Cap and tube container

Abstract

To provide a cap which can easily take out the content of a tube container to the very last, while reducing the amount of a resin material to be used.SOLUTION: A cap is for a tube container and includes a side wall, an upper wall and a lid. The side wall includes an upper end and a lower end which is an end on the opposite side from the upper end in the first direction which is the height direction of the cap. The upper wall is continued to the upper end. The lid is arranged so as to be overlapped with the upper wall when viewed along the first direction. The lid is formed integrally with the upper wall in a hinge line, and can be opened by rotating around the hinge line. The hinge line extends along the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and is deviated from the central position of the upper wall in the third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. At a portion of the upper wall opposing to the lid, a through-hole is formed communicated with an internal space of the cap defined by the side wall and the upper wall. The inner wall surface of the upper wall is inclined in such a manner that the position in the first direction is separated from the lower end toward the through-hole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to caps and tube containers. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, International Publication No. 2022 / 171752 (Patent Document 1) describes a cap. The cap described in Patent Document 1 is made of a resin material. The cap described in Patent Document 1 has a side wall, an upper wall, and a lid. The cap described in Patent Document 1 is attached to the opening of a cylindrical container body to form a tube container.

[0003] The side wall is cylindrical and extends in the height direction (first direction) of the cap described in Patent Document 1, and has a lower end and an upper end opposite the lower end in the first direction. The upper wall is continuous with the upper end of the side wall. The lid is arranged to overlap the upper wall and is integrally formed with the upper wall via a hinge line. The lid can be opened by rotating it about the hinge line. The hinge line extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and is located at a position offset from the center of the upper wall in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. A through hole is formed in the portion of the upper wall facing the lid. The through hole is in communication with the internal space of the cap defined by the side wall and the upper wall. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2022 / 171752 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The cap described in Patent Document 1 has a hinge line that is offset from the center of the upper wall in the third direction, which reduces the overlapping area between the lid and the upper wall. As a result, the amount of resin material used to form the cap described in Patent Document 1 is reduced. However, the cap described in Patent Document 1 makes it difficult to completely empty the contents of the tube container.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems of the conventional art. More specifically, the present disclosure provides a cap that makes it easy to dispense the contents of a tube container while reducing the amount of resin material used. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The cap of the present disclosure is for a tube container and includes a side wall, a top wall, and a lid. The side wall has an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end in a first direction, which is the height direction of the cap. The top wall is continuous with the upper end. The lid is arranged so as to overlap with the top wall when viewed along the first direction. The lid is integrally formed with the top wall at a hinge line and can be opened by rotating it about the hinge line. The hinge line extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and is offset from the center position of the top wall in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. A through hole is formed in the portion of the top wall facing the lid, communicating with the internal space of the cap defined by the side wall and the top wall. The inner wall surface of the top wall is inclined so that its position in the first direction moves away from the lower end as it approaches the through hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The cap of the present disclosure makes it easier to dispense the contents of a tube container while reducing the amount of resin material used. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cap 100. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap 100 taken along line II-II in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a tube container 200 using the cap 100. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a cap 100 according to a modified example. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cap 100A. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the cap 100A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The details of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will not be repeated.

[0011] (First embodiment) The cap according to the first embodiment will be described. The cap according to the first embodiment is designated as cap 100.

[0012] <Composition of Cap 100> The configuration of the cap 100 will be described below.

[0013] The cap 100 is made of a resin material. Examples of the resin material used for the cap 100 include polyethylene and polypropylene. However, the resin material used for the cap 100 is not limited to these.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the cap 100. In FIG. 1, the lid 30 is indicated by a dotted line. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap 100 taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap 100 has a side wall 10, an upper wall 20, a lid 30, and a bottom portion 40. The height direction of the cap 100 is defined as a first direction DR1. A direction perpendicular to the first direction DR1 is defined as a second direction DR2. A direction perpendicular to the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2 is defined as a third direction DR3.

[0015] The side wall 10 is cylindrical and extends along the first direction DR1. The side wall 10 has an upper end 11 and a lower end 12. The lower end 12 is the end opposite the upper end 11. The upper end 11 and the lower end 12 respectively form opposite ends in the first direction DR1.

[0016] The upper wall 20 is continuous with the upper end 11. The upper wall 20 closes the upper end 11 side of the side wall 10. The upper wall 20 has, for example, a first portion 21 and a second portion 22. The first portion 21 and the second portion 22 are adjacent to each other in the third direction DR3. The width of the first portion 21 in the second direction DR2 is defined as the first width. The width of the second portion 22 in the second direction DR2 is defined as the second width. The second width is, for example, smaller than the first width.

[0017] The lid 30 is arranged to overlap the upper wall 20. The lid 30 is integrally formed with the upper wall 20 at a hinge line 31. That is, the upper wall 20 and the lid 30 are connected via the hinge line 31. The hinge line 31 extends along the second direction DR2. The lid 30 is rotatable about the hinge line 31. The lid 30 can be opened by rotating the lid 30 about the hinge line 31. When the lid 30 is open, the normal direction of the lower surface of the lid 30 is inclined with respect to the third direction DR3.

[0018] A through-hole 23 is formed in a portion of the top wall 20 facing the lid 30 in the closed state. The through-hole 23 penetrates the top wall 20 along the first direction DR1. This allows the internal space of the cap 100 to communicate with the outside of the cap 100 through the through-hole 23. The internal space of the cap 100 is defined by the side wall 10, the top wall 20, and the skirt portion 40. The through-hole 23 is formed in the second portion 22, for example.

[0019] As described above, the hinge line 31 is located at a position offset from the center of the top wall 20 in the third direction DR3, and therefore the through-hole 23 located opposite the lid 30 is also located at a position offset from the center of the top wall 20 in the third direction DR3. Note that the through-hole 23 is located at the center of the top wall 20 in the second direction DR2, for example.

[0020] The inner wall surface of the upper wall 20 is inclined such that the position in the first direction DR1 becomes more distant from the lower end 12 as it approaches the through hole 23. From another perspective, the position in the first direction DR1 of the inner wall surface of the upper wall 20 is the farthest from the lower end 12 at the portion where the through hole 23 is formed. The inclination angle of the inner wall surface of the upper wall 20 is preferably equal to or greater than an angle at which the contents of the tube container on the inner wall surface of the upper wall 20 can flow under its own weight.

[0021] A protrusion 32 is formed on the inner wall surface of the lid 30. The protrusion 32 protrudes from the inner wall surface of the lid 30 along the normal direction to the inner wall surface of the lid 30. When the lid 30 is closed, the protrusion 32 is inserted into the through hole 23. That is, when the lid 30 is closed, the protrusion 32 extends along the first direction DR1.

[0022] When viewed along the first direction DR1, it is preferable that at least a part of the outer periphery of the second portion 22 is located inside the outer periphery of the lid 30. In other words, it is preferable that a gap is provided below at least a part of the lid 30.

[0023] For example, a raised portion 24 is formed on the outer wall surface of the upper wall 20. When viewed along the first direction DR1, the raised portion 24 extends along the outer peripheral edge of the outer wall surface of the upper wall 20 on the opposite side of the hinge line 31 from the through hole 23. The top surface of the raised portion 24 is, for example, flat. The top surface of the raised portion 24 is, for example, flush with the upper surface of the lid 30. Note that when the lid 30 is closed, the surface of the lid 30 that faces the upper wall 20 is the lower surface of the lid 30, and the surface opposite the lower surface of the lid 30 is the upper surface of the lid 30.

[0024] The skirt portion 40 has a cylindrical shape and extends along the first direction DR1. The skirt portion 40 is continuous with the lower end 12.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a tube container 200 using the cap 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the tube container 200 includes the cap 100 and a container body 50. The container body 50 is cylindrical and extends along a first direction DR1. The container body 50 has an opening at one end. Although not shown, the other end of the container body 50 is closed. The cap 100 is attached to the container body 50 at the hem portion 40 so as to close the opening of the container body 50. The cap 100 and the container body 50 contain contents. The contents may be, for example, cream-like or gel-like. The contents may include powder.

[0026] The container body 50 is formed, for example, by bending a base material into a cylindrical shape. The base material is sheet-like before being bent into a cylindrical shape. Before being bent into a cylindrical shape, the base material has a first end and a second end in one direction, and a third end and a fourth end in another direction perpendicular to the one direction. The base material is bent so that the first end and the second end face each other, and is then bonded to form a cylindrical shape. Furthermore, the base material bent into a cylindrical shape is closed by bonding the fourth end, and becomes an opening by not bonding the third end.

[0027] The substrate constituting the container body 50 has a paper substrate and resin layers disposed on both surfaces of the paper substrate. The first end and the second end, the fourth end, and the opening and the skirt 40 are bonded, for example, by heat fusion using the resin layer. The mass of the paper substrate in the mass of the tube container 200 is preferably more than 50 mass percent. The mass of the paper substrate in the mass of the tube container 200 may be 60 mass percent or more, or may be 70 mass percent or more.

[0028] <Effects of Cap 100> The effects of the cap 100 will be described below.

[0029] In the cap 100, the hinge line 31 is positioned off-center of the top wall 20 in the third direction DR3, thereby reducing the overlapping area between the lid 30 and the top wall 20. Therefore, the cap 100 can reduce the number of layers of resin material required to form the cap 100.

[0030] The tube container 200 to which the cap 100 is attached is placed so that the cap 100 faces vertically downward. At this time, the contents of the tube container 200 flow due to gravity. In the cap 100, the position of the inner wall surface of the upper wall 20 in the first direction DR1 is inclined so as to move away from the lower end 12 as it approaches the through-hole 23. Therefore, when the amount of the contents becomes low, the contents on the inner wall surface of the upper wall 20 tend to flow toward the through-hole 23 (see the arrow in FIG. 3). Therefore, the cap 100 makes it easier to dispense all the contents of the tube container 200.

[0031] When the amount of content in the tube container 200 becomes low, the user may use their fingers to push the content toward the through-hole 23 in the internal space of the cap 100, making it easier for the content to flow out of the through-hole 23. In the cap 100, the through-hole 23 is formed in the second portion 22, and the width (second width) of the second portion 22 in the second direction DR2 is smaller than the width (first width) of the first portion 21. Therefore, when the user performs the above-mentioned action, the content tends to move closer to the through-hole 23. From this perspective, the cap 100 makes it even easier to pour out the content of the tube container 200.

[0032] Furthermore, because the width of the second portion 22 in the second direction DR2 is smaller than the width of the first portion 21, it is possible to further reduce the amount of resin material required to form the cap 100. Furthermore, because the width of the second portion 22 in the second direction DR2 is smaller than the width of the first portion 21, at least a part of the outer periphery of the second portion 22 is located inside the outer periphery of the lid 30 when viewed along the first direction DR1. As a result, a gap is formed below the lid 30, and the user can easily open the lid 30 by inserting a finger into the gap.

[0033] In the cap 100, the upper wall 20 has a raised portion 24, and the top surface of the raised portion 24 and the upper surface of the lid 30 are flush with each other, so when the tube container 200 is placed so that the cap 100 faces vertically downward, the tube container 200 is supported by both the top surface of the raised portion 24 and the upper surface of the lid 30. Therefore, according to the cap 100, when the tube container 200 is placed so that the cap 100 faces vertically downward, the tube container 200 is prevented from tipping over.

[0034] <Modification> Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a modified cap 100. In the above, an example has been described in which the position of the inner wall surface of the upper wall 20 in the first direction DR1 is inclined so as to move away from the lower end 12 as it approaches the through-hole 23, but as shown in Fig. 4, the inner wall surface of the upper wall 20 does not have to be inclined so as to move away from the lower end 12 as it approaches the through-hole 23, and may be flat, for example.

[0035] As described above, since the through hole 23 is formed in the second part 22, in this case too, it is easy to pour out the contents of the tube container 200, the amount of resin material required to form the cap 100 can be reduced, and the lid 30 can be made easier to open.

[0036] (Second embodiment) A cap according to a second embodiment will be described. The cap according to the second embodiment is referred to as cap 100A. Here, differences from cap 100 will be mainly described, and overlapping descriptions will not be repeated.

[0037] <Cap 100A Configuration> The configuration of the cap 100A will be described below.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the cap 100A. In FIG. 5, the lid 30 is indicated by a dotted line. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the cap 100A. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cap 100A has a side wall 10, an upper wall 20, a lid 30, and a bottom 40. The cap 100A is made of a resin material. In these respects, the configuration of the cap 100A is common to the configuration of the cap 100.

[0039] In the cap 100A, when viewed in the first direction DR1, the longitudinal direction of the upper wall 20 is aligned with the third direction DR3. In this respect, the configuration of the cap 100A differs from the configuration of the cap 100. In the cap 100A, when viewed in the first direction DR1, the shape of the upper wall 20, excluding the second portion 22, is an ellipse whose major axis is aligned with the third direction DR3. However, the shape of the upper wall 20 is not limited to this. In addition, the width of the upper wall 20 in the second direction DR2 is preferably approximately the same as the width of a thumb (for example, 1.5 cm to 2 cm).

[0040] <Effects of Cap 100A> The effects of the cap 100A will be described below.

[0041] As described above, when the amount of content in the tube container 200 becomes low, a user may use their fingers to push the content toward the through-hole 23 in the internal space of the cap 100A, making it easier for the content to flow out of the through-hole 23. In this case, the user moves their fingers along the third direction DR3. In the cap 100A, the longitudinal direction of the upper wall 20 is aligned with the third direction DR3, and the width of the upper wall 20 in the second direction DR2 is narrow. Therefore, when the user pushes the remaining content with their fingers, the content is less likely to disperse in directions other than the third direction DR3 (see the arrows in FIG. 6). Therefore, the cap 100A can make it even easier to pour out the content of the tube container 200.

[0042] (Addendum) Each of the above embodiments includes the following configurations.

[0043] <Appendix 1> A cap for a tube container, A side wall; The upper wall and and a lid. the side wall has an upper end and a lower end opposite to the upper end in a first direction which is a height direction of the cap, the upper wall is continuous with the upper end, the lid is disposed so as to overlap the upper wall when viewed along the first direction, The lid is integrally formed with the top wall at a hinge line and can be opened by rotating it about the hinge line; the hinge line extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and is offset from a center position of the top wall in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; a through-hole communicating with an internal space of the cap defined by the side wall and the top wall is formed in a portion of the top wall facing the lid, The cap has an inner wall surface of the upper wall that is inclined such that its position in the first direction moves away from the lower end as it approaches the through hole.

[0044] <Appendix 2> the top wall has a first portion and a second portion; the second portion is adjacent to the first portion in the third direction, In the second direction, the width of the second portion is smaller than the width of the first portion; 2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the through hole is formed in the second portion.

[0045] <Appendix 3> A cap as described in Appendix 2, wherein, when viewed along the first direction, at least a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the second portion is located inside the outer peripheral edge of the lid.

[0046] <Appendix 4> A cap according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the longitudinal direction of the upper wall is aligned with the third direction when viewed along the first direction.

[0047] <Appendix 5> The outer wall surface of the upper wall has a raised portion, the raised portion extends along the outer periphery of the top wall on the opposite side of the hinge line from the lid; 5. The cap of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the top surface of the raised portion is flush with the top surface of the lid.

[0048] <Appendix 6> A cap for a tube container, A side wall; The upper wall and and a lid. the side wall has an upper end and a lower end opposite to the upper end in a first direction which is a height direction of the cap, the upper wall is continuous with the upper end, the lid is disposed so as to overlap the upper wall when viewed along the first direction, The lid is integrally formed with the top wall at a hinge line and can be opened by rotating it about the hinge line; the hinge line extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and is offset from a center position of the top wall in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; a through-hole communicating with an internal space of the cap defined by the side wall and the top wall is formed in a portion of the top wall facing the lid, the top wall has a first portion and a second portion; the second portion is adjacent to the first portion in the third direction, In the second direction, the width of the second portion is smaller than the width of the first portion; the through hole is formed in the second portion, A cap in which, when viewed along the first direction, at least a portion of the outer peripheral edge of the second portion is located inside the outer peripheral edge of the lid.

[0049] <Appendix 7> A tube container, A container body; The cap according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 7, the container body is cylindrical with one end closed and the other end having an opening, The cap is attached to the container body so as to close the opening.

[0050] <Appendix 8> 8. The tube container according to claim 7, wherein the container body has a paper substrate.

[0051] <Appendix 9> 9. The tube container according to claim 8, wherein the mass of the paper substrate is more than 50 mass percent of the mass of the tube container.

[0052] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments can be modified in various ways. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 100,100A cap, 10 side wall, 11 upper end, 12 lower end, 20 upper wall, 21 first portion, 22 second portion, 23 through hole, 24 raised portion, 30 lid, 31 hinge line, 32 protrusion, 40 skirt portion, 50 container body, 200 tube container, DR1 first direction, DR2 second direction, DR3 third direction.

Claims

1. A cap for a tube container, A side wall; The upper wall and and a lid. the side wall has an upper end and a lower end opposite to the upper end in a first direction which is a height direction of the cap, the upper wall is continuous with the upper end, the lid is disposed so as to overlap the upper wall when viewed along the first direction, The lid is integrally formed with the top wall at a hinge line and can be opened by rotating it about the hinge line; the hinge line extends along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and is offset from a center position of the top wall in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; a through-hole communicating with an internal space of the cap defined by the side wall and the top wall is formed in a portion of the top wall facing the lid, A cap, wherein the inner wall surface of the upper wall is inclined such that the position in the first direction moves away from the lower end as it approaches the through hole.

2. the top wall has a first portion and a second portion; the second portion is adjacent to the first portion in the third direction, In the second direction, the width of the second portion is smaller than the width of the first portion; The cap of claim 1 , wherein the through hole is formed in the second portion.

3. The cap according to claim 2 , wherein at least a part of the outer periphery of the second portion is located inside the outer periphery of the lid when viewed along the first direction.

4. The cap according to claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal direction of the upper wall is aligned with the third direction when viewed along the first direction.

5. The outer wall surface of the upper wall has a raised portion, the raised portion extends along the outer periphery of the top wall on the opposite side of the hinge line from the lid; The cap of claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the raised portion is flush with the upper surface of the lid.

6. A tube container, A container body; The cap according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the container body is cylindrical with one end closed and the other end having an opening, The cap is attached to the container body so as to close the opening.

7. The tube container according to claim 6 , wherein the container body has a paper substrate.

8. The tube container according to claim 7 , wherein the mass of the paper substrate is greater than 50 mass percent of the mass of the tube container.

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