Composite lid
By supporting the valve piece from both sides with arms, the composite lid design addresses the issue of premature air escape, ensuring the container pressure rises reliably.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024079171
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-15
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-28
AI Technical Summary
The existing composite lid design allows air in the interlayer space to escape through the suction hole before the valve piece contacts the closing wall, preventing the container pressure from increasing sufficiently.
The valve piece is supported from both sides by a pair of arms, preventing sagging and ensuring it contacts the closing wall before air escapes, allowing the container pressure to rise reliably.
The design ensures that the valve piece closes the suction hole before air escapes, allowing the container pressure to rise sufficiently and reliably, preventing premature discharge.
Smart Images

Figure 2025173582000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a composite lid for a laminated container having an inner layer for receiving contents and an outer layer surrounding the inner layer. [Background technology]
[0002] Recently, laminated containers have been widely used as containers for seasonings, particularly soy sauce, with an inner layer for accommodating the contents and an outer layer surrounding the inner layer. A composite lid for such containers has been used. The composite lid includes a lid body including a circular closing wall and a cylindrical mounting wall depending from the outer periphery of the closing wall, an inner stopper member attached to the underside of the closing wall of the lid body, and a check valve member combined with the inner stopper member. The closing wall of the lid body has a discharge opening. The lid body also has a suction passage communicating with the interlayer space between the inner and outer layers of the container. The inner stopper member has a communication opening, and the check valve member closes the communication opening under normal conditions, i.e., when no force is acting on the interlayer space, but opens the communication opening when the pressure inside the container increases.
[0003] To attach the composite lid described above to the mouth and neck of a container and discharge the contents of the container, the container is squeezed. When the container is squeezed, the interlayer space between the inner and outer layers of the container is pressurized, the suction path is closed, the internal pressure of the container rises, and the check valve member opens the communication opening. With the communication opening open, the contents pass through the communication opening and the discharge opening in sequence and are discharged to the outside. When the container is released from compression, the container elastically returns to its original state, creating a negative pressure in the interlayer space and allowing outside air to pass through the suction path and be drawn into the interlayer space. When enough outside air has been drawn into the interlayer space and the internal pressure of the container has returned to atmospheric pressure, the communication opening is closed by the check valve member, and discharge of the contents stops.
[0004] Prior to this application, the inventor of the present application invented and filed a patent application for the composite lid described above, which is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. In the composite lid described in Patent Document 1 below, a suction hole is formed in the outer peripheral edge of the closing wall of the lid body. The inner plug member has a flange extending radially outward, and a communication hole is formed in the flange facing the suction hole, with a valve piece disposed in the communication hole. The valve piece is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the communication hole via an arm, and the valve piece and the arm are integrally formed with the inner plug member. There are two arms, and the two arms are connected to the valve piece in close proximity to each other, so that the valve piece is essentially cantilevered by the arms. The valve piece is normally located opposite the suction hole and close to the underside of the closing wall, connecting the suction hole to the interlayer space between the inner and outer layers of the container. When the interlayer space is pressurized, it contacts the closing wall to close the suction hole, and when the interlayer space is depressurized, it moves away from the closing wall. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7453031 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0006] In the composite lid disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the inner plug member is attached to the underside of the closing wall of the lid body, the valve piece may be pushed downward by the underside of the closing side wall. In this case, because the valve piece is cantilevered by the arm, the fixed end of the valve piece, i.e., the side to which the arm is connected, does not sag, and only the free end of the valve piece, i.e., the side to which the arm is not connected, sags. If the valve piece sags under normal conditions, the amount of displacement of the valve piece increases when the interlayer space is pressurized until the valve piece comes into contact with the closing wall and closes the suction hole. Therefore, it has been found that with the composite lid disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the interlayer space is pressurized, all of the air in the interlayer space may escape through the suction hole to the outside before the valve piece comes into contact with the closing wall and closes the suction hole, making it impossible to increase the pressure inside the container.
[0007] The present invention was made in consideration of the above facts, and its main technical objective is to provide a new composite lid by improving on the composite lid previously invented by the inventor of the present application, so that when the interlayer space is pressurized, all of the air in the interlayer space is prevented from passing through the suction hole and escaping to the outside before the valve piece comes into close contact with the closing wall of the lid body and closes the suction hole. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] As a result of extensive research, the inventors have found that the above-mentioned main technical object can be achieved by supporting the valve piece from both sides in a plan view by a pair of arms.
[0009] That is, according to the present invention, a composite lid for a laminated structure container, which solves the above-mentioned main technical problem, is provided, and includes an inner layer for accommodating contents and an outer layer surrounding the inner layer, a lid body including a circular closing wall and a cylindrical mounting wall depending from the outer periphery of the closing wall, the closing wall having a discharge opening formed therein; an inner plug member attached to the underside of the closing wall of the lid body and having a communication opening; a check valve member combined with the inner plug member, which normally closes the communication opening but opens the communication opening when the pressure inside the container increases; Equipped with a suction hole is formed in the outer peripheral edge of the closing wall of the lid body; The inner plug member has a flange extending outward in the radial direction, and a communication hole is formed in the flange and positioned opposite the suction hole, a valve piece is disposed within the communication hole, normally positioned opposite the suction hole and adjacent to the underside of the closing wall to connect the suction hole to an interlayer space between the inner layer and the outer layer of the container, and which comes into close contact with the closing wall to close the suction hole when the interlayer space is pressurized, and which moves away from the closing wall when the interlayer space is depressurized, the valve piece being connected to the inner circumferential surface of the communication hole via an arm, and the valve piece being formed integrally with the inner plug member together with the arm, The composite lid is characterized in that the valve piece is supported from both sides in a plan view by a pair of the arms.
[0010] Preferably, each of the pair of arms extends from the outer peripheral surface of the valve leaf. Preferably, each of the pair of arms extends outward from the valve leaf in a curved manner in one circumferential direction. In this case, each of the pair of arms preferably extends obliquely upward or downward from the valve leaf. [Effects of the Invention]
[0011] In the composite lid of the present invention, the valve piece is supported from both sides in a plan view by a pair of arms, i.e., the valve piece is supported at both ends, so that no part of the valve piece sags in the normal state. Therefore, when the interlayer space is pressurized from the normal state, the amount of displacement of the valve piece until it comes into close contact with the blocking wall and closes the suction hole is suppressed. Therefore, with the composite lid of the present invention, when the interlayer space is pressurized, the valve piece comes into close contact with the blocking wall and closes the suction hole before all the air in the interlayer space flows out through the suction hole, and the pressure inside the container rises sufficiently and reliably. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0012] [Figure 1]1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a composite closure constructed in accordance with the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the lid body of the composite lid shown in FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a bottom view of the lid body of the composite lid shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inner plug member in the composite cap shown in FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is a bottom view of the inside plug member in the composite closure shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a check valve member in the composite lid shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a front view of a check valve member in the composite lid shown in FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a bottom view of the check valve member in the composite lid shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 9] 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the composite lid shown in FIG. 1 in which a valve piece is formed. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013]
[0014] A preferred embodiment of a composite lid constructed according to the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terms "upper" and "lower" used in this specification and claims refer to the upper and lower states shown in Fig. 1 (i.e., when the container is upright and the outer lid, which will be described later, is in the closed position) unless otherwise specified.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, a composite lid, generally designated by the numeral 2, comprises a lid body 4, an inner plug member 6, and a check valve member 8. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in addition to FIG. 1, the lid body 4 is formed by injection molding from an appropriate synthetic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and includes a circular blocking wall 10 and a cylindrical mounting wall 12 that hangs down from the outer periphery of the blocking wall 10. A circular discharge opening 14 is formed in the center of the blocking wall 10, and a discharge tube 16 is formed on the upper surface of the blocking wall 10, surrounding the outer periphery of the discharge opening 14 and extending upward. The main portion of the discharge tube 16 is generally cylindrical, and the height of the discharge tube 16 is lower on the side where a hinge means (described later) is formed than on the side where the hinge means is not formed (i.e., the right side in FIG. 1 is lower than the left side). A lip having a generally semicircular vertical cross section is provided at the upper end of the discharge tube 16 on the side where the hinge means is not formed. An annular protrusion 18 protruding radially inward is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the vertically intermediate portion of the discharge tube 16. The upper surface of the protrusion 18 is an inverted truncated cone shaped protruding downward radially inward, the inner peripheral surface is a substantially vertically vertically vertically cylindrical shape, and the lower surface is a substantially horizontal annular shape. A substantially cylindrical locking wall 20 is formed on the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of the blocking wall 10. An annular locking rib 22 protruding radially outward is formed at the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the locking wall 20. A suction hole 24 is formed in the outer peripheral edge of the blocking wall 10, penetrating the vertical direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the suction hole 24 is circular (see also Figures 2 and 3) and is formed between the discharge opening 14 and the hinge means (described later) in plan view. A cylindrical suction tube wall 26 is formed on the upper surface of the blocking wall 10, surrounding the outer peripheral edge of the suction hole 24 and extending upward. A circular ring-shaped minute protrusion 28 is formed on the lower surface of the blocking wall 10, surrounding the outer peripheral edge of the discharge opening 14 and protruding downward. A circular ring-shaped inner engagement wall 30 and an arc-shaped outer engagement wall 32 are further formed on the lower surface of the blocking wall 10, outside the circular ring-shaped minute protrusion 28, surrounding the circular ring-shaped minute protrusion 28 and protruding downward. As can be clearly understood by referring to Figure 3, the outer engagement wall 32 is provided at a position corresponding to the suction hole 24 in the radial direction, and the outer engagement wall 32 is cut out in the vicinity of the circumferential angular region where the suction hole 24 is present.The inner engagement wall 30 is longer in the vertical direction than the outer engagement wall 32. The inner engagement wall 30 has a ring-shaped inner engagement rib 34 protruding radially inward at the lower end of its inner circumferential surface, while the outer engagement wall 32 has a circular arc-shaped outer engagement rib 35 protruding radially inward at the lower end of its inner circumferential surface. A downwardly protruding ring-shaped shoulder 36 is formed at the outer peripheral edge of the lower surface of the blocking wall 10. The outer peripheral surface of the shoulder 36 is also connected to the inner peripheral surface of the mounting wall 12. A downwardly protruding circular arc-shaped auxiliary wall 38 is formed at the inner peripheral edge of the lower surface of the shoulder 36. As can be clearly seen from FIG. 3 , the auxiliary wall 38, like the outer engagement wall 32, is notched near the circumferential angular region where the suction hole 24 is located. The thickness of the auxiliary wall 38 tapers downward. The lower surface of the blocking wall 10 is further formed with a cylindrical bulge 39 that surrounds the outer periphery of the suction hole 24 and protrudes downward.
[0015] Six mating ridges 40 are formed at intervals along the circumferential direction at the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the mounting wall 12. The ridges 40 protrude radially inward and extend in an arc-like shape along the circumferential direction. A cylindrical separation groove 42 with an open upper end is formed in the mounting wall 12. Due to the presence of the separation groove 42, the composite lid 2 can be detached from the mouth and neck of the container (described below) after the contents have been completely discharged, allowing the container and the composite lid 2 to be disposed of separately. For details of the separation mechanism of the mounting wall 12, including the separation groove 42, please refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-22567, which was filed by the applicant of the present application and has been published prior to this application.
[0016] An outer lid 46 is connected to the upper end of the mounting wall 12 of the lid main body 4 via hinge means 44. The outer lid 46 can pivot about the hinge means 44 between a closed position (as shown in FIG. 1 ) in which it covers the upper surface of the blocking wall 10 of the lid main body 4 and an open position in which it exposes the upper surface of the blocking wall 10. The lid main body 4 is molded integrally with the outer lid 46 when it is in the open position. Therefore, the outer lid 46 is also made of synthetic resin. The outer lid 46 has a circular top wall 48 and a cylindrical skirt wall 50 that hangs down from the outer periphery of the top wall 48. A cylindrical blocking plug 52 is formed at the center of the underside of the top wall 48 and extends downward. When the outer lid 46 is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 1 , the blocking plug 52 is inserted into the inside of the discharge tube 16 formed in the blocking wall 10, and the outer surface of the blocking plug 52 is in close contact with the inner periphery of the protrusion 18 of the discharge tube 16. A generally cylindrical hanging wall 54 is formed on the underside of the top wall 48, hanging downward and surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the base end of the occlusion plug 52. When the outer lid 46 is in the closed position, the hanging wall 54 surrounds the outer peripheral edge of the upper end of the drain tube 16. A double annular groove 56 is also formed on the inner peripheral edge of the hanging wall 54 to prevent the contents adhering to the underside of the top wall 48 from scattering when the outer lid 46 is pivoted from the closed position to the open position. A cylindrical support wall 58 is formed at the radially intermediate portion of the underside of the top wall 48, hanging downward. When the outer lid 46 is in the closed position, the lower surface of the support wall 58 abuts against the upper surface of the occlusion wall 10 radially outward of the drain tube 16, preventing the top wall 48 from deforming downward due to external forces applied to the upper surface of the top wall 48. Two arc-shaped engaging ridges 60 are formed at a circumferentially spaced interval at the lower end of the inner peripheral surface of the skirt wall 50. The engaging ridges 60 elastically ride downward over and engage with the engaging ridges 22 of the engaging wall 20 formed on the upper surface of the closing wall 10, thereby holding the outer lid 46 in the closed position. A flange 62 is formed at the lower end of the outer peripheral surface of the skirt wall 50 on the opposite side of the hinge means 44 in the diameter direction, and can be used to hook a finger when pivoting the outer lid 46.
[0017] Next, the inner plug member 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 , as well as FIGS. 4 and 5 . The inner plug member 6 is attached to the underside of the closing wall 10 of the lid body 4 and is formed by injection molding from an appropriate synthetic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The inner plug member 6 is generally circular in plan view and includes a circular central communication wall 64 that extends substantially horizontally. A guide pin 66 with a circular cross section that extends upward is formed at the center of the upper surface of the central communication wall 64. A communication opening 68 that penetrates vertically is formed in the radially middle portion of the central communication wall 64. A contact wall 70 having an inverted truncated cone shape that extends linearly and slopes upward radially outward is connected to the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of the central communication wall 64. An annular inner connection wall 72 that extends upward and then radially outward is connected to the upper end of the contact wall 70. A cylindrical engagement wall 74 that hangs downward is connected to the outer peripheral edge of the inner connection wall 72. The upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the engaged wall 74 is inclined downward in the radial direction, and a ring-shaped engaged rib 76 protruding radially outward is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a vertically intermediate portion. An annular outer connecting wall 78 is connected to the lower end of the engaged wall 74. The ring-shaped outer connecting wall 78 is inverted radially outward and then extends linearly, inclining upward in the radial direction. A flange 80 is connected to the outer connecting wall 78 and extends radially outward from its upper end. The flange 80 is annular except for a protruding portion (described below). A cylindrical sealing wall 82 is formed on the inner peripheral edge of the lower surface, and a support leg 84 is formed on the outer peripheral edge, extending circumferentially. The flange 80 is provided with a protruding portion 88, whose outer peripheral surface is locally enlarged radially outward. A generally rectangular communicating hole 90 is formed inside the protruding portion 88 and communicates vertically. A thin, circular valve piece 92, which operates as described below, is disposed within the communicating hole 90. The valve piece 92 is connected to the inner circumferential surface of the communication hole 90 via an arm 94, and the valve piece 92 and the arm 94 are formed integrally with the inner plug member 6. As can be seen from FIG. 5 , the support leg 84 is also formed continuously with the underside of the protruding portion 88.
[0018] In a composite lid constructed according to the present invention, it is important that the valve leaf 92 is supported from both sides in a plan view by a pair of arms 94a and 94b. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the pair of arms 94a and 94b has the same shape and extends radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the valve leaf 92, curving in one direction in the circumferential direction and sloping downward. That is, each of the pair of arms 94a and 94b extends spirally. Because the pair of arms 94a and 94b extend spirally, they are relatively long. Furthermore, as shown in the enlarged view of portion X in FIG. 4 , in a plan view, the center P of the valve leaf 92, the base end Pa1 of the arm 94a on the valve leaf 92 side, and the base end Pb1 of the arm 94b on the valve leaf 92 side are located on the same straight line L1, and the center P of the valve leaf 92, the base end Pa2 of the arm 94a on the communication hole 90 side, and the base end Pb2 of the arm 94b on the communication hole 90 side are located on the same straight line L2. If desired, the center P and the base ends Pa1 and Pb1 do not necessarily need to be positioned on the same straight line, and the center P and the base ends Pa2 and Pb2 do not necessarily need to be positioned on the same straight line and may be offset from each other. According to the analysis of the present inventors, the pair of arms 94a and 94b do not necessarily need to be spaced apart by an angle of 180 degrees from the center P in a plan view, as long as they are spaced apart by an angle of 135 degrees to 180 degrees. Furthermore, the pair of arms 94a and 94b may extend from the underside of the valve piece 92 rather than from the outer circumferential surface, and may extend substantially horizontally without inclining downward.
[0019] Next, the check valve member 8 will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 8 in addition to Figure 1. The check valve member 8 is combined with the inner plug member 6 and disposed on the underside of the blocking wall 10 of the lid body 4. It is formed by injection molding an appropriate synthetic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene. The check valve member 8 is equipped with a cylindrical guide tube 96 that extends linearly in the vertical direction. A guide hole 98 with a circular cross section is defined inside the guide tube 96, and the upper surface of the guide tube 96 is closed by a circular upper wall 100. A cylindrical support pillar 102 extending upward is formed in the center of the upper surface of the upper wall 100. The lower surface of the guide tube 96 is open, and a bowl-shaped seal portion 104 that extends radially outward and inclined upward is connected to the lower end of the outer peripheral surface of the guide tube 96. The upper surface of the seal portion 104 is formed with a plurality of notches 106 (six in the illustrated embodiment) that communicate in the radial direction and are spaced equally apart in the circumferential direction.
[0020] The inner plug member 6 is combined with the check valve member 8 before being attached to the lid body 4. The check valve member 8 and the inner plug member 6 are combined by inserting the guide pin 66 of the inner plug member 6 into the guide hole 98 of the check valve member 8. The plug member 6 and the lid body 4 are joined together when the protruding portion 88 of the flange 80 of the plug member 6 is aligned with the notched portion of the outer engaging wall 32 and auxiliary wall 38 on the underside of the closing wall 10 of the lid body 4, i.e., the portion where the suction hole 24 is located, and the inner engaging rib 34 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the inner engaging wall 30 of the lid body 4 elastically moves downward over the engaged rib 76 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the engaged wall 74 of the plug member 6, and the outer engaging rib 35 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer engaging wall 32 of the lid body 4 elastically moves downward over the outer peripheral edge of the plug member 6, and the minute rib 28 formed on the underside of the closing wall 10 of the lid body 4 locally abuts against the upper surface of the inner connecting wall 72 of the plug member 6. When the lid body 4, the plug member 6, and the check valve member 8 are joined together in this manner, the check valve member 8 is positioned below the discharge opening 14 of the lid body 4. When the outer lid 46 is in the closed position, the lower surface of the blocking plug 52 of the outer lid 46 abuts against the upper surface of the support post 102 of the check valve member 8 and presses it downward, and the outer peripheral surface of the seal portion 104 of the check valve member 8 comes into close contact with the upper surface of the contact wall 70 of the inner plug member 6 to block the communication opening 68. In addition, the communication hole 90 formed in the flange 80 of the inner plug member 6 is positioned opposite the suction hole 24 formed in the blocking wall 10 of the lid body 4. Therefore, the valve piece 92 arranged in the communication hole 90 also faces the suction hole 24, and in the normal state the valve piece 92 is positioned close to the lower surface of the blocking wall 10.
[0021] FIG. 1 also shows, by a two-dot chain line, the neck of a container 200 to which the composite closure 2 is attached. The container 200 is a laminated container including an inner layer 202 for accommodating contents and an outer layer 204 surrounding the inner layer 202, with an interlayer space 206 defined between the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 204. The container 200 is formed by simultaneously stretch-blowing the outer preform and the inner preform, with the substrate (inner preform) for forming the inner layer 202 being inserted and held inside the substrate (outer preform) for forming the outer layer 204. The molding method for such a container 200 is well known; see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-62146 for details. The material for the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 204 is preferably a blow-moldable thermoplastic resin, such as a polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate, or a polyolefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene.
[0022] The neck portion of the container 200 is cylindrical. In other words, the upper ends of the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 204 are cylindrical. An annular mating rib 208 protruding radially outward is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the outer layer 204. The composite lid 2 is attached to the neck portion of the container 200 by mating the mating rib 208 with a mating rib 40 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting wall 12 of the lid body 4. A known support ring 210 used when transporting the container is also formed below the mating rib 208. An upward-facing, annular shoulder surface 212 is formed on the upper end of the inner peripheral surface of the outer layer 204. An upper flange 214 and a lower flange 216, both of which are annular, are formed at the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the inner layer 202, spaced apart in the vertical direction. The outer peripheral edge of the lower surface of the lower flange 216 abuts against a shoulder surface 212 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer layer 204, thereby supporting the outer layer 204 in the vertical direction by the inner layer 202. Furthermore, the outer peripheral surfaces of the upper flange 214 and the lower flange 216 face the inner peripheral surface of the outer layer 204, thereby restricting tilting of the inner layer 202 relative to the outer layer 204. A plurality of notches 218 are formed in the upper flange 214 and the lower flange 216 at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the interlayer space 206 communicates with the outside of the container 200 via these notches 218.
[0023] When the composite lid 2 is attached to a container 200 whose inner layer 202 is filled with a liquid content such as soy sauce, the attachment wall 12 of the composite lid 2 is fitted over the mouth and neck of the container 200, forcing the composite lid 2 downward toward the container 200. The fitting ridge 40 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the attachment wall 12 elastically rides downward over and engages with the fitting ridge 208 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth and neck of the container 200, thereby attaching the composite lid 2 to the mouth and neck of the container 200. When the composite lid 2 is attached to the mouth and neck of the container 200, the sealing wall 82 of the inner plug member 6 enters the interior of the container 200, more specifically, the interior of the inner layer 202, and elastically presses it radially outward. This brings the outer peripheral surface of the sealing wall 82 into close contact with the upper end of the inner peripheral surface of the inner layer 202, preventing the content from passing outside the sealing wall 82 and leaking out of the inner layer 202 (i.e., the container 200). Furthermore, the auxiliary wall 38 formed on the closing wall 10 of the lid body 4 enters between the upper end of the inner layer 202 and the upper end of the outer layer 204, thereby restricting movement of the lid body 4 relative to the container. Furthermore, the shoulder 36 formed on the lower surface of the closing wall 10 of the lid body 4 abuts against the upper surface of the outer layer 204, and the support leg 84 formed on the lower surface of the flange 80 of the inner plug member 6 abuts against the upper surface of the upper flange 214 of the inner layer 202. Here, in the normal state, the valve piece 92 disposed in the communication hole 90 of the inner plug member 6 is positioned opposite the suction hole 24 and close to the lower surface of the closing wall 10, as described above, and connects the suction hole 24 to the interlayer space 206 between the inner layer 202 and the outer layer 204 of the container 200, as shown by the arrow in Figure 9(a).
[0024] When the contents of the container are to be consumed, first, a finger is placed on the flange 62 of the outer lid 46 to force the outer lid 46 upward, causing the engaging ribs 60 of the outer lid 46 to resiliently disengage from the engaging ribs 22 of the lid body 4. Next, the outer lid 46 is pivoted toward the open position, exposing the upper surface of the blocking wall 10. The side of the container 200 is then grasped and tilted appropriately to squeeze the container 200. As the container 200 is squeezed, the interlayer space 206 is pressurized, and as shown in FIG. 9(b), the valve piece 92 formed on the inner plug member 6 is displaced upward in the figure, coming into close contact with the lower surface of the blocking wall 10 of the lid body 4 and closing the suction hole 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of the valve piece 92 comes into close contact with the bulge 39 formed on the lower surface of the blocking wall 10 of the lid body 4. This prevents air in the interlayer space 206 from escaping through the suction hole 24 to the outside, and further squeezing the container 200 pressurizes the inner layer 202. When the pressure inside the inner layer 202 exceeds the pressure outside the container 200 by a predetermined value or more, the check valve member 8 is forced upward, and the seal portion 104 moves away from the upper surface of the contact wall 70 of the inner plug member 6. At this time, the check valve member 8 is forced straight upward along the guide pin 66 of the inner plug member 6. The upper surface of the seal portion 104 then abuts against the lower surface of the blocking wall 10 of the lid body 4, restricting the upward movement of the check valve member 8. Thus, the communication opening 68 of the inner plug member 6 is opened. When the communication opening 68 is opened, the contents stored in the inner layer 202 pass through the communication opening 68, the notch 106 of the check valve member 8, and the discharge opening 14, in that order, before being discharged from the discharge tube 16.
[0025] In the composite lid of the present invention, the valve piece 92 is supported from both sides in a plan view by a pair of arms 94a and 94b, that is, the valve piece 92 is supported at both ends, so to speak, and therefore no part of the valve piece 92 sags in a normal state. Therefore, when the interlayer space 206 is pressurized, the amount of displacement of the valve piece 92 from the normal state until the valve piece 92 comes into close contact with the blocking wall 10 and closes the suction hole 24 is suppressed. Therefore, with the composite lid of the present invention, when the interlayer space 206 is pressurized, the valve piece 92 comes into close contact with the blocking wall 10 and closes the suction hole 24 before all of the air in the interlayer space 206 flows out through the suction hole 24, and the pressure inside the container rises sufficiently and reliably.
[0026] When the discharge of the contents is to be stopped, the pressure on the side of the container 200 is released. Releasing the pressure on the side of the container 200 releases the rise in the pressure inside the container, causing the check valve member 8 to descend, and the outer circumferential surface of the seal portion 104 to again come into close contact with the upper surface of the contact wall 70 of the inner plug member 6, closing the communication opening 68. Therefore, the discharge of the contents stops and the inner layer 202 is sealed. When the pressure on the side of the container 200 is released, the outer layer 204 returns to its original state due to its own elasticity, i.e., it expands from its compressed state to its pre-compression state, causing the interlayer space 206 between the outer layer 204 and the inner layer 202 to become negative pressure (the interlayer space 206 is decompressed). 9(c), the valve piece 92 formed on the inner plug member 6 is displaced in a direction away from the blocking wall 10 of the lid body 4, that is, downward in the figure, and the interlayer space 206 takes in outside air through the suction hole 24, as indicated by the arrow in the figure. When a sufficient amount of outside air is taken into the interlayer space 206 and the negative pressure in the interlayer space 206 is released, that is, when the interlayer space 206 becomes equal to atmospheric pressure, the valve piece 92 returns from the state shown in Figure 9(c) to the state shown in Figure 9(a). At this time, because a sufficient amount of outside air has been taken into the interlayer space 206, the inner layer 202 maintains a state in which the side surface of the container 200 is compressed. In the illustrated embodiment, a suction tube wall 26 is formed on the upper surface of the blocking wall 10, surrounding the outer peripheral edge of the suction hole 24 and extending upward. As a result, even if some of the contents discharged from the discharge tube 16 remain on the upper surface of the blocking wall 10, the remaining contents are prevented from entering the suction hole 24. [Explanation of symbols]
[0027] 2: Composite lid 4: Lid body 6: Inner plug material 8: Check valve member 10:Occluded wall 12: Mounting wall 14: Discharge opening 24: Suction hole 68:Communication opening 80: Flange 90:Communication hole 92: Valve piece 94a and び94b: wrist 200: Container 202: Inner layer 204: Outer layer 206: Interlayer Space
Claims
1. A composite lid for a laminated container having an inner layer for containing contents and an outer layer surrounding the inner layer, a lid body including a circular closing wall and a cylindrical mounting wall depending from the outer periphery of the closing wall, the closing wall having a discharge opening formed therein; an inner plug member attached to the underside of the closing wall of the lid body and having a communication opening; a check valve member combined with the inner plug member, which normally closes the communication opening but opens the communication opening when the pressure inside the container increases; Equipped with a suction hole is formed in the outer peripheral edge of the closing wall of the lid body; The inner plug member has a flange extending outward in the radial direction, and a communication hole is formed in the flange and positioned opposite the suction hole, a valve piece is disposed within the communication hole, normally positioned opposite the suction hole and adjacent to the underside of the closing wall to connect the suction hole to an interlayer space between the inner layer and the outer layer of the container, and which comes into close contact with the closing wall to close the suction hole when the interlayer space is pressurized, and which moves away from the closing wall when the interlayer space is depressurized, the valve piece being connected to the inner circumferential surface of the communication hole via an arm, and the valve piece being formed integrally with the inner plug member together with the arm, The composite lid is characterized in that the valve piece is supported from both sides by a pair of the arms in a plan view.
2. 2. The composite closure of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of arms extends from an outer periphery of the valve leaf.
3. 3. The composite lid according to claim 1, wherein each of the pair of arms extends outward from the valve piece while curving in one direction in the circumferential direction.
4. 4. The composite lid according to claim 3, wherein each of the pair of arms extends obliquely upward or downward from the valve piece.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Composite cover
JP7453031B2