Capped container

Abstract

To provide a capped container capable of reducing opening / closing torque of a screw cap.SOLUTION: A capped container comprises: a container body 2 equipped with a male thread 10 at a mouth cylindrical part 8 rising from a body 4; and a screw cap 20 equipped with a female thread 24 at a lid peripheral wall 22 suspended from a peripheral end of a top plate 26 to be engaged with the male thread 10, and suspended with an inner ring 28 inwardly fitted into the mouth cylindrical part 8, from a lower surface 27 of the top plate 26. A seal portion 30 to be in close contact with an opening O of the mouth cylindrical part 8 is formed on an outer surface of the inner ring 28. An abutment surface S to which a lower end surface e of the lid peripheral wall 22 is to be abutted is provided around the mouth cylindrical part 8. When the lower end surface e of the lid peripheral wall 22 abuts against the abutment surface S, a gap V is formed between the top plate 26 and an upper end surface 9 of the mouth cylindrical part 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a capped container, in particular a gasket-less capped container in which the opening is sealed without using packing, and which is mainly used for viscous substances such as creams. [Background technology]

[0002] A known container includes a container body having a nozzle, a peripheral cover wall that screws onto the outer surface of the nozzle from the peripheral edge of the top plate, and a screw cap with an inner ring that fits inside the nozzle hanging down from the underside of the top plate, with the base of the inner ring acting as a seal and tightly fitting to the opening of the nozzle, and a contact ring that protrudes from the back surface of the top plate for crimping onto the upper end face of the nozzle (Patent Document 1). Note that crimping of the contact ring refers to the process of screwing (tightening) the peripheral cover wall onto the nozzle, pressing it against the upper end face of the nozzle and tightly fitting it in a deformed state. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2006-290399 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the container of Patent Document 1, the contact ring attached to the top plate of the screw cap is pressed against the upper end surface of the nozzle of the container body, and the seal part of the inner ring is in close contact with the opening of the nozzle near the top plate, so that when the screw cap is completely fastened to the nozzle, the distance from the base of the inner ring (the joint with the top plate) to the seal part is insufficient. Therefore, the inner ring cannot move (deform in the radial direction) in accordance with the amount of tightening of the inner ring, and there is a problem that the opening and closing torque of the screw cap is large when the lid is opened and closed.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a container with a cap that can reduce the torque required to open and close a screw cap. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The first means is a container body 2 having a male screw portion 10 attached to a nozzle portion 8 standing from a body portion 4, The screw cap 20 includes a lid peripheral wall 22 extending downward from the peripheral end of a top plate 26, a female thread 24 engaging with the male thread 10, and an inner ring 28 extending downward from a lower surface 27 of the top plate 26 and fitted into the nozzle 8, In a container with a cap, a seal portion 30 is formed on the outer surface of the inner ring 28 to fit closely to the opening O of the nozzle portion 8, A contact surface portion S is provided around the mouth portion 8 to which the lower end surface e of the lid peripheral wall 22 abuts. With the lower end surface e of the lid peripheral wall 22 abutting against this contact surface S, a gap V is formed between the top plate 26 and the upper end surface 9 of the nozzle portion 8 .

[0007] As shown in FIG. 1, this means comprises a container body 2 having a nozzle 8 standing from a body 4, and a screw cap 20 having a peripheral lid wall 22 that is threadedly engaged with the nozzle 8 and that is hung from the peripheral end of a top plate 26, and an inner ring 28 that fits inside the nozzle 8 and hangs from the underside 27 of the top plate 26. The inner ring 28 has a seal portion 30 for tightly fitting to the opening O of the nozzle portion 8 . A contact surface portion S is provided around the mouth portion 8 for abutting the lower end surface e of the lid peripheral wall 22, and when the lower end surface e of the lid peripheral wall 22 abuts against this contact surface portion S, a gap V is formed between the top plate 26 and the upper end surface 9 of the mouth portion 8. According to this structure, the distance between the top plate 26 and the seal portion 30 is increased to facilitate radial deformation of the nozzle portion 8, thereby reducing the opening and closing torque of the screw cap 20.

[0008] The second means comprises the first means, and the sealing portion 30 is formed by sealing projections 32, 34 provided around the outer surface of the inner ring 28.

[0009] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the seal portion 30 is formed by seal projections 32, 34 provided around the outer surface of the inner ring 28. According to this structure, the frictional resistance between the nozzle portion 8 and the inner ring 28 can be reduced, thereby reducing the opening and closing torque of the screw cap 20.

[0010] The third means includes the first means or the second means, and the abutment surface portion S is an upper surface of a shoulder portion 6 interposed between the body portion 4 and the nozzle portion 8.

[0011] In this means, as shown in FIG. 2, the configuration of the existing container body 2 in which a shoulder portion 6 is interposed between the body portion 4 and the nozzle portion 8 is utilized, and the upper surface of the shoulder portion 6 is made into the abutment surface portion S. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, the opening and closing torque of the screw cap can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view showing a cross-section of half of a capped container according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the configuration shown in FIG. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THEINVENTION

[0014] 1 and 2 show a capped container according to an embodiment of the present invention. This container is primarily suitable for storing liquids such as creams and gels. The container of this embodiment is configured as a jar-type container for storing cream. Here, "jar type" refers to a container having a wide-mouthed, straight cylindrical body part standing upright from the bottom. However, the shape of the container can be changed as appropriate, and it may be a container with a narrow mouth (for example, a pouch container). The container is composed of a container body 2 and a screw cap 20. Each of these members can be made of, for example, synthetic resin.

[0015] The container body 2 has a body 4 connected to the peripheral edge of the bottom 3, and a mouth 8 having an opening O at its upper end rising from a shoulder 6, and a male thread 10 is attached to the outer surface of this mouth 8. In this embodiment, the shoulder portion 6 is interposed between the body portion 4 and the mouth portion 8 in a circumferential shape (annular shape in the illustrated example) when viewed from above, and an abutment surface S with a lower end surface e of the lid peripheral wall 22 described below is formed on the upper surface of the shoulder portion 6. This abutment surface S is formed as a horizontal flat surface over the entire circumference of the mouth portion 8, as shown in FIG. 2. The abutment surface S may not be provided over the entire circumference of the mouth portion 8, but may be formed at intervals in the circumferential direction. In addition, the lower end surface e of the lid peripheral wall 22 and the abutment surface S, which will be described later, serve to signal the completion of seaming of the mouth portion 8, and therefore the structure is not limited as long as they have a shape that at least partially abuts when seaming is completed. According to this configuration, the present invention can be applied without significantly changing the configuration of an existing container body in which the nozzle portion stands up from the body portion via the shoulder portion. In the illustrated example, an upwardly directed first step portion 12 is formed between the contact surface portion S and the nozzle portion 8. However, these structures can be modified as appropriate. The contact surface S may have any structure as long as it is disposed around the nozzle 8 when viewed from above. For example, the upper surface of an annular rib (not shown) that protrudes outward from the nozzle 8 may serve as the contact surface. The nozzle 8 in the illustrated example has a small outer diameter portion 8b at its tip and a large outer diameter portion 8a at the remaining portion, and this large outer diameter portion 8a is provided with a male thread portion 10. An upward second step portion 14 is provided between the large outer diameter portion 8a and the small outer diameter portion 8b.

[0016] The screw cap 20 is a member for sealing the opening O of the nozzle portion 8 without using a packing. This screw cap 20 comprises a peripheral lid wall 22 for screwing onto the outer surface of the nozzle portion 8 from the peripheral end of a top plate 26, and an inner ring 28 for tightly fitting into the opening O of the nozzle portion 8, which are concentrically hung down from the underside 27 of the top plate 26. Furthermore, a gap V is formed between the portion of the underside 27 of the top plate 26 between the lid peripheral wall 22 and the inner ring 28 (the opposing surface portion c described below) and the upper end surface 9 of the nozzle portion 8, in order to increase the separation distance L between the sealing portion 30 and the top plate 26 described below.

[0017] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the lid peripheral wall 22 has an upper portion connected to the top plate 26 formed as a small inner diameter portion 22b, and the remaining portion formed as a large inner diameter portion 22a, and a female thread portion 24 that meshes with the male thread portion 10 is formed on the inside of this large inner diameter portion 22a. The small inner diameter portion 22b is disposed laterally outwardly and apart from the small outer diameter portion 8b of the nozzle portion 8. The gap V communicates with the gap j between the male thread portion 10 and the female thread portion 24 shown in FIG. 2 via a gap i between the small inner diameter portion 22b and the small outer diameter portion 8b. However, these structures can be modified as appropriate. The lower end surface e of the lid peripheral wall 22 abuts against the abutment surface S at the end of the seaming to the nozzle portion 8. In the illustrated example, the lower end surface e of the lid peripheral wall 22 is formed so as to abut against the abutment surface S over the entire circumferential direction of the nozzle portion 8. The user can recognize that the nozzle portion 8 has reached the seaming end position by the sensation felt when the lower end surface e of the lid peripheral wall 22 abuts against the abutment surface S. The length of the lid peripheral wall 22 is set so that when the lower end surface e of the lid peripheral wall 22 is abutted against the abutment surface portion S, the lower surface 27 of the top plate 26 is positioned above the upper end surface 9 of the nozzle portion 8, providing a gap V.

[0018] The inner ring 28 is fitted into the nozzle portion 8 to seal the opening O thereof. In this specification, the "opening" refers to a region on the inner surface of the nozzle portion 8 near the upper end of the cylindrical wall (in the illustrated example, near the inner surface of the small outer diameter portion 8b of the nozzle portion 8). The inner ring 28 has a seal portion 30 that is spaced from its base b and is adapted to be in liquid-tight contact with the opening O of the nozzle portion 8 . In this specification, the term "liquid-tight" refers to a tight seal that prevents leakage of fluids (liquids and viscous substances such as creams). In this embodiment, the outer surface of the middle portion 28b in the tube length direction of the inner ring 28 (in the illustrated example, the portion between the two dotted lines shown in Figure 2) bulges slightly radially outward to form a sealing portion 30 that is pressed against the opening O of the nozzle portion 8. By positioning the sealing part 30 at a position where it contacts the opening O of the nozzle part 8, the distance that the sealing part 30 slides on the inner surface of the nozzle part 8 when the screw cap 20 is opened or closed is shortened, thereby reducing the effort required to open and close the lid. The seal portion 30 in the illustrated example is formed by two circumferential projections (a lower seal projection 32 and an upper seal projection 34) that protrude radially outwardly from the outer circumferential surface of the inner ring 28 and are spaced apart in the vertical direction. This structure reduces frictional resistance with the nozzle portion 8, compared to a structure in which the entire outer circumferential surface of the intermediate portion 28b bulges outwardly to the side. However, the shape of the seal portion 30 can be changed as appropriate. For example, as described above, the entire outer circumferential surface of the intermediate portion 28b can be bulged outward, or one of the two circumferential projections can be omitted. Also, all of the circumferential projections can be omitted. In addition, the circumferential projections in the illustrated example are formed as elongated convex stripes, but the shape can be changed as appropriate. In the illustrated example, the portion of the inner ring 28 above the intermediate portion 28b (base portion 28a) is formed with an outer diameter approximately equal to that of the intermediate portion 28b (slightly smaller or the same diameter), and the portion below the intermediate portion 28b (tip portion 28c) is formed with an outer diameter smaller than that of the intermediate portion 28b. A circumferential gap g is provided between the tip portion 28c and the nozzle portion 8 when viewed from above. However, these shapes can be changed as appropriate. When the inner ring 28 is pressed into the nozzle portion 8, the base portion 28a is elastically reduced in diameter at the lower end side, and the middle portion 28b is formed so as to elastically reduce in diameter as a whole, compared to the shape at the time of molding.

[0019] On the outside of the inner ring 28, the portion (opposing surface portion c) of the underside 27 of the top plate 26 that faces the upper end surface 9 does not have a protrusion such as a contact ring, and a gap V is formed between the opposing surface portion c and the upper end surface 9 of the nozzle portion 8. By providing this gap V, the distance L (called the separation distance) between the seal portion 30 that is pressed against the opening O of the nozzle portion 8 and the top plate 26 can be made larger than in the existing structure in which the opening is sealed near the base of the inner ring. By doing so, when opening and closing the screw cap 20, it becomes easier to create movement (radial deformation of the inner ring 28) relative to the amount of clamping margin (the difference between the diameter of the inner ring in the molded form and the inner diameter of the mouth tube portion) of the inner ring 28, thereby reducing the opening and closing torque. The distance L may be set taking into consideration the length and thickness of the inner ring 28, the material of the screw cap, etc. In the illustrated example, the distance L is greater than the width w between the inner ring 28 and the lid peripheral wall 22.

[0020] In the above-described configuration, in the state shown in FIG. 1, the seal portion 30 is in close contact with the opening O of the nozzle portion 8, thereby ensuring the sealability of the container. To open the screw cap 20, the lid peripheral wall 22 is grasped and rotated in the opening direction. Then, the lid peripheral wall 22 is screwed upward, and the seal part 30 at the position in contact with the opening O is immediately disengaged upward from the nozzle part 8, making the lid opening operation easy. Furthermore, when closing the screw cap 20, the lid peripheral wall 22 is screwed down onto the mouth portion 8, whereby the inner ring 28 is fitted into the mouth portion 8 and the seal portion 30 again adheres tightly to the opening O to seal it. During these steps, a gap V is provided between the upper end surface 9 of the nozzle 8 and the opposing surface c of the top plate 26 to increase the separation distance L between the seal portion 30 and the top plate 26, which facilitates the inner ring 28 to deform radially outward during the lid-opening operation and to deform radially inward during the lid-closing operation. This reduces the frictional resistance between the inner ring 28 and the nozzle 8, reducing the opening and closing torque.

[0021] According to the above configuration and action, a gap V is formed between the top plate 26 and the upper end surface 9 of the nozzle portion 8, so that the opening and closing torque of the screw cap 20 can be reduced by increasing the distance between the top plate 26 and the sealing portion 30. Since the seal portion 30 is formed as the seal projections 32, 34, the frictional resistance with the nozzle portion 8 can be reduced, thereby reducing the torque required to open and close the screw cap 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0022] 2: container body; 3: bottom portion; 4: body portion; 6: shoulder portion; 8: nozzle portion; 8a: large outer diameter portion 8b...Small outer diameter part 9...Top end surface 10...Male thread part 12...First step part 14...Second step part 20...Screw cap 22...Lid surrounding wall 22a...Large inner diameter part 22b...Small inner diameter part 24... Female thread portion 26... Top plate 27... Underside 28... Inner ring 28a... Base portion 28b: middle portion; 28c: tip portion; 30: seal portion; 32: lower seal projection 34…Upper seal protrusion b...Base c...Facing surface e...Lower end surface of lid peripheral wall g...Gap i...Interval j…Gap L…Separation distance (distance between top plate and seal part) O…Opening S…Contact surface V: Gap w: Width between the inner ring and the lid peripheral wall

Claims

1. A container body (2) having a male thread portion (10) attached to a nozzle portion (8) standing up from a body portion (4); The screw cap (20) has a female thread (24) that meshes with the male thread (10) and is attached to a lid peripheral wall (22) that hangs down from the peripheral end of a top plate (26), and has an inner ring (28) that is fitted into the nozzle portion (8) and hangs down from a lower surface (27) of the top plate (26). A container with a cap, in which a seal portion (30) for tightly fitting the opening (O) of the nozzle portion (8) is formed on the outer surface of the inner ring (28), A contact surface portion (S) is provided around the mouth portion (8) to contact the lower end surface (e) of the lid peripheral wall (22), A container with a cap is characterized in that a gap (V) is formed between the top plate (26) and the upper end surface (9) of the nozzle portion (8) when the lower end surface (e) of the lid peripheral wall (22) abuts against this abutment surface portion (S).

2. 2. The container with a cap according to claim 1, wherein the sealing portion (30) is formed by sealing projections (32, 34) provided around the outer surface of the inner ring (28).

3. 3. A container with a cap according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the abutment surface portion (S) is an upper surface of a shoulder portion (6) interposed between the body portion (4) and the nozzle portion (8).

Images