cap

Abstract

To prevent the cut surface of a slit in an elastic film from sticking when the contents are left for a long period of time after being discharged, and to prevent the contents from falling from a lid when the lid is opened. [Solution] The cap comprises a cap body (11) that is attached to the mouth (W) of the container body in which the contents are stored and that has a discharge hole (21) for discharging the contents, a slit valve (12) that is attached to the cap body and that releasably closes the discharge hole, and a lid (13) that is detachably attached to the cap body and that releasably covers the slit valve, the front and back surfaces of the slit valve facing vertically, covering the discharge hole and having an elastic membrane (28) with a slit (27) that runs through it in the vertical direction, and the surface of the elastic membrane has a protrusion (32) that protrudes upward in a portion located outside the slit and is pushed downward by the inner surface of the lid.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a cap comprising a slit valve that releasably blocks the discharge hole of the cap body, and a lid body that is removably attached to the cap body and releasably covers the slit valve, wherein the slit valve has its front and back surfaces facing vertically, covers the discharge hole, and comprises an elastic membrane with a slit formed therethrough in the vertical direction, and the lid body has a depression portion that, when in the closed state, presses down on the portion of the surface of the elastic membrane where the slit is formed, thereby widening the slit. This cap can prevent the cut surface of the slit in the elastic membrane from sticking together even if the cap is left for a long period of time after the contents are discharged. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-187481 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with conventional caps, there is a risk that the contents may adhere to the push-down portion of the lid when the lid is closed, and that the contents may fall out of the lid when the lid is opened.

[0005] The present invention provides a cap that can prevent both the cut surface of the slit in the elastic membrane from sticking when the contents are left unused for a long period of time after being ejected, and the contents from falling out of the lid when the lid is opened. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A cap according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a cap body that is attached to the mouth of a container body in which contents are stored and that has an ejection hole for ejecting the contents; a slit valve that is attached to the cap body and that releasably blocks the ejection hole; and a lid that is detachably attached to the cap body and that releasably covers the slit valve, wherein the front and back surfaces of the slit valve face vertically, cover the ejection hole, and have an elastic membrane with a slit that runs through it in the vertical direction, and a protrusion that protrudes upward and is pushed downward by the inner surface of the lid at a portion of the surface of the elastic membrane that is located outside the slit.

[0007] When the lid is closed, the protrusion of the elastic membrane is pushed downward by the inner surface of the lid body, and by elastically deforming the elastic membrane when the lid is closed, the cut surface of the slit in the elastic membrane can be prevented from sticking together even if the contents are left unattended for a long period of time after being ejected. Since the protrusion is formed on the elastic membrane rather than the lid body, it is possible to easily elastically deform the protrusion when the lid is closed, which prevents the elastic membrane from deforming too much when the lid is closed, and prevents the slit from widening to the extent that the contents can pass through. The protrusion that is pushed in by the inner surface of the lid body is provided on the part of the surface of the elastic membrane that is located outside the slit, which makes it possible to prevent contents that pass through the slit when the lid is closed from adhering to the inner surface of the lid body, and prevents the contents from falling out of the lid body when the lid is opened.

[0008] The protrusions may be provided in plurality at intervals around the slit so as to surround the slit from the outside.

[0009] Since multiple protrusions are provided at intervals around the slit so as to surround the slit from the outside, the elastic membrane is elastically deformed when the lid is closed, and the cut surface of the slit in the elastic membrane can be reliably prevented from sticking together even if the contents are left unattended for a long period of time after being ejected.

[0010] The slit valve may be formed in a cylindrical shape with the elastic membrane as its top wall, and the slits may be provided in multiple locations extending radially from the radial center of the elastic membrane, and the protrusion may protrude upward from the outer peripheral edge of the elastic membrane along the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the slit valve.

[0011] Multiple slits are provided extending radially from the radial center of the elastic membrane, and multiple protrusions protrude upward from the outer edge of the elastic membrane along the outer surface of the peripheral wall of the slit valve, and are provided at intervals around the slit so as to surround the slit from the outside.This makes it possible to elastically deform the elastic membrane evenly with little bias when the lid is closed, and reliably prevents the cut surfaces of the slits in the elastic membrane from sticking together even if the contents are left unattended for a long period of time after being ejected.

[0012] The peripheral wall of the slit valve may have a diameter that decreases as it extends upward, and the elastic membrane may be formed in a dome shape that protrudes upward or downward.

[0013] The peripheral wall of the slit valve tapers upward, and the elastic membrane is formed in a dome shape with a protrusion facing upward or downward, so that when the inner surface of the lid presses the protrusion downward, the convex curved surfaces on the front and back surfaces of the elastic membrane are pulled, widening the slit, and the concave curved surfaces are compressed, pressuring the cut surfaces of the slit. Therefore, in the closed state, the slit is prevented from widening to the extent that the contents can pass through, and the elastically deformed shape of the elastic membrane can be stabilized. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent both the cut surface of the slit in the elastic membrane from sticking together when the contents are left for a long period of time after being ejected, and the contents from falling out of the lid when the lid is opened. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cap shown as the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a cap shown as a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] A cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the cap 1 according to this embodiment includes a cap body 11, a slit valve 12, and a lid body 13. The cap body 11, the slit valve 12, and the lid body 13 are each formed in a cylindrical shape with a top, and are arranged coaxially with a common axis.

[0017] Hereinafter, this common axis will be referred to as the cap axis O, the side of the lid top wall 13a of the lid body 13 along the cap axis O will be referred to as the upper side, the side of the open end of the cap peripheral wall 11a of the cap body 11 along the cap axis O will be referred to as the lower side, and the direction along the cap axis O will be referred to as the up-down direction. The direction intersecting the cap axis O as viewed from the up-down direction will be referred to as the radial direction, and the direction going around the cap axis O as viewed from the up-down direction will be referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0018] The cap body 11 is attached to the mouth W of a container body in which the contents are accommodated. The cap body 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a top, having a cap top wall 11b and a cap peripheral wall 11a. The inner peripheral surface of the cap peripheral wall 11a is formed with a female thread that screws into a male thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion W of the container body. The cap top wall 11b is provided with a discharge hole 21 for discharging the contents. The cap top wall 11b is formed with a surrounding cylinder 22, a sealing cylinder 23, and an attachment cylinder 24. The discharge hole 21, the surrounding cylinder 22, the sealing cylinder 23, and the attachment cylinder 24 are arranged coaxially with the cap axis O.

[0019] The surrounding tube 22 protrudes upward from the periphery of the opening of the discharge hole 21 on the upper surface of the cap top wall 11b. The sealing tube 23 and the mounting tube 24 protrude downward from the underside of the cap top wall 11b. The sealing tube 23 is tightly fitted into the mouth portion W. The mounting tube 24 is disposed radially inward from the sealing tube 23. The inner peripheral surface of the mounting tube 24 is located radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the surrounding tube 22. A support ring 31 is fitted into the mounting tube 24. The upper surface of the support ring 31 is spaced downward from the underside of the cap top wall 11b.

[0020] The lid 13 is detachably attached to the cap body 11 and releasably covers the slit valve 12. The lid 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a top, including a lid top wall 13a and a lid peripheral wall 13b. The lid 13 is connected to the cap body 11 via a hinge portion 25. A downwardly protruding engagement tube 26 is formed on the underside of the lid top wall 13a. The engagement tube 26 is disposed coaxially with the cap axis O. The engagement tube 26 is detachably fitted into the surrounding tube 22 of the cap body 11.

[0021] Slit valve 12 is attached to cap body 11 and releasably closes discharge hole 21. Slit valve 12 has two surfaces facing up and down, covers discharge hole 21, and is equipped with elastic membrane 28 with slit 27 formed therethrough in the up and down direction. Elastic membrane 28 is made of a soft material such as rubber or elastomer and is elastically deformable. Elastic membrane 28 is formed in a dome shape that protrudes downward.

[0022] A plurality of slits 27 are provided so as to extend radially from the cap axis O (the radial center of the elastic membrane 28). A protrusion 28a protruding downward is formed on the rear surface of the elastic membrane 28 at a portion adjacent to the radial outer edge of the slit 27 from the radial outside. In the illustrated example, four slits 27 are provided at 90° intervals around the cap axis O, and form a cross shape intersecting on the cap axis O when viewed from the top-bottom direction. Note that one slit 27 or an odd number of slits 27 may be provided. In the latter case, the multiple slits 27 may form, for example, a Y shape when viewed from the top-bottom direction.

[0023] The slit valve 12 is formed in the shape of a cylinder with a top having an elastic membrane 28 on the top wall. A peripheral wall 29 of the slit valve 12 (hereinafter referred to as the valve peripheral wall) is inserted into the discharge hole 21, and the elastic membrane 28 is located within the upper end of the surrounding cylinder 22. The diameter of the valve peripheral wall 29 decreases as it extends upward. A flange portion 29a that protrudes radially outward is formed at the lower end of the valve peripheral wall 29. The flange portion 29a is disposed within the mounting cylinder 24 and is fixed by being sandwiched between the upper surface of the support ring 31 and the lower surface of the cap top wall 11b in the vertical direction. The valve peripheral wall 29 is formed integrally with the elastic membrane 28 using the same material.

[0024] In this embodiment, a protrusion 32 is formed on the surface of elastic membrane 28 at a portion located outside slit 27. The protrusion 32 protrudes upward and is pressed downward by the inner surface of lid body 13. In the closed state, the lower surface of lid top wall 13a presses the upper end of protrusion 32 downward. The portion of the lower surface of lid top wall 13a that faces slit 27 in the vertical direction is spaced upward from the surface of elastic membrane 28.

[0025] A plurality of protrusions 32 are provided at intervals around the slits 27 so as to surround the slits 27 from the outside. In the illustrated example, the number of protrusions 32 is the same as the number of slits 27, but the number of protrusions 32 may be different from the number of slits 27. The protrusions 32 may be spaced apart in the circumferential direction from the radial outer edges of adjacent slits 27, or may be located at the same position in the circumferential direction. Note that the plurality of protrusions 32 may be provided in a row in the circumferential direction, or a single protrusion 32 may be provided.

[0026] The protrusion 32 protrudes upward from the outer peripheral edge of the elastic membrane 28 along the outer peripheral surface of the valve peripheral wall 29. The outer surface of the protrusion 32 facing radially outward is continuously connected to the outer peripheral surface of the valve peripheral wall 29 without any step in the up-down direction. The inner surface of the protrusion 32 facing radially inward is located radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the valve peripheral wall 29. The protrusions 32 have a semicircular shape that protrudes upward when viewed from the radial direction. The upper end of the protrusion 32 is located above the upper end of the surrounding cylinder 22. The circumferential size of the protrusions 32 is larger than the distance between the lower ends of adjacent protrusions 32 in the circumferential direction. However, the circumferential size of the protrusions 32 may be smaller than the distance between the lower ends of adjacent protrusions 32 in the circumferential direction.

[0027] As described above, according to the cap 1 of this embodiment, when the lid is closed, the protrusion 32 of the elastic membrane 28 is pushed downward by the underside of the lid top wall 13a, and by elastically deforming the elastic membrane 28 when the lid is closed, the cut surface of the slit 27 in the elastic membrane 28 can be prevented from sticking together even if the cap is left for a long period of time after the contents are ejected. Since the protrusion 32 is formed on the elastic membrane 28 rather than the lid body 13, it is possible to easily cause the protrusion 32 to elastically deform when the lid is closed, which prevents the elastic membrane 28 from deforming significantly when the lid is closed, and prevents the slit 27 from widening to the extent that the contents can pass through. The protrusion 32, which is pressed into the underside of the lid top wall 13a, is provided on the surface of the elastic membrane 28 in a portion located outside the slit 27, which makes it possible to prevent the contents that pass through the slit 27 when the lid is closed from adhering to the underside of the lid top wall 13a, and thus prevents the contents from falling out of the lid body 13 when the lid body 13 is opened.

[0028] A plurality of protrusions 32 are provided at intervals around the slit 27 so as to surround the slit 27 from the outside, and by elastically deforming the elastic membrane 28 in the closed state, it is possible to reliably prevent the cut surface of the slit 27 in the elastic membrane 28 from sticking together even if the container is left for a long period of time after the contents are discharged.

[0029] A plurality of slits 27 are provided extending radially from the radial center of elastic membrane 28, and a plurality of protrusions 32 protrude upward from the outer peripheral edge of elastic membrane 28 along the outer peripheral surface of valve peripheral wall 29, and are provided at intervals around slits 27 so as to surround slits 27 from the outside. This makes it possible to elastically deform elastic membrane 28 evenly with little bias when the lid is closed, and reliably prevents the cut surfaces of slits 27 in elastic membrane 28 from sticking together even if the container is left for a long period of time after the contents are ejected.

[0030] Because valve peripheral wall 29 decreases in diameter as it extends upward and elastic membrane 28 is formed in a dome shape that protrudes downward, when the lower surface of lid top wall 13a presses the upper end of protrusion 32 downward, elastic membrane 28 elastically deforms such that the convexly curved back surface (lower surface) of elastic membrane 28 is pulled to expand slit 27, and the concavely curved front surface (upper surface) is compressed to press the cut surface of slit 27. Therefore, in the closed state, slit 27 is prevented from expanding to an extent that allows the contents to pass through, and the elastically deformed shape of elastic membrane 28 can be stabilized.

[0031] Next, a cap 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted, with only the differences being described.

[0032] In the cap 2 of this embodiment, the elastic membrane 28 is formed in a dome shape that protrudes upward. The upper end of the protrusion 32 is located above the radially inner end that is located at the uppermost position of the elastic membrane 28. In a vertical cross section along the up-down direction, the inner circumferential surface of the upper end of the protrusion 32 presents a protruding curved shape that extends radially outward as it goes upward.

[0033] The cap 2 according to this embodiment also has the same effects as the cap 1 according to the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, valve peripheral wall 29 tapers upward, and elastic membrane 28 is formed in a dome shape that protrudes upward, so that when the lower surface of lid top wall 13a presses the upper end of protrusion 32 downward, elastic membrane 28 elastically deforms such that the convexly curved surface (upper surface) of elastic membrane 28 is pulled to expand slit 27, and the concavely curved surface (lower surface) is compressed to press the cut surface of slit 27. Therefore, similar to cap 1 of the previous embodiment, in the closed state, slit 27 is prevented from expanding to an extent that allows the contents to pass through, and the elastically deformed shape of elastic membrane 28 can be stabilized.

[0034] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0035] For example, the protrusion 32 may have a rectangular shape that is long in the circumferential direction when viewed from the radial direction. The caps 1 and 2 are not limited to hinge caps, and may be configured such that the lid body 13 is detachably fitted or screwed onto the cap body 11, for example.

[0036] In addition, within the scope of the spirit of the present invention, it is possible to replace the components in the above-described embodiments with well-known components as appropriate, and the above-described embodiments and the above-described variations may be combined as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1, 2 caps 11 Cap body 12 Slit valve 13 Lid 21 Discharge hole 27 Slit 28 Elastic membrane 29 Valve wall (wall) 32 Protrusion W Mouth

Claims

1. a cap body that is attached to the mouth of a container body in which contents are stored and that has a discharge hole for discharging the contents; a slit valve attached to the cap body and releasably closing the discharge hole; a lid body that is detachably attached to the cap body and that releasably covers the slit valve, the slit valve has an elastic membrane whose front and back surfaces face up and down, covers the discharge hole, and has a slit formed therethrough in the up and down direction; A cap, wherein a protrusion that protrudes upward and is pressed downward by the inner surface of the lid body is formed on the surface of the elastic membrane at a portion located outside the slit.

2. The cap according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusions are provided at intervals around the slit so as to surround the slit from the outside.

3. the slit valve is formed in a cylindrical shape with a top wall including the elastic membrane, The slits are provided in plurality so as to extend radially from a central portion of the elastic membrane in a radial direction, The cap according to claim 2 , wherein the protrusion protrudes upward from an outer peripheral edge of the elastic membrane along an outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall of the slit valve.

4. The peripheral wall of the slit valve has a diameter that decreases upward, 4. The cap according to claim 3, wherein the elastic membrane is formed in a dome shape that protrudes upward or downward.

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