Beverage container and packing

Abstract

To provide a highly convenient beverage container having a wide opening in which, when an inner pressure of a container body exceeds a predetermined pressure, the pressure is automatically released to control the inner pressure within a predetermined range.SOLUTION: A beverage container comprises a container body having an opening and a lid unit attached to the opening of the container body. The lid unit includes: a lid body detachably attached to the container body; and a packing provided between the lid body and an edge part of the container body constituting the opening. The packing includes, in a state where the lid unit is attached to the opening: a first portion brought into contact with the edge part over the whole circumference of the edge part; a second portion interposed between one region of the first portion in a circumferential direction and the lid body; and a third portion provided between the lid body and the other region other than the one region of the first portion in the circumferential direction. When an inner pressure of the container body exceeds a pre-set pressure, the other region of the first portion is deformed to the third portion side, to constitute a gap with the edge part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage container comprising a container body and a lid unit. [Background technology]

[0002] A beverage container includes a cylindrical container made of, for example, stainless steel, and a lid that is detachably attached to the opening of the container. Beverage containers can hold water, tea, juice, and sometimes carbonated drinks. In tightly sealed beverage containers, the internal pressure of the container can increase, pressing against the lid and making it difficult to remove. Furthermore, when the lid is removed, the internal pressure can be suddenly released from the opening, potentially causing a loud noise or the beverage to spray out.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a lidded container that allows the lid to be easily and safely removed. The lidded container includes an outer lid that covers an opening, an inner lid that fits inside the container body from the opening, a sealing member that seals the gap between the container body and the inner lid when attached to the outer periphery of the inner lid, an inner plug that is located in the center of the inside of the outer lid and fits inside the inner lid, and a plug that is located in the center of the bottom of the inner plug and closes an air vent provided in the center of the inner lid.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a liquid container having a pressure adjustment port, a pressure relief passage, and a pressure adjustment valve provided in a plug. In this liquid container, the pressure adjustment valve closes the pressure adjustment port when the internal pressure in the container body is normal pressure, and opens the valve when the internal pressure is high pressure. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-186014 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-038360 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Even when a beverage container is provided with a valve mechanism for releasing the internal pressure of the container, it is necessary to ensure that the container is sufficiently airtight. On the other hand, a beverage container with a wider opening is more convenient (easy to store and pour the beverage, and easy to drink), and a simplified structure is also required for easier maintenance (cleaning, etc.).

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a beverage container that is highly convenient, has a wide opening, and can automatically release pressure when the internal pressure of the container body exceeds a predetermined pressure, thereby controlling the internal pressure within a certain range. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a beverage container comprising a container body having an opening at the top and a lid unit attached to the opening of the container body, wherein the lid unit has a lid body that can be attached and detached to the container body, and a gasket that is arranged between the lid body and the edge of the container body that forms the opening, wherein the gasket has a first portion that contacts the edge of the opening around the entire circumference when the lid unit is attached to the opening, a second portion that is interposed between a circumferential region of the first portion and the lid body when the lid unit is attached to the opening, and a third portion that is arranged between another region of the first portion other than the one circumferential region of the first portion and the lid body when the lid unit is attached to the opening, and wherein when the internal pressure of the container body exceeds a predetermined pressure when the lid unit is attached to the opening, the other region of the first portion deforms toward the third portion, forming a gap between the edge and the gasket.

[0009] With this configuration, when the lid unit is attached to the opening and the internal pressure of the container body exceeds a predetermined pressure, the other area of the first part deforms toward the third part, creating a gap between it and the edge, thereby suppressing an increase in the internal pressure of the container body.

[0010] In the beverage container, the third section may have a gap between the other region of the first section and the lid, so that when the internal pressure of the container exceeds a predetermined pressure, the other region of the first section is more likely to deform toward the gap in the third section.

[0011] In the beverage container, the third portion may be made of a material that is less rigid than the second portion, thereby making it easier for the material of the third portion to set the internal pressure of the container body that causes deformation of other areas of the first portion.

[0012] In the beverage container, the other region of the first part may be adjacent to a space provided between the lid and the container body, so that when the internal pressure of the container body exceeds a predetermined pressure and the other region of the first part is deformed, gas inside the container body can escape from the deformed part into the space provided between the lid and the container body.

[0013] In the beverage container, the third portion may be provided at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction. The predetermined pressure for releasing the internal pressure of the container body can be adjusted by adjusting the number of third portions provided.

[0014] In the beverage container, a groove may be provided on the opening side of the packing, inside the portion of the first part that abuts against the edge. By providing this groove, the thickness of the groove portion is thinner than the thickness of the portion of the first part that abuts against the edge, making it easier to deform toward the third part.

[0015] In the beverage container, the lid unit is preferably attached to the opening of the container body by screwing, and the screwed state between the lid unit and the container body is preferably maintained until the lid unit is loosened to create a gap between the first part and the rim. This prevents the lid unit from coming off the container body when the lid unit is loosened until gas is released from inside the container body, preventing the lid unit from suddenly coming off due to internal pressure.

[0016] In the beverage container, the lid unit is attached to the opening of the container body by screwing, and a restricting means may be provided to restrict the tightening depth of the lid unit after the packing abuts the edge. This allows the first part to deform toward the third part due to an increase in internal pressure of the container body even when the lid unit is fully tightened. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a beverage container that is highly convenient, has a wide opening, and can automatically release pressure when the internal pressure of the container body exceeds a predetermined pressure, thereby controlling the internal pressure within a certain range. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a beverage container according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a beverage container. [Figure 3] 10(a) and 10(b) are perspective views illustrating an example of a packing provided in the lid unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view (partial cross-sectional view) of part A in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 3 is an enlarged view (partial cross-sectional view) illustrating a state in which the packing is deformed at part A in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a passage of internal gas to the outside. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description of components that have already been described will be omitted as appropriate.

[0020] (Configuration of beverage containers) FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a beverage container according to this embodiment. The beverage container 1 according to this embodiment includes a container body 10 and a lid unit 20 attached to the container body 10. The container body 10 has a cylindrical container body 11, which has a double structure (e.g., a vacuum insulation structure) made of, for example, stainless steel, a closed bottom 11b, and an opening 11h at the top. In this embodiment, the side of the container body 11 where the opening 11h is provided is referred to as the "upper," the side of the container body 11 facing the bottom 11b is referred to as the "lower," and the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction is referred to as the "radial direction." The container body 10 may also have a drinking spout (not shown) attached to the opening 11h of the container body 11.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of a beverage container. 3(a) and (b) are perspective views illustrating examples of packings provided in the lid unit. FIG. 3(a) shows a perspective view of the packing as seen from above, and FIG. 3(b) shows a perspective view of the packing as seen from below.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the lid unit 20 is detachably attached to the container body 10 by screwing. The container body 10 has an upper cylinder portion 12 extending above the container body 11. The upper cylinder portion 12 is a cylindrical portion located above the opening 11h of the container body 11 and communicates with the opening 11h. In other words, the opening 11h essentially includes the cylindrical interior of the upper cylinder portion 12. A female thread portion 11a is provided on the inside of the upper cylinder portion 12. Meanwhile, the lid unit 20 is provided with a male thread portion 21a, and the male thread portion 21a and the female thread portion 11a are screwed together, allowing the lid unit 20 to be detachably attached to the opening 11h of the container body 10 (container body 11).

[0023] (Lid unit configuration) As shown in Figure 2, the lid unit 20 has a lid body 21 that fits into the opening 11h of the container body 11, and a gasket 22 that is provided between the lid body 21 and the edge 11d of the container body 11 that defines the opening 11h. The lid unit 20 may also have an exterior cover 23 that covers the outside of the lid body 21. The exterior cover 23 is provided to cover the upper side and the outer periphery of the lid body 21. When the lid body 21 is fitted into the opening 11h, the exterior cover 23 covers the outside of the upper cylindrical portion of the container body 11, covers the screwed portion between the lid body 21 and the upper cylindrical portion of the container body 11, and forms part of the external appearance of the beverage container 1.

[0024] The lid body 21 has a cylindrical portion 211 extending in the vertical direction and a bottom portion 212 provided below the cylindrical portion. A male thread portion 21a is provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 211. When the lid body 21 is screwed into the opening 11h, the bottom portion 212 of the lid body 21 is positioned to close the opening 11h. With the lid unit 20 attached to the opening 11h, the packing 22 is sandwiched between the bottom portion 212 of the lid body 21 and the edge portion 11d of the container body 11, and serves to seal the gap between the bottom portion 212 and the edge portion 11d.

[0025] (Packing configuration) The packing 22 is fitted to the outer periphery of the bottom portion 212 of the lid body 21. For example, the packing 22 has an overall ring shape, and a groove 22a is provided on the inner periphery of the ring-shaped packing 22. The groove 22a provided on the inner periphery of the packing 22 is fitted into the protrusion 212a provided on the outer periphery of the bottom portion 212 of the lid body 21, thereby attaching the packing 22 to the outer periphery of the bottom portion 212 of the lid body 21. The overall shape of the packing 22 is not limited to a ring shape, and may be other shapes such as a dish shape (a cap shape that covers the bottom portion) or an O-ring shape. The packing 22 may be provided with a knob 225. When disassembling for cleaning or replacing the packing 22, the packing 22 fitted to the bottom portion 212 of the lid body 21 can be easily removed by pulling the knob 225.

[0026] The packing 22 has a first portion 221, a second portion 222, and a third portion 223. The first portion 221, the second portion 222, and the third portion 223 may be formed integrally with one another, or some of them may be provided separately. In this embodiment, the material of the packing 22 is, for example, silicone resin, and the first portion 221, the second portion 222, and the third portion 223 are formed integrally with one another.

[0027] When the lid unit 20 is attached to the opening 11h, the first portion 221 of the packing 22 is in contact with the edge portion 11d along the entire periphery of the edge portion 11d that constitutes the opening 11h. By attaching the lid unit 20 to the opening 11h, the gap between the lid body 21 and the edge portion 11d is sealed by the first portion 221 of the packing 22.

[0028] The second portion 222 of the packing 22 is a portion that is interposed between a circumferential region of the first portion 221 and the lid body 21 when the lid unit 20 is attached to the opening 11h. That is, the second portion 222 is provided in a partial circumferential region of the first portion 221 between the first portion 221 and the outer periphery of the bottom portion of the lid body 21. As shown in FIG. 3(a), in this embodiment, the second portion 222 is provided at two locations in the circumferential direction of an edge portion on the upper side of the first portion 221. Note that the second portion 222 may be provided at one location in the circumferential direction of the first portion 221, or at three or more locations.

[0029] The third part 223 of the gasket 22 is a part that is provided between the lid body 21 and an area other than the area in which the second part 222 is provided in the circumferential direction of the first part 221 when the lid unit 20 is attached to the opening 11h.

[0030] The third portion 223 may be configured to have a gap provided between the lid 21 and the other area of the first portion 221 where the third portion 223 is provided, or may be configured to have a material with lower rigidity than the second portion 222.

[0031] By providing the third portion 223, the rigidity of the first portion 221 in the circumferential direction of the packing 22 is lower in the region (other region) where the third portion 223 is provided than in the region (one region) where the second portion 222 is provided. As a result, the region (other region) of the first portion 221 where the third portion 223 is provided is more likely to deform than the region (one region) where the second portion 222 is provided. That is, for example, when the first portion 221 of the packing 22 is subjected to internal pressure from the container body 11 and this internal pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure, the other region of the first portion 221 deforms toward the third portion 223, and the airtightness between the first portion 221 and the edge portion 11d is broken. As a result, gas inside the container body 11 can be released to the outside, and the internal pressure of the container body 11 can be reduced.

[0032] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view (partial cross-sectional view) of part A in FIG. The first portion 221 of the packing 22 is interposed between the edge 11d of the container body 11 and the outer periphery of the bottom portion 212 of the lid body 21, sealing the gap therebetween. For example, the outer diameter of the bottom portion 212 of the lid body 21 is smaller than the inner diameter of the opening 11h of the container body 11 (the inner diameter of the edge 11d), and when the lid unit 20 is attached to the opening 11h, the first portion 221 of the packing 22 is interposed in the gap between the outer periphery of the bottom portion 212 and the edge 11d of the opening 11h, ensuring the sealing of the gap.

[0033] The outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 211 of the lid 21 is larger than the outer diameter of the bottom portion 212, and with the packing 22 attached to the outer periphery of the bottom portion 212, the outer diameter of the packing 22 is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 211. The edge 11d of the container body 11 is constricted inward more than the upper cylindrical portion 12, and this constriction forms a step. The packing 22 abuts against this step of the edge 11d to ensure the sealing of the opening 11h.

[0034] A second portion 222 and a third portion 223 are provided in the circumferential direction above the first portion 221 of the packing 22, i.e., between the first portion 221 and the reduced diameter portion 213 (the portion from the cylindrical portion 211 to the bottom portion 212) of the lid body 21. When the third portion 223 is a gap, the thickness of the packing 22 at the position of the third portion 223 is thinner than the thickness of the packing 22 at the position of the second portion 222.

[0035] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view (partial cross-sectional view) illustrating a state in which the packing is deformed at part A in FIG. If the internal pressure of the container body 11 increases with the lid unit 20 closed, such as when the container body 11 contains a carbonated beverage, and the internal pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure, the region of the first portion 221 where the third portion 223 is provided is pushed up and deformed. This deformation creates a gap between the first portion 221 and the edge 11d, breaking the airtight seal between them. Then, as shown by arrow R, gas inside the container body 11 escapes through this gap to the outside, thereby reducing the internal pressure of the container body 11.

[0036] The pressure at which the first portion 221 of the packing 22 deforms can be determined by the size and material of the third portion 223. If the third portion 223 has a gap, the pressure at which the first portion 221 deforms is set by the thickness and length (circumferential length) of the thin-walled portion of the packing 22 in the third portion 223. The third portion 223 may also be made of a material with lower rigidity than the material of the second portion 222. In this case, the pressure at which the first portion 221 deforms can be more easily set by the material of the third portion 223. The third portions 223 may be provided at multiple locations in the circumferential direction. If provided at multiple locations, they are preferably provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The predetermined pressure at which the internal pressure of the container body 11 is released can be adjusted by the number of third portions 223 provided.

[0037] The lower end 221a (the end portion in contact with the edge portion 11d) of the first portion 221 of the packing 22 may be formed as an R-curved surface or a tapered surface, so that when the first portion 221 is deformed, the gas in the container body 11 can smoothly flow along the lower end 221a which has an R-curved surface or a tapered surface.

[0038] Furthermore, the packing 22 may have a groove 224 extending in the circumferential direction in the first portion 221. The groove 224 is provided on the opening 11h side of the packing 22, inside the portion of the first portion 221 that abuts against the edge portion 11d. The groove 224 may be provided continuously in the circumferential direction, or may be provided intermittently in the circumferential direction. The groove 224 is preferably provided on the side opposite the third portion 223. By providing the groove 224, the thickness of the portion of the first portion 221 that abuts against the edge portion 11d (outer peripheral portion) becomes thinner than the thickness of the portion of the first portion 221 that abuts against the edge portion 11d, thereby facilitating deformation toward the third portion 223. Furthermore, since the groove 224 is in communication with the opening 11h, when the internal pressure of the container body 11 increases, the groove 224 is more likely to receive pressure from the internal gas, thereby stably controlling the deformation of the first portion 221.

[0039] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a passage of the internal gas to the outside. In the beverage container 1 according to this embodiment, another region of the first portion 221 (the region where the third portion 223 is provided) is adjacent to the space S provided between the lid body 21 and the upper tubular portion 12 of the container body 10. As a result, when the internal pressure of the container body 11 exceeds a predetermined pressure and the first portion 221 of the packing 22 is deformed, gas inside the container body 11 is discharged into the space S through a gap between the first portion 221 and the rim portion 11d. The space S is then released to the outside, for example, through a gap between the male thread portion 21a and the female thread portion 11a, and then through a gap between the upper tubular portion 12 of the container body 10 and the exterior cover 23 of the lid unit 20. A slit may be provided in a portion of at least one of the male thread portion 21a and the female thread portion 11a to facilitate gas escape.

[0040] The internal pressure decreases as gas escapes from inside the container body 11. This prevents the internal pressure from being suddenly released through the opening 11h when the lid unit 20 is removed from the container body 10, which would cause a loud noise or the beverage to gush out.

[0041] When the internal pressure of the container body 11 drops below a predetermined pressure, the first part 221 returns to its original shape due to its elasticity, the gap between the first part 221 and the edge 11d closes, and the container becomes airtight again.

[0042] Even if the internal pressure of the container body 11 increases, it may not exceed a predetermined pressure, resulting in deformation of the first portion 221 of the packing 22. If the lid unit 20 is loosened and removed from the container body 10 in this state, loosening the lid unit 20 creates a gap between the first portion 221 of the packing 22 and the edge portion 11d of the container body 11, allowing gas inside the container body 11 to escape to the outside. The length of the threaded engagement between the lid unit 20 and the container body 10 (the threaded engagement between the male thread portion 21a and the female thread portion 11a) is set so that the lid unit 20 and the container body 10 remain threadedly engaged until the lid unit 20 is loosened and a gap is created between the first portion 221 and the edge portion 11d. This prevents the lid unit 20 from coming off the container body 10 until the gas inside the container body 11 is released, preventing the lid unit 20 from suddenly coming off due to internal pressure.

[0043] Furthermore, when attaching the lid unit 20 to the container body 10, the way the packing 22 collapses after it abuts against the edge portion 11d depends on how tightly the lid unit 20 is tightened. A restricting mechanism may be provided to restrict the tightening depth of the lid unit 20 so that the first portion 221 does not come into contact with the lid body 21 (reduced diameter portion 213) at the third portion 223 even when the lid unit 20 is tightened. For example, the restricting mechanism may function by the exterior cover 23 of the lid unit 20 abutting against a shoulder portion of the container body 11, or a separate stopper mechanism may be provided. Furthermore, the restricting mechanism is not limited to a stopper mechanism and may be, for example, a mechanism that provides a clicking sensation when the lid unit 20 is tightened to an appropriate position. Examples of mechanisms that provide a clicking sensation include providing protrusions or the like at predetermined positions on the female thread portion 11a or the male thread portion 21a, or providing protrusions or the like that provide a clicking sensation when the lid unit 20 passes over the gap between the lid unit 20 and the container body 10. This allows room for the first portion 221 to deform toward the third portion 223 due to an increase in the internal pressure of the container body 10, even when the lid unit 20 is tightened to the maximum.

[0044] Furthermore, by using the packing 22 according to this embodiment, the internal pressure of the container body 10 at which deformation of the first portion 221 occurs (threshold for internal pressure reduction) can be adjusted depending on the tightening amount of the lid unit 20. For example, if the tightening amount of the lid unit 20 is large, the packing 22 abutting the edge portion 11d is crushed more, and the compressive stress applied to the first portion 221 increases. This increases the rigidity of the first portion 221, making it more difficult for the first portion 221 to deform toward the third portion 223, and the threshold for internal pressure reduction increases. On the other hand, if the tightening amount of the lid unit 20 is small, the compressive stress applied to the first portion 221 decreases, and the threshold for internal pressure reduction decreases.

[0045] This characteristic may be utilized to provide an adjustment mechanism that can adjust the amount of tightening of the lid unit 20 after the packing 22 abuts against the edge 11d, so that the threshold for the decrease in internal pressure can be adjusted according to the amount of tightening of the lid unit 20. For example, a clicking sensation may be given in multiple stages depending on the amount of tightening of the lid unit 20 after the packing 22 abuts against the edge 11d, so that the threshold for the decrease in internal pressure can be adjusted according to the number of clicking sensations obtained when the lid unit 20 is tightened.

[0046] As described above, according to this embodiment, when the internal pressure of the container body 10 exceeds a predetermined pressure, the pressure is automatically released to control the internal pressure within a certain range, and the opening 11h is wide, making it possible to provide a highly convenient beverage container 1. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a beverage container 1 equipped with a mechanism for suppressing an increase in internal pressure without increasing the number of parts compared to conventional beverage containers.

[0047] Although the present embodiment and its application examples have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these examples. For example, any embodiment or application example in which a person skilled in the art appropriately adds, deletes, or modifies components, or appropriately combines features of the above embodiments, is also included within the scope of the present invention as long as it includes the gist of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0048] The beverage container 1 according to the present invention can be suitably used as a container for various substances other than beverages, such as liquids, powders, solids, and creams. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 1...Beverage container 10...Container body 11...Container body 11a... Female thread 11b…Bottom 11d...Edge 11h…Aperture 12...Upper cylinder part 20...Lid unit 21...lid body 21a...Male thread 22...Gasket 22a…Concave portion 23...Exterior cover 211...Cylinder part 212…Bottom part 212a...Convex part 213...Reduced diameter part 221…Part 1 221a…lower end 222…Second part 223...Third part 224...Groove 225...knob part S…Space

Claims

1. A beverage container comprising a container body having an opening at an upper portion thereof and a lid unit attached to the opening of the container body, The lid unit is a lid body that is detachably attached to the container body; a packing provided between the lid and an edge of the container that defines the opening; and The packing is a first portion that contacts the edge portion over the entire periphery of the edge portion when the lid unit is attached to the opening; a second portion interposed between a circumferential region of the first portion and the lid body when the lid unit is attached to the opening; a third portion provided between the lid body and a region other than the one region in the circumferential direction of the first portion when the lid unit is attached to the opening; and A beverage container in which, when the lid unit is attached to the opening and the internal pressure of the container body exceeds a predetermined pressure, the other area of the first part deforms toward the third part, creating a gap between the lid unit and the edge.

2. The beverage container according to claim 1 , wherein the third portion has a gap between the other region of the first portion and the lid.

3. 10. The beverage container of claim 1, wherein the third portion comprises a material that is less rigid than the second portion.

4. The beverage container according to claim 1 , wherein the other region of the first portion is adjacent to a space defined between the lid and the container body.

5. The beverage container according to claim 1 , wherein the third portion is provided at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction.

6. The beverage container according to claim 1 , wherein a groove is provided on the opening side of the packing, inside a portion of the first portion that abuts against the edge.

7. The lid unit is attached to the opening of the container body by screwing, The beverage container according to claim 1 , wherein the lid unit and the container body are kept in a screwed state until the lid unit is loosened to create a gap between the first portion and the rim.

8. The lid unit is attached to the opening of the container body by screwing, 2. The beverage container according to claim 1, further comprising a restricting means for restricting the tightening depth of the lid unit after the packing abuts against the edge portion.

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