Screw cap, and container

Abstract

To provide a screw cap that is easy to open / close, and prevents raw material from being wasted.SOLUTION: A screw cap comprises: a cap body; an outer cylinder for surrounding an outer peripheral face of the cap body; and a plurality of ribs by which the outer cylinder and the cap body are connected, which are arranged to be spaced at intervals in a circumferential direction of the outer cylinder. The ribs extend from a position below an upper end of the outer cylinder to a flange, and thus a space part exclusive of the ribs is made to be present between the outer cylinder and the cap body in a radial direction, thereby being able to reduce raw material. Opening / closing is made to be easier than that of the cap body since there is the outer cylinder. In regard to a vertical direction, when the outer cylinder is divided into a first range of reaching the ribs from the upper end of the outer cylinder, and a second range of arranging the ribs, the first range is elastically deformable in the radial direction, and thus fingers are prevented from being hurt when grasping the outer cylinder, thereby feeling good.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a screw cap and a container including a screw cap. [Background technology]

[0002] A screw cap is basically configured with a female thread formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap body. The screw cap is attached to the mouth of the container body. A male thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth. If the outer diameter of the cap body is made significantly larger than the outer diameter of the mouth, the radial thickness of the cap body will become extremely thick. To avoid wasting material in the screw cap, it is desirable to design the outer diameter of the cap body to be somewhat larger than the outer diameter of the mouth. In other words, the outer diameter of the cap body is correlated with the outer diameter of the mouth. The outer diameter of the cap body is also correlated with the ease of opening and closing the screw cap. Therefore, if the outer diameter of the mouth is small, the outer diameter of the cap body will also be small, making it difficult to open and close the screw cap.

[0003] One example of a conventional screw cap that has been designed to be easy to open and close even when the outer diameter of the opening is small while eliminating waste of raw materials is one in which multiple ribs protrude from the outer surface of the cap body as if they were adjacent in the circumferential direction (Patent Document 1).

[0004] The wider the spacing between adjacent ribs in the circumferential direction (the fewer the number of ribs), the more raw materials can be reduced, but the more ribs there are, the closer the outer surface of the screw cap becomes to a cylindrical surface, and the better the feel when you pinch the screw cap with your fingers.

[0005] The ribs protrude radially outward from the outer periphery of the cap body. As the ribs protrude radially, the outer diameter of the screw cap increases, making it easier to open and close. Furthermore, when opening and closing the screw cap, the rotational force is transmitted from the fingers holding the screw cap to the ribs, so the circumferential thickness of the ribs is designed to withstand this rotational force. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-271922 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention was created in light of the above-mentioned circumstances, taking into account the screw cap disclosed in Patent Document 1, and its purpose is to provide a screw cap that uses a different configuration from the screw cap of Patent Document 1, which is easy to open and close while minimizing waste of raw materials, and to provide a container that includes a screw cap. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The screw cap of the present invention comprises a screw cap body including a cap body, an outer tube, and multiple ribs. The cap body has a female thread formed on its inner circumferential surface and opens and closes the mouth of a container body. The outer tube surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the cap body. The multiple ribs are arranged at intervals around the circumferential direction of the cap body and join the outer tube and the cap body. The ribs extend downward from a position below the upper end of the outer tube. In the vertical direction, the outer tube is divided into a first range from the upper end of the outer tube to the ribs, and a second range in which the ribs are arranged. In addition, the screw cap of the present invention is characterized in that the first range of the outer tube is elastically deformable in the radial direction.

[0009] The screw cap body further includes a flange that extends along the outer periphery of the cap body and joins the cap body and the outer cylinder below the cap body relative to the rib.

[0010] The collar further includes a through hole.

[0011] The vertical dimension of the rib is shorter than the vertical dimension of the outer cylinder. Specifically, the vertical dimension of the rib, based on the lower end of the outer cylinder, is 1 / 3 to 5 / 6 of the vertical dimension of the outer cylinder.

[0012] The cap body comprises a cylindrical body as the part where the internal thread is formed, a closure plate as the part that closes the mouth portion, and an inner ring that protrudes downward from the closure plate and cooperates with the cylindrical body to radially clamp the mouth portion.

[0013] The cap body is provided with a contact ring that protrudes downward from the closure plate between the cylindrical body and the inner ring and is capable of contacting the end face of the mouth portion.

[0014] The screw cap may be configured to include, in addition to the screw cap body, a tamper-proof ring that is joined to the screw cap body and is located below the flange and that can engage with the opening portion and break during the first opening operation.

[0015] The container of the present invention comprises a screw cap and a container body. The container body comprises a spout as a drinking opening that can be opened and closed by rotating the screw cap, and a pouch as a bag attached to the spout. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] The screw cap of the present invention is easy to open and close while minimizing waste of raw materials. The container of the present invention also has the effects of a screw cap. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1A, 1B, and 1C are a front view, a plan view, and a bottom view showing a screw cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the ABC cross section of FIG. 1(B). [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the container of the first embodiment. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. [Figure 6] 1A and 1B are plan views showing the screw cap before and after elastic deformation. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified screw cap. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the container of the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] As shown in FIG. 8, a container 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a container body 2 with a spout 2a as a drinking opening, and a screw cap 3 that can be opened and closed by rotating it relative to the spout 2a.

[0019] In this specification, the line around which the screw cap 3 rotates is referred to as the "axis L." The direction in which the axis L extends is referred to as the "axial direction." In this embodiment, the "axial direction" is the up-down direction based on Figures 8, 2, and 3. The direction in which the screw cap 3 moves when closing the container body 2 is the "downward direction." The direction in which the screw cap 3 moves when opening the container body 2 is the "upward direction." As will be described later, the direction in which the spout 2a, as part of the container body 2, is sandwiched between the opening of the pouch 2s, also as part of the container body 2, is referred to as the "front-rear direction." A direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction is referred to as the "left-right direction." Note that the front-rear direction and the left-right direction are defined for convenience of explanation. Therefore, the front-rear direction and the left-right direction do not have to coincide with the front-rear direction and the left-right direction when the container body 2 is in use, and may be reversed. Furthermore, all directions perpendicular to the axis L when viewed from the top-bottom direction are referred to as the "diameter direction" or "radial direction." In the "diameter direction" or "radial direction," the direction toward the axis L is referred to as the "inner direction," and the opposite direction is referred to as the "outer direction." A member or part located in the inner direction may be expressed as being on the inside, and a member or part located in the outer direction may be expressed as being on the outside. For an object that is annular when viewed from the top-bottom direction, the direction going around it is referred to as the "circumferential direction."

[0020] (Container body and pouch) The container body 2 includes a pouch 2s and a spout 2a. In this embodiment, the pouch 2s is a bag. The pouch 2s includes at least two sheets of overlapping material in the front-to-back direction, and the edges of the two sheets are sealed. The two sheets of sheet material have flexibility that allows the contents to be pushed out when a user grips the pouch 2s. The two sheets of the pouch 2s overlap in the front-to-back direction when no contents are filled, and expand in the front-to-back direction when the contents are filled.

[0021] (Spout) The portions of the spout 2a are referred to as the mouth portion 10, the grip portion 20, and the attachment portion 30, from top to bottom. The grip portion 20 is the portion that the user grips with the fingers of the hand other than the hand holding the screw cap 3 when unscrewing the screw cap 3 from the container body 2. The attachment portion 30 is the portion for attaching the spout 2a to the pouch 2s. The spout 2a is, for example, an injection-molded product made of a synthetic resin. Examples of synthetic resins that can be used include, but are not limited to, polypropylene or polyethylene. So-called polyolefins are preferred because they are inexpensive and easy to process. The spout 2a is attached to an opening (not shown) formed at the upper end of the pouch 2s. The spout 2a includes a straw 2b and a member that protrudes radially from the straw 2b. The straw 2b has a cylindrical shape that extends vertically. A fluid passes through the interior of the straw 2b. The straw 2b includes a first passage 11, a second passage 21, and a third passage 31. The first passage 11, the second passage 21, and the third passage 31 form the central portion of the spout 2a. The first passage 11 is at the top of the straw 2b and forms part of the mouth portion 10. The second passage 21 is at the vertical center of the straw 2b and forms part of the grip portion 20. The third passage 31 is at the bottom of the straw 2b and forms part of the attachment portion 30.

[0022] (mouth) The mouth portion 10 includes a first passage 11, a male thread 12, and a first flange 13. The male thread 12 is a thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first passage 11. The first flange 13 is a flange that protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the first passage 11 below the male thread 12. In this embodiment, the first flange 13 is composed of two flange pieces 14 that are spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

[0023] (gripping part) The gripping portion 20 includes a second passage 21 and a gripping portion body 22. The gripping portion body 22 includes a plurality of flanges 23 that extend radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the second passage 21.

[0024] (grip body) When viewed from the top and bottom, the grip body 22 is point-symmetrical about the axis L. The grip body 22 is composed of a plurality of flanges 23 arranged at intervals in the top and bottom direction. In this embodiment, the grip body 22 is composed of three flanges 23. When distinguishing between the three flanges 23, they are referred to as the second flange 23, the third flange 23, and the fourth flange 23 from top to bottom.

[0025] The second to fourth flanges 23 each include a pair of overhanging portions 24. The pair of overhanging portions 24 overhangs radially outward from the first flange 13, symmetrically extending from left to right. As shown in FIG. 4 , the second to fourth flanges 23 are generally rectangular in shape, elongated in the left-right direction, when viewed from the top-bottom direction. The grip body 22 has two long sides 25 and two short sides 26. Specifically, the grip body 22 is an octagon with chamfered corners of an elongated rectangle when viewed from the top-bottom direction, and the two long sides 25 are longer than the other six sides. The two short sides 26 are edges of a pair of overhanging portions 24. The second flange 23, the third flange 23, and the fourth flange 23 are generally the same shape when viewed from the top-bottom direction. The third flange 23 and the fourth flange 23 overlap each other, with the third flange 23 hidden under the second flange 23.

[0026] (Mounting part) As shown in FIG. 8 , the mounting portion 30 includes a third passage 31 and a pair of vertical pieces 32. The pair of vertical pieces 32 protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the third passage 31 on both sides. The pair of vertical pieces 32 are symmetrical and protrude from below the fourth flange 23 of the grip body 22. When viewed from above, the pair of vertical pieces 32 overlap and are hidden under the fourth flange 23 of the grip body 22. The pair of vertical pieces 32 extend in a diametrical direction parallel to the two long sides 25 of the grip body 22 and toward the middle between the two short sides 26 of the grip body 22. The thickness of the pair of vertical pieces 32 parallel to the short sides 26 is sufficiently thinner than the inner diameter of the third passage 31. Specifically, the right vertical piece 32 extends rightward from the right side of the outer peripheral surface of the third passage 31, and its thickness in the front-to-rear direction becomes thinner as it extends rightward. The left vertical piece 32 extends leftward from the left side of the outer peripheral surface of the third passage 31, and its thickness in the front-rear direction becomes thinner as it extends leftward.

[0027] (Screw cap) The screw cap 3 basically comprises a screw cap body 3a and may further comprise a tamper-proof ring 8, which will be described later. The screw cap 3 is, for example, an injection-molded product made of a synthetic resin. Examples of synthetic resins that can be used include, but are not limited to, polypropylene and polyethylene. Polyolefins are preferred because they are inexpensive and easy to process.

[0028] (Screw cap body) 1, 2, and 5, the screw cap body 3a has the function of opening and closing the opening 10 by being held with fingers and rotated relative to the opening 10. The screw cap body 3a includes a cap body 4, an outer cylinder 5, and a rib 7, and may further include a flange 6 and a deformation prevention body V. (Cap body) The cap body 4 includes a cylindrical body 41, a closing plate 42, an inner ring 43, and a contact ring 44.

[0029] (Cylinder body and closing plate) The tube body 41 has a cylindrical shape and functions to cover the opening 10 from the outside in the radial direction. The lower end of the tube body 41 is an open end. The outer peripheral surface of the tube body 41 is a cylindrical surface. A female thread 45 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the tube body 41. The closure plate 42 has a disk shape and closes the upper end of the tube body 41.

[0030] (inner ring) The inner ring 43 is an annular body that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the closure plate 42. In other words, the inner ring 43 has a cylindrical shape. The inner ring 43 is located inside the tube main body 41. (contact ring) The contact ring 44 is an annular body that protrudes downward from the underside of the closure plate 42. The contact ring 44 is also sufficiently shorter in the vertical direction than the inner ring 43. The contact ring 44 is located outside the inner ring 43 and inside the cylindrical main body 41. In other words, from the outside to the inside in the radial direction, the cylindrical main body 41, the contact ring 44, and the inner ring 43 are located in this order, with a gap between them. In other words, both the inner ring 43 and the contact ring 44 are arranged concentrically with the cylindrical main body 41, centered on the axis L. 5, when the container 1 is closed, the inner ring 43 cooperates with the cylindrical body 41 to pinch the mouth portion 10 from the radial direction, and the contact ring 44 contacts the upper end of the mouth portion 10. Therefore, when the contents are filled into the container 1, the contents can be sealed.

[0031] (Outer cylinder) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer cylinder 5 comprises an outer cylinder main body 51 and a plurality of convex members 52. The outer cylinder 5 has a cylindrical shape centered on the axis L. The inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 5 is a cylindrical surface. The plurality of convex members 52 are arranged circumferentially on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder main body 51. That is, the presence of the plurality of convex members 52 makes the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 5 uneven in the circumferential direction. The convex members 52 improve the radial strength of the outer cylinder 5 and provide anti-slip functionality. The outer cylinder 5 is joined at its lower end to the outer edge of the flange 6. The outer cylinder 5 is also located radially outward of the cylinder main body 41. In other words, the outer cylinder 5 and the cylinder main body 41 form a concentric double cylinder centered on the axis L.

[0032] The outer cylinder 5 is divided in the vertical direction into a first region 5h1 extending from the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 to the rib 7, and a second region 5h2 in which the rib 7 is disposed. A ring-shaped first space S1 is formed between the first region 5h1 and the cap body 4 in the radial direction. Meanwhile, a plurality of second spaces S2 are formed between the second region 5h2 and the cap body 4 in the radial direction, the second space S2 being partitioned in the circumferential direction by the plurality of ribs 7. The vertical dimension 5h of the outer cylinder 5 does not include the portion joined to the flange 6.

[0033] The radial thickness of the convex member 52 is, for example, less than twice the thickness of the outer cylinder main body 51. Furthermore, the maximum outer diameter of the outer cylinder 5 and the maximum outer diameter of the tamper-proof ring 8 are substantially the same. That is, the outer cylinder 5 and the tamper-proof ring 8 appear to be located on the same cylindrical surface. The radial thickness (maximum value) of the outer cylinder 5 is thicker than the radial thickness (maximum value) of the tamper-proof ring 8. The radial thickness of the outer cylinder 5 is determined so that the outer cylinder 5 elastically deforms in the first range 5h1 and does not substantially elastically deform in the second range 5h2.

[0034] (tsuba) The flange 6 is an annular body when viewed from above, and its inner edge is joined to the lower end of the cap body 4. When viewed from above as shown in FIG. 1(B), the flange 6 extends circumferentially around the outer periphery of the lower end of the cap body 4. The flange 6 has a plurality of through holes 6a that penetrate in the up-down direction. The through holes 6a are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, one through hole 6a is formed between two circumferentially adjacent ribs 7. The through holes 6a are formed slightly apart in the radial direction from the inner and outer peripheries of the flange 6, respectively. The circumferential position of the through hole 6a is different from the circumferential midpoint between two circumferentially adjacent ribs 7.

[0035] (rib) The rib 7 is a thin plate-like member extending in the vertical and radial directions. In the radial direction, the rib 7 is joined to the tube main body 41 at its inner end and to the outer tube main body 51 at its outer end. The lower end of the rib 7 is joined to the upper surface of the flange 6. The rib 7 extends upward from the upper surface of the flange 6 to a degree that does not reach the upper end of the outer tube main body 51. In other words, it can be said that the rib extends downward from a position below the upper end of the outer tube 5. The vertical length of the rib 7 will be described later. In this embodiment, four ribs 7 are positioned at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the axis L. In other words, the four ribs 7 are positioned 90 degrees apart in the circumferential direction when viewed in the vertical direction. As shown in Fig. 2, the rib 7 extends vertically from a position a certain distance below the upper end 5P of the outer tube 5 until it reaches the flange 6. In other words, the vertical dimension 7h of the rib 7, based on the upper surface of the flange 6, is shorter than the vertical dimension 5h of the outer tube 5. Desirably, the vertical dimension 7h of the rib 7 is 1 / 3 or more and 9 / 10 or less of the vertical dimension 5h of the outer tube 5, preferably 1 / 3 or more and 1 / 2 or less, and more preferably 1 / 3 or more and 7 / 10 or less. When viewed from above, the rib 7, flange 6, and through-hole 6a are all visible. If the vertical dimension 7h of the rib 7 is less than 1 / 3, the support force of the rib 7 when gripping the outer tube 5 to open the container 1 (described below) will be reduced, resulting in excessive elastic deformation of the outer tube 5, and the feel of the fingers gripping the outer tube 5 will tend to be poor. If the vertical dimension 7h exceeds 9 / 10, the support force of the rib 7 will be increased, resulting in excessively small elastic deformation of the outer tube 5, which may impair ease of opening and closing. To achieve a balance between the feel of the fingers when opening the container 1 and ease of opening and closing, it is preferable that the vertical dimension 7h of the rib 7 be greater than 1 / 3 and less than 1 / 2. If the vertical dimension 7h of the rib 7 is greater than 1 / 3 and less than 7 / 10, this is even more preferable as it is also suitable for the cap holding force of the capper of the filling machine when filling the container 1 with contents.

[0036] (deformation prevention body) The deformation preventive body V protrudes downward from the underside of the flange 6. Specifically, the deformation preventive body V is formed at a position different from the position directly below the through hole 6a. The deformation preventive body V comprises an annular inner ring portion V1 located radially inward from the through hole 6a, and protrusions V2 protruding radially outward from the inner ring portion V1 at positions on both sides of the through hole 6a in the circumferential direction. Note that in FIG. 1(C), between two protrusions V2 adjacent in the circumferential direction, there is a portion where the through hole 6a is located and a portion where the underside of the flange 6 is exposed. In other words, in FIG. 1(C), two protrusions V2 are located between two circumferentially adjacent through holes 6a. The deformation prevention body V prevents the tamper-proof ring 8 from being pushed radially inward of the screw cap 3 even when another screw cap 3 or the like is pressed against the tamper-proof ring 8 or when a force directed radially inward from the outside is applied to the tamper-proof ring 8 for the purpose of some kind of tampering. Specifically, when a force is applied from the left side of the tamper-proof ring 8 in Fig. 2, the inner peripheral surface of the tamper-proof ring 8 comes into contact with the deformation prevention body V, thereby preventing the tamper-proof ring 8 from being deformed or displaced inward.

[0037] (tamper-proof ring) As described above, the screw cap 3 may be provided with a tamper-proof ring 8. The screw cap 3 in this embodiment is provided with the tamper-proof ring 8. The tamper-proof ring 8 is an annular body when viewed from below. In other words, the tamper-proof ring 8 is a thin band-like ring extending in the vertical and circumferential directions. The tamper-proof ring 8 is joined to the underside of the flange 6. Therefore, the tamper-proof ring 8 is positioned below the flange 6. The tamper-proof ring 8 is a so-called tamper-proof ring, which ensures that the container 1 is unopened. The tamper-proof ring 8 engages with the spout 2a during the initial opening operation, and a portion of it is breakable. The tamper-proof ring 8 includes a band body 81 and a joint portion 82. The distance between the lower end of the cap body 4 and the lower end 8P of the tamper-proof ring 8 is the vertical dimension 8h of the tamper-proof ring 8. The vertical dimension 8h of the tamper-proof ring 8 is shorter than the vertical dimension 7h of the rib 7.

[0038] (Obi body) The band body 81 circumferentially surrounds the spout 2a. As shown in FIG. 5, the band body 81 is disposed radially outwardly of the deformation prevention body V at a distance. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the band body 81 comprises a rigid portion 84 and a fragile portion 85 that are continuous in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the tamper-proof ring 8 comprises two rigid portions 84 that are disposed at a distance in the circumferential direction, and two fragile portions 85 that join the two rigid portions 84 in a breakable manner. The rigid portion 84 has an arc shape with an angle slightly smaller than 180 degrees when viewed from the top and bottom. The fragile portion 85 has a thinner radial thickness than the rigid portion 84 and a shorter vertical dimension than the rigid portion 84.

[0039] (joint part) The two joints 82 each join the rigid portion 84 of the band body 81 to the screw cap body 3a along a portion of the circumferential direction. One of the joints 82 is located near the rear of the right-side fragile portion 85, as shown in FIG. 1(C), and the other joint 82 is located near the front of the left-side fragile portion 85, which is not visible in FIG. 1. The joint 82 is located at one of the two circumferential ends of the rigid portion 84. A structure for breaking the fragile portion 85 is located on the other end side of the joint 82. As shown in FIG. 4, this one end side is the end side in the "close" direction in which the screw cap 3 is turned to close the container 1. The other end side of the joint 82 is the end side in the "open" direction in which the screw cap 3 is turned to open the container 1 for the first time, relative to the joint 82.

[0040] (Interlocking part) The structure that breaks the fragile portion 85 is an interlocking portion 9 that interlocks circumferentially on the inner peripheral surface of the rigid portion 84 and the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 10. The interlocking portion 9 includes internal teeth 91 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rigid portion 84 and external teeth 92 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 10 and interlocking circumferentially with the internal teeth 91. The rigid portion 84 includes an arc-shaped rigid portion main body 84a and the internal teeth 91 protruding radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the rigid portion main body 84a. The mouth portion 10 includes, at its lower end, external teeth 92 that extend radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the first passage 11. The external teeth 92 protrude upward from the upper surface of the second flange 23.

[0041] The external teeth 92 and the internal teeth 91 mesh with each other in the circumferential direction, and the external teeth 92 are arranged adjacent to the internal teeth 91 in one circumferential direction. The one direction is the direction in which the screw cap 3 is turned when the container 1 is opened for the first time.

[0042] In this embodiment, each of the two rigid portions 84 has two internal teeth 91 spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The two internal teeth 91 are positioned biased toward one of a pair of weak portions 85 adjacent to both ends of the rigid portion 84 in the circumferential direction. The two internal teeth 91 are distinguished by the fact that the one closer to the weak portion 85 is referred to as the first internal tooth 91a, and the other is referred to as the second internal tooth 91b. Incidentally, the joining portion 82 is arranged on the side of the other weak portion 85 in the circumferential direction of the rigid portion 84.

[0043] In this embodiment, the mouth portion 10 has four external teeth 92. More specifically, the mouth portion 10 has two external teeth 92 at positions corresponding to the two internal teeth 91 of the two rigid portions 84. When each of the two external teeth 92 is distinguished, the first external tooth 92a extends radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the first passage 11, and the second external tooth 92b extends from a position closer to the first passage 11 than the tip of the first external tooth 92 on the radially outer side toward the inner circumferential surface of the rigid portion 84. The first external tooth 92a meshes with the first internal tooth 91a, and the second external tooth 92b meshes with the second internal tooth 91b. When the screw cap 3 is turned during the initial opening operation, the first internal teeth 91a are pushed outward in the radial direction as they pass over the first external teeth 92a, and the second internal teeth 91b are pushed outward in the radial direction as they pass over the second external teeth 92b, causing the fragile portion 85 to break and maintaining the state in which the robust portion 84 is joined to the flange 6 at the joining portion 82.

[0044] (Vertical positional relationship) 2, the topmost position on the top surface of the closure plate 42 in the vertical direction is referred to as the apex position 42P. In this embodiment, the central portion of the top surface of the closure plate 42 is recessed downward. Therefore, the portion radially outward from the central portion (more specifically, the portion where the contact ring 44 is disposed) is the apex position 42P.

[0045] The vertical positional relationship between the apex position 42P, the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44, the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5, and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 is in the order shown, from top to bottom. That is, the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44 is located below the apex position 42P. The upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located below the contact ring 44. The lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 is located below the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5. Therefore, in the vertical direction, the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located between the apex position 42P and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43, and is located between the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44 and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43.

[0046] (effect) The screw cap 3 of this embodiment is easy to open and close. A more detailed description follows. The container 1 of the first embodiment described above is in a basic, unopened state, with the container body 2 filled with content and the screw cap 3 closed. When opening the container 1 for the first time, the operator applies force to the outer tube 5 to turn the screw cap 3. The initial opening operation breaks the tamper-proof ring 8, requiring a greater force than subsequent opening operations. For example, if force is applied to the screw cap 3 with the index finger, middle finger, and thumb during the initial opening operation, as shown in FIG. 6(A), the outer circumference of the outer tube 5 is formed with a contact area a1 where the index finger makes contact, a contact area a2 where the middle finger makes contact, and a contact area a3 where the thumb makes contact. When no force is applied to the three contact areas a1 to a3, the first area 5h1 is circular when viewed from above, and has an outer diameter d0.

[0047] When a force is applied to the three contact ranges a1 to a3, since the rib 7 does not extend in the first range 5h1 of the outer cylinder 5, when viewed from above, the shape of the first range 5h1 elastically deforms from a circular shape to a slightly elliptical shape as shown in FIG. 6(B). That is, at the upper end 5P of the first range 5h1, the outer diameter dimension of the minor axis of the ellipse is d1, and the outer diameter dimension of the major axis of the ellipse is d2. The outer diameter dimensions have the relationship of d1 < d0 < d2. Then, when viewed from above, the shape of the first range 5h1 becomes flatter compared to the case of a circular shape, so the outer cylinder 5 is easier to grip and the force is easier to apply. Also, even when the first range 5h1 elastically deforms, the radial thickness of the outer cylinder 5 and the vertical dimension of the first range 5h1 are set so that the rotational force is transmitted. On the other hand, since there is a rib 7 in the second range 5h2 of the outer cylinder 5, it hardly elastically deforms even when the above-mentioned force is applied, and a circular shape is maintained when viewed from above. And as described so far, since the screw cap 3 includes the outer cylinder 5 that is largely separated from the neck 45 outward in the radial direction, a large torque can be generated with a small force by the operator. Therefore, it becomes easier for the operator to open and close the screw cap 3. The outer diameter d0 of the outer cylinder 5 is, for example, 20 to 30 mm. The vertical dimension between the lower end of the screw cap body 3a and the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is, for example, 6, 10, 15, 20 mm. The dimension between the lower end 8P of the anti-tampering ring 8 and the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 in the vertical direction is, for example, 10, 15, 20, 25 mm.

[0048] Furthermore, with respect to the radial space between the outer cylinder 5 and the cap body 4 of the screw cap 3 in the first embodiment, there is an annular first space portion S1 in the first range 5h1, and a plurality of second space portions S2 partitioned in the circumferential direction by ribs 7 in the second range 5h2. Therefore, compared with a screw cap in which the space portions S1 and S2 are also filled with a synthetic resin, or a screw cap in which the rib 7 extends from the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 to the flange 6, the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment can reduce the raw materials. Also, compared with a screw cap without an outer cylinder 5, since the outer diameter of the portion that the operator grips is larger, the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment is easier to open and close.

[0049] Furthermore, compared to a screw cap in which the rib 7 extends from the upper end 5P of the outer tube 5 to the flange 6, the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment has a pleasant feel and does not hurt the fingers when the outer tube 5 is tightly gripped to open the container 1 due to elastic deformation in the first region 5h1. Furthermore, when the outer tube 5 is gripped to open the container 1, the gripping force in the second region 5h2 is transmitted from the outer tube 5 to the cap body 4 via the rib 7 and flange 6, making the screw cap 3 easier to open and close than, for example, a screw cap without the rib 7. Furthermore, when the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment is turned to open the container 1, a rotational force is transmitted not only from the second region 5h2 but also from the elastically deformed first region 5h1, and the first region 5h1 is flattened to make it easier to grip, resulting in a large rotational force that can open the container 1. In other words, the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment reduces the amount of raw materials used, is easy to open and close, and also has a pleasant feel.

[0050] The screw cap 3 of the first embodiment has a flange 6. The flange 6 stabilizes the flow of synthetic resin inside the mold during the manufacture of the screw cap 3, thereby enabling more stable production of the screw cap 3. In the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, the flange 6 has through-holes 6a between circumferentially adjacent ribs 7. This allows the force of pinching the outer tube 5 to be transmitted to the cap body 4 via the flange 6 and the ribs 7 rather than through-holes 6a, while still maintaining ease of opening and closing. Furthermore, the through-holes 6a function as drainage holes when the screw cap 3 is closed after filling the container body 2 with contents and then sterilized and washed with water or the like.

[0051] In the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, the vertical dimension 7h of the rib 7 is 1 / 3 to 5 / 6 of the vertical dimension 5h of the outer tube 5, based on the flange 6, thereby achieving further reduction in raw materials while also providing a good feel and ease of opening and closing.

[0052] In the unopened state, the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment has an improved airtight seal by radially sandwiching the opening 10 between the tube body 41 and the inner ring 43 and bringing the contact ring 44 into contact with the opening 10. Furthermore, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, the upper end 5P of the outer tube 5 is located between the top position 42P of the closure plate 42 and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 in the vertical direction, making it easy to visually confirm that the outer tube 5 is located radially outside the cap body 4, making it easy to understand how easy it is to open due to the size of its outer diameter, and making it easy to operate.

[0053] In the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located between the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44 and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 in the vertical direction. Therefore, compared to a screw cap in which the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located below the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 in the vertical direction, the range that can be gripped with fingers in the vertical direction is wider, making it easier to operate.

[0054] The screw cap 3 of the first embodiment includes the tamper-evident ring 8 when the container 1 is unopened, and therefore making the first region 5h1 elastically deformable in the radial direction is effective. When trying to turn the screw cap 3 during the initial opening operation, there is a possibility that not only the outer tube 5 but also the tamper-evident ring 8 may be pinched. Depending on the degree of pinching, this may hinder the tamper-evident ring 8 from breaking when the screw cap 3 is turned. Even if the fingertips come into contact with the tamper-evident ring 8 when the screw cap 3 is pinched, if the first region 5h1 is elastically deformed, it becomes difficult for the fingertips to come into contact with the tamper-evident ring 8 and the force of the fingertips is not easily transmitted to the tamper-evident ring 8, making it easier for the tamper-evident ring 8 to break during the initial opening operation.

[0055] More specifically, for example, when the outer tube 5 is pinched with the pads of the fingers with the fingertips facing downward and the direction in which the fingers extend is approximately parallel to the up-down direction, even if the fingertips also come into contact with the tamper-proof ring 8, the thumb and index finger will be elastically deformed in the first range 5h1, causing the fingertips to spread apart. Thus, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, force is less likely to be transmitted to the tamper-proof ring 8 than in a screw cap in which the rib 7 extends from the upper end 5P of the outer tube 5 to the flange 6, making the initial opening operation easier.

[0056] Furthermore, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, the vertical dimension 7h of the rib 7 is longer than the vertical dimension 8h of the anti-tamper ring 8. Therefore, compared to a screw cap in which the vertical dimension 7h of the rib 7 is equal to or less than the vertical dimension 8h of the anti-tamper ring 8, the force for turning the screw cap 3 is more easily transmitted from the rib 7 to the tube body 41, making the initial opening operation easier.

[0057] 7 shows a modified screw cap 3T of the present invention. The modified screw cap 3T differs from the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment in terms of its outer diameter. Specifically, the modified screw cap 3T has an outer diameter of the outer tube 5 that is larger than the outer diameter of the tamper-proof ring 8. Furthermore, when viewed from above, the outer tube 5 and the tamper-proof ring 8 are positioned in a positional relationship that includes a portion that overlaps in the vertical direction.

[0058] In the modified screw cap 3T, the outer periphery of the tamper-proof ring 8 is located radially inward relative to the outer periphery of the outer tube 5. Therefore, when the container 1 is unopened, for example, when the outer tube 5 is pinched with the fingertips pointing downward and the direction of the fingers is approximately parallel to the up-down direction, it is more difficult for the fingertips to come into contact with the tamper-proof ring 8 than in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, making it easier to open the container.

[0059] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the invention.

[0060] For example, in the above embodiment, the circumferential position of the through hole 6a is a position that is different from the circumferential midpoint between two circumferentially adjacent ribs 7 and is not point-symmetrical with respect to the axis L. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the through hole 6a may be a circumferential midpoint between two circumferentially adjacent ribs 7, or may be located close to one of the ribs 7. When the through hole 6a is located close to one of the ribs 7, the through hole 6a is formed in the flange 6 near three components: the cap body 4, the rib 7, and the outer tube 5. Therefore, even in a situation where a hole is formed in the flange 6, which could reduce the rigidity of the flange 6, the three components reinforce the flange 6, making it less likely to reduce its rigidity, which is preferable.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the through-hole 6a is formed in the flange 6, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the flange 6 does not necessarily have to have the through-hole 6a.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the vertical dimension of the rib 7 was set to 1 / 3 to 5 / 6 of the vertical dimension of the outer tube 5, but this is not limited to this in the present invention, and it is sufficient if the rib 7 is shorter than the vertical dimension of the outer tube 5.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the cap body 4 was configured to include a cylindrical body 41, a closure plate 42, an inner ring 43, and a contact ring 44, but the present invention is not limited to this and it is sufficient that the cap body 4 is configured to include at least the cylindrical body 41 and the closure plate 42. In the above embodiment, the top position 42P of the closure plate 42 was configured to be located above the upper end 5P of the outer tube 5, but this is not limited to this in the present invention, and the vertical positional relationship with the upper end 5P of the outer tube 5 does not matter.

[0064] In the above embodiment, the upper end 5P of the outer tube 5 is located between the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 and the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the vertical positional relationship between the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 and the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44 is not important. Furthermore, the upper ends of the multiple protruding members 52 arranged in a circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube body 51 are positioned slightly below the upper end 5P of the outer tube 5 in FIGS. 1 and 2 . However, they may be positioned at the same vertical position as the upper end 5P, or may be positioned lower than the upper end 5P by half the vertical length of the outer tube 5. When the upper ends of the protruding members 52 are positioned lower than the upper end 5P by half the vertical length of the outer tube 5, this, combined with the thickness of the multiple protruding members 52, makes the elastic deformation of the first range 5h1 of the outer tube 5 more favorable. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1 container 2 Container body 2a Spout 2b straw 2s pouch 10 Mouth 11 First Passage 12 Male screw 13 First flange 14 Flange piece 20 Gripping part 21 Second Passage 22 Grip body 23 flange 24 Overhang 25 Two sides, long side 26 Two sides, short side 30 Mounting part 31 Third Passage 32 Vertical strip 3. 3T screw cap 3a Screw cap body 4 Cap body 41 Cylinder body 42 Closure plate 42P Top position 43 Inner Ring 43P Bottom end of inner ring 44 Contact Ring 44P Bottom end of contact ring 45 female thread 5 outer cylinder 5h Vertical dimension of outer cylinder 5h1 First Range 5h2 Second Range 5P Upper end of outer cylinder 51 Outer cylinder body 52 Convex member 6 Tsuba 6a through hole 7. Ribs 7h Rib vertical dimension 7P Top of rib V Deformation prevention body V1 Inner ring V2 protrusion 8 Anti-tamper ring 8h Tamper-proof ring vertical dimension 8P Bottom end of anti-tamper ring 81 Obi body 82 Joint 84 Sturdy part 84a Robust body 85 Weakened part 9 Engagement 91,91a,91b Internal teeth 92,92a,92b external teeth a1, a2, a3 contact range d0,d1,d2 Outer diameter dimensions L axis S1 First space S2 Second space

Claims

1. The screw cap includes a cap body having an internal thread formed on its inner circumferential surface for opening and closing a mouth portion serving as an upper portion of the container body, an outer cylinder surrounding the outer circumferential surface of the cap body, and a plurality of ribs arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the cap body and joining the outer cylinder and the cap body together. The rib extends downward from a position lower than the upper end of the outer cylinder, The outer cylinder is divided into a first range from the upper end of the outer cylinder to the rib in the vertical direction, and a second range in which the rib is disposed, A screw cap, characterized in that the first region of the outer cylinder is elastically deformable in the radial direction.

2. 2. The screw cap according to claim 1, wherein the screw cap body further includes a flange extending along the outer periphery of the cap body and joining the cap body and the outer cylinder below the rib.

3. 3. The screw cap according to claim 2, wherein the flange has a through-hole extending vertically between adjacent ribs in the circumferential direction of the cap body.

4. 4. The screw cap according to claim 2, wherein the vertical dimension of the rib, based on the flange, is 1 / 3 to 5 / 6 of the vertical dimension of the outer cylinder.

5. The cap body includes a cylindrical body having a female thread formed on its inner peripheral surface, a closing plate that closes the upper end of the cylindrical body, and an inner ring that protrudes downward from the closing plate and cooperates with the cylindrical body to radially sandwich the opening portion, 5. The screw cap according to claim 4, wherein the upper end of the outer cylinder is located between the top of the closure plate and the lower end of the inner ring in the vertical direction.

6. The cap body includes a contact ring that protrudes downward from the closure plate between the cylindrical body and the inner ring and is capable of contacting the end surface of the opening portion, In the vertical direction, the lower end of the contact ring is located between the top position of the closure plate and the lower end of the inner ring; 6. The screw cap according to claim 5, wherein the upper end of the outer cylinder is located between the lower end of the contact ring and the lower end of the inner ring in the vertical direction.

7. In addition to the screw cap body, a tamper-proof ring is provided which is joined to the screw cap body, is disposed below the flange, and is capable of engaging with the opening portion and breaking during the first opening operation; 7. The screw cap according to claim 6, wherein the vertical dimension of the rib is longer than the vertical dimension of the tamper-proof ring.

8. A container comprising the screw cap according to claim 1 or 2 and a container body to which the screw cap is attached, The container body is characterized by having a spout as a drinking opening that can be opened and closed by rotating a screw cap, and a pouch as a bag that can be attached to the spout.

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