Cap unit and capped container

Abstract

A cap unit is provided that can prevent beverage residue from adhering to an opening forming part and improve washability. The cap main body 8 is fitted into the inside of the container main body 2 from the upper opening part of the container main body 2, and has an opening forming part 14 with a liquid passage opening 16 formed at a bottom part, and the opening forming part 14 rises from the inner bottom surface along the opening edge part on the hinge part 9 side of the liquid passage opening 16, and has a brim part 18 that protrudes from the rising position along the upper surface of the liquid passage opening 16 so as to cover the upper surface of the liquid passage opening 16, and of the inner bottom surfaces E1, E2 of the opening forming part 14, the bottom surface E2 on the hinge part 9 side of the rising position of the brim part 18 is positioned higher than the liquid passage opening 16, and the bottom surfaces E2 on both sides of the ridge line T extending from the rising position of the brim part 18 toward the hinge part 9 side have slopes that face opposite to each other toward the liquid passage opening 16.

Description

TECHINICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap unit and a capped container.BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventionally, there have been capped containers with a cap unit that can be freely attached and detached to a container main body open on an upper part.

[0003] Furthermore, some cap units include: a cap main body that closes an upper opening part of the container main body and has a liquid passage opening that is connected with the inside of the container main body; and a lid body rotatably attached to the cap main body via a hinge part and that has a plug part that closes the liquid passage opening of the cap main body (see, for example, JP2021195165A).

[0004] Specifically, JP2021195165A discloses a plug body of a beverage container.

[0005] As disclosed in JP2021195165A, the plug body of the beverage container contains: a one-side opening lid body that is detachably attached to the upper end opening of a container main body, has a drinking opening forming part that opens upward, has an pour spout on the inner bottom surface of the drinking opening forming part for discharging the beverage inside the container main body, and that closes the pour spout; and a locking mechanism that closes the lid body; wherein the upper edge part of the drinking opening forming part is circular and horizontal in the plan view; the inner surface of the drinking opening forming part is formed by a curved surface that curves in a bowl shape; the pour spout is formed by a hole with a circular outline in plan view; the diameter of the pour spout is 0.4 times or more than the inner diameter of the upper edge of the drinking opening forming part, and the height from the upper edge of the drinking opening forming part to the pour spout is 0.5 times or more the inner diameter of the upper edge of the drinking opening forming part.

[0006] In the conventional cap unit described above, a liquid passage opening is formed at the bottom part of the concave opening forming part of the cap main body, and when the lid body is closed, a plug part is fitted inside the opening forming part and the liquid passage opening is sealed by plug packing that is in close contact with the bottom surface of the inside of the opening forming part.

[0007] With a capped container equipped with such a cap unit, when drinking a beverage in the container main body, the container main body is tilted to the opposite side as the hinge part and the beverage that flows out from the liquid passage opening to the inside of the opening forming part can be drank.

[0008] In this case, depending on the angle and speed at which the container main body is tilted, the beverage may forcefully spray out from the liquid passage opening into the opening forming part, or pulsation may occur in the beverage flowing out from the liquid passage opening. In particular, when drinking a hot beverage, the container main body must be tilted little by little, taking care not to let the beverage in the container main body spray out forcefully from the liquid passage opening.

[0009] Furthermore, when the lid body is closed after drinking the beverage in the container main body, the beverage remaining inside the opening forming part does not return to the container main body through the liquid passage opening, but remains between the opening forming part and the plug part. As a result, when the lid body is opened, any beverage remaining on the inside of the opening forming part may splash out, and if the beverage is colored, the beverage adhering to the inside of the opening forming part may appear as contamination.

[0010] Furthermore, when the cap unit is washed, residual water that accumulates inside and outside the opening forming part can be difficult to dry, so a structure that allows for easy drainage and drying is desirable from a hygiene standpoint.

[0011] The present invention has been proposed in consideration of the aforementioned conventional circumstances, and aims to provide a cap unit that facilitates drinking beverages that flow out from the liquid passage opening into the inside of the opening forming part, prevents beverages from remaining on the opening forming part, and improves cleanability, as well as a capped container that is equipped with such a cap unit, thereby enabling further improvement in usability.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following means. [1] A cap unit freely attached and detached from a container main body open on an upper part, containing: a cap main body that closes an upper opening part of the container main body and has a liquid passage opening that connects with the inside of the container main body; and a lid body that is rotatably attached to the cap main body via a hinge part and that is provided with a plug part that closes the liquid passage opening, wherein the cap main body is fitted into the inside of the container main body from the upper opening part of the container main body, and has an opening forming part where the liquid passage opening is formed on a bottom part; the opening forming part has a brim part that rises from the bottom surface of the inside along an opening edge part of the liquid passage opening on the hinge part side, and that protrudes from the rising position along the upper surface of the liquid passage opening so as to cover the upper surface of the liquid passage opening; and a portion of the bottom surface of the inside of the opening forming part which is closer to the hinge part than the rising position of the brim part, is located higher than the liquid passage opening, and the bottom surfaces on both sides of a ridge line extending from the rising position of the brim part toward the hinge part side have slopes in opposite directions toward the liquid passage opening. [2] The cap unit according to [1], wherein a portion of the bottom surface of the inner side of the opening forming part which is on an opposite side of the hinge part from the rising position of the brim part, is located above the liquid passage opening, and the bottom surface has a slope toward the liquid passage opening. [3] The cap unit according to [1], wherein the opening forming part has an air vent hole at the bottom part that is connected with the inside of the container main body, and the air vent hole is located at an end of the ridge line on the hinge part side and has a smaller opening than the liquid passage opening. [4] The cap unit according to [3], wherein when the cap main body is removed from the container main body and placed vertically inverted in an open state, a portion of the bottom surface on the outer side of the opening forming part, which is closer to the hinge part than the opening edge part of the liquid passage opening on the hinge part side, is located higher than the air vent hole, and the bottom surface has a slope toward the air vent hole. [5] The cap unit according to [1], wherein the liquid passage opening has an outer shape in which an opening edge part on the opposite side as the hinge part is formed in an arc shape in a plan view, and the brim part has an outer shape that conforms to an opening edge part of the liquid passage opening in a plan view. [6] The cap unit according to [4], wherein the lid body has a plug packing attached to a lower end side of the plug part to seal the gap between the opening forming part and the plug part, and the inner peripheral part of the opening forming part is provided with a sealing inclined surface located above the liquid passage opening and the air vent hole, and which is in close contact with the plug packing around the entire circumference. [7] The cap unit according to [1], wherein the lid body has a rotating member with a base end side rotatably attached to the cap main body via the hinge part, and a cap member rotatably attached around an axis to a ring part provided on a tip end side of the rotating member, and the plug part is provided so as to protrude downward from an inner lower surface center part of the cap member. [8] The cap unit according to [7], wherein the lid body is freely attached and detached to the cap main body by threading a female threaded part provided on the inner peripheral part of the opening forming part with a male threaded part provided on the outer peripheral part of the plug part. [9] The cap unit according to [8], wherein the opening forming part has a pour spout part that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the cap main body on the side opposite the hinge part, and the female threaded part on the opening forming part side is provided at a position excluding at least the inner peripheral part on the pour spout part side of the opening forming part.

[10] The cap unit according to [1], wherein the cap main body has an outer tube part formed to be contiguous with a barrel part of the container main body, and the cap main body is freely attached and detached to the container main body by threading a female threaded part provided on the inner peripheral part of the outer tube part with a male threaded part provided on the outer peripheral part of the container main body.

[11] A capped container, including: the cap unit according to any one of [1] to

[10] , and a container main body to which the cap unit is attached.

[0013] As described above, the present invention provides a cap unit that facilitates drinking a beverage that flows out from the liquid passage opening into the inside of the opening forming part, prevents the beverage from remaining on the opening forming part, and improves cleanability, as well as a capped container that is equipped with such a cap unit, thereby enabling further improvement in usability.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting the configuration of a capped container equipped with a cap unit according to an embodiment of the present invention , with the lid body in a closed position; FIG. 2 is a perspective view depicting the configuration of the capped container equipped with the cap unit depicted in FIG. 1, with the lid body in an open position; FIG. 3 is a perspective view depicting the configuration of the capped container equipped with the cap unit depicted in FIG. 2, with the lid body in an open position, as viewed from above; FIG. 4 is a perspective view depicting the configuration of the capped container equipped with the cap unit depicted in FIG. 3, depicting the pour spout part side from above when the lid body is in the open position; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view depicting the configuration of the capped container equipped with the cap unit depicted in FIG. 1, with the lid body in a closed position; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view depicting the configuration of the capped container equipped with the cap unit depicted in FIG. 1, depicting a state in which the screw engagement is released between the opening forming member and the plug member; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view depicting the configuration of the capped container equipped with the cap unit depicted in FIG. 2, with the lid body in an open position; FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the pour spout part side of the opening forming part as seen from above, and FIG. 8B is a perspective view of the air vent hole side of the opening forming member as seen from above; FIG. 9 is a top view of the opening forming member; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the opening forming member taken along line A-A depicted in FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the opening forming member taken along line B-B depicted in FIG. 9; FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the opening forming member taken along line C-C depicted in FIG. 9; FIG. 13 is a perspective view depicting the cap unit removed from the container main body depicted in FIG. 3, with the watertight packing and plug packing removed, and the lid body in the open position and vertically inverted; FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view depicting the cap unit removed from the container main body depicted in FIG. 3, with the watertight packing and plug packing removed, and the lid body in the open position and vertically inverted; and FIG. 15 is a top view of the cap unit depicted in FIG. 14, vertically inverted. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] The following is a detailed description of the embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. One embodiment of the present invention is described as a capped container 100 including a cap unit 1 depicted in, for example, FIG. 1 to FIG. 15.

[0016] Note that FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting the configuration of the capped container 100 equipped with the cap unit 1, with the lid body 10 in a closed position. FIG. 2 is a perspective view depicting the configuration of the capped container 100 equipped with the cap unit 1, with the lid body 10 in an open position. FIG. 3 is a perspective view depicting the configuration of the capped container 100 equipped with the cap unit 1, with the lid body 10 in an open position, as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a perspective view depicting the configuration of the capped container 100 equipped with the cap unit 1, depicting the pour spout part 15 side from above when the lid body 10 is in the open position. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view depicting the configuration of the capped container 100 equipped with the cap unit 1, with the lid body 10 in a closed position. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view depicting the configuration of the capped container 100 equipped with the cap unit 1, depicting a state in which the screw engagement is released between the opening forming member 14 and the plug member 24. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view depicting the configuration of the capped container equipped with the cap unit, with the lid body in an open position. FIG. 8(A) is a perspective view of the pour spout part 15 side of the opening forming member 14 as seen from above. FIG. 8(B) is a perspective view of the air vent hole 17 side of the opening forming member 14 as seen from above. FIG. 9 is a top view of the opening forming member 14. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the opening forming member 14 taken along line A-A depicted in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the opening forming member 14 taken along line B-B depicted in FIG. 9. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the opening forming member 14 taken along line C-C depicted in FIG. 9. FIG. 13 is a perspective view depicting the cap unit 1 removed from the container main body 2, with the watertight packing 21 and plug packing 27 removed, and the lid body 10 in the open position and vertically inverted. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view depicting the cap unit 1 removed from the container main body 2, with the watertight packing 21 and plug packing 27 removed, and the lid body 10 in the open position and vertically inverted. FIG. 15 is a top view of the cap unit 1 depicted in FIG. 14, vertically inverted.

[0017] As depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the capped container 100 of the present embodiment has a cap unit 1 of the present embodiment and a container main body 2 to which the cap unit 1 is detachably attached.

[0018] The capped container 100 is a beverage container that can keep beverages (liquids) contained in the container main body 2 cool or warm by means of the container main body 2 having a vacuum insulation structure.

[0019] Specifically, as depicted in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, the container main body 2 is configured as a double structure containing having a cylindrical outer container with an outer container 3 and an inner container 4 made of, for example, stainless steel that are mutually joined at the periphery of the opening forming part in a state where the inner container 4 is stored inside the outer container 3.

[0020] A vacuum insulating layer 5 is provided between the outer container 3 and the inner container 4. The vacuum insulating layer 5 can be formed, for example, by plugging a degassing hole on the bottom surface of the outer container 3 that has been depressurized (evacuated) to a high degree of vacuum.

[0021] The container main body 2 has a substantially circular bottom part 2a, a substantially cylindrical barrel part 2b rising from the outer peripheral part of the bottom part 2a, and a substantially cylindrical opening neck part 2c with reduced diameter at the upper side of the barrel part 2b.

[0022] An upper part of the opening neck part 2c is opened in a circular shape as an upper opening part 2d of the container main body 2. Furthermore, the inner peripheral surface of the inner container 4 at the opening neck part 2c (upper part side of the barrel part 2b) of the container main body 2 is smaller in diameter than the inner peripheral surface of the barrel part 2b. Furthermore, the inner peripheral surface of the inner container 4 of the opening neck part 2c is provided with a ring-shaped protruding part 6 is provided around the entire circumference of the container main body 2 so as to protrude inward.

[0023] Furthermore, the container main body 2 also has a bottom member 7a attached to the bottom part 2a side around the entire circumference, and a shoulder member 7b attached to the upper part side of the barrel part 2b around the entire circumference.

[0024] The bottom member 7a is made of an elastic resin member formed into a cylindrical shape with a bottom as a whole, and is fitted onto the bottom part 2a of the container main body 2 in a state covering the entire surface of the bottom part 2a. The shoulder member 7b is made of a resin member formed in an approximately cylindrical shape overall, and is fitted around the entire circumference into a step part 2e, which has a diameter reduced by the thickness of the shoulder member 7b, below the opening neck part 2c on the upper part side of the barrel part 2b, so as to be approximately flush with the outer peripheral surface of the barrel part 2b.

[0025] Although the capped container 100 of the present embodiment has a substantially cylindrical external shape as a whole, the external shape of the capped container 100 is not limited to any particular shape, and can be modified according to size and design. Furthermore, the outer peripheral surface of the container main body 2 may be painted or printed.

[0026] As depicted in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment contains a cap main body 8 that closes the upper opening part 2d of the container main body 2 described above, a lid body 10 that is rotatably attached to the cap main body 8 via a first hinge part 9, and a handle member 12 that is rotatably attached to the cap main body 8 via a second hinge part 11.

[0027] Note that in the following description, the side where the lid body 10 is attached to the cap main body 8 via the first hinge part 9 is referred to as the "rear side (back side)" of the cap unit 1 (capped container 100), and the opposite side is referred to as the "front side (front surface side)" of the cap unit 1 (capped container 100), and the direction connecting these is referred to as the front-back direction. In addition, the side where the lid body 10 is located relative to the container main body 2 is referred to as the "upper side", the direction where the container main body 2 is located relative to the lid body 10 is referred to as the "lower side", and the direction connecting these is referred to as the up-down direction. In addition, a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction is defined as a radial direction, and a radial direction that is perpendicular to the front-back direction is defined as the left-right direction.

[0028] The cap main body 8 has an outer tube member 13 that serves as the outer tube part, and an opening forming member 14 that serves as the opening forming part, and has a structure in which the outer tube member 13 and the opening forming member 14 are assembled together.

[0029] The outer tube member 13 is made of, for example, a heat-resistant resin, and has a circumferential wall part 13a formed in an approximately cylindrical shape so as to be contiguous with the barrel part 2b of the container main body 2, and an upper wall part 13c with an opening part 13b having a smaller diameter than the circumferential wall part 13a is formed on the upper part of the circumferential wall part 13a.

[0030] As depicted in FIG. 2 to FIG. 15, the opening forming member 14 is made of, for example, a heat-resistant resin, and has an approximately cylindrical upper opening forming part 14a located above the opening part 13b of the outer tube member 13, an approximately cylindrical lower opening forming part 14b that is contiguous with the upper opening forming part 14a and located below the opening part 13b of the outer tube member 13, and an approximately circular bottom wall part 14c that closes the bottom part of the lower opening forming part 14b.

[0031] In the cap main body 8, the outer tube member 13 and the opening forming member 14 are assembled together such that the opening forming member 14 passes through the opening part 13b of the outer tube member 13, by fitting the outer peripheral part of the opening forming member 14 into the inner peripheral part of the opening forming part 13b of the outer tube member 13. Note that, the cap main body 8 is not necessarily limited to a configuration in which the outer tube member 13 and the opening forming member 14 are assembled together as described above, but may also have a configuration in which the opening forming member 14 is freely attached and detached to the inner peripheral part of the opening part 13b of the outer tube member 13.

[0032] The upper opening forming part 14a is provided with a pour spout part 15 for facilitating pouring out or drinking the beverage in the container main body 2. The pour spout part 15 is provided in the shape of a cylinder cut at an angle and protruding upward from the opposite side of the first hinge part 9 of the upper opening forming part 14a (front side of the opening forming member 14) above the upper wall part 13c of the outer tube member 13.

[0033] A liquid passage opening 16 for allowing the beverage inside the container main body 2 to flow is provided at the bottom part of the opening forming member 14, penetrating the bottom wall part 14c in the vertical direction. In addition, an air vent hole 17 for introducing outside air into the inside of the container main body 2 is provided at the bottom part of the opening forming member 14, penetrating a corner part formed by the bottom wall part 14c and the inner side surface of the lower opening forming part 14b in the vertical direction.

[0034] As depicted in FIG. 9, FIG. 13 and FIG. 15, the liquid passage opening 16 is located on the front side of the bottom wall part 14c and has a substantially semicircular opening in a plan view. In other words, when viewed in a plan view, the liquid passage opening 16 has an outer shape in which a rear opening edge part 16a is formed in a shallow V-shape that opens in the left-right direction, and the opening edge part 16b, which is forward of the rear opening edge part 16a, is formed in an arc shape.

[0035] In addition, the opening forming member 14 has a brim part 18 including a vertical wall 18a that rises linearly from the inner bottom surface of the bottom wall part 14c so as to roughly follow the rear opening edge part 16a of the liquid passage opening 16, and a horizontal wall 18b that protrudes forward from the tip end (upper end) of the vertical wall 18a along the upper surface of the liquid-passage opening 16 so as to cover the upper surface of the liquid-passage opening 16.

[0036] The horizontal wall 18b of the brim part 18 has an outer shape that follows the opening edge parts 16a and 16b of the liquid passage opening 16 in a plan view. In other words, as depicted in FIG. 9, the horizontal wall 18b has an outer shape that is slightly smaller than the liquid passage opening 16 in plan view and is substantially the same as the liquid passage opening 16, and is provided opposite the upper part of the liquid passage opening 16. As a result, a slit-like opening with a height of the vertical wall 18a is formed between the liquid passage opening 16 and the brim part 18, on the front side of the vertical wall 18a, along the periphery of the front opening edge part 16b.

[0037] In the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment, when the cap main body 8 is attached to the container main body 2, the bottom surface E1 of the inner bottom surface of the bottom wall part 14c, which is rearward of the rising position of the brim part 18, is positioned higher than the liquid passage opening 16, and the bottom surfaces E1 on both sides of the ridge line T extending from the center part of the rising position of the brim part 18 toward the rear side, have slopes in opposite directions facing toward the liquid passage opening 16. Specifically, the ridge line T is high and has a slope that decreases toward the left and right sides. In addition, the bottom surface E2 on the front side of the rising position of the brim part 18 is located above the liquid passage opening 16, and the front side bottom surface E2 is inclined toward the liquid passage opening 16.

[0038] The air vent hole 17 is located at the rear end part of the ridge line T, and has a generally rectangular opening in a plan view that is smaller than the liquid passage opening 16. In other words, the air vent hole 17 is located above the liquid passage opening 16 and at the top part of the inner bottom surface of the bottom wall part 14c. Furthermore, the air vent hole 17 is located at the top part of the inner bottom surface of the bottom wall part 14c, and opens at the corner part formed by the bottom wall part 14c and the inner side surface of the lower opening forming part 14b.

[0039] In the cap unit 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13 to FIG. 15, when the cap main body 8 is removed from the container main body 2 and the cap main body 8 is placed upside down in an open state with the pour spout part 15 facing downwards, the bottom surface E3 of the outer bottom surface of the bottom wall part 14c, which is rearward of the rear opening edge part 16a of the liquid passage opening 16, is positioned above the air vent hole 17, and the rear bottom surface E3 is sloped toward the air vent hole 17.

[0040] A slope is provided on the rear side of the bottom surface outside the bottom wall part 14c from the rear opening edge part 16a of the liquid passage opening 16 toward the air vent hole 17, and a slope is provided from the outer peripheral side of the opening forming member 14 toward the air vent hole 17. In other words, when the cap main body 8 is vertically inverted in an open state, the air vent hole 17 is located at the lowest part of the outer bottom surface of the bottom wall part 14c.

[0041] Furthermore, the bottom surface E3 has slopes in opposite directions toward the ridge line T. Specifically, when the cap main body 8 is vertically inverted in an open state, the ridge line T at the center part is low and the slope is set so to be lower from both the left and right sides toward the ridge line T.

[0042] The cap main body 8 is freely attached and detached to the opening neck part 2c of the container main body 2 by screwing, when the lower opening part 14b fitted inside the container main body 2 from the upper opening forming part 2d of the container main body 2. Therefore, a first male threaded part 19 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the opening neck part 2c (container main body 2). On the other hand, a first female threaded part 20 that screws into the first male threaded part 19 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall part 13a of the outer tube member 13 (cap main body 8).

[0043] As a result, when the cap main body 8 is attached to the opening neck part 2c of the container main body 2, the upper opening part 2d of the container main body 2 is closed and is connected to the inside of the container main body 2 via the liquid passage opening 16 and the air vent hole 17.

[0044] As depicted in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, a watertight packing 21 that seals the gap between the lower opening forming part 14b (opening forming member 14) and the container main body 2 is freely attached and detached to the outer peripheral part of the lower end side of the lower opening forming part 14b (opening forming member 14).

[0045] The watertight packing 21 is a ring-shaped sealing member made of an elastic member such as heat-resistant rubber or elastomer or the like, for example, silicone rubber or the like, and is fitted into the lower flange part 14d provided on the outer peripheral part of the lower end side of the lower opening forming part 14b. Furthermore, two upper and lower elastic flange parts 21a are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the watertight packing 21, protruding along the entire circumference in the radial expansion direction.

[0046] In the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment, when the cap main body 8 is attached to the opening neck part 2c of the container main body 2, the lower opening forming part 14b is fitted into the inside of the container main body 2, and the elastic flange part 21a of the watertight packing 21 elastically deforms, becoming in close contact with the protruding part 6 of the container main body 2 around the entire circumference. Thereby, the gap between the protruding part 6 (container main body 2) and the lower opening forming part 14b (opening forming member 14) can be sealed (watertightly seal) by the watertight packing 21.

[0047] On the other hand, the watertight packing 21 can be removed from the lower flange part 14d (opening forming member 14) by elastically deforming (pulling and stretching) the watertight packing. Furthermore, a knob (not depicted) protrudes from the inner peripheral part of the lower end side of the watertight packing 21 to facilitate removal from the lower flange part 14d (opening forming member 14). Thereby, the watertight packing 21 and the opening forming member 14 can be washed separately, and the space between the watertight packing 21 and the opening forming member 14 can be kept hygienic.

[0048] The watertight packing 21 is not necessarily limited to the shape described above. For example, the number of elastic flange parts 21a is not limited to the two described above, but can be one or more than three. Furthermore, the watertight packing 21 is not necessarily limited to the configuration in which the elastic flange part 21a is provided as described above, and the shape and the like thereof can be modified as necessary. Furthermore, the watertight packing 21 is not limited to a configuration that can be freely attached and detached to the opening forming part 14, and may be integrally molded with the opening forming part 14 in an inseparable state.

[0049] As depicted in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the first hinge part 9 has an inner hinge bearing part 9a that protrudes upward and rearward from between the circumferential wall part 13a and the upper wall part 13c of the outer tube member 13, a pair of outer hinge bearing parts 9b that protrude rearward from both the left and right sides at the base end side of the rotating member 22 described later, and a hinge shaft 9c that is axially supported in a shaft hole that passes through the hinge bearing parts 9a, 9b in the rotation axis direction (left and right direction) with the inner hinge bearing part 9a positioned between the pair of outer hinge bearing parts 9b.

[0050] As depicted in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, the lid body 10 has a rotating member 22 with a base end that is rotatably attached to the cap main body 8 via a first hinge part 9, a cap member 23 that is axially rotatably attached to a ring part 22a provided on the tip end side of the rotating member 22, and a plug member 24 that protrudes downward from the inner lower surface center part of the cap member 23.

[0051] The rotating member 22 is made of, for example, a heat-resistant resin, and has a ring part 22a formed with a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole. Furthermore, the ring part 22a has a shape in which the diameter of the upper outer peripheral part is smaller than that of the lower outer peripheral part, sandwiching a step part 22b that slopes downward in the direction of diameter expansion of the outer peripheral part. The ring part 22a is provided with a ring-shaped protruding part 22c that protrudes in the radial expansion direction from the outer peripheral part on the upper end side around the entire circumference.

[0052] The cap member 23 has a circumferential wall part 23a formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a top wall part 23b covering the upper part of the peripheral wall part 23a. Furthermore, a ring-shaped protruding part 23c is provided on the inner peripheral part of the lower end side of the circumferential wall part 23a so as to protrude in the radial contracting direction around the entire circumference. The cap member 23 is attached so as to be freely rotatable around the central axis of the ring part 22a by being engaged with the ring-shaped protruding part 23c positioned between the step part 22b of the ring part 22a and the ring-shaped protruding part 22c.

[0053] In the lid body 10, when the cap member 23 is attached to the ring part 22a, the outer peripheral surface of the circumferential wall part 23a (cap member 23) and the outer peripheral surface of the lower side of the ring part 22a (rotating member 22) are substantially flush.

[0054] In addition, in the lid body 10, the ring-shaped protruding part 23c is movable in the vertical direction between the step part 22b of the ring part 22a and the ring-shaped protruding part 22c. Thereby, the central axis of the cap member 23 can be tilted over the entire circumference with respect to the central axis of the ring part 22a while the cap member 23 remains rotatably attached to the ring part 22a.

[0055] The plug member 24 constitutes a plug part that closes the liquid passage opening 16 and the air vent hole 17 when fitted inside the opening forming part 14. Specifically, the plug member 24 has a generally cylindrical shape with a bottom, and is integrally attached to the center part of the lower surface of the top wall part 23b by welding or the like. Furthermore, a heat insulating material S made of, for example, urethane foam resin or the like is provided on the inside of the plug member 24 as a heat insulating layer. Moreover, the heat insulating layer may be air (a void) instead of the heat insulating material S described above.

[0056] In the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment, the lid body 10 is attached via the first hinge part 9 so as to be freely rotatable in the vertical direction between a position in which the lid body 10 blocks the liquid passage opening 16 and the air vent hole 17 (hereinafter referred to as the "blocked position") and a position in which the lid body 10 opens the liquid passage opening 16 and the air vent hole 17 (hereinafter referred to as the "open position"). Furthermore, in the lid body 10, the rotating member 22 rotates in the vertical direction via the first hinge part 9, together with the cap member 23 and the plug member 24.

[0057] In addition, in the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment, the plug member 24 (lid body 10) is freely attached and detached to the opening forming member 14 (cap main body 8) by screwing by rotating the cap member 23 around the axis from a state where the plug member 24 is fit into the inside of the opening forming member 14. Therefore, a second female threaded part 25 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the opening forming member 14. On the other hand, the outer peripheral surface of the plug member 24 has a second male threaded part 26 that is screwed into the second female threaded part 25.

[0058] In the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment, the cap member 23 can move in the vertical direction relative to the aforementioned ring part 22a, and the central axis of the cap member 23 can be tilted relative to the central axis of the ring part 22a, so that the second female threaded part 25 and the second male threaded part 26 can be smoothly screwed together while aligning the central axis of the opening forming member 14 with the central axis of the plug member 24.

[0059] Furthermore, the second female threaded part 25 and the second male threaded part 26 are double-threaded threads that are mutually complementary. When a double-threaded thread is used, the cap member 23 can be attached and detached with a small rotation operation (approximately 180° in the present embodiment).

[0060] Specifically, when using the aforementioned double-threaded thread, there are two positions where the second female threaded part 25 and the second male threaded part 26 can start to be screwed together. In other words, a pair of threads forming the second female threaded part 25 and a pair of threads forming the second male threaded part 26 are formed spirally at a prescribed pitch, and the starting points of one thread and the other thread constituting the pair of threads are arranged with a phase difference of 180° around the respective axes.

[0061] In the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment, the starting position for threading the second female threaded part 25 into the second male threaded part 26 is located at a position excluding a part of the inner peripheral part on the front and rear sides of the opening forming member 14. Specifically, the starting points of the pair of threads that make up the second female threaded part 25 are provided at positions excluding a portion of the inner peripheral part on the front and rear sides facing each other inside the opening forming member 14.

[0062] As a result, in the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment, the threads of the second female threaded part 25 are not formed on a portion of the inner peripheral part on the front and rear sides of the opening forming member 14, so interference between the threads of the second female threaded part 25 and the second male threaded part 26 on the rear side near the first hinge part 9 can be prevented when the rotating member 22 is rotated toward the closing position relative to the cap main body 8 and the plug member 24 is fitted inside the opening forming member 14. Furthermore, the first hinge part 9 and the opening forming member 14 can be brought closer to each other, and the cap unit 1 can have a compact configuration.

[0063] In addition, in the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment, the threads of the second female threaded part 25 are not formed on a portion of the front inner peripheral part of the opening forming member 14, so the threads of the second female threaded part 25 can be prevented from obstructing the outflow of beverage when drinking the beverage (liquid) in the container main body 2 through the pour spout part 15, allowing for a smooth flow.

[0064] The plug packing 27 that seals the gap between the plug member 24 and the opening forming part 14 is freely attached and detached to the outer peripheral part of the lower end side of the plug member 24. The plug packing 27 is a ring-shaped sealing member made of an elastic material such as heat-resistant rubber or elastomer, for example, silicone rubber or the like, and is fitted into the lower flange part 24a that protrudes from the outer peripheral part of the lower end side of the plug member 24.

[0065] On the other hand, the inner peripheral part of the opening forming member 14 is provided with a sealing inclined surface 14e that is in close contact with the plug packing 27 over the entire circumference. The sealing inclined surface 14e is located above the liquid passage opening 16 and the air vent hole 17, and is inclined downward in the radial contracting direction. In addition, a stepped protruding part 14f is provided on the inner peripheral part of the opening forming member 14, above the sealing inclined surface 14e and below the second female threaded part 25, protruding farther inward than the second female threaded part 25, and the lower end is contiguous with the outer peripheral side of the sealing inclined surface 14e. Furthermore, a groove part 14g is provided on the front side of the sealing inclined surface 14e by cutting out a portion of the protruding part 14f. The groove part 14g is provided so as to divide a portion of the protruding part 14f with a width W2 that is smaller than the width W1 of the portion excluding the second female threaded part 25 on the front side inner peripheral part of the aforementioned opening forming member 14.

[0066] With the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment, when the lid body 10 is attached to the cap main body 8, the plug member 24 is fitted inside the opening forming member 14, and the plug packing 27 elastically deforms and comes into close contact with the sealing inclined surface 14e of the opening forming member 14 around the entire circumference. Thereby, the gap between the sealing inclined surface 14e (opening forming member 14 ) and the plug member 24 can be sealed (closed) by the plug packing 27.

[0067] On the other hand, the plug packing 27 can be removed from the lower flange part 24a (plug member 24) by being elastically deformed (pulled and stretched). Furthermore, a knob 27a protrudes from the inner peripheral part of the lower end side of the plug packing 27 to facilitate removal from the lower flange part 24a (plug member 24). Thereby, the plug packing 27 and the plug member 24 (lid body 10) can be washed separately, and the space between the plug packing 27 and the plug member 24 can be kept hygienic.

[0068] The plug packing 27 is not necessarily limited to the shape described above, and the shape thereof can be modified as appropriate.

[0069] As depicted in FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment is provided with an anti-rotation mechanism 28 that prevents the rotating member 22 (lid body 10) that has been rotated to the open position from rotating toward the closed position.

[0070] The anti-rotation mechanism 28 has a hook receiving part 28a provided on the outer tube member 13 (cap main body 8) side, and a hook part 28b provided on the rotating member 22 (lid body 10) side. The hook receiving part 28a is configured by a protruding part that protrudes rearward from the rear end side of the inner hinge bearing part 9a. On the other hand, the hook part 28b is configured of an elastic piece extending obliquely downward from between the pair of outer hinge bearing parts 9b, and a tab part protruding rearward from the tip end of the elastic piece.

[0071] In the anti-rotation mechanism 28, when the hook part 28b is engaged with the hook receiving part 28a in the open position described above, the rotating member 22 (lid body 10) can be prevented from rotating to the closed position. As a result, in a capped container 100 equipped with the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment, when the container main body 2 is tilted forward and the beverage in the container main body 2 is allowed to flow out through the liquid passage opening 16, the lid body 10 can be held stably in the open position while preventing the lid body 10 from rotating toward the closed position due to its own weight.

[0072] Note that the anti-rotation mechanism 28 is not necessarily limited to the configuration of the hook receiving part 28a and the hook part 28b described above, and the configuration can be modified as appropriate.

[0073] As depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the handle member 12 is made of a ring-shaped resin member and is attached so as to be freely rotatable in the vertical direction to the rear side surface (circumferential wall part 13a) of the outer tube member 13 (cap main body 8) by a second hinge part 11 located below the first hinge part 9. As a result, the capped container 100 equipped with the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment can be carried while gripping the handle member 12.

[0074] In the capped container 100 equipped with the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment having the aforementioned configuration, when drinking the beverage in the container main body 2, the lid body 10 is held in the open position by the aforementioned anti-rotation mechanism 28, and the container main body 2 can be tilted forward, allowing the beverage in the container main body 2 to be poured out from the pour spout part 15 through the liquid passage opening 16.

[0075] Furthermore, when the beverage in the container main body 2 is poured out from the pour spout part 15 through the liquid passage opening 16, external air is introduced into the container main body 2 through the air vent hole 17. Thereby, pulsation of the beverage flowing out of the liquid passage opening 16 can be prevented or can be reduced, and the beverage that has flowed out of the liquid passage opening 16 into the inside of the opening forming member 14 can smoothly pour out through the groove part 14g and the pour spout part 15.

[0076] Furthermore, in the capped container 100 equipped with the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment, the beverage flowing out from the liquid passage opening 16 is temporarily blocked by the brim part 18 that faces the liquid passage opening 16 described above. This prevents the beverage from spraying out forcefully from the liquid passage opening 16 into the inside of the opening forming member 14, depending on the angle and speed at which the container main body 2 is tilted, and therefore an appropriate amount of beverage can be poured from the slit-like part between the liquid passage opening 16 and the brim part 18. In addition, ice that has become somewhat smaller can be blocked in order to prevent ice from flowing out.

[0077] Furthermore, in the capped container 100 equipped with the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment, when the container main body 2 is returned from a tilted forward position to an upright position after the beverage in the container main body 2 is poured out from the pour spout part 15 through the liquid passage opening 16, the slope provided on the inner bottom surfaces E1, E2 of the bottom wall part 14c described above allows the beverage that has flowed out from the liquid passage opening 16 to quickly return to the inside of the opening forming member 14 from the liquid passage opening 16, back into the interior of the container main body 2.

[0078] In other words, the beverage that flows out from the liquid passage opening 16 to the inside of the opening forming member 14 flows down into the inside of the liquid passage opening 16, as depicted by arrow L1 in FIG. 9, at the bottom surfaces E1 on both sides of the ridge line T behind the vertical wall 18a of the brim part 18, while flowing around from both the left and right sides of the vertical wall 18a of the brim part 18 to the front opening edge part 16b.

[0079] In addition, the rear opening edge part 16a is formed in a shallow V-shape in the left-right direction when viewed in plan view, so when the container main body 2 is returned to an upright position, the beverage present at the rear opening edge part 16a tends to flow along the edge parts toward both end parts of the V-shape. Therefore, the beverage does not remain on the rear opening edge part 16a and tends to flow down to the inside of the liquid passage opening 16.

[0080] On the other hand, the beverage that flows out from the liquid passage opening 16 to the inside of the opening forming member 14 flows down from the front opening edge part 16b to the inside of the liquid passage opening 16 at the bottom surface E2 in front of the vertical wall 18a of the brim part 18, as depicted by arrow L2 in FIG. 9.

[0081] Thereby, the beverage that has flowed out from the liquid passage opening 16 into the inside of the opening forming member 14 can be prevented from remaining between the opening forming member 14 and the plug member 24 when the container main body 2 is returned to the upright position. Therefore, regardless of whether the lid body 10 is in an open state or a closed state, the beverage remaining on the inside of the opening forming member 14 can be prevented from spraying out when the lid body 10 is re-opened by preventing the beverage adhering to the inside of the opening forming member 14 from remaining, and colored beverage adhering to the inside of the opening forming member 14 can be prevented from appearing as a contamination.

[0082] Furthermore, in the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 13 to FIG. 15, after cleaning the cap unit 1, the cap main body 8 is vertically inverted and placed, for example, in a drain basket so that the pour spout part 15 is on the lower surface side, while the lid body 10 is held in the open position by the aforementioned anti-rotation mechanism 28.

[0083] At this time, as depicted by arrow L3 in FIG. 13 to FIG. 15, the slope provided on the outer bottom surface E3 of the bottom wall part 14c described above allows the remaining water adhering to the outer bottom surface E3 of the bottom wall part 14c to quickly flow along the ridge line T to the air vent hole 17, and then through the inside of the opening forming member 14 to be guided to the drain basket on the lower side.

[0084] Therefore, when the cap unit 1 is washed, the cap unit 1 can be kept hygienic by this configuration that allows for easy draining and drying.

[0085] As described above, the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment facilitates drinking the beverage that flows out from the liquid passage opening 16 to the inside of the opening forming member 14, and can improve cleanability while preventing the beverage from remaining on the opening forming member 14.

[0086] Therefore, usability can be further enhanced by providing the capped container 100 of the present embodiment with the cap unit 1 of the present embodiment.

[0087] Note that the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made without departing from the purpose of the invention.

[0088] For example, the above embodiment exemplifies a cap unit 1 having a lid body 10 including a rotating member 22 with a base end that is rotatably attached to the cap main body 8 via the first hinge part 9 described above, and a cap member 23 that is axially rotatably attached to a ring part 22a provided on the tip end side of the rotating member 22, but a configuration is possible where a lid locking mechanism that fixes the cap main body to the lid body, which is rotatably attached to the cap main body and has a plug part that blocks the liquid passage opening.

[0089] Note that the above embodiment depicts an application where the present invention is applied to a beverage container having a heat / cold insulation function provided by the container main body 2 having the aforementioned vacuum insulation structure, but the present invention can be widely applied to a capped container having a container main body and a cap unit that can be freely attached and detached to the container main body.DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

[0090] 1. Cap unit; 2. Container main body; 3. Outer container; 4. Inner container; 5. Vacuum insulation layer; 6. Protruding part; 8. Cap main body; 9. First hinge part; 10. Lid body; 11. Second hinge part; 12. Handle member; 13. Outer tube member; 14. Opening forming part; 15. Pour spout part; 16. Liquid passage opening; 17. Air vent hole; 18. brim part; 19. First male threaded part; 20. First female threaded part; 21. watertight packing; 22. Rotating member; 22a. Ring part; 23. Cap member; 24. Plug member; 25. Second female threaded part; 26. Second male threaded part; 27. Plug packing; 28. Anti-rotation mechanism; 100. Capped container; E1, E2, E3. Bottom surface.

Claims

1. A cap unit freely attached and detached from a container main body open on an upper part, comprising: a cap main body that closes an upper opening part of the container main body and has a liquid passage opening that connects with the inside of the container main body; and a lid body that is rotatably attached to the cap main body via a hinge part and that is provided with a plug part that closes the liquid passage opening, wherein the cap main body is fitted into the inside of the container main body from the upper opening part of the container main body, and has an opening forming part where the liquid passage opening is formed on a bottom part; the opening forming part has a brim part that rises from the bottom surface of the inside along an opening edge part of the liquid passage opening on the hinge part side, and that protrudes from the rising position along the upper surface of the liquid passage opening so as to cover the upper surface of the liquid passage opening; and a portion of the bottom surface of the inside of the opening forming part which is closer to the hinge part than the rising position of the brim part, is located higher than the liquid passage opening, and the bottom surfaces on both sides of a ridge line extending from the rising position of the brim part toward the hinge part side have slopes in opposite directions toward the liquid passage opening.

2. The cap unit according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the bottom surface of the inner side of the opening forming part which is on an opposite side of the hinge part from the rising position of the brim part, is located above the liquid passage opening, and the bottom surface has a slope toward the liquid passage opening.

3. The cap unit according to claim 1, wherein the opening forming part has an air vent hole at the bottom part that is connected with the inside of the container main body, and the air vent hole is located at an end of the ridge line on the hinge part side and has a smaller opening than the liquid passage opening.

4. The cap unit according to claim 3, wherein when the cap main body is removed from the container main body and placed vertically inverted in an open state, a portion of the bottom surface on the outer side of the opening forming part, which is closer to the hinge part than the opening edge part of the liquid passage opening on the hinge part side, is located higher than the air vent hole, and the bottom surface has a slope toward the air vent hole.

5. The cap unit according to claim 1, wherein the liquid passage opening has an outer shape in which an opening edge part on the opposite side as the hinge part is formed in an arc shape in a plan view, and the brim part has an outer shape that conforms to an opening edge part of the liquid passage opening in a plan view.

6. The cap unit according to claim 4, wherein the lid body has a plug packing attached to a lower end side of the plug part to seal the gap between the opening forming part and the plug part, and the inner peripheral part of the opening forming part is provided with a sealing inclined surface located above the liquid passage opening and the air vent hole, and which is in close contact with the plug packing around the entire circumference.

7. The cap unit according to claim 1, wherein the lid body has a rotating member with a base end side rotatably attached to the cap main body via the hinge part, and a cap member rotatably attached around an axis to a ring part provided on a tip end side of the rotating member, and the plug part is provided so as to protrude downward from an inner lower surface center part of the cap member.

8. The cap unit according to claim 7, wherein the lid body is freely attached and detached to the cap main body by threading a female threaded part provided on the inner peripheral part of the opening forming part with a male threaded part provided on the outer peripheral part of the plug part.

9. The cap unit according to claim 8, wherein the opening forming part has a pour spout part that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the cap main body on the side opposite the hinge part, and the female threaded part on the opening forming part side is provided at a position excluding at least the inner peripheral part on the pour spout part side of the opening forming part.

10. The cap unit according to claim 1, wherein the cap main body has an outer tube part formed to be contiguous with a barrel part of the container main body, and the cap main body is freely attached and detached to the container main body by threading a female threaded part provided on the inner peripheral part of the outer tube part with a male threaded part provided on the outer peripheral part of the container main body.

11. A capped container, comprising: the cap unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and a container main body to which the cap unit is attached.

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