Screw cap

Abstract

To provide a screw cap capable of preventing shower water from entering an internal space between an upper lid and a cap body by suppressing negative pressure inside the cap.SOLUTION: In the screw cap of the present invention, a main body skirt portion 62 has a lid receiving surface 63 extending outward in a radial direction of the cap from a main body base 61, the main body base 61 has a base outer peripheral surface 64 around the cap axis that rises from the lid receiving surface 63 in the cap axial direction, the top cover 5 has a cover peripheral wall 23 in which a cover opening edge 231 contacts the lid receiving surface 63 of a main body skirt portion 62 in the cap axial direction, and an internal pressure adjustment structure 50 has an open gap 51 that passes through between a lid inner peripheral surface 232 of the lid peripheral wall 23 and the base outer peripheral surface 64 of the main body base 61 entirely in the cap axial direction and that leads to the internal space of the top lid 5, and lid cutout portions 52 formed at multiple locations around the cap axis of the lid opening edge 231, the open gap 51 leading to the outside of the lid.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a screw cap and to a technique for preventing the intake of shower water. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a synthetic resin dispensing cap that is easily separated from a bottle container when it is separated and collected for disposal. This cap has a fastening tube that is further fitted onto an assembled tube of a cap body that is fitted onto a mouth tube, a pair of notches are formed at positions symmetrical with the central axis of the fastening tube, and a non-slip pad for fingertips is provided at the intermediate angle between the pair of notches, and the non-slip pad is pushed up or pulled up to deform the remaining wall portion remaining above the notches, allowing the fastening tube to be detached from the assembled tube.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a plug that reduces pain in the fingers when removing the cap, and includes a spout, a cap attached to the spout, and a band placed between the spout and the cap. The band is provided with a communication section consisting of a notch for dividing the band, and the communication section also serves as an outlet for discharging cooling water that has entered the gap between the cap and the spout.

[0004] Moreover, Patent Document 3 discloses a screw cap consisting of a cap body and an upper lid that screws onto the cap body, in which the cap body has a threaded wall portion and a pouring tube erected on the upper end of the threaded wall portion, and the upper lid has a threaded tubular portion that screws into the threaded wall portion and has a notch portion formed at the lower end of the threaded tubular portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5152753 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6780793 [Patent Document 3] Patent No. 7179611 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Conventionally, screw caps have a structure in which the contact area between the top lid and the body exerts a hermetic seal function to prevent shower water from being sucked into the top lid. When a screw cap with this seal structure is attached to a container by plugging, the internal pressure of the cap increases when the cap is plugged, and the cap is elastically deformed, causing a misalignment in the seal structure that exerts the hermetic seal function, which can result in a small gap.

[0007] Furthermore, when the contents of the container are cooled with shower water after the cap is sealed, if the internal pressure of the cap turns negative, the shower water will easily be sucked in by capillary action through tiny gaps that are created when the cap is sealed, impairing the sealing function.

[0008] The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems and aims to provide a screw cap that can prevent negative pressure from building up inside the cap and prevent shower water from entering the internal space between the top lid and the cap body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the screw cap according to the present invention has a cap body to be attached to the mouth of a container, a top lid to be attached to the cap body, and an internal pressure adjustment structure provided between the cap body and the top lid, the cap body has a main body portion that surrounds the mouth of the container around the axis of the container and an inner plug that covers the mouth of the container, the main body portion has a main body base portion that is covered by the top lid and a main body skirt portion that is exposed from the top lid, the main body skirt portion has a lid receiving surface that extends from the main body base toward the outside in the cap radial direction, and the main body base rises from the lid receiving surface toward the cap axial center direction. The top lid has a base outer peripheral surface around the cap axis, and the top lid has a lid peripheral wall that covers the main body base in the cap radial direction and whose lid opening edge contacts the lid receiving surface of the main body skirt portion in the cap axial direction, and a threaded tube that hangs down from the inner top surface of the top lid and is screwed to the outer periphery of the inner plug, and the internal pressure adjustment structure is characterized in that it has an open gap that runs all the way between the lid inner surface of the lid peripheral wall and the base outer peripheral surface of the main body base along the cap axial direction and leads to the internal space of the top lid, and lid cutout portions formed at multiple points around the cap axis of the lid opening edge, and the open gaps lead to the outside of the lid.

[0010] In the screw cap of the present invention, the top lid has a gap expansion portion at a location corresponding to the lid cutout portion, and the inner surface of the lid is recessed radially outward in the gap expansion portion, thereby increasing the distance between the inner surface of the lid and the outer peripheral surface of the base of the main body base.

[0011] In the screw cap of the present invention, the upper cover has a lid open space that leads to an open gap between the screw tube and the lid peripheral wall, and the screw tube is formed at multiple locations along the cap axis of the screw tube opening edge, and is characterized in that the inside of the screw tube has a screw tube cutout portion that leads to the lid open space.

[0012] In the screw cap of the present invention, the top lid is characterized in that the lid contact area where the lid opening edge and the lid receiving surface are in contact is greater than or equal to the lid non-contact area where the lid opening edge is not in contact with the lid receiving surface at the lid cutout portion.

[0013] In the screw cap of the present invention, the top lid has lid cutout portions at six locations along the cap axis of the lid opening edge, and the lid cutout portions have an extent of 30° around the cap axis. Effect of the Invention

[0014] With the above-mentioned configuration, in the internal pressure adjustment structure, an open gap communicating with the internal space of the upper lid passes entirely between the lid inner surface of the lid peripheral wall and the base outer surface of the main body base along the cap axial direction, and the open gap communicates with the outside of the lid via a lid cutout portion formed in the lid opening edge of the lid peripheral wall that contacts the lid receiving surface of the main body skirt portion.

[0015] Therefore, because the internal space of the top lid of the screw cap is connected to the outside of the lid through the open gap and the lid cutout, even if the top lid undergoes elastic deformation when the container is sealed, no pressure difference is generated between the inside and outside of the top lid due to ventilation both inside and outside the top lid.

[0016] In addition, when the contents of the container are cooled with shower water after corking, ventilation inside and outside the top lid suppresses the drop in internal pressure of the top lid due to cooling, and prevents shower water from being sucked in due to negative pressure generated in the internal space of the top lid.

[0017] Furthermore, since the open gap runs completely between the inner lid surface of the lid peripheral wall and the outer base surface of the main body base along the axial direction of the cap, even if shower water falls on the lid cutout portion from the radial direction of the cap, the outer base surface of the main body base blocks the shower water, so that the shower water does not pass through the open gap and reach the internal space of the upper lid. Instead, the shower water that enters the lid cutout portion easily flows out to the outside of the lid through the opening in the lid cutout portion that opens on the outer lid surface.

[0018] Furthermore, drying inside the top lid can be promoted by ventilation through the lid cutouts formed at multiple locations around the axis of the cap.

[0019] In addition, in the gap expansion section provided in the area corresponding to the lid cutout, the distance between the inner surface of the lid and the outer surface of the base of the main body base is increased, making it easier for ventilation to occur between the inside and outside of the top lid, and more reliably eliminating the pressure difference that causes shower water to be sucked in.

[0020] In addition, since the inside of the screw tube is connected to the lid open space between the screw tube and the lid peripheral wall via the screw tube cutout portion provided on the opening edge of the screw tube, the internal space of the top lid that is connected to the outside of the top lid is expanded, further reducing the factors that cause a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the top lid.

[0021] In addition, by making the lid contact area where the lid opening edge and the lid receiving surface are in contact greater than or equal to the lid non-contact area where the lid opening edge is not in contact with the lid receiving surface at the lid cutout portion, buckling of the top lid is prevented when the screw cap is inserted, and the screw cap can be attached to the container in a sound state.

[0022] In addition, the top lid has lid cutouts at six locations along the cap axis of the lid opening edge, and the lid cutouts have an extent of 30° around the cap axis, which allows the areas where the lid opening edge and the lid receiving surface come into contact to be appropriately distributed around the cap axis, and ensures a sufficient lid contact area between the lid opening edge and the lid receiving surface to prevent buckling of the top lid when plugging. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a screw cap according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a front view of the screw cap according to the embodiment; [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a top view of the screw cap according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the screw cap according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] OA cross-sectional view of Figure 4 [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view of arrow OB in Figure 4 [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional front view of the upper cover according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the upper cover according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the screw cap according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In Fig. 1 to Fig. 9, the screw cap 1 according to the present invention has a cap body 4 to be attached to the mouth 3 of a container 2, an upper lid 5 to be attached to the cap body 4, and an internal pressure adjustment structure 50 provided between the cap body 4 and the upper lid 5.

[0025] The cap body 4 has a main body 6 that surrounds the mouth 3 of the container 2 around the axis of the container 2 , and an inside plug 7 that covers the mouth 3 .

[0026] The inside plug 7 has a pouring tube 8 surrounding the inside plug opening, an inside plug sealing part 9 covering the inside plug opening, and a weakened part 10 connecting the inside plug sealing part 9 and the pouring tube 8.

[0027] Here, an unopened screw cap 1 is shown, so that the pouring cylinder 8 surrounds the intended inner plug opening portion, and the inner plug opening is closed by the inner plug sealing portion 9 that covers the intended inner plug opening portion.

[0028] The inner plug sealing portion 9 has a plug body 11 that closes the inner plug opening, a cylindrical inner plug barrel portion 12 that rises from the plug body 11 in the axial direction of the container 2, and an inner plug flange portion 13 that extends radially outward from the container 2.

[0029] The inner plug cylindrical part 12 forms a drive shaft on the inner plug side that transmits opening torque when the inner plug is opened, and has an inner plug protrusion 14 that engages with the top lid 5 around the axis of the container 2 on its inner and outer surfaces that form an annular shape around the axis of the container 2. The inner plug protrusion 14 is made of a rib that extends in the axial direction of the container 2, protruding from the inner surface of the cylinder toward the radial inside of the container 2, and protruding from the outer surface of the cylinder toward the radial outside of the container 2. The inner plug cylindrical part 12 is open on one side in the axial direction of the container 2, and has an inner plug fitting recess 15 on the outer peripheral surface of the opening edge. The inner plug cylindrical part 12 is integral with the stopper body 11 on the other side in the axial direction of the container 2 of the inner plug cylindrical part 12.

[0030] The inner plug flange portion 13 is integral with the other axial side of the container 2 of the inner plug cylindrical portion 12 and with the plug body 11, extends radially outward from the outer periphery of the inner plug cylindrical portion 12, and has a flange base portion 16 on the radially inner side of the container 2 continuing from the inner plug cylindrical portion 12, and a flange edge portion 17 extending from the flange base portion 16 to the weakened portion 10.

[0031] The inside plug 7 has an inside plug inner seal portion 18 that is inserted into the mouth portion 3 of the container 2, and a fitting groove 19 into which the mouth portion 3 is inserted is formed between the inside plug inner seal portion 18 and the main body portion 6.

[0032] The main body 6 has a main body base 61 on one side in the cap axial direction that is covered by the top lid 5, and a main body skirt 62 on the other side in the cap axial direction that is exposed from the top lid 5, and the main body skirt 62 has a lid receiving surface 63 that spreads outward in the cap radial direction from the main body base 61. The main body base 61 has a base outer circumferential surface 64 that rises from the lid receiving surface 63 in the cap axial direction and surrounds the cap axis.

[0033] Further, the main body skirt portion 62 has a cap inner protrusion 21 which fits into a container outer recess 20 formed on the outer periphery of the mouth of the container 2 .

[0034] The top lid 5 has a top lid inner 22 on its inner top surface facing the pouring tube 8, and the top lid inner 22 forms a ring shape around the axis of the top lid 5, with the inner tip edge abutting liquid-tightly against the inner drain surface of the pouring tube 8, forming a sealed area.

[0035] The top lid 5 has a lid peripheral wall 23, a screw cylinder 24, and an inner plug holding portion 25, which are arranged in this order from the radial outside to the radial inside of the container 2.

[0036] The outermost lid peripheral wall 23 is a cylindrical body that forms a ring shape around the outer periphery of the top lid top portion 26 of the top lid 5 along the axis of the container 2, covers the main body base portion 61 in the cap radial direction, the lid opening edge 231 contacts the lid receiving surface 63 of the main body skirt portion 62 in the cap axial direction, and has a knurling 27 on the outer circumferential surface to provide a finger grip when opening.

[0037] The threaded tube 24 hangs down from the inner top surface of the top cover 5, forms a ring shape along the outer peripheral surface of the inner plug 7, and is screwed to a male threaded portion 29 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner plug 7 via a female threaded portion 28 formed on the inner peripheral surface.

[0038] The inner plug holding portion 25 is cylindrical and extends from the inner top surface of the top lid 5 in the axial direction of the container 2, and has an outer tube portion 30 and an inner tube portion 31 that form a double ring around the axis of the container, and the inner plug tube portion 12 is inserted into the annular gap between the outer tube portion 30 and the inner tube portion 31.

[0039] The inside plug holding part 25 forms a drive shaft on the top lid side that applies an opening torque when the inside plug is opened, and has an upper lid protrusion 32 that engages with the inside plug cylindrical part 12 around the axis of the container 2 on the cylindrical inner surface of the outer cylindrical part 30 and the cylindrical outer surface of the inner cylindrical part 31 that form an annular shape around the axis of the container 2. The upper lid plug protrusion 32 is made of a rib that extends in the axial direction of the container 2, protrudes from the cylindrical inner surface of the outer cylindrical part 30 toward the radial inside of the container 2, and protrudes from the cylindrical outer surface of the inner cylindrical part 31 toward the radial outside of the container 2. In addition, the outer cylindrical part 30 has an upper lid fitting protrusion 33 on its cylindrical inner surface that fits into the inside plug fitting recess 15 of the inside plug 7.

[0040] The internal pressure adjustment structure 50 includes an open gap 51 and a lid cutout portion 52. The open gap 51 is a gap between the lid inner peripheral surface 232 of the lid peripheral wall 23 and the base outer peripheral surface 64 of the main body base 61, and passes entirely between the lid inner peripheral surface 232 and the base outer peripheral surface 64 along the cap axial direction, and communicates with the internal space of the top lid 5.

[0041] The lid cutouts 52 are formed in a plurality of places around the cap axis of the lid opening edge 231, and the open gap 51 communicates with the outside of the lid via the lid cutouts 52. In the upper lid 5, a lid contact area A1 where the lid opening edge 231 contacts with the lid receiving surface 63 of the main body skirt portion 62 is equal to or larger than a lid non-contact area A2 where the lid opening edge 231 does not contact the lid receiving surface 6 at the lid cutouts 52, and the relationship A1 ≧ A2 is satisfied.

[0042] Here, the relationship is A1 = A2. That is, the lid cutout portions 52 are formed at six equally spaced locations around the cap axis of the lid opening edge 231, and each lid cutout portion 52 has an extension of 30° around the cap axis, and has an opening 234 on the lid outer peripheral surface 233 of the lid peripheral wall 23.

[0043] In addition, the top lid 5 has a recessed gap expansion portion 53 at a portion corresponding to the lid cutout portion 52 on the lid inner surface 232, and at the gap expansion portion 53, the lid inner surface 232 is recessed radially outward in the cap, and the distance between the lid inner surface 232 and the base outer surface 64 of the main body base 61 is increased.

[0044] The upper lid 5 defines a lid open space between the lid peripheral wall 23 and the screw tube 24 that communicates with the open gap 51, and the screw tube 24 has screw tube cutouts 241 that communicate the inside of the screw tube with the lid open space, and the screw tube cutouts 241 are formed at multiple locations along the cap axis of the screw tube opening edge 242. Here, the screw tube cutouts 241 are provided at opposing positions across the cap axis, and have a 90° spread around the cap axis.

[0045] The operation of the above configuration will now be described. (When opened) When the top lid 5 is first opened, the top lid 5 is rotated around the axis of the container 2 by a force applied to the knurling 27 of the lid peripheral wall 23 .

[0046] As the top lid 5 rotates, the top lid protrusion 32 of the outer tube portion 30 and the inner tube portion 31 of the screw tube 24 of the top lid 5 engages with the center plug protrusion 15 of the center plug tube portion 12 around the axis of the container 2, causing the center plug sealing portion 9 to rotate around the axis of the container 2, and the weakened portion 10 connected to the flange edge portion 17 of the center plug flange portion 13 breaks.

[0047] Breaking of weakened portion 10 causes inner plug sealing portion 9 to detach from inner plug 7, and engagement of female thread portion 28 and male thread portion 29 causes top lid 5 to move in the axial direction of container 2. At this time, engagement of inner plug fitting recess 15 of inner plug cylindrical portion 12 with top lid fitting protrusion 33 of outer cylindrical portion 30 causes inner plug sealing portion 9 to detach from inner plug 7 together with top lid 5, opening the intended inner plug opening portion and opening the inner plug opening. In this opening operation, with cap 1 according to this embodiment, the torque required for opening top lid 5 can be reduced. (When corking) The internal pressure adjustment structure 50 has an open gap 51 communicating with the internal space of the top lid 5, which runs entirely between the lid inner surface 232 of the lid peripheral wall 23 and the base outer surface 64 of the main body base 61 along the cap axial direction, and the open gap 51 communicates with the outside of the lid via a lid cutout portion 52 formed in the lid opening edge 231 of the lid peripheral wall 23 that contacts the lid receiving surface 63 of the main body skirt portion 62.

[0048] Therefore, when the top lid 5 is pressed into the cap body 4 to be assembled, and the screw cap 1 is attached to the mouth 3 of the container 2 by plugging, the internal space of the top lid 5 is connected to the outside of the lid through the open gap 51 and the lid cutout portion 52, so that even if the top lid 5 elastically deforms when the container 2 is plugged, no pressure difference is generated between the inside and outside of the top lid 5 due to ventilation both inside and outside the top lid 5.

[0049] In addition, when the contents of container 2 are cooled with shower water after plugging, ventilation both inside and outside the top lid 5 suppresses the drop in internal pressure of the top lid 5 due to cooling, and prevents the shower water from being sucked in due to negative pressure generated in the internal space of the top lid 5.

[0050] Furthermore, since the open gap 51 is structured to pass completely between the lid inner surface 232 of the lid peripheral wall 23 and the base outer surface 64 of the main body base 61 along the axial direction of the cap, even if shower water falls on the lid cutout portion 52 from the cap radial direction, the base outer surface 64 of the main body base 61 blocks the shower water, so that the shower water will not pass through the open gap 64 and reach the internal space of the upper lid 5. Instead, the shower water that enters the lid cutout portion 52 easily flows out to the outside of the lid through the open opening 234 of the lid cutout portion 52 that opens into the lid outer surface 233.

[0051] Furthermore, drying of the inside of the top lid 5 can be promoted by ventilation through the lid cutouts 52 formed at a plurality of positions around the axis of the cap.

[0052] In addition, in the gap expansion portion 53 provided at the portion corresponding to the lid cutout portion 52, the distance between the lid inner surface 232 and the base outer surface 64 of the main body base 61 is increased, making it easier for ventilation to occur between the inside and outside of the top lid 5, and more reliably eliminating the pressure difference that causes shower water to be sucked in.

[0053] In addition, since the interior of the screw tube 24 is connected to the lid open space between the screw tube 24 and the lid peripheral wall 23 via the screw tube cutout portion 241 provided on the screw tube opening edge 242, the internal space of the top lid 5 connected to the outside of the top lid is expanded, further reducing the factors that cause a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the top lid 5.

[0054] In addition, since the lid contact area A1 where the lid opening edge 231 and the lid receiving surface 63 come into contact is greater than or equal to the lid non-contact area A2 where the lid opening edge 231 does not come into contact with the lid receiving surface 63 at the lid cutout portion 52, buckling of the top lid 5 is prevented when the screw cap 1 is attached to the container 2 in a sound state.

[0055] In addition, the top lid 5 has lid cutout portions 52 at six locations along the cap axis of the lid opening edge 231, and the lid cutout portions 52 have an extent of 30° around the cap axis, so that the areas where the lid opening edge 231 and the lid receiving surface 63 come into contact are appropriately distributed around the cap axis, and a sufficient lid contact area between the lid opening edge 231 and the lid receiving surface 63 can be secured to prevent buckling of the top lid 5 when plugging. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1 Cap 2 containers 3 Mouth 4 Cap body 5 Top lid 6 Main body 7 Inner stopper 8 Pour tube 9. Inner plug sealing part 10 Weakened part 11 Plug body 12 Inner plug cylinder 13 Inner plug flange 14 Inner stopper protrusion 15 Plug fitting recess 16 Base of flange 17 Flange 18 Inner seal part of inner plug 19 Fitting groove 20 Container outer recess 21 Cap inner convex part 22 Top cover inner 23 Lid surrounding wall 24 Screw cylinder 25 Inner stopper holding part 26 Top of the lid 27 Knurling 28 Female thread 29 Male thread 30 Outer cylinder 31 Inner cylinder 32 Upper lid protrusion 33 Upper cover fitting protrusion 50 Internal pressure adjustment structure 51 Open Gap 52 Lid cutout 53 Gap expansion section 61 Body base 62 Main body skirt 63 Lid receiving surface 64 Base outer periphery 231 Lid opening edge 232 Lid inner surface 233 Lid outer surface 234 Open mouth 241 Screw barrel cutout 242 Threaded cylinder opening edge

Claims

1. The cap has a cap body that is attached to the mouth of a container, a top lid that is attached to the cap body, and an internal pressure adjustment structure that is provided between the cap body and the top lid, The cap body has a main body portion that surrounds the mouth of the container around the axis of the container, and an inner plug that covers the mouth of the container, The main body has a main body base covered by the top lid and a main body skirt exposed from the top lid, the main body skirt having a lid receiving surface extending from the main body base outward in the cap radial direction; The main body base has a base outer peripheral surface around the cap axis that rises from the lid receiving surface in the cap axis direction, The top lid has a peripheral wall that covers the base of the main body in the cap radial direction and whose lid opening edge contacts the lid receiving surface of the skirt part of the main body in the cap axial direction, and a screw cylinder that hangs down from the inner top surface of the top lid and is screwed to the outer periphery of the inner plug, The internal pressure adjustment structure of this screw cap is characterized by having an open gap that runs entirely along the axial direction of the cap between the inner lid surface of the lid peripheral wall and the outer base surface of the main body base, leading to the internal space of the upper lid, and a lid cutout portion formed at multiple locations along the axial direction of the cap on the lid opening edge, with the open gaps leading to the outside of the lid.

2. The screw cap described in claim 1, characterized in that the upper lid has a gap expansion portion at a location corresponding to the lid cutout portion, and the inner surface of the lid is recessed radially outward in the gap expansion portion, thereby increasing the distance between the inner surface of the lid and the outer surface of the base of the main body base.

3. The screw cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper lid has a lid open space between the screw tube and the lid peripheral wall that leads to an open gap, the screw tube is formed at multiple locations along the cap axis of the screw tube opening edge, and the inside of the screw tube has a screw tube cutout portion that leads to the lid open space.

4. The screw cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper lid has a lid contact area where the lid opening edge and the lid receiving surface are in contact, which is greater than or equal to the lid non-contact area where the lid opening edge is not in contact with the lid receiving surface at the lid cutout portion.

5. 2. The screw cap according to claim 1, wherein the top lid has lid cutouts at six locations along the cap axis of the lid opening edge, and the lid cutouts have an extent of 30 degrees around the cap axis.

Images