The external teeth 92 protrude upward from the upper surface of the second flange 23.

[0041] The outer teeth 92 and the inner teeth 91 engage with each other in a circumferential direction, and the outer teeth 92 are arranged to be adjacent to the inner teeth 91 in one direction of the circumferential direction. The one direction is the direction of rotation of the screw cap 3 (opening direction) when the container 1 is first opened.

[0042] In this embodiment, each of the two rigid portions 84 includes two internal teeth 91 spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. These two internal teeth 91 are biased near one of a pair of vulnerable portions 85 adjacent to the two ends of the rigid portion 84 in the circumferential direction. When it is necessary to distinguish these two internal teeth 91 from each other, the internal tooth closer to the vulnerable portion 85 is referred to as the first internal tooth 91a, and the other internal tooth is referred to as the second internal tooth 91b. Note that a connecting portion 82 is arranged on the side of the other vulnerable portion 85 in the circumferential direction of the rigid portion 84.

[0043] In this embodiment, the mouth portion 10 includes four external teeth 92. Specifically, the mouth portion 10 includes two external teeth 92 at positions corresponding to the two internal teeth 91 of each of the two reinforcing portions 84. When it is necessary to distinguish these two external teeth 92 from each other, the first external tooth 92a extends outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the first channel 11, while the second external tooth 92b extends towards the inner peripheral surface of the reinforcing portion 84 from a position closer to the first channel 11 than the tip of the first external tooth 92a located outward in the radial direction. The first external tooth 92a engages with the first internal tooth 91a, and the second external tooth 92b engages with the second internal tooth 91b. When the screw cap 3 is rotated during the first opening operation, the first inner tooth 91a is pushed to the outer side in the radial direction as it moves past the first outer tooth 92a, and the second inner tooth 91b is also pushed to the outer side in the radial direction as it moves past the second outer tooth 92b. As a result, the weak part 85 breaks, while the strong part 84 remains engaged with the edge 6 at the joint 82.

[0044] (Positional relationship in the vertical direction) like Figure 2 As shown, in the vertical direction, the highest position of the upper surface of the sealing plate 42 is referred to as the top position 42P. In this embodiment, the central portion of the upper surface of the sealing plate 42 is recessed in the downward direction. Therefore, the portion located on the outer side in the radial direction relative to the central portion (more specifically, the portion where the contact ring 44 is arranged) is the top position 42P.

[0045] The vertical positional relationship of the top position 42P, the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44, the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5, and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 is as follows: they are arranged in the order described above, from top to bottom. That is, the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44 is located below the top position 42P. The upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located below the contact ring 44. The lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 is located below the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5. Therefore, in the vertical direction, the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located between the top position 42P and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43, and also between the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44 and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43.

[0046] (Effect) The screw cap 3 of this embodiment is easy to open and close. Specific descriptions are given below. The container 1 of the above first embodiment is basically in the following unopened state: wherein, the container body 2 is filled with contents and the screw cap 3 is closed. When the container 1 is first opened, the operator applies a force to the outer cylinder 5 to rotate the screw cap 3. Since the tamper-evident ring 8 must be broken during the first opening operation, a greater force is required than in the second and subsequent opening operations. During the first opening operation, when, for example, applying a force to the screw cap 3 with the index finger, middle finger, and thumb, as shown in (A) of Figure 6 , a contact area a1 where the index finger contacts the screw cap 3, a contact area a2 where the middle finger contacts the screw cap 3, and a contact area a3 where the thumb contacts the screw cap 3 are formed on the entire circumference of the outer cylinder 5. In the state where no force is applied to these three contact areas a1 to a3, when viewed from above, the first area 5h1 has a circular shape, and its outer diameter is d0.

[0047] When a force is applied to these three contact areas a1 to a3, since the rib 7 does not extend in the first area 5h1 of the outer cylinder 5, when viewed from above, the first area 5hl elastically deforms from a circular shape to a slight ellipse as shown in (B) of Figure 6 . That is, at the upper end 5P of the first area 5h1, the outer diameter dimension of the short axis of the ellipse is d1, and the outer diameter dimension of the long axis of the ellipse is d2. The relationship of the outer diameter dimensions is d1 < d0 < d2. In this case, since the shape of the first area 5h1 becomes flatter when viewed from above compared to the case of a circular shape, the outer cylinder 5 is easier to pinch and easier to apply force. The thickness of the outer cylinder 5 in the radial direction and the dimension of the first area 5h1 in the up-and-down direction are set such that: even when the first area 5h1 undergoes elastic deformation, the rotational force can be transmitted. On the other hand, since there is a rib 7 in the second area 5h2 of the outer cylinder 5, even when the above force is applied, the second area 5h2 hardly undergoes elastic deformation and remains in a circular shape when viewed from above. As described above, since the screw cap 3 includes an outer cylinder 5 that is greatly separated from the internal thread 45 toward the outside in the radial direction, the operator can generate a large torque with a small force. Therefore, the operator can easily open and close the screw cap 3. For example, the outer diameter d0 of the outer cylinder 5 is 20 mm to 30 mm. For example, the dimension in the up-and-down direction between the lower end of the screw cap body 3a and the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is 6 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, or 20 mm. For example, the dimension in the up-and-down direction between the lower end 8P of the tamper-evident ring 8 and the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is 10 mm, 15 mm, 20 mm, or 25 mm.

[0048] Furthermore, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, an annular first space S1 exists in the first region 5h1 located between the outer cylinder 5 and the cap body 4 in the radial direction, and a plurality of second spaces S2 separated in the circumferential direction by ribs 7 exist in the second region 5h2. Therefore, compared with screw caps where spaces S1 and S2 are also filled with synthetic resin or screw caps where ribs 7 extend from the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 to the edge 6, the amount of raw material used in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment can be reduced. In addition, because the outer diameter of the part squeezed by the operator is larger than the outer diameter of the screw cap excluding the outer cylinder 5, the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment is easier to open and close.

[0049] Furthermore, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, compared to screw caps where, for example, the rib 7 extends from the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 to the edge 6, the elastic deformation in the first region 5h1 provides a good tactile feel when the outer cylinder 5 is forcefully squeezed to open the container 1, thus preventing finger pain. In addition, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, when the outer cylinder 5 is squeezed to open the container 1, the squeezing force is transmitted from the outer cylinder 5 to the cap body 4 via the rib 7 and the edge 6 in the second region 5h2. Therefore, compared to screw caps without, for example, the rib 7, the screw cap 3 is easier to open and close. Furthermore, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, when the screw cap 3 is rotated to open the container 1, the rotational force is transmitted not only from the second region 5h2 but also from the first region 5h1, which undergoes elastic deformation. Since the first region 5h1 becomes flat and easier to squeeze, the container 1 can be opened with a large rotational force. In other words, the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment achieves both reduced material usage, ease of opening and closing, and a good tactile feel.

[0050] The screw cap 3 of the first embodiment includes a rim 6. By providing the rim 6, the flow of synthetic resin inside the mold becomes stable during the manufacture of the screw cap 3, thus enabling more stable manufacture of the screw cap 3. In the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, since the rim 6 includes through holes 6a between adjacent ribs 7 in the circumferential direction, the amount of raw material used is reduced, and the clamping force on the outer cylinder 5 is transmitted to the cap body 4 from the portion other than the through holes 6a via the rim 6 and ribs, thus maintaining ease of opening and closing operations. When the screw cap 3 is closed after the container body 2 has been filled with contents and the screw cap 3 is disinfected and cleaned with water or the like, the through holes 6a function as drainage holes.

[0051] In the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, with the edge 6 as the reference line, since the dimension 7h of the rib 7 in the vertical direction is set to 1 / 3 to 5 / 6 of the dimension 5h of the outer cylinder 5 in the vertical direction, it is possible to further reduce the amount of raw materials used while taking into account both good tactile feel and ease of opening and closing operations.

[0052] In the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, in the unopened state, the opening 10 is held in the radial direction by the cylindrical body 41 and the inner ring 43, and the contact ring 44 and the opening 10 are in contact with each other, thereby improving the sealing performance. In addition, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, in the vertical direction, since the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located between the top position 42P of the sealing plate 42 and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43, it is easier to visually identify the presence of the outer cylinder 5 on the outer side of the cap body 4 in the radial direction. Furthermore, it is easier to understand that the ease of opening is achieved due to the size of the outer diameter, and the operation is also more convenient.

[0053] In the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located between the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44 and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 in the vertical direction. Therefore, for example, compared with the screw cap where the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located lower than the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 in the vertical direction, the area that can be pinched by fingers in the vertical direction is expanded, and operation becomes more convenient.

[0054] In the first embodiment, the screw cap 3 includes an tamper-evident ring 8 when the container 1 is unopened, which allows the first region 5h1, capable of elastic deformation in the radial direction, to function effectively. When the screw cap 3 is turned during the initial opening operation, it is possible to pinch not only the outer cylinder 5 but also the tamper-evident ring 8. Depending on the degree of pinching, this may hinder the breaking of the tamper-evident ring 8 when the screw cap 3 is turned. Even if the fingertip touches the tamper-evident ring 8 when the screw cap 3 is pinched, as long as the first region 5h1 undergoes elastic deformation, the fingertip is unlikely to touch the tamper-evident ring 8, and the force of the fingertip is unlikely to be transmitted to the tamper-evident ring 8. Therefore, the tamper-evident ring 8 can be easily broken during the initial opening operation.

[0055] Specifically, for example, when the outer cylinder 5 is pinched with the fingertips pointing downwards and the finger extension direction being approximately parallel to the vertical direction, even if the fingertips touch the tamper-evident ring 8, the first region 5h1 will undergo elastic deformation, causing the fingertips of the thumb and index finger to spread apart. Thus, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, for example, compared to the screw cap where the rib 7 extends from the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 to the edge 6, the force is less likely to be transmitted to the tamper-evident ring 8, and the first opening operation becomes more convenient.

[0056] Furthermore, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, since the dimension 7h of the rib 7 in the vertical direction is designed to be longer than the dimension 8h of the tamper-evident ring 8 in the vertical direction, for example, compared with the screw cap in which the dimension 7h of the rib 7 in the vertical direction is equal to or less than the dimension 8h of the tamper-evident ring 8 in the vertical direction, the force of turning the screw cap 3 is more easily transmitted from the rib 7 to the cylindrical body 41, and the first opening operation becomes more convenient.

[0057] Figure 7 A screw cap 3T according to a variant of the present invention is shown. This variant screw cap 3T differs from the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment in its outer diameter. Specifically, in this variant screw cap 3T, the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 5 is designed to be larger than the outer diameter of the tamper-evident ring 8. When viewed from above, the outer cylinder 5 and the tamper-evident ring 8 are in a positional relationship such that the outer cylinder and the tamper-evident ring include portions that overlap each other in the vertical direction.

[0058] In this variant of the screw cap 3T, since the outer periphery of the tamper-evident ring 8 is located inside the outer periphery of the outer cylinder 5 in the radial direction, for example, when the outer cylinder 5 is pinched with the fingertips pointing downwards and the finger extension direction being approximately parallel to the up and down direction while the container 1 is unopened, it is more difficult for the fingertips to reach the tamper-evident ring 8 compared to the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, and the opening operation becomes more convenient.

[0059] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and appropriate modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0060] For example, in the above embodiments, the position of the through hole 6a in the circumferential direction is different from the midpoint in the circumferential direction between two adjacent ribs 7, and these through holes 6a are not point-symmetric about the axis L. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the position of the through hole 6a in the circumferential direction can also be the midpoint in the circumferential direction between two adjacent ribs 7, or it can be close to one of the two ribs 7. When close to said one rib 7, the through hole 6a is formed in the eaves 6 near the three components of the cover 4, the rib 7, and the outer cylinder 5. Therefore, even if a hole is formed in the eaves 6 and the rigidity of the eaves 6 may be reduced, the eaves 6 is reinforced by the above three components, so the rigidity of the eaves 6 is unlikely to be reduced, which is preferred.

[0061] In the above embodiments, a through hole 6a is formed in the eaves 6, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the eaves 6 may also be without the through hole 6a.

[0062] In the above embodiments, the dimension of the rib 7 in the vertical direction is 1 / 3 to 5 / 6 of the dimension of the outer cylinder 5 in the vertical direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is only necessary that the dimension of the rib 7 in the vertical direction is shorter than the dimension of the outer cylinder 5 in the vertical direction.

[0063] In the above embodiments, the cover 4 includes a cylindrical body 41, a sealing plate 42, an inner ring 43, and a contact ring 44. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is only necessary that the cover 4 includes at least a cylindrical body 41 and a sealing plate 42. In the above embodiments, the top position 42P of the sealing plate 42 is located at a higher position than the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the positional relationship between the top position 42P of the sealing plate 42 and the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 in the vertical direction is not limited.

[0064] In the above embodiments, the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located between the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 and the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the positional relationship between the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 and the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44 in the vertical direction is not limited. Furthermore, the upper ends of a plurality of protruding members 52 arranged side-by-side along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder body 51 are located between... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The upper end of the protruding member 52 is located slightly lower than the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5, but it can also be located at the same vertical direction as the upper end 5P, or at a position halfway down the vertical length of the outer cylinder 5. When the upper end of the protruding member 52 is located halfway down the vertical length of the outer cylinder 5, the thickness of the multiple protruding members 52 allows for a more suitable elastic deformation of the first region 5h1 of the outer cylinder 5. List of reference numerals

[0065] 1: Container 2: Container body 2a: Spout 2b: Straw 2s: Pouch 10: Mouth Portion 11: First Channel 12: External thread 13: First flange 14: Flange component 20: Grip section 21: Second Channel 22: Main body of the grip section 23: Flange 24: Projection 25: Two sides, longer side 26: Two sides, shorter side 30: Attachment 31: Third Channel 32: Vertical component 3, 3T: Screw cap 3a: Screw cap body 4: Cap body 41: cylinder body 42: Enclosed panel 42P: Top position 43: Inner Ring 43P: Lower end of the inner ring 44: Contact ring 44P: Lower end of the contact ring 45: Internal thread 5: Outer cylinder 5h: Dimensions of the outer cylinder in the vertical direction 5h1: Zone 1 5h2: Second Zone 5P: The upper end of the outer cylinder 51: Main body of outer cylinder 52: Raised member 6: brim 6a: Through hole 7: Rib 7h: Dimensions of the rib in the vertical direction 7P: Upper end of the rib V: Anti-deformation body V1: Inner Ring V2: Protrusion 8: Anti-tamper ring 8h: Dimensions of the tamper-proof ring in the vertical direction 8P: Lower end of the tamper-proof ring 81: Band body 82: Joint 84: Robust portion 84a: Main body of the solid part 85: Ministry of Fragility 9: Meshing portion 91, 91a, 91b: Internal teeth 92, 92a, 92b: External teeth a1, a2, a3: Contact area d0, d1, d2: Outer diameter dimensions L: Axis S1: First Space S2: Second Space

Claims

1. A screw cap, comprising: A screw cap body has a cap body, an outer cylinder, and multiple ribs. An internal thread is formed in the inner circumferential surface of the cap body. The cap body is used to open and close the opening, which serves as the upper part of the container body. The outer cylinder surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the cap body. The multiple ribs are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the cap body, and the multiple ribs engage the outer cylinder and the cap body. The plurality of ribs extend downward from a position lower than the upper end of the outer cylinder. In the vertical direction, the outer cylinder is divided into a first region and a second region. The first region extends from the upper end of the outer cylinder to the plurality of ribs, and the plurality of ribs are arranged in the second region. A portion of the first region of the outer cylinder is capable of elastic deformation in the radial direction.

2. The screw cap according to claim 1, wherein, The screw cap body also has: An eave extends along the outer periphery of the cover and joins the cover to the outer cylinder at a position lower than the plurality of ribs.

3. The screw cap according to claim 2, wherein, The edge has a through hole extending through the edge in the vertical direction, and the through hole is located between the ribs that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the cover.

4. The screw cap according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, With the edge as the reference line, the dimension of the rib in the vertical direction is 1 / 3 to 5 / 6 of the dimension of the outer cylinder in the vertical direction.

5. The screw cap according to claim 4, wherein, The cover has a cylindrical body, a closing plate, and an inner ring. An internal thread is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body. The closing plate closes the upper end of the cylindrical body. The inner ring protrudes downward from the closing plate and cooperates with the cylindrical body to clamp the opening in the radial direction. In the vertical direction, the upper end of the outer cylinder is located between the top position, which is the highest position of the upper surface of the sealing plate, and the lower end of the inner ring.

6. The screw cap according to claim 5, wherein, The cover has a contact ring that protrudes downward from the sealing plate between the cylindrical body and the inner ring, and the contact ring is capable of contacting the end face of the opening. In the vertical direction, the lower end of the contact ring is located between the top of the closing plate and the lower end of the inner ring, and In the vertical direction, the upper end of the outer cylinder is located between the lower end of the contact ring and the lower end of the inner ring.

7. The screw cap according to claim 6, further comprising, in addition to the screw cap body, the following: An tamper-evident ring, which engages with the screw cap body, is positioned below the edge, and is designed to break off upon jamming with the opening during the initial opening operation. The rib is longer in the vertical direction than the anti-tampering ring.

8. Containers, including: The screw cap according to claim 1 or 2; as well as The container body, to which the screw cap is attached. The container body has a dispensing port and a flexible packaging body. The dispensing port is a drinking spout that can be opened and closed by rotating the screw cap, and the flexible packaging body is a bag attached to the dispensing port.

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