Cap

Abstract

To provide a cap capable of preventing a finger from accidentally coming into contact with a liquid draining-off part of a pour-out cylinder, when opening a plug by pushing up a flange by the finger.SOLUTION: A cap 1 comprises a body 4 attached to a container 2, and a freely opening / closing lid 6 connected to the body 4 via a hinge 5. The body 4 is provided with a pour-out cylinder 16 from which a content inside the container 2 is poured out. The pour-out cylinder 16 comprises a liquid draining-off part 26 folded downward by curving outward in a radial direction, at an opening end part 22. The lid 6 rotates around the hinge 5 as a center to freely open / close the opening end part 22 of the pour-out cylinder 16. A flange 45 protruding outward in a radial direction is provided at an outer-periphery of the lid 6. The flange 45 is located on an opposite side of the hinge 5 with respect to a shaft center of the flange 4 in a closed plug state; and a position of the liquid draining-off part 26 is set in such a manner that no finger 46 comes into contact with the liquid draining-off part 26, when rotating the lid 6 in the closed plug state in an opening direction 47 by hooking the finger 46 to the flange 45.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap having a main body attached to a container and an openable and closable lid connected to the main body via a hinge.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as this type of cap, as shown in the following patent document, there is one having a main body attached to a container and an openable and closable lid connected to the main body via a hinge. A pouring cylinder for pouring out the liquid (contents) in the container is provided in the main body. The pouring cylinder has a liquid cutoff portion that curves radially outward and turns downward at the opening end. The lid can open and close the opening end of the pouring cylinder by rotating around the hinge. A flange is provided on the outer periphery of the lid. The flange is located on the side opposite to the hinge around the axis of the main body. Also, a partition wall surrounded by a thin breaking portion is provided at the inner bottom of the pouring cylinder. An operation portion (pull ring) is provided on the partition wall. According to this, by pulling the operation portion to break the thin breaking portion, the partition wall is removed and a through hole is formed at the inner bottom of the pouring cylinder.

[0003] After that, when opening the cap from the closed state, the user presses, for example, the thumb against the flange and pushes up the flange with the thumb. As a result, the lid rotates in the opening direction around the hinge, and the tip opening of the pouring cylinder is opened.

[0004] After that, by tilting the container obliquely from the upright position, the liquid (contents) in the container is poured out from the tip opening of the pouring cylinder to the outside. After pouring, by returning the container to the upright position, the liquid is guided to the liquid cutoff portion and returns to the inside of the tip opening of the pouring cylinder, so that the liquid cutoff property is improved.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, in the above conventional form, when the user presses the thumb against the flange and pushes up the flange to open the cap, during the process of opening the cap, the thumb may accidentally come into contact with the liquid drainage part of the pouring tube. When the thumb comes into contact with the liquid drainage part in this way, as shown in FIG. 9, the liquid 102 (contents, see phantom line) remaining on the surface (outer peripheral surface) of the liquid drainage part 101 or the liquid (contents) adhering to the thumb may flow into the back side (inner peripheral side) of the liquid drainage part 101. In this case, then, when the liquid (contents) is poured out of the pouring tube 103 next time, the liquid (contents) poured out of the pouring tube 103 may run down along the outer peripheral surface of the pouring tube 103 following the liquid 102 (contents, see solid line) that flowed into the back side of the liquid drainage part 101 last time. When such dripping occurs, there is a problem that the liquid drainage performance deteriorates. An object of the present invention is to provide a cap that can prevent a finger from accidentally coming into contact with the liquid drainage part of the pouring tube when the flange is pushed up with a finger to open the cap.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To achieve the above object, the first invention is a cap having a main body attached to a container and an openable and closable lid connected to the main body via a hinge, a pouring tube for pouring out the liquid contents in the container is provided on the main body, the pouring tube has a liquid drainage part that curves radially outward and turns downward at the open end, the lid can open and close the open end of the pouring tube by rotating around the hinge, a flange protruding radially outward is provided on the outer periphery of the lid, the flange is located on the side opposite to the hinge with respect to the axis of the main body in the closed state, when a finger is hooked on the flange and the closed lid is rotated in the opening direction, the position of the liquid drainage part is set so that the finger does not come into contact with the liquid drainage part.

[0008] According to this, when opening the cap from the closed state, the user presses, for example, the thumb against the flange and pushes up the flange with the thumb. As a result, the lid rotates in the opening direction about the hinge, and the tip opening of the pouring cylinder is opened.

[0009] At this time, since the liquid cutoff portion of the pouring cylinder is set at a position where the finger does not come into contact, it is possible to prevent the thumb from accidentally contacting the liquid cutoff portion of the pouring cylinder during the opening of the cap.

[0010] The cap in the second invention has a lid having a lid plate and a cylindrical skirt provided at the outer peripheral edge of the lid plate. The flange is provided on the outer periphery of the skirt. A first reference locus is set to pass closer to the inner hinge with a first distance of 2.5 mm from the movement locus of the root portion of the flange when the lid rotates in the opening and closing direction about the hinge. The position of the liquid cutoff portion of the pouring cylinder is set within the region closer to the inner hinge than the first reference locus.

[0011] According to this, since the liquid cutoff portion of the pouring cylinder is located within the region closer to the inner hinge than the first reference locus, it is possible to prevent the thumb from accidentally contacting the liquid cutoff portion of the pouring cylinder during the opening of the cap.

[0012] In the cap of the third invention, a second reference locus is set to pass closer to the inner hinge with a second distance of 4 mm from the movement locus of the root portion of the flange when the lid rotates in the opening and closing direction about the hinge. The position of the liquid cutoff portion of the pouring cylinder is set within the region between the first reference locus and the second reference locus.

[0013] According to this, since the liquid cutoff portion of the pouring cylinder is located within the region between the first reference locus and the second reference locus, it is possible to prevent the thumb from accidentally contacting the liquid cutoff portion of the pouring cylinder during the opening of the cap. The cap in the fourth invention has a pouring cylinder having a cylindrical main body provided on the main body. The drainer portion has a folded piece that curves radially outward from the upper end of the cylindrical body and then folds back downward. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] As described above, according to the present invention, when the flange is pushed up with a finger to open the cap, the finger can be prevented from accidentally coming into contact with the drainer portion of the dispensing cylinder. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (First embodiment)

[0017] In the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, 1 is a cap having a main body 4 attached to the mouth portion 3 of a container 2 (such as a plastic bottle, etc.), and an openable and closable lid 6 connected to the main body 4 via a hinge 5. In FIG. 4, the main body 3 is directly attached to the mouth portion 3 of the container 2, but it may also be configured to be indirectly attached to the mouth portion 3 via an inner stopper or the like.

[0018] Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 7, the container 2 has a shoulder portion 2a formed at the upper part, and a mouth portion 3 provided so as to project upward from the shoulder portion 2a. The shoulder portion 2a has an outer diameter larger than that of the mouth portion 3.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, here, the direction of the axis 7 passing through the center of the main body 4 is defined as the vertical direction, the direction orthogonal to the axis 7 is defined as the radial direction 8, and the circumferential direction centered on the axis 7 is defined as the circumferential direction 9.

[0020] The main body 4 includes a top wall 10 disposed so as to face the tip surface of the mouth portion 3 of the container 2 from above, a cylindrical outer cylinder 11 extending downward from the outer peripheral edge of the top wall 10, a cylindrical inner cylinder 12 extending downward from the top wall 10 inside the outer cylinder 11, an annular locking member 13 extending upward from the top wall 10, a cylindrical pouring cylinder 16 for pouring out a liquid content 15 (such as edible oil, etc.) in the container 2, and a detachable partition wall 17 closing the inner bottom of the pouring cylinder 16.

[0021] A groove 19 that is closed at the top by the top wall 10 and open at the bottom is formed over the entire circumference between the outer cylinder 11 and the inner cylinder 12. By fitting the mouth portion 3 of the container 2 into the groove 19 from below, the main body 4 is attached to the container 2.

[0022] A recessed portion 20 that is recessed inward in the radial direction 8 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 11. The recessed portion 20 is formed in a predetermined range on the side far from the hinge 5 with respect to the axis 7.

[0023] A locking projection 21 that projects outward in the radial direction 8 is formed at the tip of the locking member 13. The dispensing tube 16 is formed inside the locking member 13 in the radial direction 8.

[0024] The dispensing tube 16 has a cylindrical tube body 25 provided on the top wall 10, and a drainer 26 provided at the upper end of the tube body 25. An inclined portion 24 that is inclined obliquely downward is formed at the open end 22 of the dispensing tube 16 in a predetermined range on the side closer to the hinge 5.

[0025] The drainer 26 is formed at the open end 22 except for the inclined portion 24, and has a folded piece 32 that curves outward in the radial direction 8 from the upper end of the cylindrical body 25 and then folded back downward. A gap 33 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the cylindrical body 25 and the inner peripheral surface of the folded piece 32. The folded piece 32 is approximately perpendicular to the top wall 10, and as shown in FIG. 3, it is desirable that its height H be set to 0.8 mm or more.

[0026] The partition wall 17 is surrounded by a breakable weakened portion 28 formed around its periphery. The thickness of the weakened portion 28 is set thinner than the thickness of the partition wall 17 and the thickness of the top wall 10. A support column 29 is erected on the partition wall 17, and a pull ring 30 is attached to the support column 29.

[0027] The lid 6 can freely open and close the open end 22 of the dispensing cylinder 16 by rotating around the hinge 5, and has a circular lid plate 35, a cylindrical skirt 36 provided on the outer periphery of the lid plate 35, and a cylindrical seal member 37 provided on the inside of the skirt 36. A rotation axis 40, which is the center of rotation of the lid 6, passes through the hinge 5.

[0028] A locking recess 38 that is recessed radially outward is formed on the inner periphery of the skirt 36. As shown in Figure 4, when the cap 1 is closed, the locking protrusion 21 fits into the locking recess 38 to prevent the lid 6 from opening accidentally.

[0029] The seal member 37 is provided on the back surface of the cover plate 35 and is inserted into the opening end portion 22 of the pouring cylinder 16 when the cap 1 is closed. In the state where the cap 1 is closed, the outer periphery at the tip (lower end portion) of the seal member 37 is in close contact with the inner periphery of the pouring cylinder 16 over the entire circumference. Thereby, the opening end portion 22 of the pouring cylinder 16 is closed by the lid 6.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, the tip of the seal member 37 is inclined with respect to the cover plate 35. The height 39 from the cover plate 35 to the tip of the seal member 37 increases as it gets closer to the hinge 5 and decreases as it gets farther from the hinge 5.

[0031] On the outer periphery of the skirt 36, a flange 45 that protrudes outward in the radial direction is provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the flange 45 is located on the side opposite to the hinge 5 with respect to the axis 7 in the closed state.

[0032] At the opening end portion of the skirt 36, a liquid splash prevention plate 42 is provided. The liquid splash prevention plate 42 is located inside the flange 45 in the radial direction and protrudes below the base portion 45a of the flange 45 as shown in FIG. 4 in the closed state. Note that the base portion 45a of the flange 45 is the portion where the flange 45 is connected to the outer periphery of the skirt 36.

[0033] In such a cap 1, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, when the lid 6 in the closed state is rotated in the opening direction 47 by hanging the thumb 46 on the flange 45, the position of the liquid cutoff portion 26 is set so that the thumb 46 does not contact the liquid cutoff portion 26.

[0034] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, a virtual first reference locus 51 that passes closer to the inner hinge 5 by a first distance D1 (see FIG. 3) of 2.5 mm from the movement locus 50 of the base portion 45a of the flange 45 when the lid 6 rotates in the opening and closing directions 47 and 48 around the rotation axis 40 of the hinge 5 is set.

[0035] Also, a virtual second reference locus 52 is set, which passes closer to the inner hinge 5 at a second distance D2 (see FIG. 3) of 4 mm from the movement locus 50. The position of the drainer 26 of the pouring cylinder 16 is set within an area 53 between the first reference locus 51 and the second reference locus 52.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, after opening the lid 6 and separating and removing the partition 17 from the main body 4, the container 2 is tilted so that the hinge 5 faces upward, and at the point when the liquid level of the contents 15 in the container 2 reaches the opening end 22 of the dispensing tube 16 (i.e., the point just before the contents 15 begin to be dispensed), the outer tube 11 of the cap 1, the locking member 13 and the shoulder 2a of the container 2 do not intersect with an imaginary vertical line 55 passing through the liquid draining portion 26 of the dispensing tube 16, but remain at a position away from the vertical line 55. The operation of the above configuration will be described below.

[0037] When using the contents 15 in the unopened container 2, the lid 6 is opened and the pull ring 30 is pulled to break the weakened portion 28. This separates the partition 17 from the main body 4, and an opening 57 (see Figure 4) is formed at the inner bottom of the dispensing tube 16.

[0038] 7, by tilting the container 2 so that the hinge 5 faces upward, the contents 15 in the container 2 pass through the opening 57 and are poured out from the open end 22 of the pouring tube 16. At this time, the contents 15 flow along the surface of the drainer 26, resulting in good drainage.

[0039] When opening the cap 1 of the container 2 from the closed state after opening as described above, the user, for example, with the tip of the thumb 46 facing upward, presses the thumb 46 from below against the flange 45 and pushes up the flange 45 with the thumb 46, as shown in Figure 4. This causes the lid 6 to rotate in the opening direction 47 around the rotation axis 40 of the hinge 5, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and the open end 22 of the dispensing tube 16 is released.

[0040] At this time, the thumb 46 does not enter the region 53 beyond the first reference locus 51, but moves outside the first reference locus 51. On the other hand, since the position of the liquid cutoff portion 26 is set within the region 53 between the first reference locus 51 and the second reference locus 52, it is possible to prevent the thumb 46 from accidentally coming into contact with the liquid cutoff portion 26 during the opening of the stopper.

[0041] Further, since the liquid cutoff portion 26 is located on the outer side opposite to the hinge 5 with respect to the second reference locus 52, as shown in FIG. 7, when the container 2 is tilted and the contents 15 in the container 2 are poured out from the opening end portion 22 of the spout cylinder 16, the outer cylinder 11 of the cap 1, the locking member 13, and the shoulder portion 2a of the container 2 stay at positions away from the virtual vertical line 55 passing through the liquid cutoff portion 26 of the spout cylinder 16. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the contents 15 poured out from the opening end portion 22 of the spout cylinder 16 from falling on at least any one of the outer cylinder 11 of the cap 1, the locking member 13, and the shoulder portion 2a of the container 2.

[0042] If, by chance, the liquid cutoff portion 26 is located closer to the hinge 5 inside the second reference locus 52, when the container 2 is tilted and the contents 15 in the container 2 are poured out from the opening end portion 22 of the spout cylinder 16, at least any one of the outer cylinder 11 of the cap 1, the locking member 13, and the shoulder portion 2a of the container 2 may intersect the virtual vertical line 55 passing through the liquid cutoff portion 26 of the spout cylinder 16. When at least any one of the outer cylinder 11 of the cap 1, the locking member 13, and the shoulder portion 2a of the container 2 intersects the vertical line 55 in this way, there is a possibility that the contents 15 poured out from the opening end portion 22 of the spout cylinder 16 may fall on at least any one of the outer cylinder 11 of the cap 1, the locking member 13, and the shoulder portion 2a of the container 2.

[0043] In the above embodiment, with the tip of the thumb 46 facing upward, the thumb 46 is hooked on the flange 45 to open the lid 6. As a second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, with the thumb 46 facing sideways, the thumb 46 may be hooked on the flange 45 to open the lid 6. Further, the lid 6 may be opened using a finger other than the thumb 46.

[0044] In each of the above embodiments, the second distance D2 (see FIG. 3) is set to 4 mm. However, the second distance D2 may be set in the range of 3.5 mm to 4 mm. If it is within this range, the same operational effects as those obtained when D2 is set to 4 mm can be achieved.

Explanation of Signs

[0045] 1 Cap 2 Container 4 Main Body 5 Hinge 6 Lid 7 Axis 15 Contents 16 Pouring Tube 22 Opening End 25 Tube Body 26 Liquid Cutoff Portion 32 Folded-back Piece 35 Cover Plate 36 Skirt 45 Flange 45a Base Portion of Flange 46 Thumb 47 Opening Direction 48 Closing Direction 50 Movement Locus 51 First Reference Locus 52 Second Reference Locus 53 Region D1 First Distance D2 Second Distance

Claims

1. A cap having a main body attached to a container and an openable and closable lid connected to the main body via a hinge, wherein the main body is provided with a pouring cylinder for pouring out the liquid content in the container, the pouring cylinder has a liquid cutoff portion that curves radially outward and turns downward at the open end, the lid can open and close the open end of the pouring cylinder by rotating about the hinge, a flange protruding radially outward is provided on the outer periphery of the lid, the flange is located on the side opposite to the hinge with respect to the axis of the main body in the closed state, and the position of the liquid cutoff portion is set so that when a finger is placed on the flange and the lid in the closed state is rotated in the opening direction, the finger does not contact the liquid cutoff portion. A cap characterized by this.

2. The lid has a lid plate and a cylindrical skirt provided on the outer peripheral edge of the lid plate, the flange is provided on the outer periphery of the skirt, a first reference locus passing closer to the hinge inside by a first distance of 2.5 mm from the movement locus of the base portion of the flange when the lid rotates in the opening and closing direction about the hinge is set, The cap according to claim 1, wherein the position of the liquid cutoff portion of the pouring cylinder is set within a region closer to the hinge inside the first reference locus.

3. A second reference locus passing closer to the hinge inside by a second distance of 4 mm from the movement locus of the base portion of the flange when the lid rotates in the opening and closing direction about the hinge is set, The cap according to claim 2, wherein the position of the liquid cutoff portion of the pouring cylinder is set within the region between the first reference locus and the second reference locus.

4. The pouring cylinder has a cylinder main body provided on the main body, The cap according to claim 1, wherein the liquid cutoff portion has a folded piece that curves radially outward from the upper end of the cylinder main body and turns downward.

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