Cap

Abstract

To provide a cap that can prevent an outlet tube from being clogged with solidified content.SOLUTION: In a cap 1 which has a cap body 10 mounted to a container 2, an outlet tube 11 provided on the cap body 10, and a lid 12, the outlet tube 11 has a first cylindrical body 26 with an inner diameter that is gradually reduced from the base end on the cap body 10 side to the tip end, and a second cylindrical body 27 that is provided at the tip of the first cylindrical body 26 and has a constant inner diameter, and in the cross section including a first axis 32 passing through the center of the tip opening part 31 of the outlet tube 11, a straight portion 34 extending linearly in the direction of the first axis 32 is formed on the inner surface of the second cylindrical body 27, the length of the straight portion 34 in the direction of the first axis 32 varies in the circumferential direction of the outlet tube 11, and the tip end of the inclined inner surface 41 of the first cylindrical body 26 and the straight portion 34 on the inner surface of the second cylindrical body 27 are continuously connected around the entire circumference via a curved surface 39 that is curved in an arc shape.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap to be attached to the mouth of a container. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 8, this type of cap has, for example, a cap body 104 attached to the mouth 103 of the container 102, a dispensing tube 105 for dispensing the contents of the container 102 to the outside, and a lid (not shown) for opening and closing the dispensing tube 105. The lid is connected to the cap body 104 via a hinge (not shown). The cap body 104 has an inner cylindrical member 108 that is fitted inside the mouth portion 103.

[0003] The dispensing tube 105 is provided on the cap body 104 and has a first cylindrical body 109 having an inner diameter that gradually decreases from the lower end to the upper end, and a second cylindrical body 110 provided at the upper end of the first cylindrical body 109 and having a constant inner diameter.

[0004] An auxiliary wall portion 111 is provided inside the dispensing tube 105, protruding downward from the lower end of the second tube 110 into the inside of the first tube 109. As a result, a recessed space 112 that becomes narrower upward is formed between the inner circumferential surface of the first tube 109 and the outer circumferential surface of the auxiliary wall portion 111. The above-described cap 101 is described in, for example, Patent Document 1 below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-171500 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the above-mentioned conventional type, if, for example, a highly viscous paste-like content 114 (such as liquid miso) is stored in the container 102, when the content 114 is poured out of the pouring tube 105, some of the content 114 may enter the recessed space 112, and after pouring, the content 114 remaining in the recessed space 112 may solidify.

[0007] Similarly, since the inner surface 108a of the inner tube member 108 of the cap body 104 is exposed to the inside of the container 102, after the contents 114 are poured out of the pouring tube 105, there is a risk that the contents 114 will adhere to and remain on the inner surface 108a of the inner tube member 108 and solidify. If the contents 114 of the container 102 repeatedly remain in the dispensing tube 105 and solidify as described above each time the contents 114 of the container 102 are dispensed from the dispensing tube 105, there is a problem in that the inside of the dispensing tube 105 becomes clogged with the solidified contents 114. An object of the present invention is to provide a cap that can prevent a dispensing tube from being clogged with solidified contents. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the first invention provides a cap having a cap body attached to the mouth of a container, a pouring tube for pouring the contents of the container to the outside, and a lid for opening and closing the pouring tube, The dispensing cylinder has a first cylinder body provided on the cap body and having an inner diameter that gradually decreases from a base end on the cap body side to a tip end, and a second cylinder body provided at the tip end of the first cylinder body and having a constant inner diameter, In a cross section including a first axis passing through the center of the tip opening of the pouring cylinder, a straight portion extending linearly in the first axis direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the second cylinder, The length of the straight portion in the first axial direction varies in the circumferential direction of the pouring cylinder, The tip of the inclined inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical body and the straight portion of the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical body are continuously connected over the entire circumference via a curved surface that is curved in an arc shape.

[0009] By opening the lid and tilting the container to squeeze it, the contents of the container are poured out from the tip opening of the dispensing tube. At this time, the tip of the inclined inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical body of the dispensing tube and the straight part of the inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical body are continuously connected via a curved surface, so the contents flow smoothly along the inner circumferential surface of the dispensing tube toward the tip opening.

[0010] After dispensing, the squeeze on the container is released, the tilted container is returned to its original position, and the tip opening of the dispensing tube is turned upward, causing the contents in the dispensing tube to flow down and be drawn back into the container. At this time, the contents that have adhered to the inner surface of the second cylindrical body of the dispensing tube flow down the straight part, then move smoothly from the straight part to the curved surface and onto the inclined inner surface of the first cylindrical body, where they flow down and return to the container.

[0011] This significantly reduces the amount of content that remains on the inner surface of the dispensing tube after dispensing without returning to the container, thereby preventing the inside of the dispensing tube from being clogged with the remaining solidified content.

[0012] In the cap according to the second aspect of the present invention, the lid is connected to the cap body via a hinge so as to be able to be opened and closed freely; The first length in the first axial direction of the straight portion located closer to the hinge in the radial direction of the tip opening of the pouring tube is different from the second length in the first axial direction of the straight portion located farther from the hinge in the radial direction of the tip opening of the pouring tube.

[0013] According to this, even if a film of contents forms inside the second cylindrical portion of the dispensing tube when the contents in the dispensing tube are drawn back into the container after the contents of the container have been dispensed from the tip opening of the dispensing tube to the outside, the film of contents will be inclined inside the second cylindrical portion because the first length and the second length of the straight portion are different. This inclined film is less susceptible to pressure from inside the container, which makes it possible to prevent the film of contents from bulging out like a balloon from the tip opening of the dispensing tube to the outside.

[0014] In the cap according to the third aspect of the present invention, the first length is longer than the second length. This makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of a phenomenon in which a film of the contents bulges outward like a balloon from the tip opening of the dispensing tube.

[0015] The cap in the fourth aspect of the present invention is provided with an insertion member on the lid that is inserted into the pouring cylinder from the tip opening of the pouring cylinder in the closed state, In the closed state, the outer peripheral surface of the insertion member contacts the entire straight portion of the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical body of the dispensing barrel, thereby sealing the gap between the lid and the dispensing barrel.

[0016] In the cap of the fifth invention, the cap body has an inner cylindrical member that is fitted inside the mouth of the container, The base end of the first cylindrical portion is provided at the tip end of the inner circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical member on the container side.

[0017] This allows the inner circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical member of the cap body to be exposed to the outside of the container, rather than to the inside of the container. This prevents the contents of the container from adhering to the inner circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical member and remaining there after being poured out of the container through the tip opening of the pouring tube. This prevents the pouring tube from being clogged with the remaining solidified contents.

[0018] In the cap according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the inner circumferential surface of the first cylindrical body has an inclined portion that is linearly inclined in a cross section including the first axis.

[0019] According to this, the inclined portion of the inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical body of the dispensing tube is inclined linearly, so the surface area of ​​the inner surface of the first cylindrical body is reduced compared to when the inclined portion is not linear but curved and inclined in an arc that bulges inward toward the first cylindrical body. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of content adhering to the inner surface of the first cylindrical body when the content in the dispensing tube is drawn back into the container.

[0020] In the cap of the seventh invention, the lid is connected to the cap body via a hinge so as to be able to be opened and closed freely, The first axis is eccentric to the second axis passing through the center of the cap body on the opposite side to the hinge. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the dispensing tube from being clogged with solidified contents, and also to suppress the occurrence of a phenomenon in which a film of the contents bulges outward like a balloon from the tip opening of the dispensing tube. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cap according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the lid in an open state. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a view taken along the arrow XX in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cap in the open state. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cap in the same manner, showing the state in which the lid is closed. [Figure 6] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the cap of the same, showing the state when the content liquid in the dispensing cylinder is drawn into the container after dispensing. [Figure 7] 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the cap to explain the function of suppressing the formation of a film of the content liquid. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional cap. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (First embodiment)

[0024] In the first embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a cap that is attached to a container 2 such as a plastic bottle. The cap 1 includes a cap body 10 that is attached to the mouth 3 of the container 2, a dispensing tube 11 that dispenses a liquid content 4 (an example of the content, see Figure 6) contained in the container 2 to the outside, and a lid 12 that opens and closes the dispensing tube 11. The liquid content 4 may be, for example, a highly viscous paste-like miso (also called liquid miso) or soy sauce, but is not limited to such seasonings.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the cap body 10 is directly attached to the mouth 3 of the container 2, but it may be indirectly attached to the mouth 3 via an inner plug or the like.

[0026] In addition, the direction of the axis 14 (an example of a second axis) passing through the center of the cap body 10 attached to the container 2 is defined as the vertical direction 15, the direction perpendicular to the axis 14 is defined as the radial direction 16, and the circumferential direction centered on the axis 14 is defined as the circumferential direction 17. The lid 12 is connected to the cap body 10 via a hinge 13 so as to be able to be opened and closed freely.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the cap body 10 has a cylindrical inner tube member 19 that is fitted inside the mouth portion 3 of the container 2, a cylindrical outer tube member 20 that is fitted outside the mouth portion 3, and a circular top wall portion 21 that connects the upper end of the inner tube member 19 and the upper end of the outer tube member 20.

[0028] A groove 22, which is closed at the top by a top wall portion 21 and is open at the bottom, is formed around the entire circumference between the inner cylindrical member 19 and the outer cylindrical member 20. The cap body 10 is attached to the container 2 by fitting the mouth portion 3 of the container 2 into the groove 22 from below.

[0029] As shown in Figure 1, the dispensing tube 11 has a first cylindrical body 26 in the form of a conical tube having an inner diameter D1 that gradually decreases from the lower end (an example of the base end) to the upper end (an example of the tip end), and a second cylindrical body 27 that is provided at the tip of the first cylindrical body 26 and has a constant inner diameter D2.

[0030] The lower end of the first cylindrical body 26 is provided around the entire lower end (an example of the tip end on the container 2 side) of the inner circumferential surface 19a of the inner cylindrical member 19. As shown in Fig. 5, when the lid 12 is in a closed state with the lid 12 closed, the lid 12 is joined to a joining surface 29 of the cap body 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the lower end of the first cylindrical body 26 is located below the joining surface 29 of the cap body 10.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, an axis 32 (an example of a first axis) passing through the center of the tip opening 31 of the dispensing tube 11 is eccentric to the side opposite the hinge 13 with respect to an axis 14 (an example of a second axis) of the cap body 10.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, in a vertical cross section including the axis 32 of the above-mentioned dispensing tube 11, a straight portion 34 extending linearly in the direction of the axis 32 (i.e., the vertical direction 15) is formed around the entire inner surface of the second cylindrical body 27.

[0033] The length of the straight portion 34 in the direction of the axis 32 varies in the circumferential direction 35 (see Figs. 2 and 3) of the pouring tube 11. As an example, as shown in Fig. 4, if the length in the direction of the axis 32 (an example of a first axis direction) of the straight portion 34 located closer to the hinge 13 in the radial direction 37 of the tip opening 31 of the pouring tube 11 is taken as a first length L1, and the length in the direction of the axis 32 (an example of a first axis direction) of the straight portion 34 located farther from the hinge 13 in the radial direction 37 is taken as a second length L2, the first length L1 is longer than the second length L2 (i.e., L1>L2).

[0034] The tip (upper end) of the inclined inner surface 26a of the first cylindrical body 26 and the lower end of the straight portion 34 of the inner surface of the second cylindrical body 27 are continuously connected around the entire circumference via a first curved surface 39 that is curved in an arc shape. The inner circumferential surface 26a of the first cylindrical body 26 has, in a vertical cross section including the axis 32 of the dispensing cylinder 11, a linearly inclined inclined portion 41 over the entire circumference. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower end of the inclined portion 41 is connected to the lower end of the inner circumferential surface 19a of the inner cylindrical member 19 via a second curved surface 43 that is curved in an arc shape.

[0035] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the lid 12 is rotatable around the hinge 13 in opening and closing directions 46, 47 to open and close the dispensing tube 11, and has a circular lid plate 49, a cylindrical peripheral wall 50 provided on the outer peripheral edge of the lid plate 49, and a cylindrical insertion member 51 provided inside the peripheral wall 50.

[0036] The insertion member 51 is provided on the inner surface of the lid plate 49, and is inserted into the dispensing tube 11 from the tip opening 31 of the dispensing tube 11 in the closed state with the lid 12 closed, as shown in Fig. 5. In the closed state, the outer peripheral surface 51a (see Fig. 1) of the insertion member 51 contacts the straight portion 34 of the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical body 27 of the dispensing tube 11 over the entire circumference, thereby sealing the gap between the lid 12 and the dispensing tube 11. The operation of the above configuration will now be described.

[0037] By opening the lid 12 and tilting the container 2 with the hinge 13 facing upward to squeeze it, the liquid content 4 of the container 2 is poured out from the tip opening 31 of the dispensing tube 11. At this time, the inner circumferential surface 26a of the first cylindrical body 26 of the dispensing tube 11 and the straight portion 34 of the inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical body 27 are continuously connected via the first curved surface 39, so the liquid content 4 flows smoothly along the inner circumferential surface of the dispensing tube 11 toward the tip opening 31.

[0038] After dispensing, the pressure on the container 2 is released, and the tilted container 2 is returned to its original position so that the tip opening 31 of the dispensing tube 11 faces upward, causing the content liquid 4 in the dispensing tube 11 to flow down and be drawn back into the container 2, as shown in Figure 6.

[0039] At this time, the content liquid 4 adhering to the inner surface of the second cylindrical body 27 of the dispensing tube 11 flows down the straight portion 34, and then smoothly transfers from the straight portion 34 to the inner surface 26a of the first cylindrical body 26 via the first curved surface 39, and flows down the inner surface 26a of the first cylindrical body 26 and returns to the container 2.

[0040] This significantly reduces the amount (residual amount) of content liquid 4 that remains on the inner surface of the dispensing tube 11 after dispensing without returning to the container 2, thereby preventing the dispensing tube 11 from becoming clogged with content liquid 4 that has remained and solidified.

[0041] Furthermore, after the content liquid 4 has been poured out from the tip opening 31 of the pouring tube 11 as described above, when the content liquid 4 in the pouring tube 11 is drawn back into the container 2, a film 54 of the content liquid 4 may form at the lower end of the second cylindrical body 27 of the pouring tube 11, as shown by the solid line in Fig. 7. In this case, since the first length L1 of the straight portion 34 in the second cylindrical body 27 is longer than the second length L2 as shown in Fig. 4, the film 54 of the content liquid 4 that has formed is inclined at the lower end of the second cylindrical body 27 so that the side closer to the hinge 13 is lower than the side farther from the hinge 13, as shown by the solid line in Fig. 7.

[0042] The inclined membrane 54 is less susceptible to pressure from inside the container 2 than a horizontal membrane, which prevents the membrane 54 of the liquid content 4 from bulging outward like a balloon from the tip opening 31 of the dispensing tube 11, as shown by the imaginary line in Figure 7.

[0043] 1 and 5, the inner circumferential surface 19a of the inner cylindrical member 19 of the cap body 10 is not exposed inside the container 2, but is exposed outside the container 2. Therefore, after the content liquid 4 of the container 2 is poured out from the tip opening 31 of the dispensing tube 11, the content liquid 4 can be prevented from adhering to the inner circumferential surface 19a of the inner cylindrical member 19 and remaining there. This can prevent the inside of the dispensing tube 11 from being clogged with the content liquid 4 that has remained and solidified.

[0044] Furthermore, since the inclined portion 41 of the inner circumferential surface 26a of the first cylindrical body 26 of the dispensing tube 11 is inclined linearly, the surface area of ​​the inner surface of the first cylindrical body 26 is reduced compared to when the inclined portion 41 is not inclined linearly but curved and bulges downward (inside the first cylindrical body 26) in an arc. This makes it possible to reduce the amount (adhesion amount) of the content liquid 4 adhering to the inner surface of the first cylindrical body 26 when the content liquid 4 in the dispensing tube 11 is drawn back into the container 2.

[0045] 4, in the first embodiment, the first length L1 of the straight portion 34 located closer to the hinge 13 is longer than the second length L2 of the straight portion 34 located farther from the hinge 13, but conversely, the first length L1 of the straight portion 34 may be shorter than the second length L2 of the straight portion 34. In this case, the film 54 of the content liquid 4 generated at the lower end inside the second cylindrical body 27 is inclined in the opposite direction to the film 54 shown by the solid line in FIG. 7, but for the same reason, it is possible to prevent the film 54 of the content liquid 4 from bulging outward like a balloon from the tip opening 31 of the dispensing tube 11.

[0046] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the first length L1 of the straight portion 34 located closer to the hinge 13 is different from the second length L2 of the straight portion 34 located farther from the hinge 13, but this is not limited to the position closer to the hinge 13 and the position farther from the hinge 13, and the length of the straight portion 34 in the direction of the axis 32 may be different at multiple locations in the circumferential direction 35 of the dispensing tube 11. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1 cap 2 containers 3 Mouth 4 Contents liquid (contents) 10 Cap body 11 Pour tube 12 Lid 13 Hinge 14 Axis center (2nd axis center) 19 Inner cylinder member 19a Inner peripheral surface of inner cylindrical member 26 First cylinder 26a: inner surface of the first cylindrical body 27 Second cylinder 31 Tip opening 32 Axis center (1st axis center) 34 Straight section 35 Circumferential direction of the injection tube 37 Radial direction of tip opening of injection tube 39 First curved surface (curved surface) 41 Slope 51 Insertion member 51a Outer surface of insert member D1 Inner diameter of the first cylinder D2 Inner diameter of second cylinder L1 First length L2 Second length

Claims

1. A cap having a cap body attached to the mouth of a container, a pouring tube for pouring the contents of the container to the outside, and a lid for opening and closing the pouring tube, The dispensing cylinder has a first cylinder body provided on the cap body and having an inner diameter that gradually decreases from a base end on the cap body side to a tip end, and a second cylinder body provided at the tip end of the first cylinder body and having a constant inner diameter, In a cross section including a first axis passing through the center of the tip opening of the pouring cylinder, a straight portion extending linearly in the first axis direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the second cylinder, The length of the straight portion in the first axial direction varies in the circumferential direction of the pouring cylinder, A cap characterized in that the tip of the inclined inner surface of the first cylindrical body and the straight portion of the inner surface of the second cylindrical body are continuously connected around the entire circumference via a curved surface that is curved in an arc shape.

2. The lid is connected to the cap body via a hinge so that it can be opened and closed freely. The cap described in claim 1, characterized in that a first length in the first axial direction of the straight portion located closer to the hinge in the radial direction of the tip opening of the pouring tube is different from a second length in the first axial direction of the straight portion located farther from the hinge in the radial direction of the tip opening of the pouring tube.

3. 3. The cap of claim 2, wherein the first length is greater than the second length.

4. an insertion member that is inserted into the dispensing cylinder from the tip opening of the dispensing cylinder in the closed state is provided on the lid; The cap described in claim 1, characterized in that in the closed state, the outer surface of the insertion member contacts the straight portion of the inner surface of the second cylindrical body of the injection tube over the entire circumference, thereby sealing the space between the lid and the injection tube.

5. The cap body has an inner cylindrical member that is fitted inside the mouth of the container, 2. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the base end of the first cylindrical portion is provided at a tip end portion of the inner circumferential surface of the inner cylindrical member on the container side.

6. 2. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical body has a linearly inclined inclined portion in a cross section including the first axis.

7. The lid is connected to the cap body via a hinge so that it can be opened and closed freely.

2. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the first axis is eccentric to a second axis passing through the center of the cap body on a side opposite to the hinge.

Images