Cap unit and method of manufacturing the same, and container with cap

Abstract

The present application provides a suitable cap unit in which a water stopper is integrated with a cap body. The cap unit includes a cap body that seals an upper opening of a container body in a state in which the cap body is inserted into the container body from the upper opening of the container body. The cap body includes an inner plug (10) that is inserted into the container body from the upper opening of the container body, and a water stopper (15) that is integrally formed on an outer peripheral portion of a lower end side of the inner plug (10) to seal between the container body and the inner plug (10). The inner plug (10) includes a boundary surface (12a) that faces an upper surface of the water stopper, an inclined surface (12b) that is inclined upward from a position of the boundary surface (12a) that is outward of the water stopper (15), and an outer peripheral surface (12c) that stands upward from an outer side of the inclined surface (12b).

Description

[0001] This patent application is a divisional application of Chinese patent application No. 202211705871.4, filed by Thermos (China) Household Products Co., Ltd. and Thermos Corporation, entitled "Cap Unit and Manufacturing Method Thereof, and Container with Cap". Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to a cap unit and its manufacturing method, as well as a container with a cap. Background Technology

[0003] Previously, there were capped containers with capping units (plugs) that sealed the upper opening of the container body by being detachably installed on the neck of the container body (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

[0004] This cap unit has a cap body that seals the upper opening of the container body, and is constructed to be installed relative to the container body by screwing. In addition, the cap unit has a water-stopping seal that can be easily installed and removed from the cap body, and is constructed to seal (stop water) the container body from the cap body.

[0005] The water-stop seal is composed of an annular elastic component, which is fitted onto the outer periphery of the lower end of the inner plug embedded inside the container body of the cap body. When the cap body is screwed onto the container body, the water-stop seal abuts against a protrusion that extends circumferentially from the inside of the container body, thereby undergoing elastic deformation and fitting tightly against the protrusion circumferentially. This achieves a tight seal (water-stopping) between the container body and the cap body.

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-187058

[0007] However, among the cap units described above, there are cap units that form a water-stop seal integrally with the inner plug of the cap body through insert molding. Specifically, a mold is used to form a cavity space with a shape corresponding to the water-stop seal between the inner plug and the cap body to seal the water-stop seal material into the cavity space, thereby forming a water-stop seal integrally with the cap body.

[0008] At this time, in terms of the shape of the inner bolt of the cap body of the mold's structural insert, it is similar to the mold used in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the cap body (in relation to the aforementioned Patent Document 1, Figure 3 Compared to molds C (101 and 102 opening in the orthogonal direction, i.e., the horizontal direction), using a mold divided along the axial direction of the cap body (as described in Patent Document 1 above) is preferable. Figure 3Molds C (101 and 102 are molds that open in the same direction, i.e., in the vertical direction) can increase the number of cap units produced in one molding process (yield).

[0009] On the other hand, when using a mold that is divided along the axial direction of the cap body, the inner plug of the cap body, which is set inside the mold, needs to be firmly pressed by the mold along the axial direction to prevent burrs from forming. In this case, the inner plug of the cap body is generally made of resin material, and the inner plug is generally pressed through the mold from the opposite direction to prevent it from deforming due to the pressure and heat when the mold is closed. However, although it is from the opposite direction, when pressing the ends of the longer parts in the axial direction, it is easily affected by dimensional deviations, and the inner plug is prone to deformation due to the pressure when the mold is closed.

[0010] Therefore, by making the outer diameter of the inner plug of the cap body larger than the outer diameter of the water-stop seal, a portion (pressing amount) of the inner plug is ensured to be pressed in the axial direction on the outside of the water-stop seal integrally formed with the inner plug (see, for example, Patent Document 1 above). Figure 3 C.

[0011] However, when the inner plug's full height is largely embedded into the inner side of the container body from the upper opening, the outer diameter of the sealing element is smaller than the outer diameter of the inner plug in the cap body. Consequently, the inner diameter of the protrusion in the container body used to abut against the sealing element to stop the water flow also becomes smaller. Therefore, the difference between the inner diameter of the upper opening and the inner diameter of the protrusion in the container body becomes larger. To ensure an appropriate inner diameter of the protrusion, the diameter of the upper opening of the container body, or the outer diameter of the container body, becomes larger, and the container body itself becomes larger. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The present invention is made in view of the existing situation and aims to provide a suitable cap unit that integrates a water-stop seal with a cap body, a method for manufacturing the same, and a capped container having such a cap unit.

[0013] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following solutions.

[0014] [1] A cap unit is detachably installed relative to a container body with an upper opening, characterized in that it comprises a cap body that seals the upper opening of the container body when inserted into the inner side of the container body from the upper opening.

[0015] The above-mentioned cap body has:

[0016] An inner plug is inserted into the inner side of the container body from the upper opening of the container body; and

[0017] A water-stop seal is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the lower end side of the inner plug, sealing the container body and the inner plug together.

[0018] The aforementioned inner plug has: a boundary surface opposite to the upper surface of the aforementioned water-stop seal; an inclined surface that is inclined upward from a position on the boundary surface that is further outward than the aforementioned water-stop seal; and an outer peripheral surface that is raised upward from the outer side of the aforementioned inclined surface.

[0019] [2] The cap unit according to [1] above is characterized in that,

[0020] The aforementioned inclined surface is inclined in a straight line in a cross section along the axial direction of the aforementioned inner bolt.

[0021] [3] The cap unit according to [1] above is characterized in that,

[0022] The aforementioned inclined surface is curved in a cross-section along the axial direction of the aforementioned inner bolt.

[0023] [4] The cap unit according to [1] above is characterized in that,

[0024] The aforementioned inner plug has: a first recess, the shape of which corresponds to a first protrusion protruding inward from the upper end of the inner circumferential side of the aforementioned water-stop seal; and a second recess, the shape of which corresponds to a second protrusion protruding upward from the lower end of the inner circumferential side of the aforementioned water-stop seal.

[0025] [5] The cap unit according to [4] above is characterized in that,

[0026] The aforementioned inner plug has a third protrusion located between the aforementioned first recess and the aforementioned second recess, and its shape corresponds to the third recess of the aforementioned water-stopping seal formed between the aforementioned first protrusion and the aforementioned second protrusion.

[0027] [6] The cap unit according to any one of [1] to [5] above is characterized in that,

[0028] The outer end of the aforementioned boundary surface is located further outward than the upper outer end of the aforementioned water-stop seal.

[0029] [7] The cap unit according to any one of [1] to [6] above, characterized in that,

[0030] The lower surface of the aforementioned inner plug is coplanar with the lower surface of the aforementioned water-stopping seal.

[0031] [8] A method for manufacturing a cap unit, which is the method for manufacturing a cap unit according to any one of [1] to [7] above, characterized in that,

[0032] When the water-stop seal is formed integrally with the cap body using a mold that creates a cavity space with a shape corresponding to the water-stop seal between the inner plug and the cap body, the water-stop seal is formed.

[0033] With the mold abutting against the inclined surface, the cavity space is formed between the mold and the inner bolt.

[0034] [9] The method for manufacturing the cap unit according to [8] above is characterized in that,

[0035] A mold is used that is divided along the axial direction of the cap body.

[0036]

[10] The method for manufacturing the cap unit according to [8] or [9] above is characterized in that,

[0037] The aforementioned water-stopping seal is formed using liquid silicone.

[0038]

[11] A container with a cap, characterized in that it comprises:

[0039] The cap unit described in any one of [1] to [7] above; and

[0040] The container body for mounting the aforementioned cap unit.

[0041]

[12] The capped container according to

[11] above is characterized in that,

[0042] The container body described above has a vacuum insulation structure.

[0043] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a suitable cap unit that integrates a water-stop seal with a cap body, a method for manufacturing the same, and a capped container having such a cap unit. Attached Figure Description

[0044] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of a capped container having a capping unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 2 It means Figure 1 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of a capped container with a cap unit.

[0046] Figure 3 It means Figure 1 The diagram shows a cross-sectional perspective view of the structure of the cap unit.

[0047] Figure 4 It means Figure 1 The diagram shows a bottom view of the structure of the cap unit.

[0048] Figure 5(A) is viewed from the bottom side. Figure 1 The diagram shows a perspective view of the cap unit with its outer cover. Figure 5(B) is a view from the top side. Figure 1 The three-dimensional view is obtained by showing the outer cover of the cap unit.

[0049] Figure 6(A) is viewed from the top side. Figure 1 The diagram shows a perspective view of the inner bolt of the cap unit. Figure 6(B) is a view from the bottom side. Figure 1 The three-dimensional view is obtained by showing the inner bolt of the cap unit.

[0050] Figure 7 This indicates that the inner bolt is installed in Figure 1 The cross-sectional view of the cap unit in its state before the outer cover is shown.

[0051] Figure 8 It is used for installing the inner bolt. Figure 1 A cross-sectional view illustrating the state of the outer cover of the shown cap unit.

[0052] Figure 9 It is used for installing the inner bolt. Figure 1 A cross-sectional view illustrating the state of the outer cover of the shown cap unit.

[0053] Figure 10 It is magnification Figure 1 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the main components of the cap unit, including the inner plug and the water-stop seal.

[0054] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view used to illustrate the state of forming a water-stop seal by using a mold in a manner that integrates it with the inner plug.

[0055] Figure 12 It is magnification Figure 11 A cross-sectional view of the main parts shown.

[0056] Figure 13 It means Figure 10 Cross-sectional views of other shapes of the inclined plane shown.

[0057] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0058] 1…Cap unit; 2…Container body; 3…Outer container; 4…Inner container; 5…Vacuum insulation layer; 6…Internal thread; 7…Protrusion; 8…Cap body; 9…Outer cap; 10…Inner plug; 10d…Flange (second sliding locking part); 10e…First recess; 10f…Second recess; 10g…Third protrusion; 10h…Straight part; 10i…Upper surface protrusion; 10j…Flange; 11…Disassembly / assembly mechanism; 12…Lower side plug component; 12a…Boundary surface; 12b…Inclined surface; 12c…Outer periphery Surface; 12f… Inclined surface; 13… Upper bolt component; 14… External threaded part; 15… Water-stop seal; 15a… First protrusion; 15b… Second protrusion; 15c… Third recess; 16… Engaging hole; 17… Engaging piece; 18… Guide engagement part; 19… First click locking part; 20… Second click locking part; 21… Elastic piece; 22… Click locking part; 23… First sliding locking part; 24… Sliding locking part; 25… Slit; 100… Container with cap; 200… Mold; K… Cavity space. Detailed Implementation

[0059] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0060] (Capped unit and capped container)

[0061] First, as one embodiment of the present invention, for example, for having Figures 1-10 The capped container 100 of the capped unit 1 shown will be described.

[0062] also, Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of a capped container 100 having a capped unit 1. Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a capped container 100 having a capped unit 1. Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the structure of cap unit 1. Figure 4 This is a bottom view showing the structure of cap unit 1. Figure 5(A) is a view from below. Figure 1 The three-dimensional view obtained by showing the outer cover 9 of the cap unit 1. Figure 5(B) is viewed from the top side. Figure 1 The figure shows a perspective view of the outer cover 9 of the cap unit 1 shown. Figure 6(A) is a view from the top side. Figure 1 The perspective view obtained by showing the inner bolt 10 of the cap unit 1. Figure 6(B) is viewed from the bottom side. Figure 1 The three-dimensional view obtained by showing the inner bolt 10 of the cap unit 1. Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view showing the state before the inner bolt 10 is installed on the outer cover 9 of the cap unit 1. Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view used to illustrate the state of the inner bolt 10 being installed on the outer cover 9 of the cap unit 1. Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view used to illustrate the state of the inner bolt 10 being installed on the outer cover 9 of the cap unit 1. Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the inner bolt 10 and the water-stop seal 15 of the enlarged cap unit 1.

[0063] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the capped container 100 of this embodiment has a container body 2 with an opening at the top and a cap unit 1 that can be easily installed and removed from the container body 2. It is a beverage container that can keep the beverage (contents) contained in the container body 2 warm or cold.

[0064] Specifically, the container body 2 has an outer container 3 made of metal, such as stainless steel, and an inner container 4. The container body 2 has a vacuum insulation structure, which connects the open ends of the inner container 4 to each other when the inner container 4, which is open at one end, is housed inside the outer container 3, and a vacuum insulation layer 5 is provided between the outer container 3 and the inner container 4.

[0065] The vacuum insulation layer 5 can be formed, for example, by sealing the vent hole located at the center of the bottom surface of the outer container 3 with solder within a chamber where the pressure is reduced (evacuated) to a high vacuum.

[0066] By incorporating this vacuum insulation structure within the container body 2, the aforementioned functions of heat preservation or cold preservation are achieved. Furthermore, this vacuum insulation structure in the container body 2 creates a state where the difference between internal pressure (vacuum pressure) and external pressure (atmospheric pressure) constantly applies tension to the outer container 3 and the inner container 4, thereby increasing the mechanical strength of the outer container 3 and the inner container 4. Consequently, even with a reduction in the thickness of the outer container 3 and the inner container 4, the rigidity of the container body 2 can be improved, enabling a lighter form factor for the container body 2.

[0067] The container body 2 has: a generally circular bottom portion 2b; a main body portion 2c that rises from the outer periphery of the bottom portion 2b in a generally cylindrical shape; and a neck portion 2d that rises from the upper side of the main body portion 2c in a generally cylindrical shape. In addition, the upper end opening of the neck portion 2d is circular, serving as the upper opening portion 2a of the container body 2.

[0068] An internal thread portion 6 is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the neck 2d. And below the internal thread portion 6, an annular protrusion 7 is provided protruding from the inner circumferential surface of the inner container 4 all around the circumference.

[0069] Furthermore, the capped container 100 of this embodiment has a generally cylindrical shape, but the shape of the capped container 100 is not particularly limited and can be appropriately modified according to size, appearance design, etc. In addition, coating, printing, etc. can also be applied to the outer peripheral surface of the container body 2 (outer container 3).

[0070] In this embodiment, the cap unit 1 constitutes a cap that opens and closes the upper opening 2a of the container body 2. Specifically, as... Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the cap unit 1 has a cap body 8 that seals the upper opening 2a of the container body 2 when it is inserted into the inner side of the container body 2 from the upper opening 2a, and has a structure for mounting the cap body 8 relative to the container body 2 by screwing.

[0071] The cap body 8 has: an outer cap 9 that covers the upper opening 2a of the container body 2; an inner plug 10 that is inserted into the inner side of the container body 2 from the upper opening 2a; and a disassembly and assembly mechanism 11 that installs the inner plug 10 in a disassembly and assembly manner relative to the outer cap 9.

[0072] like Figure 2 As shown in Figures 5(A) and (B), the outer cover 9 is made of heat-resistant resin, for example, and has: a peripheral wall portion 9a, which is formed in a generally cylindrical shape in a manner that is continuous with the main body portion 2c of the container body 2; and an upper wall portion 9b, which seals the upper part of the peripheral wall portion 9a.

[0073] like Figure 2 As shown in Figures 6(A) and (B), the inner plug 10 is made of heat-resistant resin, for example, and has: a generally circular bottom wall portion 10a; a peripheral wall portion 10b that rises from the periphery of the bottom wall portion 10a in a generally cylindrical shape; a top wall portion 10c that blocks the upper part of the peripheral wall portion 10b; and a flange portion 10d that protrudes further in the diameter-expanding direction than the peripheral wall portion 10b.

[0074] The inner plug 10 has: a lower plug member 12 with a bottom and a generally cylindrical shape, forming a bottom wall portion 10a and a peripheral wall portion 10b; and an upper plug member 13 with a generally circular shape, forming a top wall portion 10c and a flange portion 10d. The inner plug 10 is a structure in which the lower plug member 12 is integrally mounted to the lower surface of the upper plug member 13 by means of welding or the like. Furthermore, the interior of the inner plug 10 is not limited to air as a heat insulation layer, but can also be a structure in which heat insulation material S is disposed.

[0075] Furthermore, an external threaded portion 14 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 10b (inner plug 10). In the capped container 100, the cap body 8 (cap unit 1) is installed relative to the container body 2 in a manner that allows for easy installation and removal by screwing the external threaded portion 14 into the internal threaded portion 6. The internal threaded portion 6 and the external threaded portion 14 are composed of two threads with complementary shapes. Using two threads allows the cap body 8 (cap unit 1) to be installed or removed relative to the container body 2 with minimal rotation (approximately 180° in this embodiment).

[0076] A water-stop seal 15 is integrally installed on the outer periphery of the lower end side of the inner plug 10. The water-stop seal 15 is an annular sealing component that seals the protrusion 7 of the container body 2 with the inner plug 10. It is made of, for example, heat-resistant rubber such as silicone rubber, or elastic components such as elastomers. The water-stop seal 15 is integrally formed with the inner plug 10 (cap body 8) by insert forming as described later.

[0077] The inner plug 10 has: a first recess 10e, the shape of which corresponds to a first protrusion 15a protruding inward from the upper end of the inner circumferential side of the water-stop seal 15; and a second recess 10f, the shape of which corresponds to a second protrusion 15b protruding upward from the lower end of the inner circumferential side of the water-stop seal 15. Additionally, the inner plug 10 has a third protrusion 10g, which is located between the first protrusion 15a and the second protrusion 15b of the water-stop seal 15 and its shape corresponds to the third recess 15c of the water-stop seal 15 formed between the first recess 10e and the second recess 10f of the inner plug 10.

[0078] In the cap unit 1 of this embodiment, the first protrusion 15a of the water-stop seal 15, which protrudes inward, is integrally formed with the first recess 10e of the inner plug 10, and the second protrusion 15b of the water-stop seal 15, which protrudes upward, is integrally formed with the second recess 10f of the inner plug 10. Furthermore, the third recess 15c of the water-stop seal 15 is integrally formed with the third protrusion 10g of the inner plug 10, thereby improving the tightness of the water-stop seal 15, which is integrally installed with the inner plug 10 (cap body 8), through their respective anchoring effects.

[0079] Furthermore, the lower surface of the inner plug 10 has a shape that causes the bottom wall portion 10a to be recessed upwards, but it is coplanar with the lower surface of the water-stop seal 15. Therefore, at the boundary between the lower surface of the inner plug 10 and the lower surface of the water-stop seal 15, the water-stop seal 15 is difficult to detach from the inner plug 10. Additionally, there are no gaps near the boundary, thus preventing water droplets from accumulating and ensuring hygiene.

[0080] Furthermore, two elastic flange portions 15d are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the water-stop seal 15, protruding in the expansion direction. When the cap body 8 (cap unit 1) is installed on the container body 2, the elastic flange portions 15d of the water-stop seal 15 undergo elastic deformation, becoming a state in which they are tightly attached to the protrusion 7 of the container body 2 throughout the entire circumference. As a result, the protrusion 7 (container body 2) and the inner plug 10 (cap body 8) can be sealed (water-stopped).

[0081] Furthermore, the water-stopping seal 15 is not necessarily limited to the shape and structure described above. For example, the number of elastic flange portions 15d is not limited to the two mentioned above, but can be one or more.

[0082] Furthermore, the water-stop seal 15 is not necessarily limited to the structure with the aforementioned elastic flange portion 15d, and its shape and other features can be appropriately modified. For example, it may also be a structure with an elastic flange portion having a shape that curves downward from the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the water-stop seal 15.

[0083] like Figures 2-9 As shown, the disassembly and assembly mechanism 11 has a structure that installs the inner bolt 10 onto the outer cover 9 by sliding the inner bolt 10 toward the center of the lower surface of the outer cover 9 (installation direction) while the upper surface of the inner bolt 10 is in contact with the inner side of the outer cover 9 at a position offset from the center of the lower surface.

[0084] Specifically, the disassembly and assembly mechanism 11 includes: a guide engagement portion 18 having an engagement hole 16 provided on the outer cover 9 and an engagement piece 17 provided on the inner bolt 10, the engagement piece 17 being engaged relative to the engagement hole 16; a click locking portion 22 having a first click locking portion 19 provided on the outer cover 9 and an elastic piece 21 including a second click locking portion 20 provided on the inner bolt 10, the locking portion of either one (the first click locking portion 19 in this embodiment) being locked relative to the locking portion of either the first click locking portion 19 or the second click locking portion 20 (the second click locking portion 20 in this embodiment); and a sliding locking portion 24 having a first sliding locking portion 23 provided on the outer cover 9, the flange portion (the second sliding locking portion) 10d of the inner bolt 10 being locked relative to the first sliding locking portion 23.

[0085] The engaging hole 16 is formed by a hole in the peripheral wall portion 9a located on the radial end side of the outer cover 9, which opens in a shape corresponding to the engaging piece 17. On the other hand, the engaging piece 17 is formed by a protrusion that protrudes further outward than the flange portion 10d located on the radial end side of the inner bolt 10.

[0086] In the guide engagement portion 18, with the engagement piece 17 inserted into the engagement hole 16, the inner bolt 10 can be guided radially relative to the outer cover 9 in a freely sliding manner. When the inner bolt 10 slides to the center of the lower surface inside the outer cover 9, the engagement piece 17 can engage with the engagement hole 16.

[0087] The first click-locking portion 19 is formed by a protrusion located on the radial side of the outer cover 9 and protruding downward from the upper wall portion 9b. On the other hand, the elastic piece 21 is configured to extend in the expanding direction from between a pair of slits 25 cut in the flange portion 10d located on the radial side of the inner bolt 10. The second click-locking portion 20 is formed by a recess formed by recessing a portion of the elastic piece 21 downward in a shape corresponding to the first click-locking portion 19.

[0088] In the click-locking part 22, when the inner bolt 10 slides to the center of the lower surface inside the outer cover 9, the first click-locking part 19 can be locked relative to the second click-locking part 20 of the elastically deformable elastic piece 21.

[0089] Furthermore, in the click-locking part 22, as a click mechanism that provides a click sensation when the inner bolt 10 slides to the center of the lower surface inside the outer cover 9, the aforementioned elastic sheet 21 is elastically deformed to lock the first click-locking part 19 into the second click-locking part 20.

[0090] The first sliding stop 23 is located on the other end of the radial direction of the outer cover 9, and is composed of a pair of prisms that protrude inward from the peripheral wall portion 9a on both sides of the elastic sheet 21 in a manner that is substantially parallel to the upper wall portion 9b.

[0091] In the sliding stop part 24, such as Figure 4 As shown, when the inner bolt 10 slides to the center of the lower surface inside the outer cover 9, the flange portion (second sliding locking portion) 10d can be locked to the first sliding locking portion 23.

[0092] In the disassembly and assembly mechanism 11 having the structure described above, from Figure 7 Insert the inner bolt 10 into the inner side of the outer cover 9 as shown. At this time, when... Figure 8 After inserting the locking tab 17 into the locking hole 16 as shown, as Figure 9 The upper surface of the inner bolt 10 is positioned against the inner side of the outer cover 9, offset from the center of the lower surface. From this position, the inner bolt 10 is slid toward the center of the lower surface of the inner side of the outer cover 9 (in the mounting direction).

[0093] At this time, as Figures 1-4As shown, the engaging piece 17, which engages with the engaging hole 16, and the side surface of the outer cover 9 are almost coplanar. Furthermore, by engaging the first click-locking part 19 with the second click-locking part 20, radial (removal direction) sliding of the inner bolt 10 relative to the outer cover 9 is prevented. Moreover, by engaging the engaging piece 17 of the inner bolt 10 with the engaging hole 16 located at one radial end of the outer cover 9, and engaging the flange portion (second sliding lock portion) 10d of the inner bolt 10 with the first sliding lock portion 23 located at the other radial end of the outer cover 9, the inner bolt 10 is prevented from falling off relative to the outer cover 9, and also prevents the inner bolt 10 from shifting in the rotational direction relative to the outer cover 9. Thus, the inner bolt 10 is mounted on the center of the lower inner surface of the outer cover 9.

[0094] In addition, when the inner bolt 10 is installed on the lower surface center of the inner side of the outer cover 9, the inner surface abutting part 9c of the inner surface side of the outer cover 9 shown in FIG5 (A) abuts against the straight part 10h provided on the flange part 10d shown in FIG6 (A) to prevent shaking and displacement.

[0095] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6(A), an upper surface protrusion 10i is provided on the top wall portion 10c of the inner bolt 10. The upper surface protrusion 10i is convex upwards at equal intervals every 90° when rotated from top view. When or after the inner bolt 10 is installed on the lower surface center of the inner side of the outer cover 9, the upper surface protrusion 10i prevents the gap distance between the two parts from shifting due to dimensional errors in the inner bolt 10 caused by molding. That is, by finely adjusting the size of the upper surface protrusion 10i, dimensional errors in the inner bolt 10 can be absorbed, and the inner bolt 10 can be stably installed on the lower surface center of the inner side of the outer cover 9.

[0096] On the other hand, in the disassembly and assembly mechanism 11, by performing an action opposite to the above-described action, that is, by sliding the inner bolt 10 relative to the outer cover 9 in a direction opposite to the above-described direction (disassembly direction), the locking state of the first click locking part 19 relative to the second click locking part 20 is released, and the locking state of the flange part (second sliding locking part) 10d relative to the first sliding locking part 23 is released. Next, the locking state of the engaging piece 17 relative to the engaging hole 16 is released. As a result, the inner bolt 10 can be disassembled from the outer cover 9.

[0097] In the cap unit 1 of this embodiment, by forming a structure in which the inner plug 10 can be installed in a way that is detachable from the outer cap 9, the outer cap 9 and the inner plug 10 can be cleaned independently, and hygiene between the outer cap 9 and the inner plug 10 can be maintained.

[0098] However, in the cap unit 1 of this embodiment, as Figure 10As shown, the lower bolt member 12 (inner bolt 10) has: a boundary surface 12a, which is opposite to the upper surface of the water-stop seal 15; an inclined surface 12b, which is inclined upward from a position on the boundary surface 12a that is outside the water-stop seal 15; and an outer peripheral surface 12c, which stands upright from the outside of the inclined surface 12b.

[0099] The inclined surface 12b is formed in a straight line (C surface) in a cross section along the axial direction of the lower bolt member 12 (inner bolt 10). In addition, it is preferable that the inclined surface 12b is inclined at an angle θ of 30° to 60° (45° ± 15°) with respect to the axial direction of the lower bolt member 12 (inner bolt 10).

[0100] The outer end of the boundary surface 12a coincides with the upper end of the adhesive surface in the integrated water-stop seal 15, i.e., the upper outer end, or it may be slightly outside (extending) from the upper outer end of the water-stop seal 15. In this case, it is preferable that the distance D by which the boundary surface 12a extends further outward from the water-stop seal 15 is less than 2.0 mm.

[0101] The smaller the distance D, the more it resembles a continuous, integral shape between the inclined surface 12b and the upper end of the outer side of the water-stop seal 15, thus appearing more aesthetically pleasing. However, if the upper end of the outer side of the water-stop seal 15 is located further outward than the outer end of the boundary surface 12a, the area covered by the primer (described later) becomes a cause of peeling at the upper end of the water-stop seal 15, which is therefore undesirable.

[0102] (Manufacturing method of cap unit)

[0103] Next, refer to Figure 11 and Figure 12 The manufacturing method of the cap unit 1 described above will be explained.

[0104] also, Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view used to illustrate the state in which the water-stop seal 15 is formed integrally with the inner plug 10 using the mold 200. Figure 12 It is magnification Figure 11 The cross-sectional view of the main parts shown in the figure.

[0105] Furthermore, compared to other graphs, Figure 11 The inner bolt 10 (lower bolt component 12) is upside down. Therefore, Figures 1-10 , Figure 12 as well as Figure 13 The upper direction in Figure 11 The middle direction is downward. Figures 1-10 , Figure 12 as well as Figure 13 The downward direction in Figure 11 The middle direction is upward.

[0106] In the above-described method for manufacturing the cap unit 1, the water-stop seal 15 is formed integrally with the lower plug member 12 (inner plug 10) by insert forming of a mold 200 that forms a cavity space K with a shape corresponding to the water-stop seal 15 between the lower plug member 12 (inner plug 10) and the mold 200.

[0107] Furthermore, in insert molding, a mold 200 divided along the axial direction of the lower bolt member 12 (inner bolt 10) is used. In this embodiment, a mold 200 divided into three molds 201, 202, and 203 is used as the mold 200. Figure 11 and Figure 12 As shown, molds 201, 202, and 203 open in the vertical direction.

[0108] in, Figure 12 The lower mold 201 forms a cavity space K with a shape corresponding to the water-stop seal 15 between itself and the lower bolt member 12. On the other hand, Figure 12 The upper mold 202 abuts against the mold 201 on the outside of the lower bolt member 12. Furthermore, a gap G is provided in the mold 202 to separate it from the external threaded portion 14. On the other hand, Figure 12 The upper side of the mold 203, which is inside the mold 202, abuts against the step portion 12d provided on the inner side of the lower bolt member 12 and the inner peripheral surface 12e that rises upward from the outer side of the step portion 12d.

[0109] In the manufacturing method of the cap unit 1 in this embodiment, firstly, the surface of the already formed lower plug member 12 is subjected to plasma discharge treatment to perform a surface modification treatment that generates polar functional groups on the surface of the resin. Furthermore, the process of generating polar functional groups is not limited to plasma discharge treatment, and surface modification treatments such as flame treatment, corona discharge treatment, and ITRO treatment can be selectively used.

[0110] Next, a primer is applied to the surface of the surface-modified lower plug component 12, and the lower plug component 12 is placed inside the mold 200. The primer is applied to the boundary surfaces 12a, the first recess 10e, the second recess 10f, the third protrusion 10g, etc. of the lower plug component 12, which form the boundary surfaces with the water-stop seal 15.

[0111] For the primer, its composition is not particularly limited as long as it is chemically bonded to the surface of the heat-resistant resin material of the lower plug part 12 (inner plug 10) which has undergone surface modification treatment in the previous process, and also chemically bonded to the heat-resistant elastic parts such as silicone rubber that form the water-stop seal 15, so as to improve the adhesion.

[0112] Furthermore, the method of applying the primer can be appropriately selected. For example, when the primer viscosity is low, it can be applied using a spray gun. Conversely, when the viscosity is high, it can be applied using a brush. Additionally, coating or dipping methods using a dispenser can also be employed.

[0113] Next, by closing the mold, with the mold 201 abutting against the inclined surface 12b relative to the lower bolt member 12 disposed within the mold 200, a cavity space K is formed between the mold 201 and the lower bolt member 12. Furthermore, Figure 12 The upward arrow shown indicates the direction in which mold 201 closes.

[0114] At this time, as Figure 12 As shown, a force F is applied to the inclined surface 12b that abuts against the mold 201 in a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 12b, thereby dispersing the force applied from the mold 201 to the lower bolt member 12 in the axial direction, and the mold 201 and the inclined surface 12b abut against each other with appropriate contact pressure to prevent deformation of the lower bolt member 12.

[0115] Then, molten resin (e.g., liquid silicone) that fills the cavity space K to become the water-stop seal 15 is injected and held by insert molding, thereby forming the water-stop seal 15 in a manner that is integral with the inner plug 10 (cap body 8).

[0116] Generally, in the molding of liquid silicone rubber, the resin has high fluidity during filling, so even a slight gap will produce burrs when the mold is closed. Therefore, high-precision mold manufacturing is required.

[0117] Furthermore, during insert molding, it is required to press the insert (in this embodiment, the lower bolt member 12) in a manner that does not deform and to minimize gaps. As in this embodiment, when the insert is made of a resin material, even though it is a heat-resistant resin, there is a concern that it may deform due to the heat of molding and the pressure of closing the mold if it is pressed forcefully into the mold.

[0118] In contrast, in this embodiment, as described above, the inclined surface 12b is inclined at an angle θ, so that the mold 201 and the inclined surface 12b abut against each other in a direction at 45° relative to the closed axis direction of the mold, thereby abutting with appropriate pressure without creating gaps.

[0119] In addition, the inclined surface 12b is close to the step portion 12d and the inner peripheral surface 12e that abut against the mold 203, so even if there is a dimensional error in the lower bolt component 12, the deformation of the lower bolt component 12 caused by closing the mold can be suppressed to a small extent.

[0120] Therefore, in the manufacturing method of the cap unit 1 in this embodiment, the deformation of the lower bolt member 12 can be minimized, and the lower bolt member 12 disposed in the mold 200 is firmly pressed in the axial direction by the mold 200 to form an integral part with the water-stop seal member 15.

[0121] In the integral molding of silicone rubber and resin inserts in the form of solid or semi-solid materials with low fluidity, the shape of the cavity space K needs to avoid being a convex or concave so-called undercut shape, especially a deep undercut shape, in a direction orthogonal to the opening and closing direction of the mold (the axial direction in this embodiment).

[0122] This is because when solid or semi-solid silicone rubber is filled into the cavity space K, the silicone rubber may not reach the deepest part of the bottom cut, which can easily lead to poor molding. Therefore, the shape of the cavity space K is coaxial with the opening and closing direction of the mold, and it is set with the same slope as the draft cone surface, so that silicone rubber can be easily filled.

[0123] In contrast, in the manufacturing method of the cap unit 1 in this embodiment, liquid silicone rubber is used for injection molding in the integral molding of the water-stop seal 15. Liquid silicone rubber has high fluidity and can easily fill any shape. Therefore, even if the undercut shape is deep, it is not affected, and the silicone rubber can reach the deepest part of the undercut and be formed, so the shape of the cavity space K in the insert molding is arbitrary.

[0124] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first recess 10e of the lower plug member 12 (inner plug 10) has an undercut shape that is deeper inward relative to the opening and closing direction of the mold 200. This, combined with the second recess 10f which opens in the opening and closing direction of the mold 200, increases the contact area between the lower plug member 12 (inner plug 10) and the water-stop seal 15 in the undercut direction, thereby improving the adhesion strength.

[0125] Furthermore, the two elastic flanges 15d provided on the outer peripheral surface of the water-stop seal 15 are also undercut shapes pointing outwards relative to the opening and closing direction (axial direction) of the mold 203. However, since the water-stop seal 15 is molded from silicone rubber, after molding, the elastic flanges 15d undergo elastic deformation to be removed from the mold 203. As a result, so-called forced pull-out is possible, thus reducing the restrictions on the shape of the cavity space K and increasing the degree of freedom in the shape of the cavity space K.

[0126] Furthermore, in the manufacturing method of the cap unit 1 in this embodiment, it is not necessary to ensure that the portion of the lower plug member 12 is pressed in the axial direction on the outside of the above-mentioned water-stop seal 15 (pressing amount), thus preventing the outer diameter of the water-stop seal 15 from being smaller than the outer diameter of the inner plug 10.

[0127] Furthermore, compared to using a mold that is divided in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the cap body 8, since a mold that is divided in the axial direction of the cap body 8 is used, the shape of the inner plug 10 of the cap body 8 that is inserted into the mold according to the structure of the mold can increase the number of cap units 1 produced in one step (yield), and mass production can be achieved in a short time.

[0128] Furthermore, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0129] For example, the above Figure 10 The inclined surface 12b shown is formed as a straight surface (surface C) in a cross-section along the axial direction of the inner bolt 10, but it is not limited to this shape and can also be as follows: Figure 13 As shown in the inclined surface 12f, it is formed as a surface (R surface) that is inclined into a convex curve in the cross-section along the axial direction of the inner bolt 10. Furthermore, Figure 13 It means Figure 10 Cross-sectional view of other shapes of the inclined surface 12b shown.

[0130] In this case, a force is also applied to the inclined surface 12f that abuts against the mold 201 in a direction perpendicular to the tangent of the inclined surface 12f, thereby dispersing the force applied from the mold 201 to the lower bolt member 12 in the axial direction to prevent deformation of the lower bolt member 12. Furthermore, although the inclined surface 12f is convex, the same effect can be obtained even if it is concave.

[0131] For example, the cap unit 1 described above is a structure in which the inner plug 10 is installed relative to the container body 2 by screwing it in while it is inserted into the upper opening 2a of the container body 2, but it is not necessarily limited to such a structure. For example, the cap unit 1 described above can also be a structure in which the outer cap 9 is installed relative to the container body 2 by screwing it in while it covers the upper opening 2a of the container body 2 from the outside.

[0132] In this structure, the outer cover 9 (cap body 8) can be installed relative to the container body 2 in a detachable manner by screwing together the external thread provided on the outer peripheral surface of the neck 2d and the internal thread provided on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 9a that constitutes the outer cover 9, instead of the aforementioned internal thread 6 and external thread 14.

[0133] Furthermore, the aforementioned capped container 100 has a structure that directly opens and closes the upper opening 2a of the container body 2, but it is not necessarily limited to this structure. For example, it is also possible to have a structure in which the cap unit 1 is installed in a way that allows for easy assembly and disassembly relative to the shoulder member mounted on the container body 2.

[0134] Furthermore, the structure can also be one in which the cap is installed relative to the cap body attached to the container body 2 in a manner that allows for free opening and closing. In the case of this structure, the cap can be installed relative to the cap body by screwing, or the cap can be installed relative to the cap body in a manner that allows for free rotation via a hinge.

[0135] Furthermore, in the above embodiments, the application of the present invention is illustrated in a beverage container that has a heat preservation function (or cold preservation function) due to the container body 2 having the above-described vacuum insulation structure. However, the present invention can be widely applied to lidded containers that have a container body and a lid that can be easily installed on the container body.

Claims

1. A cap unit, which is detachably installed relative to a container body with an upper opening, characterized in that, The cap unit seals the upper opening of the container body when it is inserted into the inside of the container body from the upper opening. The cap unit has a water-stop sealing element, which is integrally formed on the outer periphery of the cap unit and fits tightly against the outer periphery of the cap unit, sealing the container body and the cap unit. The water-stopping seal has a first protrusion that protrudes inward in the horizontal direction. The cap unit has a first recess that corresponds to the first protrusion and is recessed inward in the horizontal direction. The cap unit has a boundary surface formed between the upper surface of the first protrusion and the first recess and extending in a horizontal direction.

2. The cap unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The boundary surface is an inclined surface that slopes downwards from the radially outer side toward the inner side.

3. The cap unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The water-stopping seal has a flange portion that protrudes from the outer periphery in the direction of diameter expansion. The length of the boundary surface in the vertical section is longer than the length of the horizontally projecting part of the water-stop seal from the outer periphery to the radial front end of the flange.

4. The cap unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The water-stopping seal has multiple flange portions protruding from the outer periphery in the expansion direction. The length of the boundary surface in the vertical section is longer than the combined length of the horizontal protrusion of each of the plurality of flanges from the outer periphery to the radial front end of the sealing element.

5. The cap unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The cap unit has a wall extending downward from the lower end of the outer periphery of the first recess, and the corner formed by the first recess and the wall is formed by a curved surface.

6. A container with a cap, characterized in that, have: The cap unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5; and the container body for mounting the cap unit.

7. The capped container according to claim 6, characterized in that, The container body has a vacuum insulation structure.

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