Cap

Abstract

To provide a cap capable of easily providing an obliquely directed nozzle.SOLUTION: A cap includes a cylindrical mounting portion (15) mounted on a mouth portion (2a) of a vessel body (2a) storing contents, and a top wall portion (16) closing an upper surface of the mouth portion (2a), a central portion (25) of the top wall portion (16) is displaceable in a vertical direction, the top wall portion (16) has a nozzle (27) opening upward in a state being displaced downward, and the nozzle (27) is directed upward and radially outward by angle change of the top wall portion (16) accompanying upward displacement of the central portion (25).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a cap attached to the mouth of a container body, there is known a structure capable of ejecting the content liquid from a plurality of nozzles (liquid ejection holes) directed obliquely upward and ejecting the content liquid in a shower shape (see, for example, Patent Document 1). When the cap has nozzles directed obliquely, the structure of the mold for manufacturing the cap becomes complicated. In order to avoid the complication of the mold structure, in Patent Document 1, a notch is provided in the liquid discharge hole of the cap body, and a separately prepared nozzle tip is inserted into the liquid discharge hole, so that an obliquely directed nozzle is formed by the outer periphery of the nozzle tip and the notch.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in Patent Document 1, since the cap is composed of two parts, a cap body and a nozzle tip, the structure of the cap becomes complicated. Further, when an obliquely directed nozzle is formed in the mold, the structure of the mold is likely to be complicated.

[0005] In view of such points, an object of the present invention is to provide a cap capable of easily providing an obliquely directed nozzle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The cap is a cap comprising a cylindrical mounting portion mounted on the mouth portion of a container body for storing contents, and a top wall portion closing the upper surface of the mouth portion, wherein the central portion of the top wall portion is displaceable in the vertical direction, the top wall portion has a nozzle opening upward in a downwardly displaced state, and the nozzle is directed upward and radially outward by an angular change of the top wall portion accompanying upward displacement of the central portion.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cap capable of easily providing a nozzle directed obliquely.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the cap according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of a dispensing container 1 with a cap 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention mounted thereon. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the dispensing container 1 with the cap 10 mounted thereon. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the cap 10.

[0010] The pouring container 1 includes a container body 2 for storing the content and a cap 10 attached to the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2. The container body 2 includes a container bottom wall (not shown), a cylindrical body portion 2b extending upward from the periphery of the container bottom wall, and a mouth portion 2a. The mouth portion 2a is cylindrical and extends upward from the upper end of the body portion 2b. An outer engaging portion 2c for engaging the cap 10 is provided on the outer periphery of the mouth portion 2a. The outer engaging portion 2c is a male screw portion formed on the outer periphery of the mouth portion 2a.

[0011] In FIGS. 1 and 2, the pouring container 1 is shown in an upright posture in which the pouring container 1 is placed upright so that the axis 2d of the mouth portion 2a is directed in the vertical direction. The axis 2d is the center line of the mouth portion 2a and is coaxially arranged with the axis of the body portion 2b. The content of the pouring container 1 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include herbicides, liquid fertilizers, and the like.

[0012] The cap 10 includes a cap body 11 attached to the mouth portion 2a, an opening / closing lid 12 that can open and close the upper surface of the cap body 11, and a hinge portion 13 that connects the opening / closing lid 12 to the cap body 11 so as to be able to open and close. Further, a pipe 14 extending vertically in the container body 2 is connected to the cap body 11.

[0013] The cap body 11 includes a mounting portion 15 mounted on the outer periphery of the mouth portion 2a and a top wall portion 16 that closes the opening on the upper surface of the mouth portion 2a. The mounting portion 15 includes a cylindrical portion 17 that engages with the outer periphery of the mouth portion 2a, an annular flange portion 18 that extends radially inward from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 17, an inner cylindrical portion 19 that extends upward and downward from the radially inner end of the flange portion 18, and an annular seal wall 20 that extends upward from the flange portion 18 outside the inner cylindrical portion 19. The cylindrical portion 17, the inner cylindrical portion 19, and the seal wall 20 are arranged in a coaxial positional relationship.

[0014] On the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 17, an inner engaging portion 17a that engages with the outer engaging portion 2c of the mouth portion 2a is provided. The inner engaging portion 17a is a female screw portion. The cap body 11 is attached to the mouth portion 2a when the inner engaging portion 17a is screwed into the outer engaging portion 2c. In a state where the cap body 11 is attached to the mouth portion 2a, the lower surface of the flange portion 18 abuts on the upper end of the mouth portion 2a, and the lower portion of the inner cylindrical portion 19 fits into the inner periphery of the mouth portion 2a.

[0015] Also, a plurality of anti-tampering pieces 17b protruding radially inward are provided in the circumferential direction below the inner engaging portion 17a on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 17. The anti-tampering pieces 17b are located below the outer engaging portion 2c. When the cap body 11 is about to be removed illegally from the mouth portion 2a, the anti-tampering pieces 17b abut on the neck ring 22 provided below the outer engaging portion 2c of the mouth portion 2a from below to prevent the removal of the cap body 11.

[0016] At the upper end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 17, a C-ring-shaped anti-illegal band 21 extending in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 17 is provided. The anti-illegal band 21 includes a belt-shaped portion 21a along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 17, and a weakened portion 21b connecting the inner peripheral surface of the belt-shaped portion 21a and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 17. The weakened portion 21b is formed with a thin wall. Also, the anti-illegal band 21 includes a plurality of engaging grooves 21c provided in the circumferential direction so as to notch a part of the lower edge of the belt-shaped portion 21a upward.

[0017] The top wall portion 16 has a central portion 25 located at the center of the top wall portion 16 in a plan view, and an annular connecting portion 26 connecting the outer peripheral portion 25a of the central portion 25 and the inner peripheral portion 19a of the mounting portion 15. Here, the inner peripheral portion 19a of the mounting portion 15 is the inner peripheral portion at the upper end of the inner cylindrical portion 19 (FIG. 2). The top wall portion 16 includes a nozzle 27 provided in the connecting portion 26 and a second nozzle 28 provided in the central portion 25 as ejection ports for ejecting the contents.

[0018] At the central part of the central portion 25, a hole 25b penetrating the central portion 25 vertically and a cylindrical fitting portion 25c extending downward from the lower surface of the central portion 25 are provided. The pipe 14 is fixed to the central portion 25 by fitting the upper end portion thereof to the inner circumference of the cylindrical fitting portion 25c. The lower end of the pipe 14 opens at the lower part inside the container body 2. The upper end of the pipe 14 communicates with the space above the top wall portion 16 through the hole 25b.

[0019] In FIG. 2, the state where the opening / closing lid 12 is open is shown by a virtual line. In FIG. 3, the state where the opening / closing lid 12 is open is shown. The opening / closing lid 12 includes a circular upper wall portion 30 covering the cap body 11 from above and a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 31 extending downward from the peripheral edge portion of the upper wall portion 30. Further, the opening / closing lid 12 includes a plug portion 32a protruding from the lower surface of the upper wall portion 30 toward the nozzle 27 and a plug portion 32b protruding from the lower surface of the upper wall portion 30 toward the second nozzle 28. Further, the opening / closing lid 12 includes an annular lid-side seal wall 33 extending downward from the lower surface of the upper wall portion 30. When the opening / closing lid 12 is closed, the lid-side seal wall 33 fits into the inner peripheral surface of the seal wall 20 from above and seals the space inside the lid-side seal wall 33. Furthermore, the opening / closing lid 12 includes a plurality of engaging protrusions 34 protruding radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the lower end portion of the peripheral wall portion 31 in the circumferential direction.

[0020] The hinge portion 13 is provided at the rear surface portion of the cap 10 in a plan view and connects the lower end portion of the peripheral wall portion 31 of the opening / closing lid 12 and the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 17 of the cap body 11. At the front end portion of the cap 10, a lid engaging portion 31a (FIG. 2) that engages with the cap body 11 is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion 31.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the cap 10 viewed from above. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the cap 10 from which the anti-tampering band 21 has been removed. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, when the opening / closing lid 12 is in the closed state, the engaging protrusion 34 of the opening / closing lid 12 is engaged with the engaging groove 21c of the anti-tampering band 21 provided on the cap body 11. In this state, the opening operation of the opening / closing lid 12 is restricted by the engaging protrusion 34 and the engaging groove 21c. When the user first uses the pouring container 1, as shown at the upper part of FIG. 4, the user pulls the strip portion 21a radially outward to break the weakened portion 21b, and removes the anti-tampering band 21 from the cap 10 as shown in FIG. 5. Thereby, the restriction by the engaging protrusion 34 and the engaging groove 21c is released. In this state, when the front end portion of the opening / closing lid 12 is pushed upward, the engagement by the lid engaging portion 31a (FIG. 2) can be released, and the opening / closing lid 12 can be opened upward. When the anti-tampering band 21 has not been removed as shown in FIG. 1, the user can determine that the opening / closing lid 12 has not been opened illegally. Further, the anti-tampering band 21 and the engaging groove 21c also function as an anti-opening mechanism that suppresses the opening / closing lid 12 from being opened due to an increase in the internal pressure of the pouring container 1.

[0022] The top wall portion 16 of the cap 10 is formed to be displaceable in the vertical direction. In FIG. 2, the state where the top wall portion 16 is displaced to the uppermost position is shown. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the top wall portion 16 in the state of being displaced to the uppermost position as viewed from above. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the cap body 11 as viewed from above in the state where the top wall portion 16 is displaced to the lowermost position. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the VI-VI cross-section of FIG. 6 and the VII-VII cross-section of FIG. 7. Specifically, in FIG. 8, the VI-VI cross-section is shown on the left side of the axis 2d, and the VII-VII cross-section is shown on the right side of the axis 2d.

[0023] The central portion 25 of the top wall portion 16 is a plate-like portion that is substantially circular in plan view. More specifically, the central portion 25 is a regular polygon in plan view, and in the present embodiment, the central portion 25 is a regular dodecagon. The outer peripheral portion 25a of the central portion 25 is constituted by each piece of the outer periphery of this regular polygon.

[0024] A plurality of second nozzles 28 are provided around a hole 25b located on the axis 2d at the central portion 25. A plurality of second nozzles 28 (six in this embodiment) are provided at equal intervals on concentric circles centered on the axis 2d. The second nozzle 28 is a cylindrical portion that stands upright upward from the horizontal central portion 25 and opens upward. The second nozzle 28 extends upward in parallel with the axis 2d.

[0025] The connecting portion 26 of the top wall portion 16 is provided by connecting a plurality of plate portions 35 arranged in an annular shape side by side in the circumferential direction along the outer peripheral portion 25a of the central portion 25. The connecting portion 26 is formed by arranging a plurality of plate portions 35 of the same shape side by side in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, twelve plate portions 35 are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction and arranged in an annular shape. The plate portions 35 are provided so as to divide the connecting portion 26 into twelve equal parts in the circumferential direction.

[0026] The plate portion 35 is formed in a trapezoid shape that tapers toward the center of the central portion 25 in a plan view. The inner circumference of the plate portion 35, which is the upper base of the trapezoid, is shorter than the outer circumference of the plate portion 35, which is the lower base of the trapezoid. The side edges of the plate portion 35 corresponding to the pair of side edges of the trapezoid are linear and extend radially around the axis 2d.

[0027] The top wall portion 16 includes an inner hinge portion 36 that connects the outer peripheral portion 25a of the central portion 25 and the inner circumference of the plate portion 35, an outer hinge portion 37 that connects the outer circumference of the plate portion 35 and the inner peripheral portion 19a of the mounting portion 15, and a side edge hinge portion 38 that connects the side edges of adjacent plate portions 35 in the circumferential direction. To prevent complication of the drawings, in FIGS. 6 and 7, the reference numerals of the inner hinge portion 36, the outer hinge portion 37, and the side edge hinge portion 38 are shown only for one plate portion 35. The angle of the plate portion 35 changes when the inner hinge portion 36, the outer hinge portion 37, and the side edge hinge portion 38 are bent.

[0028] The inner hinge portion 36 is a groove portion provided on the upper surface of the top wall portion 16 along the inner circumference of the plate portion 35. The outer hinge portion 37 is a groove portion provided on the lower surface of the top wall portion 16 along the outer periphery of the plate portion 35. The side edge hinge portion 38 is a groove portion provided on the upper surface of the top wall portion 16 along the side edge of the plate portion 35.

[0029] The nozzle 27 is provided on the plate portion 35. One nozzle 27 is provided at the center in the width direction of each plate portion 35. That is, in the present embodiment, the nozzles 27 are provided at 12 locations. Each nozzle 27 is arranged on the plate portion 35 on a concentric circle centered on the axis 2d. The nozzle 27 is a cylindrical portion standing upright upward from the plate portion 35.

[0030] The cap 10 is integrally formed with a cap body 11, an opening / closing lid 12, and a hinge portion 13 by resin molding using a mold. In the resin molding using a mold, the cap 10 in a state where the opening / closing lid 12 is opened 180° with respect to the cap body 11 (the angle shown in FIG. 3) is formed.

[0031] As shown in the right portions of FIGS. 7 and 8, at the time of molding by the mold, the top wall portion 16 is in a state where the central portion 25 is displaced downward most (hereinafter referred to as the downward displacement state). In the downward displacement state, the central portion 25 is horizontal and is located below the outer hinge portion 37. Further, in the downward displacement state, the plate portion 35 is inclined so as to be higher from the inner hinge portion 36 toward the outer hinge portion 37. Furthermore, in the downward displacement state, the nozzle 27 extends upward in parallel with the axis 2d from the plate portion 35 and opens upward directly. Thus, since the nozzle 27 extends straight in the vertical direction at the time of molding by the mold, it is not necessary to arrange the mold parts for forming the nozzle 27 obliquely, and the structure of the mold can be simplified.

[0032] After molding the cap 10 by the mold, when the central portion 25 is pressed from below upward, the top wall portion 16 deforms into a state where the central portion 25 is displaced upward most (hereinafter referred to as the upward displacement state). Here, in the left portions of FIGS. 2, 3, 6, and 8, the upward displacement state is illustrated. In the upward displacement state, the central portion 25 is horizontal and located above the outer hinge portion 37, and the second nozzle 28 points straight up. Also, in the upward displacement state, the plate portion 35 is inclined so as to become lower from the inner hinge portion 36 toward the outer hinge portion 37. Furthermore, in the upward displacement state, all the nozzles 27 change their angles integrally with the plate portion 35 and point upward and radially outward. As shown in FIG. 8, the nozzles 27 are inclined outward by an angle θ with respect to the axis 2d. In this way, after the cap 10 is molded by the mold, by pressing the central portion 25 to deform the top wall portion 16, the obliquely directed nozzles 27 can be provided, so that the structure of the mold can be simplified.

[0033] The central portion 25 deforms from the downward displacement state to the upward displacement state by climbing over the position of the outer hinge portion 37 and turning upside down. To return from the upward displacement state to the downward displacement state, since a force is required to climb over the position of the outer hinge portion 37, it is possible to effectively suppress the return from the upward displacement state to the downward displacement state.

[0034] When ejecting the liquid, which is the content, from the dispensing container 1, with the opening / closing lid 12 open, the dispensing container 1 is tilted so that the nozzles 27 and the second nozzle 28 face downward. The liquid is ejected downward in a shower form from the second nozzle 28 and the obliquely directed nozzles 27. Therefore, the liquid can be ejected over a wide range. With the ejection of the liquid from the nozzles 27 and the second nozzle 28, outside air is introduced into the container body 2 through the holes 25b and the pipe 14. Thereby, the decompression state in the container body 2 accompanying the ejection of the liquid is alleviated, and the liquid can be ejected smoothly. In the state where the opening / closing lid 12 is closed as shown in FIG. 2, the nozzles 27 are blocked by the plug portion 32a, and the second nozzle 28 is blocked by the plug portion 32b.

[0035] As described above, according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied, the cap 10 includes a cylindrical mounting portion 15 mounted on the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2 for storing the contents, and a top wall portion 16 closing the upper surface of the mouth portion 2a. The central portion 25 of the top wall portion 16 is displaceable in the vertical direction, and the top wall portion 16 has a nozzle 27 opening upward in a downwardly displaced state. The nozzle 27 is directed upward and radially outward due to the angular change of the top wall portion 16 accompanying the upward displacement of the central portion 25. According to this configuration, when the central portion 25 is displaced upward, the nozzle 27, which was opening upward in a downwardly displaced state, changes its direction due to the angular change of the top wall portion 16 and is directed upward and radially outward. Therefore, the nozzle 27 that is obliquely directed can be easily provided in the cap 10.

[0036] Further, the top wall portion 16 has an annular connecting portion 26 connecting the outer peripheral portion 25a of the central portion 25 and the inner peripheral portion 19a of the mounting portion 15. The connecting portion 26 is provided by connecting a plurality of plate portions 35 arranged annularly side by side in the circumferential direction to each other in the circumferential direction, and the nozzle 27 is provided on the plate portion 35. The top wall portion 16 includes an inner hinge portion 36 connecting the outer peripheral portion 25a and the inner periphery of the plate portion 35, an outer hinge portion 37 connecting the outer periphery of the plate portion 35 and the inner peripheral portion 19a, and a side edge hinge portion 38 connecting adjacent plate portions 35 to each other in the circumferential direction. The angle of the plate portion 35 changes when the inner hinge portion 36, the outer hinge portion 37, and the side edge hinge portion 38 are bent. According to this configuration, as the central portion 25 is displaced upward, the angles of the plurality of plate portions 35 arranged annularly on the outer peripheral side of the central portion 25 change, so that the nozzle 27 provided on the plate portion 35 is directed upward and radially outward. Therefore, the nozzle 27 can be obliquely directed with a simple structure in which the plate portions 35 are arranged annularly. Further, since the angle of the plate portion 35 changes when the inner hinge portion 36, the outer hinge portion 37, and the side edge hinge portion 38 are bent, the angle of the plate portion 35 can be appropriately changed in accordance with the displacement of the central portion 25.

[0037] Further, in the state where the central portion 25 is displaced downward most, the central portion 25 is located below the outer hinge portion 37, and in the state where the central portion 25 is displaced upward most, the central portion 25 is located above the outer hinge portion 37. According to this configuration, the central portion 25 reverses from the state where it is displaced downward most to the state where it is displaced upward most so as to overcome the position of the outer hinge portion 37. For this reason, it is possible to effectively suppress the central portion 25 displaced upward from returning to the state where it is displaced downward, and it is easy to maintain the state where the nozzle 27 is directed obliquely.

[0038] Furthermore, a second nozzle 28 that opens upward is provided in the central portion 25. According to this configuration, in addition to the nozzle 27 that is directed obliquely, the content can also be ejected from the second nozzle located in the central portion 25, and a large ejection amount can be accommodated.

[0039] As described above, one embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to such a specific embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims unless otherwise particularly limited in the above description. For example, the configuration of the above-described embodiment can be appropriately added or deleted, and the configuration of one embodiment can also be provided in another embodiment. Also, the effects in the above embodiments are merely examples of the effects resulting from the present invention, and it does not mean that the effects of the present invention are limited to the above effects. In the above embodiment, the top wall portion 16 has been described as having a plate-like central portion 25 and a plurality of plate portions 35 arranged around the central portion 25. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the top wall portion 16 may be formed in a dome shape that is convex upward and has an overall curved surface shape in the upward displacement state, and the central portion of this dome shape may be used as the central portion to be pressed, and the nozzle 27 may be formed around this central portion. In this case, the nozzle 27 provided on the above dome shape is provided so as to open directly upward in the downward displacement state, and when it is in the upward displacement state, it is directed upward and radially outward. In addition, when the container body 2 is a bag-shaped (pouch) that can be easily deformed, the contents can be ejected by compressing the bag-shaped container body, so the hole 25b and the pipe 14 do not have to be provided.

Explanation of Signs

[0040] 2: Container body 2a: Mouth part 10: Cap 15: Mounting part 16: Top wall part 19a: Inner peripheral part 25: Central part 25a: Outer peripheral part 26: Connection part 27: Nozzle 28: Second nozzle 35: Plate part 36: Inner hinge part 37: Outer hinge part 38: Side edge hinge part

Claims

1. A cap comprising a cylindrical mounting portion mounted on the mouth portion of a container body for storing contents, and a top wall portion closing the upper surface of the mouth portion, wherein the central portion of the top wall portion is displaceable in the vertical direction, the top wall portion has a nozzle that opens upward in a state of being displaced downward, and the nozzle is a cap that is directed upward and radially outward by an angular change of the top wall portion accompanying upward displacement of the central portion.

2. The top wall portion has an annular connecting portion connecting the outer peripheral portion of the central portion and the inner peripheral portion of the mounting portion, the connecting portion is provided by connecting a plurality of plate portions arranged annularly side by side in the circumferential direction to each other in the circumferential direction, the nozzle is provided on the plate portion, the top wall portion includes an inner hinge portion connecting the outer peripheral portion and the inner circumference of the plate portion, an outer hinge portion connecting the outer circumference of the plate portion and the inner peripheral portion, and a side edge hinge portion connecting adjacent plate portions in the circumferential direction, and the plate portion is the cap according to Claim 1, wherein the angle changes when the inner hinge portion, the outer hinge portion, and the side edge hinge portion are bent.

3. The cap according to Claim 2, wherein the central portion is located below the outer hinge portion in a state where the central portion is displaced most downward, and is located above the outer hinge portion in a state where the central portion is displaced most upward.

4. The cap according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein a second nozzle opening upward is provided in the central portion.

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