Spout stopper

Abstract

Without changing the structures of the existing spout and cap, the watering can member inserted from the opening of the spout plug can be attached and held in a position where it does not interfere with the inner ring of the cap. [Solution] A spout stopper having a spout with a dispensing tube and attached to a liquid storage container; a cap that covers the opening of the dispensing tube and has an inner ring that fits on the inner circumferential surface of the dispensing tube; a watering can member that is inserted into the dispensing tube from the opening side and attached to spray the liquid in the liquid storage container in a shower-like manner; and a locking structure that holds the watering can member inserted into the dispensing tube from the opening side in a predetermined position without interfering with the inner ring.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a spout plug provided on a liquid storage container. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a spout plug provided on a liquid storage container such as a container made of plastic or PET or an inner bag of a bag-in-box includes a spout that forms the opening (spout) through which the liquid is taken out, and a cap that covers the spout opening. An inner ring (inner plug) that fits on the inside of the cap and fits on the inner peripheral wall of the spout that forms the opening, sealing it to prevent the liquid from leaking out, is sometimes provided (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-055881 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there is a demand for a liquid storage container provided with the aforementioned spout plug so that the liquid contained in the container can be dispensed in a shower-like manner. While this demand can be met by forming the spout's opening into a watering can shape when molding it, from the viewpoint of reducing manufacturing costs, it is preferable to be able to use existing spouts and caps as they are without changing their shapes. Furthermore, forming the spout's opening into a watering can shape presents the problem of making it difficult to pour liquid into the liquid storage container, so forming the spout's opening into a watering can shape is not preferred.

[0005] One solution is to mold a watering can component capable of spraying liquid in a shower-like manner as a separate part and attach it to an existing spout. However, one consideration in this installation is the presence of the cap's inner ring. Because the cap's inner ring extends downward from the spout's opening along the inner peripheral wall, if the watering can component is attached to the spout's opening, it will interfere with the inner ring and become a hindrance when the cap is tightened. Therefore, the watering can component must be placed away from the spout's opening so that it does not interfere with the inner ring. At the same time, care must be taken to ensure that the attached watering can component does not fall off into the container or become dislodged due to the weight of the water during use.

[0006] Furthermore, since the watering can member cannot be attached to a spout from the bottom side (i.e., the side opposite the opening) once the inner bag and container are welded, the watering can member must be configured to be inserted and attached from the top side (opening side) of the spout stopper. Even if the watering can member is attached from the bottom side of the spout and then the inner bag or the like is welded, as mentioned above, the watering can member will get in the way when pouring liquid into the inner bag or the like. In other words, since the order is to pour liquid into the inner bag or the like before attaching the watering can member, the watering can member must be "configured to be assembled by inserting it from the top side (opening side) of the spout stopper."

[0007] The present invention was made in consideration of these problems, and its main objective is to make it possible to attach and hold a watering can member inserted from the mouth of a spout stopper in a position that does not interfere with the inner ring of the cap, without changing the structure of the existing spout and cap. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] That is, the spout plug of the present invention is characterized by having a spout that has a spout tube and is attached to a liquid storage container; a cap that covers the opening of the spout tube and has an inner ring that fits against the inner circumferential surface of the spout tube; a watering can member that is inserted into the spout tube from the opening side and attached to spray the liquid in the liquid storage container in a shower-like manner; and a locking structure that holds the watering can member inserted into the spout tube from the opening side in a predetermined position where it does not interfere with the inner ring.

[0009] With this configuration, the watering can member is provided with a locking structure that holds the watering can member in a predetermined position where it does not interfere with the inner ring, so that the watering can member inserted into the dispensing tube from the opening side can be attached and held in a position where it does not interfere with the inner ring of the cap without changing the structure of the existing spout and cap.

[0010] Furthermore, it is preferable that the above-mentioned spout plug has a first locking structure that prevents the watering can member from shifting downward within the spout tube, and a second locking structure that prevents the watering can member from shifting upward within the spout tube, with the direction toward the cap being the upward direction and the direction toward the liquid storage container being the downward direction along the central axis of the spout tube. In this way, the first locking structure can prevent the watering can member from falling into the liquid storage container, and the second locking structure can prevent the watering can member from falling off due to the weight of the liquid during use.

[0011] A specific embodiment of the spout plug is one in which the watering can member has a circular plate portion with a plurality of through holes formed in the thickness direction for spraying the liquid, the spout tube has a tapered portion whose inner peripheral surface has a diameter that narrows downward, and the first locking structure is composed of the tapered portion and the outer peripheral region of the circular plate portion, and the outer peripheral region of the circular plate portion comes into contact with and gets stuck on the tapered portion, thereby restricting downward movement of the watering can member. Specific examples of the reduced diameter portion include a tapered portion in which the diameter of the inner peripheral surface narrows downward, and a stepped portion in which the diameter of the inner peripheral surface narrows sharply downward.

[0012] Furthermore, it is preferable that the reduced diameter portion of the spout plug is a tapered portion in which the diameter of the inner peripheral surface narrows as it goes downward, and that the first locking structure is formed by the inner peripheral surface of the tapered portion and the outer peripheral surface of the disc portion, and that the outer peripheral surface of the disc portion comes into contact with and gets stuck on the inner peripheral surface of the tapered portion, thereby restricting the downward movement of the watering can member. When the spout's pouring tube is formed by injection molding, it is desirable that the inner peripheral surface be tapered to facilitate removal from the mold. Furthermore, if the inner peripheral surface of the pouring tube is designed to have a tapered shape such that the opening diameter narrows as it goes downward, this tapered shape can be used to form the first locking structure, resulting in a simple structure and reduced manufacturing costs.

[0013] A specific embodiment of the above-mentioned spout plug is one in which the watering can member further comprises a cylindrical portion extending downward from the back surface of the disc portion, and the lower end of the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion is provided with an annular edge portion that protrudes radially outward, and the second locking structure is formed by the upper surface of the annular edge portion provided on the cylindrical portion and the lower end surface of the spout tube, and the upper surface of the annular edge contacts and catches on the lower end surface of the spout tube, thereby restricting upward movement of the watering can member.

[0014] Furthermore, it is preferable that the spout plug has one or more circumferential slits extending vertically formed in the wall of the cylindrical portion of the watering can member. In this way, the wall of the tubular portion of the watering can member is divided into multiple parts by slits, so that when the tubular portion of the watering can member is inserted into the spout's dispensing tube, it comes into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the dispensing tube, thereby narrowing the tubular portion of the watering can member, and the upper surface of the annular edge can be easily inserted up to a position where it comes into contact with the lower end surface of the dispensing tube and becomes caught.

[0015] Furthermore, it is preferable that the disc portion of the above-mentioned spout plug has a central region in which the plurality of through holes are formed, and an outer peripheral region formed around the central region and having the outer circumferential surface, and that the central region protrudes upwardly beyond the outer peripheral region. In this way, the outer peripheral surface of the disc portion can be held in a position where it does not come into contact with the inner ring of the cap, while only the through hole through which the liquid is released can be positioned higher, making it less likely that the shower-like released liquid will hit the inner peripheral surface of the spout. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention configured in this manner, the watering can member inserted through the mouth of the spout plug can be attached and held in a position that does not interfere with the inner ring of the cap, without changing the structure of the existing spout and cap. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the components constituting the spout plug of one embodiment of the present invention have been removed. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a watering can member is attached to the spout in the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the disassembled state of the spout plug of the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the spout plug of the embodiment in a closed state. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a watering can member according to another embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a watering can member according to another embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a spout plug according to another embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a spout plug according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] A spout plug 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0019] The spout plug 100 of this embodiment is attached to a liquid storage container, such as a container made of plastic or PET, or the inner bag of a pack-in-box, and is intended to add the function of an openable and closable spout to the liquid storage container.

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, this spout is composed of a spout 1 that is attached to a liquid storage container (not shown), a cap 2 that covers the spout 1, a watering can member 3 that is inserted into the spout 1, and a locking structure 4 that holds the watering can member 3 inserted into the spout 1 in a predetermined position (holding position). The spout 1, cap 2, and watering can member 3 are all molded from resin, and the spout plug 100 is constructed by assembling these parts. A threaded portion is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the spout 1 and the cap 2 for threading the cap 2 onto the spout 1. The watering can member 3 is not molded integrally with the spout 1, but is constructed as a separate molded part. The cap 2 may be attached to the spout 1 by a snap-type connection mechanism without being threaded. Each part will be described in detail below.

[0021] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the spout 1 is formed in a cylindrical shape and includes a flat base 11 that is attached to a liquid storage container, and a cylindrical dispensing tube 12 that extends vertically from the center of the base 11. The spout 1 is used not only to pour out the liquid in the liquid storage container to the outside, but also as an inlet for pouring the liquid into the liquid storage container. Hereinafter, the direction along the central axis of the dispensing tube 12 toward the cap 2 will be referred to as the upward direction, and the direction toward the liquid storage container will be referred to as the downward direction.

[0022] The dispensing tube 12 has a male thread on its outer circumferential surface. The dispensing tube 12 has, from top to bottom, a straight section 121, where the diameter of the inner circumferential surface 12s does not change along the axial direction, and a tapered section (reduced diameter section) 122, where the diameter of the inner circumferential surface 12s decreases downward along the axial direction. The inner circumferential surface 12s of the straight section 121 is connected to the upper end face of the dispensing tube 12, and the inner circumferential surface 12s of the tapered section 122 is connected to the lower end face of the dispensing tube 12.

[0023] The cap 2 is composed of a top plate portion 21 and a hollow cylindrical skirt portion 22 that extends vertically from the outer peripheral edge of the top plate portion 21. An annular sealing member (inner ring 23) is provided on the inner top surface, which is the inner surface of the top plate portion 21 of the cap 2, to prevent gaps from forming when the cap 2 is attached to the spout 1 and to prevent liquid from leaking from inside the liquid storage container. When the cap 2 is attached to the spout 1, the outer peripheral surface of the inner ring 23 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface 12s of the straight portion 121 of the dispensing tube 12 of the spout 1 so as to fit snugly. The inner peripheral surface 12s of the skirt portion 22 is provided with a female thread that screws into a male thread.

[0024] The watering can member 3 is attached to close the opening of the spout 1 and sprays the liquid in the liquid storage container in a shower-like manner. The watering can member 3 includes a disk portion 31 having a plurality of through holes 31h formed in the thickness direction for spraying the liquid, and a hollow cylindrical tubular portion 32 extending downward from the outer circumferential edge on the back surface of the disk portion 31.

[0025] The disk portion 31 is formed so that the diameter of its outer peripheral surface 31 s is substantially the same as the diameter of the inner peripheral surface 12 s of the straight portion 121 of the pouring tube 12 of the spout 1 .

[0026] The cylindrical portion 32 has an annular edge portion 32a protruding radially outward at its lower end on its outer peripheral surface. The wall of the cylindrical portion 32 also has a plurality of (four in this example) circumferentially extending slits 33 that extend vertically in a straight line. The slits 33 are formed from the upper end to the lower end of the cylindrical portion 32, and the slits 33 divide the cylindrical portion 32 and the annular edge portion 32a into a plurality of (four) circumferential portions. The slits 33 are equally spaced circumferentially, but may be spaced at different intervals. The cylindrical portion 32 is divided by the plurality of slits 33, allowing its lower end to be narrowed to reduce its outer diameter. Specifically, the outer diameter of the lower end of the cylindrical portion 32 is larger than the diameter of the narrowest point of the inner peripheral surface 12s of the cylindrical portion 32 in a normal state where no external force is applied. The cylindrical portion 32 is configured so that the lower end portion thereof is narrowed by application of an external force, and the outer diameter thereof becomes smaller than the narrowest point of the inner peripheral surface 12s of the cylindrical portion 32.

[0027] The locking structure 4 holds the watering can member 3 inserted into the dispensing tube 12 in a holding position where it does not interfere with the inner ring 23 of the cap 2. This locking structure 4 has a first locking structure 41 that prevents the watering can member 3 from shifting downward inside the dispensing tube 12, and a second locking structure 42 that prevents the watering can member 3 from shifting upward inside the dispensing tube 12.

[0028] Specifically, the first locking structure 41 is made up of the inner circumferential surface 12s of the dispensing tube 12 and the outer circumferential surface 31s of the watering can member 3, and more specifically, is made up of the inner circumferential surface 12s of the tapered portion 122 of the dispensing tube 12 and the outer circumferential surface 31s of the disc portion 31 of the watering can member 3. Specifically, the diameter of at least the narrowest point of the inner circumferential surface 12s of the tapered portion 122 of the dispensing tube 12 is smaller than the diameter of the outer circumferential surface 31s of the disc portion 31 of the watering can member 3. As a result, when the watering can member 3 is inserted into the dispensing tube 12, the outer circumferential surface 31s of the disc portion 31 comes into contact with and gets stuck on the inner circumferential surface 12s of the tapered portion 122 of the dispensing tube 12, thereby restricting the downward movement of the watering can member 3.

[0029] The second locking structure 42 is composed of the lower end surface 12b of the dispensing tube 12 of the spout 1 and the upper surface of the annular edge 32a provided on the tubular portion 32 of the watering can member 3. When the watering can member 3 is inserted into the dispensing tube 12, the annular edge 32a of the tubular portion 32 protrudes beyond the lower end surface 12b of the dispensing tube 12 of the spout 1. The upper surface of the annular edge 32a comes into contact with and catches on the lower end surface 12b of the dispensing tube 12, thereby restricting the upward movement of the watering can member 3.

[0030] 4, the dimensions of each part of the watering can member 3 of this embodiment are determined so that, in the holding position, the inner circumferential surface 12s of the tapered portion 122 of the dispensing tube 12 comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface 31s of the disc portion 31 of the watering can member 3, and the upper surface of the annular edge portion 32a comes into contact with the lower end surface 12b of the dispensing tube 12. Furthermore, the dimensions of each part of the watering can member 3 are determined so that, in this holding position, the upper end of the disc portion 31 is positioned lower than the lower end of the inner ring 23 of the cap 2 that is firmly attached to the spout 1.

[0031] The spout plug 100 of this embodiment configured in this manner is provided with a locking structure 4 that holds the watering can member 3 in a predetermined position where it does not interfere with the inner ring 23, so that the watering can member 3 inserted into the spout tube 12 can be attached and held in a position where it does not interfere with the inner ring 23 of the cap 2 without changing the structure of the existing spout 1 and cap 2. Furthermore, the first locking structure 41 can prevent the watering can member 3 from falling into the liquid storage container, and the second locking structure 42 can prevent the watering can member 3 from falling off due to the weight of the liquid during use. In particular, first locking structure 41 is formed by injection molding using the tapered shape that already exists in pouring tube 12 of existing spout 1, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced with a simple structure.

[0032] Furthermore, since the wall of the tubular portion 32 of the watering can member 3 is divided into multiple parts by slits 33, when the tubular portion 32 of the watering can member 3 is inserted into the dispensing tube 12 of the spout 1, the tubular portion 32 of the watering can member 3 can be narrowed by coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface 12s of the dispensing tube 12, and the upper surface of the annular edge portion 32a can be easily inserted to a position where it comes into contact with the lower end surface 12b of the dispensing tube 12 and becomes caught.

[0033] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in another embodiment of the watering can member 3, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the disc portion 31 has a central region 31c in which a plurality of through holes 31h are formed, and an outer peripheral region 31o formed around the central region 31c and having an outer peripheral surface 31s, and the central region 31c may protrude above the outer peripheral region 31o.

[0034] 7, the second locking structure 42 in another embodiment may be configured using a notch 12c provided in the inner circumferential surface 12s of the pouring tube 12 of the spout 1. That is, in this embodiment, the edge 32a at the lower end of the tubular portion 32 of the watering can member 3 comes into contact with and becomes caught on the top surface of the notch 12c, which is part of the lower end surface 12b of the pouring tube 12, thereby restricting the upward movement of the watering can member 3. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the spout 1 in another embodiment may not include the base 11, and a liquid storage container may be attached to the outer circumferential surface of the extraction tube 12 by welding or the like.

[0035] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the pouring tube 12 has a tapered portion 122, and the first locking structure 41 is configured using the inner circumferential surface 122s of the tapered portion 122, but this is not limited to this. In other embodiments, as shown in Fig. 8, for example, the pouring tube 12 may have a stepped portion 123 in which the diameter of the inner circumferential surface 122s rapidly narrows downward, and the first locking structure 41 may be configured using the upper surface 123s of the stepped portion 123. That is, in this case, the outer peripheral edge of the watering can member 3 comes into contact with and gets caught on the stepped portion 123, thereby restricting downward movement of the watering can member 3.

[0036] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 100 ···Pour spout stopper 1 Spout 11. The Foundation 12...Pour tube 121 Straight section 122 Tapered section 12s...Inner circumferential surface 12b...Bottom end surface 2 Caps 21 Top plate 22 Skirt part 23 Inner ring 3. Watering can parts 31 Disk part 31h...Through hole 31c...Central area 31o...outer area 31s...outer circumferential surface 32 Cylindrical part 32a Annular edge 33 Slit 4...locking structure 41...First locking structure 42...Second locking structure

Claims

1. a spout having a dispensing tube and attached to a liquid storage container; a cap that covers the opening of the pouring tube and has an inner ring that fits on the inner circumferential surface of the pouring tube; a watering can member that is inserted into the pouring cylinder from the opening side and that sprays the liquid in the liquid storage container in a shower-like manner; and a locking structure that holds the watering can member inserted into the pouring cylinder from the opening side at a predetermined position where it does not interfere with the inner ring.

2. Along the central axis of the pouring cylinder, the direction toward the cap is the upward direction, and the direction toward the liquid storage container is the downward direction, The locking structure is a first locking structure that prevents the watering can member from shifting downward within the pouring tube; a second locking structure that prevents the watering can member from shifting upward in the pouring tube; The spout plug of claim 1, comprising:

3. The watering can member includes a circular plate portion having a plurality of through holes formed in a thickness direction for spraying the liquid, The pouring cylinder has a tapered portion whose diameter on the inner circumferential surface narrows downward, The spout plug according to claim 2, wherein the first locking structure is composed of the reduced diameter portion and the outer peripheral region of the disc portion, and the outer peripheral region of the disc portion contacts and gets stuck on the reduced diameter portion, thereby restricting downward movement of the watering can member.

4. The reduced diameter portion is a tapered portion in which the diameter of the inner circumferential surface narrows downward, The spout plug according to claim 3, wherein the first locking structure is constituted by the inner peripheral surface of the tapered portion and the outer peripheral surface of the disc portion, and the outer peripheral surface of the disc portion contacts and gets stuck against the inner peripheral surface of the tapered portion, thereby restricting downward movement of the watering can member.

5. The watering can member further includes a cylindrical portion extending downward from the back surface of the disk portion, a lower end of an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion is provided with an annular edge portion that protrudes radially outward; The spout plug according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the second locking structure is formed by the upper surface of the annular edge portion provided on the tubular portion and the lower end surface of the spout tube, and the upper surface of the annular edge portion contacts and hooks onto the lower end surface of the spout tube, thereby restricting upward movement of the watering can member.

6. The spout plug according to claim 5, wherein one or more slits extending in the vertical direction are formed in the wall of the cylindrical portion of the watering can member in the circumferential direction.

7. the disk portion includes a central region in which the plurality of through holes are formed, and an outer peripheral region formed around the central region and having the outer peripheral surface, The spout plug according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the central region protrudes upwardly relative to the outer peripheral region.

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