pitcher

Abstract

We provide a pitcher that combines watertightness with easy attachment and removal of the lid. [Solution] The pitcher 10 is a bottomed cylindrical container body 20 that opens upward and can hold a beverage, and a flow path forming member 30 that is detachably attached to the opening 23 of the container body 20 and has a flow path through which the beverage in the container body 20 passes and is discharged to the outside. The flow path is always open, allowing the beverage to pass through. The container body 20 has annular convex shapes on the inner circumferential surface of the opening 23 and convex portions 24, 25 arranged in the vertical direction. The flow path forming member 30 includes a flow path forming main body portion 40 that is installed inside the opening 23. The flow path forming main body portion 40 is annular in shape along the inner circumferential surface of the opening 23 and has a sealing portion 41 that contacts the convex portion 24 to prevent the beverage from passing outside the flow path, and has a retaining portion 42 that is located above the sealing portion 41, is annular in shape along the inner circumferential surface of the opening 23 and has a retaining portion 42 that hooks onto the convex portion 25 to prevent the flow path forming member 30 from coming off.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pitcher.

Background Art

[0002] The pitcher described in Patent Document 1 includes a container body having a bottomed cylindrical body with an open upper end, and a lid that covers the opening of the container body. A hanging portion formed on the outer peripheral side surface of the lid contacts the inner peripheral surface of the upper end of the container body, thereby preventing leakage of the liquid beverage between the container body and the lid when the pitcher is tilted to pour the liquid beverage (see, for example, paragraph 0008 of Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the configuration described in Patent Document 1 above, in order to enhance the water-stopping property, it is necessary to strongly contact the hanging portion of the lid with the inner peripheral surface of the upper end of the container body. However, in this case, the sliding resistance when removing the lid becomes large, making it difficult to attach and detach the lid to and from the container body. On the other hand, in order to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the lid to and from the container body, it is conceivable to loosely contact the hanging portion of the lid with the inner peripheral surface of the upper end of the container body. However, in this case, a gap is likely to occur between the lid and the container body, reducing the water-stopping property. Thus, it has been difficult to achieve both water-stopping property and ease of attachment and detachment of the lid.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object thereof is to provide a pitcher capable of achieving both water-stopping property and ease of attachment and detachment of the lid.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) To achieve the above objective, the pitcher according to the present invention comprises a container body that is bottomed cylindrical with an upward opening and capable of holding a beverage, and a flow path forming member that is detachably attached to the opening of the container body and has a flow path through which the beverage inside the container body passes and is discharged to the outside when the container body is tilted while attached to the opening, the flow path is always open and capable of passing the beverage, and the container body each has an annular convex shape on the inner circumferential surface of the opening and a first convex portion and a second convex portion arranged in the vertical direction, and The flow path forming member comprises a flow path forming main body portion that is installed in the opening, the flow path forming main body portion having an annular shape along the inner circumferential surface of the opening when the flow path forming member is installed in the container body, and a sealing portion that contacts the first protrusion to prevent the beverage from passing through anything other than the flow path, and a retaining portion located above the sealing portion, having an annular shape along the inner circumferential surface of the opening when the flow path forming member is installed in the container body, and that hooks onto the second protrusion to prevent the flow path forming member from coming off.

[0007] (2) In the pitcher described in (1) above, with the flow path forming member attached to the container body, the sealing portion contacts the upper part of the first protrusion, and the retaining portion contacts the lower part of the second protrusion.

[0008] (3) In the pitcher described in (1) or (2) above, the flow path forming body portion includes a cylindrical portion that extends vertically so that the flow path passes through its interior, a first inclined surface is formed at the lower end of the cylindrical portion that extends radially inward of the flow path forming body portion as it extends upward, and a second inclined surface is formed at the lower part of the first protrusion, below the first inclined surface and located radially outward of the flow path forming body portion, extending in a direction along the first inclined surface.

[0009] (4) In the pitcher described in (1) or (2) above, the inner diameter of the first protrusion is formed to be smaller than the inner diameter of the second protrusion, and the outer diameter of the sealing portion is formed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the retaining portion.

[0010] (5) In the pitcher described in (1) or (2) above, the thickness of the retaining portion in the vertical direction is formed to be thicker than the thickness of the sealing portion in the vertical direction.

[0011] (6) In the pitcher described in (1) or (2) above, the pitcher is cylindrical in shape surrounding the outer surface of the container body and includes a gripping portion made of an elastic material, and the mouth portion which is the upper end of the container body is formed with a diameter larger than the diameter of the gripping portion.

[0012] (7) In the pitcher described in (6) above, the gripping portion comprises a first fitting portion that fits into a first recess formed on the outer peripheral surface of the opening on the side opposite to the first protrusion, and a second fitting portion that fits into a second recess formed on the outer peripheral surface of the opening on the side opposite to the second protrusion.

[0013] (8) In the pitcher described in (6) above, the container body is made of a translucent material, and the gripping portion is made of a light-shielding color so as to conceal the sealing portion and the retaining portion from the outside. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve both watertightness and ease of attaching and detaching the lid. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view of a pitcher in which a flow channel forming member according to one embodiment of the present invention is attached to the container body. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a pitcher with the flow channel forming member according to the same embodiment attached to the container body. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the pitcher with the flow channel forming member according to the same embodiment removed from the container body. [Figure 4] (a) and (b) are exploded perspective views of the flow path forming member according to the same embodiment. [Figure 5](a) is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the pitcher with the flow path forming member according to the present embodiment attached to the container body, and (b) is a partially enlarged view of (a). [Figure 6] (a) is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the pitcher before the flow path forming member according to the present embodiment is attached to the container body, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the pitcher during the attachment of the flow path forming member according to the present embodiment to the container body. [Figure 7] (a) and (b) are cross-sectional views when the pitcher is cut along different cut surfaces of the upper part of the pitcher in a tilted state. [Figure 8] It is a cross-sectional view of the upper part of the pitcher with the flow path forming member according to the comparative example attached to the container body.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] A pitcher according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the pitcher 10 includes a container body 20, a flow path forming member 30, and a gripping portion 70.

[0017] In the following description, the direction in which the central axis C of the pitcher 10 extends is referred to as the vertical direction. Among this vertical direction, the direction from the bottom 21 of the container body 20 toward the opening 23 is referred to as the upward direction, and conversely, the direction from the opening 23 toward the bottom 21 is referred to as the downward direction. Also, the direction orthogonal to the central axis C is referred to as the radial direction. Among the radial direction, the direction approaching the central axis C is referred to as the inner side in the radial direction or simply the inner side, and the direction away from the central axis C is referred to as the outer side in the radial direction or simply the outer side. Further, the direction of orbiting around the central axis C is referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0018] (Container body 20) The container body 20 has a bottomed cylindrical shape with an opening 23 that opens upward. A beverage, which is a liquid, is contained within the container body 20. The container body 20 is formed of a translucent transparent resin such as acrylic resin (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) so that the internal beverage can be visually recognized.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the container body 20 includes a bottom portion 21, a side wall portion 22, convex portions 24, 25, and concave portions 26, 27. The bottom portion 21 has a disc shape. The side wall portion 22 has a cylindrical shape centered on the central axis C, and the lower end portion of the side wall portion 22 is connected to the outer peripheral side end portion of the bottom portion 21.

[0020] The side wall portion 22 includes a large-diameter portion 22a, a reduced-diameter portion 22b, a small-diameter portion 22c, and a mouth portion 22d. The large-diameter portion 22a is located at the lower part of the side wall portion 22 and has a cylindrical shape with the same diameter. The reduced-diameter portion 22b is connected to the upper end portion of the large-diameter portion 22a` and has a shape that tapers upward. The small-diameter portion 22c is connected to the upper end portion of the reduced-diameter portion 22b and has a cylindrical shape with a diameter smaller than that of the large-diameter portion 22a. The mouth portion 22d has a shape that expands upward from the upper end portion of the small-diameter portion 22c. The vertical length of the large-diameter portion 22a is formed to be longer than the vertical length of the reduced-diameter portion 22b. The vertical length of the reduced-diameter portion 22b is formed to be longer than the vertical length of the small-diameter portion 22c. The vertical length of the small-diameter portion 22c is formed to be longer than the vertical length of the mouth portion 22d.

[0021] The convex portions 24, 25 form an annular convex shape centered on the central axis C on the inner peripheral surface of the upper part of the container body 20 (specifically, the small-diameter portion 22c). The convex portion 25 is located above the convex portion 24. As shown in Figure 5(a), the inner diameter R4 of the protrusion 24 is smaller than the inner diameter R5 of the protrusion 25. That is, the protrusion 24 protrudes further toward the central axis C than the protrusion 25. The protrusion 25 is located at the upper end of the gripping portion 70, and the protrusion 24 is located at the lower end of the gripping portion 70.

[0022] As shown in Figure 5(b), the protrusion 25 comprises an upper surface 25a and a lower surface 25b. The upper surface 25a is formed above the vertex on the central axis C side of the protrusion 25, and is an inclined curved surface on which the retaining portion 42 (described later) slides when the flow path forming main body 40 (described later) is attached to the container body 20. The lower surface 25b is formed below the vertex of the convex portion 25 on the side of the central axis C, and is an inclined curved surface on which the retaining portion 42, described later, catches when the flow path forming main body portion 40, described later, is attached to the container body 20. The upper surface 25a is an inclined surface with a gentler slope than the lower surface 25b, and the upper end of the upper surface 25a is located radially outward from the lower end of the lower surface 25b.

[0023] As shown in Figure 5(b), the protrusion 24 comprises a contact surface 24a, a flat surface 24b, and an inclined surface 24c. The contact surface 24a is located above the protrusion 24 and is an inclined curved surface that the sealing portion 41 (described later) contacts when the flow path forming main body 40 (described later) is attached to the container body 20. The flat surface 24b is located between the contact surface 24a and the inclined surface 24c in the vertical direction and is formed in a substantially planar shape along the vertical direction. The inclined surface 24c is located below the convex portion 24 and is inclined radially outward as it extends downward.

[0024] As shown in Figure 5(a), the recesses 26 and 27 form annular recesses on the outer circumferential surface of the upper part (more precisely, the small diameter portion 22c) of the container body 20, with the central axis C as the center axis. The fitting portions 72 and 73 of the grip portion 70, which will be described later, fit into the recesses 26 and 27. The recess 26 is formed on the back side (outside) of the protrusion 25 in the thickness direction of the container body 20, and the recess 27 is formed on the back side (outside) of the protrusion 24 in the thickness direction of the container body 20.

[0025] (Flow channel forming member 30) As shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b), the flow path forming member 30 has a flow path R through which the beverage in the pitcher 10 passes when the pitcher 10 is tilted by the user. The flow path R is always open, allowing the beverage to pass through, and is not blocked. The cross-sectional views in Figures 7(a) and 7(b) show the pitcher 10 when it is cut from a cross-section passing through the central axis C of the pitcher 10. Specifically, Figure 7(a) is a cross-sectional view when the pitcher 10 is cut from a cross-section in which the liquid passage 44h, described later, does not appear, and Figure 7(b) is a cross-sectional view when the pitcher 10 is cut from a cross-section in which the liquid passage 44h, described later, appears. As shown in Figures 3 and 4(a) and 4(b), the flow path forming member 30 comprises a flow path forming main body 40, a cover 50, and a spout 60.

[0026] The cover portion 50 is fitted from above onto the discharge portion 44 of the flow path forming main body portion 40, which will be described later. The cover portion 50 is made of a metal such as stainless steel. The cover portion 50 comprises a disc portion 51, a side wall portion 52, and a folded portion 53. The side wall portion 52 is erected downward from the outer peripheral edge of the disc portion 51. The folded portion 53 is formed by folding the lower end of the side wall portion 52 inward and upward.

[0027] As shown in Figures 4 and 7(a) and 7(b), the spout portion 60 is the part that guides the beverage discharged from the liquid passage 44h of the flow path forming main body portion 40, which will be described later. The spout portion 60 is made of a metal such as stainless steel. The spout portion 60 comprises an annular plate portion 61 and a side wall portion 62. The annular plate portion 61 is plate-shaped, extending in a direction perpendicular to the central axis C, and is formed in an annular shape with respect to the central axis C. The annular plate portion 61 is provided with a fitting end portion 61a formed on the radially inner side of the annular plate portion 61. The fitting end portion 61a is formed by folding back at the radially inner end of the annular plate portion 61 in a direction perpendicular to the central axis C. The annular plate portion 61 is inclined so as it moves upward on the radially outer side of the fitting end portion 61a, it proceeds radially outward. The annular plate portion 61 forms part of the flow path R (see Figure 7(b)) between itself and the folded portion 53 of the cover portion 50. The side wall portion 62 is erected from the radially outer edge of the annular plate portion 61 and has a cylindrical shape that expands in diameter radially outward as it moves upward.

[0028] The channel-forming main body 40 is made of an elastic material such as a heat-resistant rubber or elastomer, such as silicone rubber, and is flexible. The flow path forming main body 40 comprises a cylindrical portion 43, a sealing portion 41, a retaining portion 42, a discharge portion 44, and an annular plate portion 45.

[0029] The cylindrical portion 43 has a cylindrical shape with the central axis C as the center. The annular plate portion 45 is located at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 43, has a plate-like shape extending in a direction perpendicular to the central axis C, and is formed in an annular shape around the central axis C. The radially inner end face of the annular plate portion 45 is formed on the same curved surface as the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 43, and the radially outer end face of the annular plate portion 45 is formed to protrude outward from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 43. The upper surface of the annular plate portion 45 is in contact with the lower surface of the annular plate portion 61 of the spout portion 60.

[0030] As shown in Figure 5(a), an inclined surface 43c is formed at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 43. The inclined surface 43c is formed radially inward at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 43 and is inclined to advance radially inward as it extends upward. The inclined surface 43c extends in a direction along the inclined surface 24c of the convex portion 24. Specifically, the inclined surface 43c is located radially inward and above the inclined surface 24c.

[0031] As shown in Figures 4(a) and 5(a), the discharge section 44 is located on the upper surface of the annular plate section 45 and is formed to cover the upper opening of the cylindrical section 43. The discharge section 44 has a plurality of liquid inlets 44h through which the beverage that has passed from inside the container body 20 through the inside of the cylindrical section 43 passes. The plurality of liquid inlets 44h are formed as through holes at regular intervals in the circumferential direction on the radially outer side of the discharge section 44. When viewed from above, the plurality of liquid inlets 44h have a substantially U-shape or substantially V-shape that opens radially outward. When viewed from above, the radially inner portion of the liquid inlets 44h communicates with the internal space of the cylindrical section 43, and the radially outer portion of the liquid inlets 44h faces the upper surface of the annular plate section 45. The discharge section 44 is cylindrical in shape extending along the central axis C and includes a cylindrical section 44b surrounded by a plurality of liquid passage ports 44h.

[0032] The discharge section 44 has a slit 44a formed in it, which is a gap into which the fitting end 61a of the annular plate section 61 of the spout section 60 can be inserted. The slit 44a is formed on the radially outer side of the discharge section 44 and opens radially outward between the lower part and the upper surface of the annular plate section 45. The fitting end 61a of the spout section 60 is inserted into the slit 44a. As a result, the spout section 60 is fitted and attached to the flow path forming body section 40, and water is sealed between the slit 44a (flow path forming body section 40) and the fitting end 61a (spout section 60) so that the beverage does not flow into parts other than the flow path R. Here, because the fitting end 61a is folded back, the inner end of the annular plate section 61 is rounded. Therefore, it is easy to fit the fitting end 61a (spout section 60) into the slit 44a and the inside of the slit 44a is not damaged. Furthermore, it is safe when the user touches the mating end 61a.

[0033] The discharge section 44 has a fitting projection 44c formed thereon for attaching the cover section 50. The fitting projection 44c is formed by protruding radially outward from the upper side of the discharge section 44, excluding the liquid passage port 44h. The outer diameter of the fitting projection 44c is larger than the inner diameter of the folded portion 53 of the cover section 50. Therefore, when the pitcher 10 is upright, the cover section 50 is fitted onto the discharge section 44 from above, causing the folded portion 53 to overcome the fitting projection 44c and the folded portion 53 to engage with the fitting projection 44c. This attaches the cover section 50 to the discharge section 44 (flow channel forming main body section 40). Subsequently, as shown in Figure 5(a), the cover section 50 descends until the lower surface of the disc section 51 contacts the upper end of the discharge section 44.

[0034] As shown in Figure 4(b), the sealing portion 41 and the retaining portion 42 form an annular convex shape on the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 43 with the central axis C. The sealing portion 41 is located at the lower end of the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 43 and has a circular plate shape with a constant thickness. With the flow path forming main body 40 attached to the container body 20, as shown in Figure 5(b), the outer end of the sealing portion 41 contacts the contact surface 24a of the protrusion 24. As a result, the contact between the sealing portion 41 and the contact surface 24a prevents the beverage inside the container body 20 from entering between the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 43 and the inner circumferential surface of the opening 23.

[0035] The retaining portion 42 is located above the sealing portion 41 and has a shape in which its thickness decreases towards the radially outward direction. The retaining portion 42 comprises an upper surface 42a and a lower surface 42b. The upper surface 42a is a surface facing upward, and the lower surface 42b is a surface facing downward. The lower surface 42b is an inclined surface with a gentler slope than the upper surface 42a. The lower surface 42b is the surface that slides against the protrusion 25 when the retaining portion 42 overcomes the protrusion 25. With the flow channel forming main body 40 attached to the container body 20, the outer surface of the upper surface 42a of the retaining portion 42 contacts and catches on the lower surface 25b of the protrusion 25, thereby preventing the flow channel forming main body 40 from coming off. As shown in Figure 5(a), the outer diameter R1 of the seal portion 41 is smaller than the outer diameter R2 of the retaining portion 42. For example, the outer diameter R1 is formed to be 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm smaller than the outer diameter R2. As shown in Figure 6(a), the vertical thickness T1 of the seal portion 41 is formed to be thinner than the vertical thickness T2 of the retaining portion 42 (more precisely, the maximum thickness at the base end of the retaining portion 42). The thickness T2 is set to, for example, 3 to 8 times the thickness of the thickness T1.

[0036] (Gripping part 70) As shown in Figure 5(a), the gripping portion 70 is the part that is gripped by the user and is cylindrical in shape, attached to the outer circumferential surface of the upper part of the container body 20 (more precisely, the small diameter portion 22c in Figure 1). The gripping portion 70 is made of a heat-resistant elastic material such as silicone rubber. The gripping portion 70 is located outside the convex portions 24, 25, the sealing portion 41, and the retaining portion 42. The gripping portion 70 is made of a light-shielding color such as black, so that the convex portions 24, 25, the concave portions 26, 27, the sealing portion 41, and the retaining portion 42 are hidden from view from the outside of the container body 20.

[0037] As shown in Figure 5(a), the gripping portion 70 comprises a main cylindrical portion 71 and fitting portions 72 and 73. The main cylindrical portion 71 is cylindrical with a central axis C, and the inner circumferential surface of the main cylindrical portion 71 is fitted so as to be in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the upper part of the container body 20 (more precisely, the small diameter portion 22c in Figure 1). The fitting portions 72 and 73 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the main cylindrical portion 71 in an annular convex shape with a central axis C. The fitting portion 72 is located above the fitting portion 73 and is located at the upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the main cylindrical portion 71. The fitting portion 73 is located at the lower end of the inner circumferential surface of the main cylindrical portion 71. The fitting portion 72 fits into the recess 26, and the fitting portion 73 fits into the recess 27. The fitting of the fitting portions 72 and 73 into the recesses 26 and 27 prevents the gripping portion 70 from shifting or coming off the container body 20.

[0038] (How to use) The method for attaching and detaching the flow path forming member 30 to the opening 23 of the container body 20 will be described below. First, as shown in Figure 3, with the flow path forming member 30 detached from the container body 20, the flow path forming main body 40 is brought closer to the opening 23 of the container body 20, as indicated by arrow Ar1. As a result, the sealing portion 41 enters the opening 23, passes through the protrusion 25, and as shown in Figure 6(a), the lower surface 42b of the retaining portion 42 contacts the upper surface 25a of the protrusion 25. At this time, the sealing portion 41 is positioned away from the protrusion 24 in an upward direction.

[0039] In the state shown in Figure 6(a), the flow path forming member 30 is pushed downward relative to the container body 20. As a result, as shown in Figure 6(b), the retaining portion 42 elastically deforms, and its lower surface 42b slides over the protrusion 25. As a result, as shown in Figure 5(b), the lower outer surface of the annular plate portion 61 of the spout portion 60 contacts the upper end of the opening 23 of the container body 20, thereby restricting the downward movement of the flow path forming member 30 and positioning the flow path forming member 30. In this state, the outer surface of the upper surface 42a of the retaining portion 42 contacts the lower surface 25b of the protrusion 25, and the sealing portion 41 contacts the contact surface 24a of the protrusion 24. In this way, the upper surface 42a of the retaining portion 42 and the lower surface 25b of the protrusion 25 come into contact, preventing the flow path forming main body portion 40 from coming loose. At this time, the retaining portion 42 is pushed against the lower surface 25b of the protrusion 25, and this pushing force F1 (see Figure 5(b)) presses the sealing portion 41 against the contact surface 24a of the protrusion 24. As a result, the outer end of the sealing portion 41 elastically deforms and comes into contact with the contact surface 24a of the protrusion 24 (more precisely, the part of the contact surface 24a closer to the flat surface 24b), preventing the beverage inside the container body 20 from entering anywhere other than the flow path R, specifically between the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 43 and the inner surface of the opening 23. The vertical position of the flow path forming member 30 when the spout portion 60 and the opening 23 of the container body 20 come into contact allows for adjustment of the contact position between the retaining portion 42 and the protrusion 25, and between the sealing portion 41 and the protrusion 24, thereby allowing for adjustment of the forces F1 to F3. With the above steps completed, the installation of the flow path forming member 30 onto the container body 20 is finished. In this state, even if an upward force is applied to the flow path forming member 30 without the intention of removing it, the retaining portion 42 is caught on the lower surface 25b of the protrusion 25, and the flow path forming member 30 will not come off the container body 20. At this time, the positional relationship and contact manner between the sealing portion 41 and the protrusion 24 do not change, so watertightness is stably maintained.

[0040] To remove the flow path forming member 30 from the opening 23 of the container body 20, pull the flow path forming member 30 upward relative to the container body 20. Specifically, while gripping the handle portion 70 of the container body 20 with one hand, grip the spout portion 60 with the other hand and pull the spout portion 60 away from the container body 20 (in the opposite direction to arrow Ar1 in Figure 3). As a result, as shown in Figure 6(b), the retaining portion 42 elastically deforms, and the outer portion of the upper surface 42a slides against the lower surface 25b of the protrusion 25, and as shown in Figure 6(a), it moves over the protrusion 25 and is positioned above the protrusion 25, and the sealing portion 41 moves upward away from the protrusion 24. In this state, the flow path forming member 30 can be removed from the opening 23 of the container body 20.

[0041] The pitcher 110 in the comparative example shown in Figure 8 is equipped with multiple (three) seal / retaining parts 141 that combine water-stopping and detachment-preventing functions. Each of the multiple seal / retaining parts 141 is formed in an annular shape so as to protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical part 140 and is arranged in the vertical direction. The radially outer tip of each seal / retaining part 141 provides water-stopping properties by contacting the inner circumferential surface of the opening of the container body 120, and also slides on this inner circumferential surface when the flow path forming member 130 is attached to or detached. When the flow path forming member 130 of the pitcher 110 is held, the tips of each seal / retaining part 141 are in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the opening to the extent that the flow path forming member 130 does not come off the container body 120. In the configuration of this comparative example, when attaching or detaching the flow path forming member 130, each of the multiple seal / retaining parts 141 slides, increasing the sliding resistance between the container body 120 and the flow path forming member 130, thus requiring a large force to be applied to the flow path forming member 130. Furthermore, when attaching or detaching, the flow path forming member 130 had to be moved significantly in both the attachment and removal directions. Therefore, the attachment and detachment of the flow path forming member 130 could not be performed smoothly. In this embodiment, however, when attaching or detaching the flow path forming member 30, only one retaining part 42 elastically deforms and slides over the protrusion 25, and the seal part 41 does not slide on the inner circumferential surface of the container body 20. As a result, the force applied to the flow path forming member 30 is small, and the amount of movement of the flow path forming member 30 is also small. In addition, when the flow path forming member 30 is attached to the container body 20, the retaining part 42 catches on the protrusion 25, making it more difficult for the flow path forming member 30 to come off the container body 20 compared to the comparative example.

[0042] Finally, we will explain the process of pouring the beverage from pitcher 10 into an external cup (not shown). With the flow path forming member 30 attached to the container body 20, the gripping part 70 is gripped by the user. Then, as shown in Figures 7(a) and (b), when the pitcher 10 is tilted, the beverage inside the container body 20 is discharged to the outside through the flow path R in the flow path forming member 30. Specifically, the beverage inside the container body 20 is discharged to the outside through the inclined surface 24c of the convex part 24 → inclined surface 43c of the cylindrical part 43 → inside the cylindrical part 43 → liquid passage 44h → gap G between the folded part 53 of the cover part 50 and the upper surface of the annular plate part 61 of the spout part 60 → inside the spout part 60. At that time, when the pitcher 10 is tilted, the cover portion 50 moves upward due to gravity, and the movement of the cover portion 50 stops when the fitting projection 44c and the folded portion 53 come into contact. As a result, the gap G between the folded portion 53 and the upper surface of the annular plate portion 61 in the flow path R is greatly opened, enabling smooth dispensing of the beverage. Furthermore, by placing the pitcher 10 in an upright position as shown in Figures 1 and 5(a), the cover portion 50 descends due to its own weight until the lower surface of the disc portion 51 comes into contact with the upper end of the dispensing portion 44. In the comparative example shown in Figure 8, even when the pitcher 110 is tilted, residual water remains in the area B1 below the lowest seal / retaining portion 141 among the multiple seal / retaining portions 141 inside the container body 120, making it difficult to pour out all the beverage from the pitcher 110. In this embodiment, however, as shown in Figure 7(b), when the pitcher 10 is tilted, the residual water in the area B2 below the protrusion 24 is discharged to the outside through the liquid passage 44h, passing through the cylindrical portion 43 along the inclined surface 24c of the protrusion 24 and the inclined surface 43c of the cylindrical portion 43. Therefore, in this embodiment, residual water is less likely to remain, and it becomes easier to pour out all the beverage from the pitcher 10.

[0043] (effect) According to the embodiment described above, the following effects are achieved. (1) The pitcher 10 is a bottomed cylindrical container body 20 that opens upward and can hold a beverage, and comprises a flow path forming member 30 that is detachable from the opening 23 of the container body 20 and has a flow path R through which the beverage inside the container body 20 passes and is discharged to the outside when the container body 20 is tilted while the flow path R is attached to the opening 23. The flow path R is always open, allowing the beverage to pass through. The container body 20 has annular convex shapes on the inner circumferential surface of the opening 23, and has convex parts 24 and 25 which are examples of first and second convex parts arranged in the vertical direction. The flow path forming member 30 comprises a flow path forming main body part 40 made of an elastic material that is attached inside the opening 23. The flow path forming main body 40 includes a sealing portion 41 that forms an annular shape along the inner circumferential surface of the opening 23 when the flow path forming member 30 is attached to the container body 20, and contacts the protrusion 24 to prevent the beverage from passing through anything other than the flow path R, and a retaining portion 42 that is located above the sealing portion 41, forms an annular shape along the inner circumferential surface of the opening 23 when the flow path forming member 30 is attached to the container body 20, and hooks onto the protrusion 25 to prevent the flow path forming member 30 from coming off. With this configuration, when attaching or detaching the flow path forming member 30 to the container body 20, the retaining portion 42 slides against the protrusion 25 while elastically deforming, thus reducing the sliding resistance between the flow path forming member 30 and the container body 20 during attachment and detachment compared to the comparative example described above. Therefore, the flow path forming member 30 can be easily attached to and detached from the container body 20. In addition, the sealing portion 41 contacts the protrusion 24, ensuring watertightness to areas other than the flow path R. Furthermore, even if the user grasps the flow path forming member 30 and lifts the pitcher 10, the retaining portion 42 catches on the protrusion 25, preventing the flow path forming member 30 from detaching from the container body 20. Furthermore, when the attachment / detachment state of the flow channel forming member 30 is switched, the retaining portion 42 elastically deforms and overcomes the protrusion 25. At this time, a click sensation is given to the user, making it easy for the user to recognize that the attachment / detachment state of the flow channel forming member 30 has been switched.

[0044] (2) With the flow path forming member 30 attached to the container body 20, the sealing portion 41 elastically deforms and contacts the upper contact surface 24a of the protrusion 24, and the retaining portion 42 contacts the lower side surface 25b of the lower part of the protrusion 25. In this configuration, with the flow path forming member 30 attached to the container body 20, the retaining portion 42 is pressed against the lower surface 25b of the protrusion 25, and this pressing force F1 (see Figure 5(b)) causes the sealing portion 41 to be pressed against the contact surface 24a of the protrusion 24. This ensures watertightness in areas other than the flow path R. Furthermore, the retaining portion 42 is pressed against the lower surface 25b of the protrusion 25, and the sealing portion 41 is pressed against the contact surface 24a of the protrusion 24. As a result, the central axis of the container body 20 and the central axis of the flow path forming body portion 40 are aligned by the inclination of the contact surface 24a. Therefore, the sealing portion 41 is evenly pressed against the contact surface 24a of the protrusion 24, ensuring watertightness in areas other than the flow path R.

[0045] (3) The flow path forming main body 40 includes a cylindrical portion 43 that extends vertically so that the flow path R passes through its interior. At the lower end of the cylindrical portion 43, an inclined surface 43c is formed, which is an example of a first inclined surface that extends radially inward of the flow path forming main body 40 as it extends upward. At the lower part of the protrusion 24, an inclined surface 24c is formed, which is an example of a second inclined surface that is located below the inclined surface 43c and radially outward of the flow path forming main body 40, and extends in a direction along the inclined surface 43c. With this configuration, when the pitcher 10 is tilted, any remaining water in the area B2 below the protrusion 24 is discharged to the outside via the liquid outlet 44h, passing through the inside of the cylindrical part 43 along the inclined surface 24c of the protrusion 24 and the inclined surface 43c of the cylindrical part 43. Therefore, it is difficult for residual water to remain in the pitcher 10.

[0046] (4) The inner diameter R4 of the protrusion 24 is formed to be smaller than the inner diameter R5 of the protrusion 25. The outer diameter R1 of the sealing portion 41 is formed to be smaller than the outer diameter R2 of the retaining portion 42. With this configuration, when inserting the flow path forming main body 40 into the opening 23 of the container body 20, the sealing portion 41 easily passes through the protrusion 25. Therefore, the flow path forming member 30 can be easily attached and detached. Furthermore, when attaching or detaching the flow path forming member 30, the sealing portion 41 is less likely to slide against the inner circumferential surface of the protrusion 25 or the cylindrical portion 43, making it easier to attach and detach the flow path forming member 30. In addition, the sealing portion 41 is less prone to wear, ensuring watertightness in areas other than the flow path R.

[0047] (5) The thickness T2 in the vertical direction of the retaining portion 42 is formed to be thicker than the thickness T1 in the vertical direction of the sealing portion 41. With this configuration, since the thickness T2 of the retaining portion 42 is formed to be thicker than the thickness T1 of the sealing portion 41, the force F2 (see Figure 5(b)) that pushes the retaining portion 42 downward from the protrusion 25 can be made greater than the reaction force F3 that the sealing portion 41 receives from the protrusion 24. This prevents the flow path forming member 30 from unintentionally floating up and detaching from the container body 20.

[0048] (6) The pitcher 10 is cylindrical in shape and surrounds the outer surface of the container body 20, and includes a grip portion 70 made of an elastic material. The mouth portion 22d, which is the upper end of the container body 20, is formed with a diameter larger than the diameter of the grip portion 70. With this configuration, the mouth portion 22d is formed with a larger diameter than the grip portion 70, making it easier for the user to grip the pitcher 10.

[0049] (7) The gripping portion 70 includes a fitting portion 73 which is an example of a first fitting portion that fits into a recess 27 which is an example of a first recess formed on the outer peripheral surface of the opening 23 on the side opposite to the convex portion 24, and a fitting portion 72 which is an example of a second fitting portion that fits into a recess 26 which is an example of a second recess formed on the outer peripheral surface of the opening 23 on the side opposite to the convex portion 25. With this configuration, the gripping portion 70 is less likely to detach from the container body 20. In addition, since the protrusions 24, 25 and recesses 26, 27 are formed on the front and back surfaces in the thickness direction of the container body 20, the thickness of the container body 20 is suppressed.

[0050] (8) The container body 20 is made of a translucent material. The gripping portion 70 is made of a light-shielding color so as to conceal the sealing portion 41 and the retaining portion 42 from the outside. With this configuration, the beverage inside the container body 20 is visible in most of the container, and the mechanism involved in attaching and detaching the flow path forming member 30 is not visible from the outside, thus improving the appearance of the pitcher 10.

[0051] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and drawings described above. Modifications (including the deletion of components) can be made as appropriate, provided they do not alter the essence of this disclosure. An example of such a modification is described below.

[0052] (modified version) In the above embodiment, the recesses 26, 27 and the protrusions 24, 25 were formed on the front and back surfaces of the container body 20 in the thickness direction, but they may be formed at positions separated from each other. In the above embodiment, the number, position, and shape of the recesses 26 and 27 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the number of recesses 26 and 27 may be one or three or more. Furthermore, recesses 26 and 27 may be omitted. In the above embodiment, the cover portion 50 or the spout portion 60 is not limited to metal, but may be formed from resin. In the above embodiment, the flow path forming member 30 was integrally formed from an elastic material, but it may be formed as a separate component. For example, the cylindrical portion 43 may be formed from a non-elastic material such as a hard resin or glass, and the sealing portion 41 and retaining portion 42, which are made of an elastic material, may be attached to the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion 43.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the gripping portion 70 may be formed of a translucent material. Furthermore, the fitting portions 72 and 73 of the gripping portion 70 may be omitted. Moreover, the gripping portion 70 may be omitted entirely. In the above embodiment, the cover portion 50 may be omitted. In the above embodiment, the container body 20 was formed of a transparent resin, but it may be formed of an opaque resin, a transparent or opaque glass material, or a metal such as stainless steel. In the above embodiment, the container body 20 had a shape with different diameters in the vertical direction, but it may also be a bottomed cylindrical shape with the same diameter in the vertical direction. In the above embodiment, with the flow path forming member 30 attached to the container body 20, the sealing portion 41 was in contact with the upper part of the protrusion 24, but it may also be in contact with the top or bottom of the protrusion 24. In that case, the number of points that function as a retaining point increases, so that the flow path forming member 30 is more securely attached to the container body 20 and less likely to come off. In the above embodiment, with the flow path forming member 30 attached to the container body 20, the retaining portion 42 was in contact with the lower part of the protrusion 25, but it may also be in close contact with the top of the protrusion 25. Alternatively, a recess may be formed in a part of the protrusion 25 into which the outer end of the retaining portion 42 fits. In the above embodiment, at least one of the inclined surfaces 24c and 43c may be omitted. In the above embodiment, the inner diameter R4 of the protrusion 24 may be the same size as the inner diameter R5 of the protrusion 25, or it may be formed to be larger than the inner diameter R5 of the protrusion 25. Also, the outer diameter R1 of the seal portion 41 may be the same size as the outer diameter R2 of the retaining portion 42, or it may be formed to be larger than the outer diameter R2 of the retaining portion 42. In the above embodiment, the thickness T1 of the sealing portion 41 may be the same as the thickness T2 of the retaining portion 42, or it may be formed to be thicker than the thickness T2 of the retaining portion 42. In the above embodiment, one retaining portion 42 and one protrusion 25 were provided as a pair, but multiple pairs of retaining portions 42 and protrusions 25 may be arranged in the vertical direction. In the above embodiment, the pitcher 10 is not limited to being substantially cylindrical, but may also be formed in a substantially rectangular tubular shape.

[0054] In the above embodiment, the flow path R formed by the flow path forming member 30 may be configured to be openable and closable by sliding or pushing operations. Alternatively, the flow path forming member 30 may be configured as a stopper that does not have a flow path R. In this case, the beverage inside the container body 20 is poured out by tilting the container body 20 with the stopper removed.

[0055] These modifications disclose, for example, the technical ideas described in Appendix 1 below. (Note 1) A container body that is cylindrical with a bottom opening upwards and capable of holding a beverage, The container body is equipped with a removable attachment member that can be attached to the opening of the container body, The container body has a first and second convex portion arranged vertically on the inner circumferential surface of the opening, forming an annular convex shape. The detachable member comprises a main body portion that is fitted into the opening, The main body is, With the detachable member attached to the container body, it has an annular shape along the inner circumferential surface of the opening and a sealing portion that contacts the first protrusion to prevent the beverage from passing through, Located above the sealing portion, and when the detachable member is attached to the container body, it has an annular shape along the inner circumferential surface of the opening, and includes a retaining portion that catches on the second protrusion so that the detachable member is not detached, pitcher. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 10,110...Pitcher, 20,120...Container body, 21...Bottom, 22...Side wall, 22a...Large diameter section, 22b...Reduced diameter section, 22c...Small diameter section, 22d...Mouth section, 23...Opening, 24,25...Convex section, 24a...Contact surface, 24b...Flat surface, 24c...Inclined surface, 25a...Upper side, 25b...Lower side, 26,27...Recess, 30,130...Flow channel forming member, 40...Flow channel forming main body, 41...Sealing section, 42...Retaining section, 42a...Upper side, 42b...Lower side, 43,140...Cylindrical section, 43 c...inclined surface, 44...discharge section, 44a...slit, 44b...cylindrical section, 44c...fitting projection, 44h...liquid port, 45...annular plate section, 50...cover section, 51...disc section, 52...side wall section, 53...folded section, 60...spout section, 61...annular plate section, 61a...fitting end, 62...side wall section, 70...grip section, 71...main cylindrical section, 72,73...fitting section, 141...seal and retaining section, C...central axis, B1,B2...area, F3...reaction force, R...flow path, R1,R2...outer diameter, R4,R5...inner diameter, G...gap

Claims

1. A container body that is cylindrical with a bottom opening upwards and capable of holding a beverage, The container body comprises a flow path forming member that is detachably attached to the opening of the container body and, when the container body is tilted while attached to the opening, has a flow path through which the beverage inside the container body passes and is discharged to the outside, The aforementioned flow path is always in an open state through which the beverage can pass. The container body has a first and second convex portion arranged vertically on the inner circumferential surface of the opening, forming an annular convex shape. The channel forming member comprises a channel forming main body portion that is installed in the opening, The channel forming main body is, With the flow channel forming member attached to the container body, it has an annular shape along the inner circumferential surface of the opening and a sealing portion that contacts the first protrusion to prevent the beverage from passing through anything other than the flow channel, Located above the sealing portion, and with the flow path forming member attached to the container body, it has an annular shape along the inner circumferential surface of the opening and includes a retaining portion that catches on the second protrusion so as to prevent the flow path forming member from coming off, pitcher.

2. With the flow path forming member attached to the container body, the sealing portion contacts the upper part of the first protrusion, and the retaining portion contacts the lower part of the second protrusion. The pitcher according to claim 1.

3. The channel forming main body includes a cylindrical portion that extends vertically so that the channel passes through its interior, At the lower end of the cylindrical portion, a first inclined surface is formed that extends radially inward from the main body portion of the flow path as it extends upward. A second inclined surface is formed at the lower part of the first protrusion, below the first inclined surface, located radially outward from the flow path forming body, and extending in a direction along the first inclined surface. The pitcher according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The inner diameter of the first protrusion is formed to be smaller than the inner diameter of the second protrusion. The outer diameter of the sealing portion is formed to be smaller than the outer diameter of the retaining portion. The pitcher according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The thickness of the retaining portion in the vertical direction is formed to be thicker than the thickness of the sealing portion in the vertical direction. The pitcher according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The pitcher is cylindrical in shape, surrounding the outer surface of the container body, and includes a gripping portion made of an elastic material. The mouth portion, which is the upper end of the container body, is formed with a diameter larger than the diameter of the grip portion. The pitcher according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The gripping portion is, A first fitting portion that fits into a first recess formed on the outer circumferential surface of the opening on the side opposite to the first protrusion, The opening comprises a second fitting portion that fits into a second recess formed on the outer circumferential surface of the opening on the side opposite to the second protrusion, The pitcher according to claim 6.

8. The container body is formed of a light-transmitting material, The gripping portion is formed in a light-shielding color so as to conceal the sealing portion and the retaining portion from the outside. The pitcher according to claim 6.

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