Beverage containers

Abstract

To provide a beverage container that can be used comfortably by the user during stirring, drinking, and other similar processes. [Solution] A beverage container 100 comprising a container body 1 for containing liquid and a lid member 2 for sealing the container body 1 in a watertight manner, wherein the lid member 2 comprises a lid body 21 having an opening 211 and being detachably attached to the container body 1, and a cap member 22 slidably attached to the lid body 21, wherein the cap member 22 is configured to be switchable between a closed position that seals the opening 211 in a watertight manner and an open position that exposes the opening, and the lid member 2 is provided with a guide means for guiding the cap member 22 to the closed position or the open position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a beverage container that can stir a liquid by shaking a container containing the liquid and can drink the stirred liquid.

Background Art

[0002] Increasing numbers of people, including sports players, are consuming protein drinks, amino acid drinks, etc. (hereinafter referred to as beverages) to enhance muscle strength and improve health. Since these beverages are heavy and bulky in liquid form, they are often carried around in powder form and dissolved in water and consumed during or before and after sports or training, or during breaks. When consuming, powder and water are put into a beverage container such as a shaker, which is a beverage container, and stirred to make a beverage. Shakers having two functions of stirring and drinking have been conventionally developed so that these operations can be performed.

[0003] Here, during stirring, it is necessary to keep the lid watertight so that the contained liquid does not leak out, while during drinking, the mouth part serving as the drinking port must be opened. Therefore, the beverage container is provided with an openable and closable lid so that powder and water can be put in and taken out of the container, and the lid is provided with a mouth part for drinking, and the mouth part is provided with an openable and closable cap member. The user operates the cap member to open this mouth part during drinking, and operates the cap member to close the mouth part after drinking or during stirring.

[0004] However, in a state of being tired during sports or training, the opening and closing operation of this cap is troublesome, and there may be a feeling of stress due to poor operability. For example, the amount of operation of the cap until it is opened for drinking may be large, or it may be difficult to operate with hands smeared with sweat. These stresses may also affect the performance of the competition for professional athletes, and the accumulation of even a slight stress may become a major problem.

[0005] Conventionally, beverage containers have been developed with a structure in which a mouth is provided at the top of the bottle, as exemplified by PET bottles, and a cap member is closed to seal the mouth (see Patent Document 1). In this configuration, in addition to the method of opening and closing the mouth and cap member with a screw as in PET bottles, there are also configurations in which the mouth can be opened and closed by the cap member moving up and down with a hinge (see Patent Document 2).

[0006] Furthermore, beverage containers have been developed in which a cap member slides horizontally across the opening to create a seal (see Patent Documents 2 and 3). In such a sliding structure, the beverage can be drunk by sliding the cap to the open position of the opening, and the container can be sealed and stirred by sliding the cap member to the closed position of the opening. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-114951 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2014-509285 [Patent Document 3] Publicly Published Utility Model No. 118743 (Showa 52-118743) [Patent Document 4] Utility Model Registration No. 3231844 Gazette [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] However, with the technology described in Patent Document 1, the screw must be turned continuously until the cap member is completely detached from the mouth, which requires a lot of operation and can be cumbersome when you want to replenish fluids quickly. Also, after drinking, the screw must be turned to seal the cap member. Therefore, it takes time when returning to training or competition.

[0009] Even with a hinged cap structure like that in Patent Document 2, flipping the cap up to a position where it doesn't get in the way while drinking (for example, 180 degrees to the opposite side) requires the cumbersome operation of holding the bottle with one hand, flipping and rotating the cap member about 180 degrees with the other hand, and then returning the cap member after drinking. In this case, flipping it up to about 90 degrees might be possible by pressing the side of the cap member opposite the mouth with a finger, creating a seesaw-like flip-up mechanism. However, in this case, the cap member may hit the nose or forehead while drinking, or droplets of the contents attached to the inside of the cap member may drip, causing discomfort.

[0010] On the other hand, if the cap member is opened and closed by sliding, as in Patent Documents 3 and 4, the cap will not hit the nose or forehead when drinking. However, the operation of sliding the cap member to the open or closed position requires holding the bottle with one hand and sliding the cap member with the other, which is as cumbersome as in Patent Document 2, etc.

[0011] Thus, conventional technologies for beverage containers that allow stirring and drinking have structures that can cause various problems, such as the cumbersome operation of opening and closing the cap and various factors that can cause discomfort to the drinker during consumption.

[0012] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a beverage container that can be used comfortably by the drinker during stirring, drinking, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The means employed by the inventors to solve the above problems are described below. The present invention relates to a beverage container comprising a container body for holding liquid and a lid member for sealing the container body in a watertight manner. Of the above configuration, the lid member comprises a lid body having an opening and being detachably attached to the container body, and a cap member slidably attached to the lid body. Here, the cap member is configured to be switchable between a closed position in which the opening is watertightly sealed and an open position in which the opening is exposed. Furthermore, the lid is characterized by being provided with a guiding means for guiding the cap member to the closed position or the open position. In this invention, "guiding" means moving toward that position by some means.

[0014] The beverage container of the present invention allows the cap member attached to the lid body to be slid to switch from a closed position, which closes the opening, to an open position, which opens the opening, when drinking. During the sliding of this cap member, a guiding means provided on the lid member guides the cap member to either the closed or open position when it attempts to slide, and holds it in the guided position. Due to the above mechanism, for example, simply manipulating the cap with a finger makes it feel as if the cap automatically slides to the closed or open position. Therefore, when a drinker wants to consume the product, they can quickly and easily prepare it for consumption without experiencing any stress.

[0015] As a means to solve the problem, a biasing means may be provided on the lid member or the cap member, and the biasing means may be configured to apply a biasing force so that the cap member moves away from the closed position during the process in which the cap member slides from the closed position to the open position.

[0016] In the above configuration, a biasing means is provided on the lid member or the cap member, and when the drinker attempts to slide the cap member from the closed position to the open position, this biasing means applies a biasing force to the cap member. This biasing force, along with the guiding action of the aforementioned guiding means, allows the cap member to slide more smoothly to the open position.

[0017] Another possible means to solve the problem is to use magnets as the guiding means. When using magnets, a first magnet is provided on the cap member, a second magnet is provided on the lid body at a position close to the opening, and a third magnet is provided at a position further from the opening than the second magnet. The opposing faces of the first magnet and the second magnet have the same polarity, while the opposing faces of the first magnet and the third magnet have different polarities.

[0018] By using magnets and arranging a first magnet on the cap member and a second magnet on the mouth side of the lid body so that they repel each other, when attempting to slide the cap member to the open position, the repulsive force of the magnets guides the cap member to the open position. Conversely, the repulsive force in the opposite direction can also guide the cap member to the closed position. On the other hand, by arranging the first magnet provided on the cap member and the third magnet on the opposite side of the lid body from the opening to attract each other, the cap member can be guided to the open position.

[0019] Another possible solution to the problem is to provide the lid member or cap member with a first locking means for locking the cap member to the lid body in the closed position, and a second locking means for locking the cap member to the lid body in the open position.

[0020] By means of the first locking means, when the cap member closes the mouth portion, it can be prevented from being easily opened due to an impact or the like. Further, by the biasing force when releasing the locked state, a biasing force for sliding the cap member to the closed position can be applied. Also, by means of the second locking means, when the entire beverage container is tilted forward during drinking, it is possible to prevent the cap member from unintentionally sliding toward the closed position. Thus, by the first locking means and the second locking means, even when an unexpected force is applied, the cap member will not unintentionally move out of the predetermined position.

[0021] As yet another means that can be adopted to solve the problem, in addition to the above configuration, the cap member can be configured to be removable from the lid body by sliding further outward from the open position.

[0022] When the cap member is in the open position, the cap member is attracted by the first magnet and the third magnet and is locked by the second locking means to hold its position. By further sliding the cap member outward from here, the locked state of the second locking means is released, and by sliding the cap member beyond the range of the magnetic attraction, it can be removed from the lid body. Thereby, the cap member and the lid body can be washed separately, and a clean state can be maintained.

[0023] As yet another means that can be adopted to solve the problem, in addition to the above configuration, the top surface of the cap member and the top surface of the lid body can be flush, and a tongue portion extending along the thickness direction of the lid body can be provided at the end of the cap member on the mouth portion side.

[0024] Making the top surface of the cap member flush with the top surface of the lid body improves the appearance. However, when the top surfaces are flush, it is not possible to form an operating part such as a projection for sliding the cap member to the closed or open position. Therefore, by providing a tongue-shaped portion extending along the thickness direction of the lid body at the mouth end of the cap member, the tongue can be pressed with a finger. Pressing the tongue with a finger provides the initial movement to slide the cap member toward the open position. The cap member, which has begun to slide due to this initial movement, is then guided to the open position by the guiding means. In this way, by making the top surface of the cap member flush with the top surface of the lid body, and by providing a tongue-like portion extending along the thickness direction of the lid body at the mouth end of the cap member, the appearance can be made aesthetically pleasing while simultaneously improving operability. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] The beverage container of the present invention is configured such that the cap member can be switched between a closed position in which the mouth is watertightly sealed and an open position in which the mouth is exposed, and the lid member is provided with a guiding means for guiding the cap member to the closed position or the open position. This configuration allows for stirring to prevent leakage of the liquid inside the container, while also enabling smooth and easy sliding of the cap to open the opening for drinking. Therefore, it offers a comfortable user experience during stirring and consumption. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0026] [Figure 1] These are perspective and cross-sectional views illustrating the beverage container of the present invention. [Figure 2] These are exploded views and enlarged cross-sectional views showing the container body of the beverage container of the present invention. [Figure 3] These are exploded views and partial cross-sectional views illustrating the lid member of the beverage container of the present invention. [Figure 4]This is a perspective view showing how the lid member of the beverage container of the present invention is fitted onto the connecting member. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view showing the process of adding liquid and powder to the beverage container of the present invention and stirring them. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the mechanism by which the cap member of the beverage container of the present invention slides. [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the locking mechanism of the cap member of the beverage container of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the opening and closing mechanism of the cap member in Modification 1 of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0027] Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 7. In the following explanation, some diagrams are simplified for the sake of clarity.

[0028] The beverage container 100 of the present invention is, for example, for drinking powders such as protein powder or amino acid powder dissolved in water during sports or training. As shown in Figure 1, the beverage container 100 of the present invention comprises a container body 1 for holding liquid and a lid member 2 for sealing the container body 1 in a watertight manner. The volume of the beverage container 100 is determined such that, for example, the maximum capacity is 800 ml.

[0029] Regarding the container itself: First, the container body 1 will be described based on Figures 1 and 2. The container body 1 comprises a bottle member 11, a connecting member 12 having a locking function for detachably connecting the lid member 2 and the bottle member 11, and a first packing member 13 for watertightly connecting the bottle member 11 and the connecting member 12. Furthermore, a non-slip rubber sheet is attached to the bottom surface of the bottle component 11.

[0030] The bottle component 11 and the connecting component 12 can be made of synthetic resin, but from the viewpoint of strength and food hygiene, polycarbonate or polyester copolymer can be suitably used. These components can be made of metal as well as synthetic resin, for example, austenitic stainless steel can be used. The first packing member 13 can be made of a synthetic resin such as rubber or elastomer, but from the viewpoint of elasticity and food hygiene, silicone rubber can be preferably used.

[0031] The bottle component 11 has an external shape that is roughly that of an inverted truncated cone. However, while the top and bottom surfaces of the bottle component 11 have circular cross-sections, the central section has an elliptical cross-section, as indicated by the smooth free-form curves of its sides. The circular top surface makes it easy to attach the lid component 2 by screwing it on. Furthermore, the circular cross-section of the bottom surface allows for stable placement.

[0032] On the one hand, by making the cross-sectional shape of the central part elliptical, when the container body 1 is grasped by hand, the width of the hand gripping the minor axis side of the ellipse becomes narrower, making it easier to grasp. On the other hand, by making the ellipse with the major axis at the 90-degree direction, the volume can be increased and the capacity of the contents can be increased compared to simply making the central part a small diameter perfect circle.

[0033] As shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 1, the inside of the bottle component 11 has a hemispherical bottom. The bottle component 11 needs to be washed after each use, but if there are corners in the bottom, a dishwashing sponge cannot reach the corners, and residues such as powder remain, making it unsanitary. Therefore, by making the bottom surface hemispherical, we have eliminated corners where residue tends to accumulate and made it easier to wash with a dish sponge.

[0034] As shown in the enlarged view of Figure 1, the bottle member 11 and the connecting member 12 are fitted together by snap-fits 14, 14, and the first packing member 13 is sandwiched between the bottle member 11 and the connecting member 12 and is slightly compressed. Therefore, the bottle member 11, the connecting member 12 and the first packing member 13 are integrated and cannot be easily separated.

[0035] The connecting member 12 is provided with a plurality of engagement grooves 15, 15… on its side surface. The engagement grooves 15, 15… engage with the engagement projections 24, 24… of the lid member 2, which will be described later, thereby engaging the lid member 2 with the connecting member 12 so that it does not come off in the vertical direction. To elaborate on the surrounding structure of the engagement grooves 15·15…, as shown in Figure 2, the side surface of the connecting member 12 is provided with four structures consisting of thin ribs protruding radially. These structures form entrance portions 16·16… that communicate vertically in a slit-like manner, and thin slit-shaped engagement grooves 15·15… that connect laterally from the entrance portion 16. The gap in these engagement grooves 15·15… narrows slightly from the vicinity of the entrance portion 16 towards the back. Furthermore, some of the engagement grooves 15 are provided with projections 17 that protrude in the radial direction.

[0036] Focusing on the appearance, the beverage container 100 of the present invention has no large protrusions or indentations in its appearance and exhibits an overall smooth silhouette. Regarding the fitting of the container body 1 and the lid member 2, it is common to configure it so that the front end of the container body 1 fits into the inside of the lid member 2. In order to secure space for the front end of the container body 1 to fit, the inner diameter of the lid member 2 must be larger than the front end of the container body 1. In other words, the outer diameter of the lid member 2 becomes slightly larger than the outer diameter of the container body 1.

[0037] With this structure, steps appear in the overall silhouette of the beverage container, making it impossible to achieve a smooth appearance. To achieve a smooth shape, the diameter of the lid member 2 and the diameter of the tip of the container body 1 must be the same. However, to achieve this, the tip of the container body 1 must fit inside the inner diameter of the lid member 2. In other words, the tip of the container body 1 must have a structure that protrudes inward, like a rat guard. This structure presents a problem because, when molded by injection molding using synthetic resin, it results in an undercut shape all around, making production impossible.

[0038] In contrast, the drinking container 100 of the present invention has a container body 1 composed of a bottle member 11 and a connecting member 12. In this configuration, the tip of the connecting member 12 fits inside the lid member 2. Here, the diameter of the tip of the connecting member 12 fits further inside the inner diameter of the lid member 2. That is, it has a shape like a rat guard that protrudes inward.

[0039] However, by making the connecting member 12 a separate component from the bottle member 11, it is possible to produce a shape that does not result in undercuts around the entire circumference during injection molding. By joining and integrating these bottle member 11 and connecting member 12 with snap-fit ​​14, 14, etc., a container body 1 can be formed that has a rat-proof structure with the tip protruding inward. Therefore, the outer diameter of the container body 1 and the lid member 2 become the same, and the entire beverage container can be given a smooth silhouette.

[0040] Regarding the lid components: Next, the lid member 2 will be described with reference to Figure 3. The lid member 2 is a cup-shaped member that is attached to the container body 1 from above, and comprises a lid body 21, a cap member 22 positioned to traverse the center of the top surface of the lid body 21, a hook member 23 configured to cut out a part of the outer circumference of the cap member 22, a disc-shaped second packing member 26, cylindrical magnets 27, 27..., and a third packing member 28 attached to the back surface of the cap member 22.

[0041] The lid body 21, cap member 22, and hook member 23 can be made of synthetic resin, but from the viewpoint of strength and food hygiene, polycarbonate, polyester copolymer, etc. can be suitably used, similar to the container body 1. The second packing member 26 and the third packing member 28 can be made of synthetic resin such as rubber or elastomer, but silicone rubber is preferably used from the viewpoint of elasticity and food hygiene. The second packing member 26 is attached to the back surface of the lid body 21 using double-sided tape with a silicone adhesive and an acrylic adhesive. Magnets 27-27... are small and made of a material with strong magnetic force, and neodymium magnets can be suitably used.

[0042] The lid body 21 is a cup-shaped member with a large slit on its top surface for receiving the cap member 22. The lid body 21 is provided with a mouth portion 211 that serves as a drinking spout. This mouth portion 211 has a sloping shape when viewed from the side, gradually rising towards the outside. Meanwhile, a third packing member 28 is attached to the cap member 22 by adhesive or other means. The third packing member 28 is designed to close the mouth portion 211 and maintain watertightness when the cap member 22 slides to the closed position. Therefore, the surface of the third packing member 28 facing the mouth portion 211 is parallel to the sloping top surface of the mouth portion 211, and in the closed position, it is sized to be slightly compressed by the top surface of the mouth portion 211.

[0043] The structure for fitting the lid body 21 onto the connecting member 12 will be explained with reference to Figure 4. On the inner side of the lid body 21, engaging projections 24, 24, etc. are provided, protruding in the inner diameter direction at positions corresponding to the engaging grooves 15, 15, etc. of the connecting member 12. In addition, some of the engaging projections 24 have projections 25 that are larger than the engaging projections 24 and protrude in the inner diameter direction. When the lid member 2 is lowered straight down from above on the same axis relative to the connecting member 12, the engaging projections 24, 24... of the lid member 2 fit through the entrance portions 16, 16... of the connecting member 12. In this state, when the lid member 2 is rotated clockwise, the engaging projections 24, 24... of the lid member 2 fit into the locking grooves 15, 15... of the connecting member 12.

[0044] At this time, the projection 25 rotates so as to overcome the projection 17 of the connecting member 12, and a clicking sensation is felt at the moment of overcoming the projection. This clicking sensation conveys the feeling that the lid member 2 has been firmly fitted into the connecting member 12. This is a so-called bayonet-type engagement mechanism. Furthermore, the thickness of the side wall portion around the engaging projection 24 having the projection 25 may be partially reduced. By making a portion of the wall thinner, when the projection 17 of the connecting member 12 rides up onto the projection 25 of the lid body 21, the side wall portion of the lid body 21 deforms to open outwards, making it easier to ride up and providing a click sensation.

[0045] The narrow, slit-shaped engagement grooves 15·15… narrow slightly from the entrance 16 towards the back. Therefore, when the lid member 2 is rotated to a position where a click sensation is felt, the engagement projections 24·24… are firmly inserted into the narrowed engagement grooves 15·15…, allowing for engagement without any vertical wobble. Furthermore, the protrusions 17 and 25 that create a clicking sensation act as stoppers, preventing the lid member 2 from unintentionally rotating counterclockwise and opening.

[0046] When the lid member 2 is attached to the connecting member 12 without any vertical play, the tip of the connecting member 12 can compress the second packing member 26 attached to the back surface of the lid member 2, creating a watertight structure. However, if it is compressed too strongly, the frictional force when rotating the lid member 2 clockwise will increase, and the clicking sensation will be diminished. Conversely, if the compressive force is too weak, the watertightness cannot be maintained. For this reason, it is preferable to use silicone rubber with a low hardness of about 40 degrees and to compress it by about 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0047] Of the four inlets 16·16… of the connecting member 12, any pair of opposing inlets 16·16 are positioned slightly offset from each other, rather than symmetrically. As a result, if the lid member 2 is mistakenly installed with a 90-degree rotation, the positions of the inlets 16 and the engaging projections 24 of the lid member 2 will not align, and the lid member 2 cannot be fitted to the connecting member 12 even if it is lowered straight down from above. This prevents the lid member 2 from being installed in the wrong direction. It is possible to attach the lid member 2 to the container body 1 in a 180-degree reverse direction. While incorrect insertion in the 90-degree direction makes it difficult to hold due to the shape of the container body 1, insertion in the 180-degree direction is no different from insertion in the front direction. By preventing insertion in the 90-degree direction while allowing insertion in the 180-degree direction, the convenience and usability for the user are improved.

[0048] As shown in Figure 5, when the lid member 2 is attached to the container body 1, the inside is watertight. By putting powder and water into the container body 1 and tightening the lid member 2 clockwise in a bayonet manner, there will be no leakage even if the beverage container 100 is held and stirred. In addition, because the bottom surface of the bottle member 11 is hemispherical, undissolved powder is less likely to accumulate on the bottom surface, and convection occurs along the hemispherical shape during stirring, making it easier to dissolve.

[0049] Here, the lid member 2 also has the necessary configuration to give the beverage container 100 a smooth silhouette. When the cap member 22 is in the closed position, the silhouette of the lid member 2 has a flat top surface without large irregularities. To achieve this appearance, a large slit is provided in the center of the lid body 21 to receive the cap member 22, so that the top surfaces of the lid body 21 and the cap member 22 are flush. The cap member 22 slides into this slit with almost no gap, so a smooth silhouette can be achieved when it is in the closed position.

[0050] In the closed position, the cap member 22 must enclose the structure of the mouth portion 211, rail protrusions 212, 212, and guide means 27 inside itself in order to achieve a smooth, even shape. Therefore, the height of the mouth portion 211 is set to be lower than the top surface of the lid body 21 and the cap member 22. However, if the height of the mouth portion 211 is too low, the cheeks will come into contact with the sides of the slit in the lid body 21 when drinking, making it difficult to drink.

[0051] In order to create a smooth exterior shape and an easy-to-drink shape, the width of the drinking spout is preferably 25 mm or more, more preferably 30 mm or more, and even more preferably 40 mm or more. Furthermore, the width of the large slit in the lid body 21 for receiving the cap member 22 is preferably 50 mm or more, more preferably 60 mm or more, and even more preferably 70 mm or more, in order to reduce the discomfort of contact with the cheek when drinking. This shape allows for both the lid body 21 and the cap member 22 to be smooth and flat, and the lid portion 2 to be easy to drink from.

[0052] "●Regarding the sliding mechanism of the cap component" Next, the mechanism for sliding the cap member 22 will be explained based on Figure 6. As described above, the lid body 21 has a large slit running vertically across its top surface. A pair of rail protrusions 212-212 are provided on the inner walls opposite the slit. On the other hand, rail grooves 221-221 corresponding to the rail protrusions 212-212 of the lid body 21 are provided on both sides of the cap member 22. The cap member 22 is fitted into the lid body 21 by sliding it in from the opposite side of the opening 211 of the lid body 21, with the rail projection 212 inserted into the rail groove 221. This allows the cap member 22 to move smoothly back and forth along the rail projections 212-212 on the lid body 21.

[0053] Two first magnets 271-271 are attached to the cap member 22. The first magnets 271-271 are positioned near a third packing member 28 that seals the opening 211 in a watertight manner. When the third packing member 28 is bonded and fixed in place, a portion of it covers the surface of the first magnets 271-271, so that moisture does not come into direct contact with the magnets. The polarity of the first magnet 271-271 will be determined in relation to the second magnet 272 and the third magnet 273, which will be described later, but for the time being, it will be assumed that when it is attached to the lid body 21, the lid body 21 side will be the north pole.

[0054] On the other hand, the lid body 21 has two second magnets 272, 272 and two third magnets 273, 273 attached to it. These second magnets 272 and third magnets 273 are embedded in recesses on the back surface of the lid body 21 and are covered by attaching the second packing member 26. In other words, on the surface of the lid body 21 where the large slit is formed, there is a convex protrusion due to the recess.

[0055] Here, the second magnets 272-272 are positioned close to the opening 211 of the lid body 21. More specifically, when the third packing member 28 of the cap member 22 is positioned in the closed position that completely closes the opening 211, the second magnets 272-272 are positioned slightly rearward than the first magnets 271-271. Furthermore, the spacing between the second magnets 272-272 is set to the same spacing as the first magnets 271-271. In terms of polarity, they are positioned to repel the first magnets 271-271. In other words, they are positioned so that the faces facing the first magnets 271-271 are both north poles.

[0056] The third magnets 273-273 are positioned near the circumference of the lid body 21, on the side opposite the opening 211. More specifically, when the cap member 22 slides backward along the rail grooves 221-221 and is positioned in the open position, which is the position just before the cap member 22 comes out of the lid body 21, the third magnets 273-273 are positioned in the same position as the first magnets 271-271 in a plan view. Furthermore, the spacing between the third magnets 273-273 is set to the same spacing as the first magnets 271-271. In terms of polarity, they are positioned to attract the first magnets 271-271. In other words, the sides facing the first magnets 271-271 are positioned to have different south poles.

[0057] Due to the positional relationship and repulsive polarity arrangement of the first magnets 271-271 and the second magnets 272-272, as described above, in the closed position, the cap member 22 is always held under a force that tends to push it forward. This forward pushing force acts to press the third packing member 28 against the inclined opening 211, thereby maintaining the watertight seal of the opening 211.

[0058] Furthermore, if you try to slide the cap member 22 from the closed position to the open position by moving it backward, you will feel resistance due to the repulsive force between the first magnet 271 and the second magnet 272. However, if you try to move the cap member 22 backward against this resistance, beyond the range where a forward repulsive force is generated, then a repulsive force will act between the first magnet 271 and the second magnet 272, pushing it backward. This backward repulsive force becomes the force that guides the cap member 22 to the open position.

[0059] The front of the cap member 22 has tongue-shaped portions 215, 215 that protrude in the thickness direction. These tongue-shaped portions 215 are positioned so that the thumb can easily rest against them when the upper part of the container body 1 is grasped. By pressing the tongue-shaped portions 215 with the thumb, an initial force can be applied to push the cap member 22 inward to slide it backward. By positioning the tongue portion 215 in a location where the thumb can easily rest when gripping it, the user can press the tongue portion 215 with their thumb after gripping and stirring the container body 1 without having to change their grip. Furthermore, to allow operation by both right-handed and left-handed users, it features a pair of tongue sections 215-215 on the left and right sides.

[0060] As the tongue portion 215 is pressed in, the cap member 22 is pushed backward by the repulsive force of the first magnet 271 and the second magnet 272, and due to the momentum of this pushing, it slides along the rail grooves 221 and 221 for a while. Then, when it slides to near the open position, the first magnet 271 and the third magnet 273 attract each other, and it is guided to the open position.

[0061] When the cap member 22 is guided to the open position by the attractive force between the first magnet 271 and the third magnet 273, it attempts to slide further backward due to its inertia. However, it is pulled back by the attractive force between the first magnet 271 and the third magnet 273 and fixed in the open position. In this series of sliding operations, the drinker can switch the cap member 22 to the open position with a simple operation of sliding the cap member 22 slightly backward from the closed position. The sliding speed of the cap member 22 is smooth and fast, and it feels as if it is sliding automatically, so it can be made ready for drinking without any stress.

[0062] Here, a pair of first locking ribs 213-213, which are the first locking means, are provided on the inner wall of the portion of the lid body 21 to which the cap member 22 is attached. The first locking ribs 213-213 are located near the opening 211 and protrude inward as equilateral triangular ribs. Furthermore, a pair of second locking ribs 214-214, which are second locking means, are provided near the end face of the same inner wall opposite to the opening 211. The second locking ribs 214-214 protrude inward as triangular ribs, but the inner sides of the triangle are approximately perpendicular to the inner wall, and the outer sides are diagonal, so they protrude as right-angled triangular ribs.

[0063] These first locking ribs 213-213 and second locking ribs 214-214 are configured to engage with locking projections 222-222 provided on the front side of the cap member 22 in the closed and open positions. The locking projections 222-222 of the cap member 22 are configured to bend elastically inward, and when the locking projections 222-222 of the cap member 22 come into contact with the first locking ribs 213-213 or the second locking ribs 214-214 during the sliding operation, they bend inward to overcome the ribs, and then elastically return to their original position, creating a click sensation and engaging with these first locking ribs 213-213 and second locking ribs 214-214.

[0064] The first locking ribs 213-213 serve to prevent the cap member 22 from shifting from the closed position, thus preventing a gap from forming between the third packing member 28 and the opening 211. In addition, when the cap member 22 is slid to switch to the open position, the locking projections 222-222 overcome the first locking ribs 213-213, thereby applying a biasing force to the cap member 22. Therefore, the first locking ribs 213 and locking projections 222 serve as both locking means for maintaining the closed position and biasing means for providing a biasing force when sliding toward the open position.

[0065] The second locking ribs 214-214 are locking means to prevent the cap member 22 from sliding further outward from the open position and popping out. When the cap member 22 is in the open position, the locking projection 222 of the cap member 22 and the second locking ribs 214 are locked together. As mentioned above, the inner surface of the second locking rib 214, which is a right triangle, is approximately perpendicular to the inner wall. Therefore, even if the cap member 22 is pulled outward, the locking projection 222 cannot overcome the perpendicular surface with light force, and it does not come off easily.

[0066] However, if pulled outward with even greater force, the locking projection 222 of the cap member 22 will elastically flex, allowing it to overcome the second locking rib 214. For this purpose, it is preferable to provide a slight rounding or chamfer at the tip of the locking projection 222. In this way, the cap member 22, when switched to the open position, will not easily come off even if pulled outward with light force, due to the combined action of the attractive force of the third magnet 273 and the second locking rib 214. On the other hand, by applying an even stronger outward force, the cap member 22 slides beyond the attractive force of the third magnet 273 and the locking force of the second locking rib 214, allowing the cap member 22 to be removed from the lid body 21.

[0067] The removed cap member 22 can be washed in a dishwasher or the like, just like the container body 1. When attached to the lid body 21, the underside of the cap member 22 cannot be washed, and the powder that had dissolved from the beverage dries and adheres to it, hindering the sliding motion of the cap member 22. However, by being able to remove the cap member 22 from the lid body 21, the entire lid member 21 and cap member 22 can be washed, and any attached powder or beverage can be removed. During installation, the cap member 22 is inserted from the rear of the lid body 21. At this time, the first magnets 271-271 and the third magnets 273-273 are guided to attract each other, allowing for natural insertion. Furthermore, because the second locking ribs 214-214 are right triangles, the locking projections 222-222 of the cap member 22 easily overcome the hypotenuse of the right triangle of the second locking ribs 214-214 during installation, allowing for installation with minimal force.

[0068] After attaching the cap member 22 to the open position, it can be switched to the closed position by pushing the rear of the cap member 22 forward with a finger or palm. At this time, the first magnet 271 and the second magnet 272 are repelling each other, so you will have to push against these repulsive forces until just before the closed position. However, once the first magnet 271 passes over the second magnet 272 and the locking projection 222 passes over the first locking rib 213, it is naturally guided to the closed position with a click sensation.

[0069] Furthermore, if the polarity of the second magnet 272 and the third magnet 273 is reversed, when the cap slides from the open position to the closed position, the second magnet 272 will guide the first magnet 271 near the closed position, holding the cap member 22 in the closed position. The polarity of the magnets can be selected according to the desired user experience.

[0070] Regarding the locking mechanism of the cap component: As shown in Figure 7, the lid member 2 may be provided with a locking structure 29 on the side opposite to the opening 211. The locking structure 29 can be switched between a locked state and an unlocked state by operating a slide switch type switch member 291. In the locked state, the locking wall 292 protruding from the top surface of the lid body 21 abuts against the projection of the switch member 291, preventing the cap member 22 from sliding. In the unlocked state, this projection shifts laterally and no longer abuts against the cap member 22, allowing it to slide.

[0071] The locking structure 29 prevents the cap member 22 from sliding and leaking water due to unintended external forces, such as when switching the cap member 22 to the closed position for carrying or when the device is tilted while placed on a desk or floor.

[0072] Regarding the hook components: The hook member 23 is configured to cut out a portion of one end of the cap member 22, and serves to be pulled up and used to lift the cap when carrying it. As shown in Figure 1, the drinking container 100 of the present invention has a top surface of the lid member 2 that is flush and flat even when the cap member 22 is attached. In order to achieve such an aesthetically pleasing appearance, the hook member 23 can be rotated and stored so that it is visible as part of the cap member 22 when not being carried.

[0073] The hook member 23 has pivot shafts at both ends and is rotatably attached to both sides of the cap member 22. Here, the rotating shaft is provided with a locking projection (not shown) for holding the hook member 23 in the stored position and the raised position. Therefore, when raising it, the force that overcomes this locking projection causes it to be raised with a clicking sensation. Also, when rotated to the raised position, it overcomes another locking projection, and is held in the raised position with a clicking sensation.

[0074] When rotating the hook member 23 from the raised position to the stored position, the reverse operation occurs. In the stored position, the locking projection holds the hook member 23 in place. Therefore, the hook member 23 will not come loose from the stored position when the drinking container 100 is tilted forward for drinking or when stirring.

[0075] Thus, the beverage container 100 of the present invention has locking means, guiding means, and biasing means when switching the cap member 22 from the closed position to the open position, allowing the cap member 22 to be slid to the open position with simple operation. Furthermore, the cap component 22 cannot be removed with light force, but can be removed with force, making it easy to clean and install.

[0076] "Differentiation Example 1" Next, a modified example of the present invention, a beverage container 101, will be described with reference to Figure 8. The beverage container 101 in this modified example differs in that it uses coil springs 274-274 as the guiding and biasing means, as shown in Figure 8, but it shares the feature of having a magnet corresponding to the third magnet 273 in the embodiment of Figure 1. Coil springs 274-274 are so-called compression springs that compress under load to store energy and release that energy when the load is removed.

[0077] In this modified beverage container 101, as shown in Figure 8, when the cap member 22 is in the closed position, the coil springs 274-274 enclosed in the cap member 22 are pressed by the ribs protruding from the lid body 21 and are in a fully compressed state. At this time, the first locking ribs 213-213 of the lid body 21 are locked to the locking projections 222-222 of the cap member 22 so that the cap member 22 can maintain the closed position, and the locking state is not released by the repulsive force of the coil springs 274-274.

[0078] In this state, when the tongue portion 215 of the cap member 22 is lightly pressed, the cap member 22 slides from the closed position to the open position when the force applied and the repulsive force of the coil springs 274-274 exceed the locking force. When slid to the open position, the tip of the extended coil spring 274 is guided by the third magnet 273 and fuses with it. At the same time, the locking projections 222, 222 and the second locking ribs 214, 214 engage. This allows the open position to be maintained.

[0079] In this modified example, a compression spring is used for the coil spring 274, but a tension spring or a spring other than a coil spring may also be used. Alternatively, instead of using the third magnet 273, the second magnet 272 may be used, and the coil spring 274 may be used to slide from the open position to the closed position by the force generated when it extends. In this case, when the coil spring 274 slides from the open position to the closed position, the second magnet 272 guides and attracts the extended coil spring 274, thereby holding the cap member 22 in the closed position.

[0080] "Differentiation Example 2" In this invention, the cap member 22 can also be made of a flip-up type instead of a sliding type (not shown). In this modified example, the cap member 22 is provided with a pivot axis at the end of the lid member 2 opposite to the opening 211, and is configured to flip up 180 degrees using this pivot axis as a reference.

[0081] A torsion spring is provided near the rotation axis of the cap member 22 as a guiding means. A first magnet 271 is also provided near the rotation axis of the cap member 22, and a magnet corresponding to the third magnet 273 in the configuration of Figure 1 is provided near the rotation axis of the lid body 21. This torsion spring is twisted and stores energy when the cap member 22 is in the closed position. The locking projection 222 of the cap member 22 locks with the first locking rib 213 of the lid body 21, thereby maintaining the closed position.

[0082] When switching the cap member 22 to the open position, the cap member 22 is operated to release the locking state of the locking projection 222. When the locking state is released, the energy of the torsion spring is released, causing the cap member 22 to rotate and spring up, moving to the open position. As it approaches the open position, the third magnet 273 of the lid body 21 guides and attracts the first magnet 271 of the cap member 22, and the cap member 22 is held in the open position.

[0083] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, when the cap member 22 slides from the closed position to the open position by the biasing means and the guiding means, it may slide slowly while applying braking. Furthermore, the cap member 22 may switch between a closed position and an open position not only by sliding in the front-to-back direction or flipping up in the up-and-down direction, but also by rotating in the circumferential direction. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0084] 100,101 Beverage containers 1. Container body 11 Bottle component 12 Connecting members 13 First packing member 14 Snap-Fit 15 Engagement groove 16 Entrance 17 Protrusion 2 Lid member 21 Lid body 211 Mouth 212 Rail protrusions 213 First locking rib 214 Second locking rib 215 Tongue 22 Cap component 221 Rail groove 222 Locking protrusion 23 Hook member 24 Engagement protrusion 25 Protrusion 26 Second packing member 27 Guidance means 271 The First Magnet 272 The Second Magnet 273 The Third Magnet 274 Coil Springs 28 Third packing member 29 Locking mechanism 291 Switch component 292 Rock Wall

Claims

1. A beverage container comprising a container body for holding liquid and a lid member for sealing the container body in a watertight manner, The lid member comprises a lid body having an opening and being detachably attached to the container body, and a cap member slidably attached to the lid body. The cap member is configured to be switchable between a closed position that watertightly seals the opening and an open position that exposes the opening. A beverage container characterized in that the lid member is provided with a guiding means for guiding the cap member to the closed position or the open position.

2. The lid member or the cap member is provided with a biasing means, The beverage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the biasing means applies a biasing force so that the cap member moves away from the closed position during the process in which the cap member slides from the closed position to the open position.

3. The aforementioned guiding means is a magnet, The cap member is provided with a first magnet. The lid body is provided with a second magnet at a position close to the opening. A third magnet is provided at a position further from the opening than the second magnet. The first magnet and the second magnet have opposing faces with the same polarity. The beverage container according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the first magnet and the third magnet have opposite polarities on their opposing surfaces.

4. The beverage container according to claim 3, characterized in that the lid member or the cap member is provided with a first locking means for locking the cap member to the lid body in the closed position and a second locking means for locking the cap member to the lid body in the open position.

5. The beverage container according to claim 4, characterized in that the cap member can be removed from the lid body by sliding it further outward from the open position.

6. The top surface of the cap member and the top surface of the lid body are flush. The beverage container according to claim 5, characterized in that the end of the cap member on the mouth side is provided with a tongue that extends in the thickness direction of the lid body.

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