Container lid device

Abstract

In a lid device for tube-shaped containers used in bathrooms, washrooms, etc., the aim is to achieve a form that is excellent in both the function of draining water or hot water that has entered the inside and an aesthetically pleasing design. [Solution] The cap 3 is connected to the main body 1 via a hinge 2. In the upper plate 11 of the main body 1, a ring plate portion 17 corresponding to the space between the inner cylinder 9 and the outer cylinder 10 has lower drainage holes 18 formed in a circumferential direction, with the ring plate portion 17 being divided. The lower drainage holes 18 are wide, allowing water or hot water to be drained quickly. The top plate 22 of the cap 3 has upper drainage holes 28 formed in a circumferential direction. The cap 3 is equipped with an enclosure wall 29, and a notch 31 is formed in the enclosure wall 29.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention of the present application relates to a lid device used for containers such as tube-shaped ones made of flexible materials, and particularly, it is suitable for lid devices of tube-shaped or bottle-shaped containers used for packaging products (contents with high viscosity) such as facial cleansing foam, treatment products, and cleansing cream that may get wet with water when used in bathrooms or washrooms.

Background Art

[0002] The lid device of a squeeze-type container such as a tube type is composed of a main body and a cap. Generally, a hinge-type cap is used. The dispensing tube of a container such as a tube type has a much smaller diameter than the body part. Therefore, the main body of the lid device has an inner tube that screws onto the dispensing tube of the container, an outer tube located outside the inner tube, and an upper plate that connects these two. The opening edge of the outer tube is close to the shoulder of the container.

[0003] However, since there is often a gap between the opening edge of the outer tube and the shoulder of the container, when used in a bathroom or washroom, hot water or water may enter the inside of the main body. Therefore, for a lid device for a container that may get wet with water or hot water, drainage means for discharging the water or hot water that has entered the inside of the main body are provided.

[0004] As an example, Patent Document 1 describes that first, the upper plate connecting the inner tube and the outer tube is formed in an inverted posture into a tapered shape that is lower toward the outer peripheral side, and intermittently open a circumferentially long slit-shaped water passage hole in the outer peripheral part of the tapered upper plate. Further, Patent Document 1 discloses that the top plate of the cap is formed in a loose tapered shape that is lower toward the outer peripheral side in an inverted posture, and also intermittently open a circumferentially long slit-shaped water passage hole in the outer peripheral part of the top plate.

[0005] In other words, since high-viscosity products packaged in squeeze-type containers such as tube containers are usually closed after use and placed upright on a shelf or the like, Patent Document 1 describes a design in which the top plate of the main body and the top plate of the cap are formed in an inverted, tapered shape that widens towards the bottom, and water passage holes are made in the outer circumference, so that water or hot water is collected in the outer circumference of the top plate and the top plate and discharged through the water passage holes. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-33739 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] When using products in tube-type containers in bathrooms or washrooms, a large amount of water or hot water can sometimes enter the inside of the lid device. For example, this can happen if the container is dropped into the bathtub or washbasin, or if the shower is left running while the container is upside down. In such cases, it is desirable that the water or hot water can be quickly drained from the inside of the lid device by simply turning it upside down.

[0008] However, if the water passage holes are formed in the shape of long slits in the circumferential direction, as in Patent Document 1, surface tension may make it difficult for water or hot water to pass through the holes, raising concerns that drainage will take a long time. Also, as in Patent Document 1, if the upper plate of the main body is inclined downward outward in the inverted position, the valley portion in the inverted position will widen along the outer cylinder, inevitably increasing the circumference of the valley. This may cause water or hot water to accumulate in the valley, further reducing the drainage function.

[0009] Furthermore, if the groove width of the annular groove between the inner and outer cylinders is small, there is a concern that there may not be enough space to form the top plate of the main body in a tapered shape, making application difficult. In addition, Figures 8 to 12 of Patent Document 1 disclose that the cylindrical part constituting the cap is provided with an enclosure wall protruding from the opposite side of the main body, but there is a concern that when placed in an inverted position on a flat surface such as a shelf, water or hot water may easily accumulate in the space enclosed by the extension. Moreover, since the skirt part of the cap and the enclosure wall are simply a continuous cylindrical shape, it is thought that the design will not be very appealing to consumers.

[0010] The present invention aims to provide a lid device that improves upon the current situation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention includes various configurations, the typical ones of which are specified in each claim. Of these, the invention of claim 1 constitutes a broader concept (independent claim). "A body attached to the dispensing tube of a tubular or bottle-shaped container, the dispensing tube being formed to be much smaller in diameter than the shoulder portion, and a cap connected to the body via a hinge or a cap formed separately from the body, The main body is composed of an inner cylinder attached to the dispensing tube of the container, an outer cylinder located outside the inner cylinder, and an upper plate that connects the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and has a spout that communicates with the inner cylinder, The aforementioned cap has a skirt portion that fits onto the main body and a top plate integrally provided with the skirt portion." In this basic configuration, "In the ring plate portion of the upper plate of the main body, which is connected to the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, multiple downward water passage holes are formed at circumferential intervals, dividing the ring plate portion." It possesses the following characteristics.

[0012] In claim 1, the "state of dividing the ring plate portion" with respect to the lower water passage hole typically includes a configuration in which the width (radial width) of the lower water passage hole is the same as that of the ring plate portion, and the ring plate portion is completely divided by the pilot hole, but also includes configurations in which the ring plate portion can be considered to be divided in appearance. Therefore, if the width of the lower water passage hole is about 70% of that of the ring plate portion, it can be said to be a "state of dividing the ring plate portion."

[0013] The invention of claim 2 also forms a broader concept, and in the same basic configuration as claim 1, "The upper plate of the main body has a ring plate portion connected to the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and the surface of the ring plate portion that is facing upward in an inverted position is formed as an inwardly inclined surface that slopes downward toward the lower end of the inner cylinder in an inverted position, and a plurality of downward water passage holes are formed in the ring plate portion, spaced apart in the circumferential direction so that they are located at least at the lower end of the inwardly inclined surface in an inverted position." It possesses the following characteristics.

[0014] Claim 2 specifies the orientation of the ring plate portion, but if the lower water passage hole in Claim 2 divides the ring plate portion, then Claim 2 and Claim 1 will encompass each other.

[0015] The invention of claim 3 is a specific example of claim 1 or 2, "The portion of the ring plate section of the upper plate between adjacent lower water passage holes has a raised surface that slopes downward toward the lower water passage holes when viewed from the radial direction in an inverted position." It possesses the following characteristics.

[0016] The invention of claim 4 also forms a broader concept, and in the same basic configuration as claim 1, "The upper plate of the main body has a ring plate portion connected to the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and the surface of the ring plate portion that faces upward when inverted has an uneven shape in which peaks and valleys are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction, and there are drainage holes at the location of each of the valleys." It possesses the following characteristics.

[0017] In claim 4, when the lower water passage hole divides the ring plate portion or the ring plate portion has an inward inclined surface, claim 4 and claim 3 will be inclusive of each other.

[0018] The invention of claim 5 also forms a superordinate concept, "a main body attached to the pouring cylinder of a tubular or bottle-shaped container having a pouring cylinder with a smaller diameter than the body, and a cap connected to the main body via a hinge or a cap formed separately from the main body, the main body has an inner cylinder attached to the pouring outlet of the container and an upper plate connected to the inner cylinder, and on the upper plate, a pouring outlet communicating with the inner cylinder is formed, while the cap has a skirt portion fitted to the main body and a top plate provided integrally with the skirt portion" in the basic configuration of "the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are integrally connected via a number of rib-shaped bridges arranged in parallel in the circumferential direction, and each part between adjacent ribs forms a lower water passage hole" with the feature of

[0019] The invention of claim 6 is a specific embodiment of the cap structure in any one of claims 1, 2, 4, and 5, "while an upper water passage hole is formed in the top plate of the cap, a surrounding wall extending to the opposite side of the main body across the top plate is integrally formed on the skirt portion of the cap, and a notch for drainage is formed in the surrounding wall" with the feature of. The notch may be in one case or in multiple cases.

[0020] The invention of claim 7 is also a specific embodiment of the cap structure in any one of claims 1, 2, 4, and 5, "while an upper water passage hole is formed in the top plate of the cap, The skirt portion of the cap has an integral enclosure wall that extends from the main body on the opposite side of the top plate, and the enclosure wall widens in diameter as it moves away from the top plate. It possesses the following characteristics. The enclosure wall includes both a tapered shape that expands in simple proportions and a trumpet-shaped shape that expands while curling.

[0021] Claim 7 specifies the form of the enclosure wall, but in relation to the skirt portion, it includes both a configuration in which the skirt portion is straight and only the enclosure wall extends, and a configuration in which the skirt portion and the enclosure wall extend as a whole. It is preferable to combine Claims 6 and 7. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] As described in claim 1, the lower drainage hole divides the ring plate portion, allowing for a larger area of ​​the lower drainage hole compared to patent document 1. Therefore, even if the inside of the main body is filled with water or hot water, such as when a tube-shaped container is dropped into a bathtub or washbasin, the water or hot water can be quickly drained from the main body when it is inverted. Even if the groove width of the annular groove between the inner and outer cylinders is small, a large-area drainage hole can be formed, resulting in a high drainage effect.

[0023] In the configuration of claim 2, when in an inverted position, water or hot water converges towards the inner cylinder guided by the inwardly inclined surface. However, since the outer diameter of the inner cylinder is much smaller than the inner diameter of the outer cylinder, the water or hot water collects in a narrow area. Furthermore, since the lower drainage hole opens to include the lower end of the inwardly inclined surface when in an inverted position, the water or hot water that converges towards the lower end of the inwardly inclined surface can be quickly discharged from the lower drainage hole. The drainage function is further improved if the lower drainage hole is formed to divide the ring plate portion.

[0024] In both Claim 1 and Claim 2, there is naturally a limit to the total opening area of ​​all water-conducting holes necessary for the rapid discharge of water or hot water, and from the standpoint of ensuring the strength of the upper plate, there is no need to make the total area of ​​the lower water-conducting holes larger than necessary. As a result, there will be a certain amount of space between adjacent lower water-conducting holes, so measures are required to prevent water or hot water from accumulating in the area between adjacent lower water-conducting holes. The inventions of Claims 3 and 4 address this need, preventing the phenomenon in which some of the water that has entered the annular space (annular groove) between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder accumulates between adjacent lower water-conducting holes, and allowing water or hot water to be collected in the lower water-conducting holes and discharged quickly.

[0025] In the invention of claim 5, the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are connected by a group of rib-shaped bridges. Since the bridges can be formed to be long in the axial direction, the connection strength between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder can be increased, ensuring the overall strength of the main body. Furthermore, each bridge can be a thin rib (thin plate), and sufficient spacing can be maintained between adjacent bridges while ensuring the necessary strength, thus allowing for a large area of ​​space between adjacent bridges. Consequently, a high water and hot water discharge effect can be enjoyed while ensuring the strength of the main body.

[0026] Even if the main body or cap has water drainage holes, if water or hot water does not drain well, water may continue to accumulate until the next use, causing water to spill out or bacteria to multiply, resulting in an unsanitary condition that can be unpleasant for consumers. However, with the inventions of this application, water or hot water can be quickly drained, and the device can quickly transition to a dry and clean state, thus eliminating the phenomenon of water accumulating and preventing consumers from experiencing unpleasantness.

[0027] Furthermore, even if the water or hot water drains completely before the next use, if it takes a long time to drain, solid matter such as dirt that was mixed in the water or hot water may remain attached to the main body or cap. This can result in an unpleasant appearance when the lid is opened for the next use, or make it easier for bacteria to grow, which can be unpleasant for consumers. However, with the inventions of this application, solid matter can be quickly discharged along with the water or hot water, so the container can be kept in a clean and hygienic state without causing any unpleasantness to consumers.

[0028] Furthermore, if it takes a long time for the water or hot water to drain, after the container is used and placed upside down on a shelf or other surface, any remaining water or hot water will continue to drip onto the shelf or other surface, leaving solid residue and causing stains. In this case, the stains are visible and create a sense of uncleanliness. However, with the inventions of this application, it is possible to drain most of the water or hot water through a series of actions, from tilting the container to placing it on a shelf or other surface. This prevents or significantly reduces the phenomenon of water or hot water continuing to drip onto the shelf or other surface after it has been placed there, thus preventing or reducing the shelf or other surface from becoming dirty and unclean.

[0029] In the invention of claim 6, when a tube-shaped container is placed upside down on a flat surface such as a shelf, water or hot water flowing down from the inside of the main body enters the inside of the cap and is then discharged downward through the upper drain hole. However, because there is a space below the top plate due to the enclosure wall, the lower drain hole is not blocked by the flat surface, and the water or hot water can be discharged below the top plate. Furthermore, since a notch is formed in the enclosure wall, the water or hot water that has flowed down below the top plate can be discharged to the outside through the notch in the enclosure wall.

[0030] Therefore, after use, when the product is placed upside down on a flat surface such as a shelf in the bathroom or washroom, it is possible to prevent water or hot water from accumulating on the flat surface. Furthermore, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, while the enclosure wall is usually formed to extend in a continuous, inconspicuous manner, in Claim 6, the notch has an eye-catching design effect, thus enhancing the product value as a novel design not seen before. In particular, forming multiple notches makes it closer to the shape of a crown or ring-shaped tiara, further improving the design appeal.

[0031] In the invention of claim 7, since the enclosure wall widens outwards, stability can be improved when the product is placed on a flat surface such as a shelf in an inverted position. Also, when opening the cap, the fingertips can be placed on the enclosure wall and pressed firmly, making it easier to open. Furthermore, since the enclosure wall widens outwards and presents a crown-like appearance, it can attract consumers' attention with its novel design and contribute to improving the product's value. In particular, it is preferable to combine it with claim 6 and form multiple notches in the enclosure wall to further enhance the uniqueness of the design. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0032] [Figure 1] The figure shows the first embodiment, where (A) is a perspective view of the lid device attached to the tube container in a closed state, (B) is a perspective view of the lid device viewed from the opposite direction to (A), (C) is a perspective view of the lid device from the bottom side, and (D) is a perspective view of the lid device separated from the tube container in an open state. [Figure 2] The figure shows the first embodiment, where (A) is a top view, (B) is a bottom view, (C) is a front view with the lid closed, (D) is a left side view with the lid closed, (E) is a rear view with the lid closed, and (F) is a top view with the lid open. [Figure 3] The figure shows the first embodiment, where (A) is a bottom view with the lid open, (B) is a right side view with the lid open, (C) is a front view with the lid open, (D) is a rear view with the lid open, and (E) is a left side cross-section view with the lid open. [Figure 4]The figure shows the first embodiment, where (A) is an IVA-IVA cross-sectional view of Figure 1(A) and Figure 2(A), and (B) is an IVB-IVB cross-sectional view of Figure 2(A) in an inverted position. [Figure 5] The figure shows the first embodiment, where (A) is a VA-VA cross-sectional view of Figure 2(A), (B) is a VB-VB cross-sectional view of Figure 2(A), (C) is a VC-VC cross-sectional view of Figure 2(F) in an inverted position, (D) is an alternative example of a part of (A), and (E) is a figure showing a modified example of the top plate of the cap. [Figure 6] The diagram shows the closed state of the second embodiment, where (A) is a perspective view from the hinge side, (B) is a perspective view from the tab side, (C) is a perspective view from the bottom direction, (D) is a top view, (E) is a bottom view, and (F) is a front view. [Figure 7] The figure shows the second embodiment, where (A) is a rear view with the lid closed, (B) is a left side view with the lid closed, (C) is a perspective view of the open lid seen from the bottom, and (D) is a perspective view of the open lid seen from above. [Figure 8] The diagram shows the open state of the second embodiment, where (A) is a top view, (B) is a bottom view, (C) is a left side view, (D) is a rear view, and (E) is a front view. [Figure 9] (A) is a longitudinal side view of the third embodiment in an inverted position, (B) is a cross-sectional view of (A) from the perspective of BB, (C) is a cross-sectional view of a modified example, (D) is a longitudinal side view of the fourth embodiment in an inverted position, and (E) is a plan view of (D) from the perspective of EE. [Figure 10] The figure shows the fifth embodiment, where (A) is a longitudinal side view in an inverted position, and (B) is a BB-view bottom view of (A). [Figure 11] The figure shows the sixth embodiment, where (A) is a longitudinal side view in an inverted position, and (B) is a plan view of (A) from a BB perspective. [Figure 12] (A) is a perspective view of the seventh embodiment, and (B) is a perspective view of the eighth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0033] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In the following, for the sake of convenience of explanation, directions will be specified and terms such as front / back, left / right, and up / down will be used. The front / back direction is defined as the direction perpendicular to the axis and the direction in which the hinge is positioned towards the front when viewed from the front. The up / down direction is the axial direction, but up and down are reversed in the upright position with the cap facing upwards and inverted position with the cap facing downwards. Directions are clearly indicated in several figures. This embodiment is applied to a lid device for a tube container.

[0034] (1) Overview of the first embodiment and structure of the main body First, the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5 will be described. This embodiment is a specific example of claims 1, 3, and 4. The lid device is a molded product of synthetic resin, and as clearly shown in Figures 1(A) and 1(D), for example, it consists of a main body 1 and a cap 3 integrally connected thereto via a hinge 2, and the main body 1 is screwed onto the male threaded dispensing cylinder 5 of the tube container 4. The hinge 2 consists of a flexible side portion 2a and an L-shaped center arm 2b, and the main body 1 and the cap 3 each have a recess 6 into which the center arm 2b fits and a cut-out hole 7 formed therein.

[0035] A characteristic of the tube container is that the dispensing cylinder 5 has a much smaller diameter than the outer diameter of the shoulder portion 8. Corresponding to this, the main body 1 of the lid device has a double-cylinder structure, consisting of an inner cylinder 9 with a female thread formed to screw onto the dispensing cylinder 5, and an outer cylinder 10 located outside of it, with the opening edge of the outer cylinder 10 contacting or being close to the shoulder portion 8 of the tube container. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the upper ends of the inner cylinder 9 and the outer cylinder 10 are integrally connected to the upper plate 11, and a dispensing spout 12 concentric with the dispensing cylinder 5 is provided projecting upward from the upper plate 11.

[0036] The bottom of the tube container 4 opposite the dispensing cylinder 5 is a flat welded section 13, and the hinge 2 is positioned so that it is visible in front when facing the wide surface of the welded section 13. To align the orientation of the lid device, a pair of first stoppers 14 are provided at the base of the dispensing cylinder 5 in the tube container, while a pair of partition-plate-like second stoppers 15 are formed inside the main body 1 of the lid device, connected to the inner cylinder 9 and the outer cylinder 10. The second stoppers 15 are positioned at two locations, front and back, at the hinge 2 and the location directly opposite it. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the top plate 11 is provided with an inner foot 16 that fits into the dispensing cylinder 5 of the tube container 4 from the inside.

[0037] For example, as shown in Figures 5(A) and 2(B)(F), the portion of the upper plate 11 corresponding to the annular groove between the inner cylinder 9 and the outer cylinder 10 is a ring plate portion 17. However, as shown in Figures 3(A) and 4(B), four lower water passage holes 18 are opened with the ring plate portion 17 divided. In this embodiment, the width (groove width) of the lower water passage holes 18 matches the width of the ring plate portion 17. Therefore, the ring plate portion 17 is completely divided by the lower water passage holes 18.

[0038] The lower water passage hole 18 is positioned at a 45-degree angle to the longitudinal centerline in the open position when viewed from the axial direction, and in plan view it has the shape of a long circular arc in the circumferential direction. As shown in Figure 5(A), the surface of the ring plate portion 17 that is at the bottom in the upright position and at the top in the inverted position (upper surface when inverted) is a curved surface that is concave toward the cap 3 when viewed in cross-section from the circumferential direction, and as shown in Figure 5(C), each part between adjacent lower water passage holes 18 has a mountain shape when viewed from the radial direction, with an inclined surface 19 that slopes downward toward the lower water passage hole 18 when inverted.

[0039] As previously described, a pair of second stoppers 15 for orientation adjustment are positioned between the inner cylinder 9 and the outer cylinder 10 of the main body 1. Since the second stoppers 15 extend to the ring plate portion 17, inclined surfaces 19 extend on both sides of the second stoppers 15 at the point where they are connected to the ring plate portion 17. The ring plate portion 17 where the second stoppers 15 are not present has a ridge line 20 extending radially at an intermediate position in the circumferential direction. In any case, water or hot water flowing down the ring plate portion 17 is guided by the inclined surfaces 19 and flows into the lower water passage hole 18.

[0040] As shown in Figure 5(D) as an alternative example, it is also possible to make the upper surface of the ring plate portion 17 flat when viewed from the circumferential direction when inverted. In this case as well, the ring plate portion 17 is formed in a mountain shape with an inclined surface 19 and a ridge line 20 at each part of the adjacent lower water passage hole 18. It is also possible to form the upper surface of the ring plate portion 17 in an inverted position in a mountain shape when viewed from the circumferential direction in the inverted position.

[0041] Furthermore, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 5(C), it is also possible to form the ring plate portion 17 to a uniform thickness and to form the inverted lower surface of the ring plate portion 17 to have irregularities that conform to the inverted upper surface. In other words, it is also possible to form the ring plate portion 17 to have an irregular shape with approximately uniform thickness and alternating valleys and peaks in the circumferential direction, and to form the lower water passage holes 18 in the areas that become valleys in the inverted position.

[0042] (2) Structure of cap 3 For example, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cap 3 has a cylindrical skirt portion 21 and a top plate 22 integrally connected thereto, and the skirt portion 21 is designed to fit into a stepped portion 1a formed on the shoulder of the main body 1. The top plate 22 has inner and outer sealing tubes 24 and 25 that fit into the spout 12 of the main body 1.

[0043] The outer edge of the top plate 22 connected to the skirt portion 21 is an inward-facing flange-like portion 26, and a disc-shaped portion 27 having seal cylinders 24 and 25 is positioned inside the inward-facing flange-like portion 26. The portion of the disc-shaped portion 27 located outside the outer seal cylinder 25 has a gentle slope (curve) such that the surface that faces upward in the inverted position (upper surface when inverted) becomes lower as it moves towards the outer edge in the inverted position, and the outer edge of the disc-shaped portion 27 is positioned to overlap the lower surface of the inward-facing flange-like portion 26 in the inverted position.

[0044] Therefore, in the upright position, the outer circumference of the disc-shaped portion 27 is raised above the flange-shaped portion 26, and the disc-shaped portion 27 is gently concave downwards in the upright position. In addition, there is a step between the inner circumference of the inward-facing flange-shaped portion 26 and the outer edge of the disc-shaped portion 7b, so water or hot water that flows down onto the inward-facing flange-shaped portion 26 in the inverted position flows down towards the outer edge of the disc-shaped portion 27.

[0045] Six elongated, arc-shaped upper drainage holes 28 are formed intermittently in the circumferential direction on the outer circumference of the disc-shaped portion 27. The upper drainage holes 28 are spaced at 60° intervals in the circumferential direction, but are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the longitudinal centerline when the lid is open. When the top plate 22 is in an inverted position, the upper surface of the disc-shaped portion 27 of the top plate 22 slopes downwards, so water or hot water that drips onto the disc-shaped portion 27 flows towards the outer circumference and collects in the upper drainage holes 28. As shown in Figure 5(E) as an example of modification, it is also possible to form the top plate 22 into a smoothly curved shape such that the part closer to the outer circumference is the lowest when the top plate is in an inverted position, and to place the upper drainage holes 28 in the part closer to the outer circumference.

[0046] A surrounding wall 29 is integrally formed on the skirt portion 21 of the cap 3, extending above the top plate 22 when the cap is upright. The height of the surrounding wall 29 is set to be approximately the same as the height of the skirt portion 21, and it widens upwards when upright (widens downwards when inverted), but the outer surface of the skirt portion 21 also widens at the same angle as the surrounding wall 29.

[0047] By widening the outer diameter of the enclosure wall 29, the enclosure wall 29 can also be used as a finger tab when a person opens the cap 3. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the finger tab. This results in a cleaner design. Of course, it is possible to provide a tab, and therefore, examples of tabs 30 are shown in Figures 2(D) and 2(E) with dotted and dashed lines. The tab 30 can be provided either at the lower end of the skirt portion 21 or at the upper end of the enclosure wall 29. When the tab 30 is provided at the lower end of the skirt portion 21, it is preferable to form a groove 30a for a finger to enter into on the outer surface of the outer cylinder 10 that constitutes the main body 1, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 2(D).

[0048] As shown in Figures 1(A) to 1(C), the cap 3 has the aforementioned cut-out hole 7, into which the center arm 2b of the hinge 2 fits when closed. However, to allow the cap 3 to be opened and closed, the cut-out hole 7 is also formed in the enclosure wall 29. The cut-out hole 7 in the enclosure wall 29 can be used as a drain, or, as shown in Figures 1(B) and 4(A), it can be closed by a rib 2d provided on the outer corner of the center arm 2b.

[0049] The enclosure wall 29 has two notches 31 on the left and right sides, which are formed in an inverted position and open downwards. The notches 31 are positioned where the short center line, perpendicular to the long center line when the lid is open, passes through. As clearly shown in Figure 2(D), the front and rear inclined surfaces of the notches 31 of the enclosure wall 29 are curved in a side view, but V-notch, U-shaped, or rectangular shapes can also be adopted. The number and position of the notches can also be set arbitrarily.

[0050] The disc-shaped portion 27 that makes up the top plate 22 is inclined such that its upper surface becomes lower outwards when inverted. However, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 2(A), the surface that faces upward when inverted can be formed into an uneven surface with radially extending valleys 32 and ridges 33 alternatingly continuous in the circumferential direction at 30° intervals, so that each valley 32 is directed from the outer seal cylinder 25 towards each upper water passage hole 28. In this case, the function of collecting water or hot water into each upper water passage hole 28 is improved.

[0051] (3) Summary of the first embodiment In the above configuration, since the ring plate portion 17 of the main body 1 has multiple large-area downward drainage holes 18, even if a large amount of water or hot water accumulates inside the main body 1, for example, by dropping the tube container into the bathtub with the lid open, the water or hot water will be quickly discharged from the downward drainage holes 18 of the main body 1 when it is removed from the bathtub and placed in a downward position.

[0052] For example, if the tube container is dropped into a bathtub or the like with the lid open, in this embodiment, when it is removed and tilted downwards, most of the water or hot water will flow out due to the tilting motion. Similarly, even if it is dropped into a bathtub or the like with the lid open, most of the water or hot water will be discharged by removing it and tilting it downwards.

[0053] If the product is dropped into water or hot water with the lid open while being used for facial cleansing, etc., it may be used immediately after being removed and the lid is opened. In this case, it may be unpleasant if water or hot water flows out when the lid is opened. However, in this embodiment, the water or hot water is quickly discharged when the tube container is turned on its side or upside down, so when the cap 3 is opened, most of the water or hot water has been discharged, preventing the consumer from feeling uncomfortable.

[0054] It is conceivable that after using the product for facial cleansing, the lid may be dropped into water or hot water. In this case, one could remove the product from the water or hot water, turn it upside down, and place it on a flat surface such as a shelf. However, in this embodiment, most of the water or hot water can be removed by turning the tube container downwards. Therefore, when placed on a flat surface such as a shelf, the water or hot water will only be adhering to the main body 1 and cap 3 as droplets, which will quickly drip down through the lower water passage hole 18 and the upper water passage hole 28. Consequently, the main body 1 and cap 3 can be quickly dried.

[0055] Although not explicitly shown in the drawing, the free end of the skirt portion 21 of the cap 3 located on the opposite side of the hinge 2 and the corresponding stepped portion 1a of the main body 1 are provided with engaging means consisting of a combination of engaging projections and engaging holes, or a combination of engaging projections themselves, in order to hold the cap 3 in a closed position. At the end of closing the cap 3, it elastically deforms, making a clicking sound and being held in the closed position.

[0056] Therefore, there is some resistance to closing the cap 3 in the final stage of the closing operation. As a result, it is necessary to apply a little force to push the cap 3 in the final stage of the closing operation. However, if there is resistance to closing the cap 3 in the final stage of the closing operation, the closing operation may be stopped there, and the unit may be placed on a shelf or other surface in an inverted position without being completely closed. In this case, the cap 3 is slightly open, but the opening angle is very small, so it is placed on a flat surface such as a shelf in an inverted position.

[0057] In this case, the ring plate portion 17 of the main body 1 is sloped so that the hinge 2 is lower, causing water or hot water to tend to flow towards the hinge 2. If one lower drain hole 18 is located at the hinge 2, even if the ring plate portion 17 is flat, water or hot water will flow into the lower drain hole 18 located at the hinge 2, so the entire amount of water or hot water can be drained without any problems. However, as in the embodiment, if a recess 6 into which the center arm 2b of the hinge fits is formed in the main body 1, the lower drain hole 18 must be positioned away from the hinge 2 in order to prevent a reduction in strength. Consequently, unless special measures are taken in the ring plate portion 17, water or hot water will accumulate at the hinge 2 portion of the ring plate portion 17.

[0058] In contrast, if the ring plate portion 17 is formed in a mountain shape as in the embodiment, even if water or hot water flows down the ring plate portion 17 located at the hinge 2, the water or hot water will flow towards the two downward drainage holes 18 due to the guiding action of the inclined surface 19, preventing water or hot water from accumulating at the hinge 2. As previously described, the water or hot water that flows down to the cap 3 can also be discharged from the cut-out hole 7 into which the center arm 2b enters.

[0059] Products using tube containers are displayed with the lids closed and are often shrink-wrapped in transparent film. Therefore, when consumers pick up and examine the product, the external shape of the cap 3 is appealing to them. In this embodiment, the tapered, crown-like enclosure wall 29 that extends outside the top plate 22 attracts the consumer's attention.

[0060] Furthermore, the fact that the enclosure wall 29 has notches 31, that the top plate 22 has numerous conspicuously placed drainage holes 28, and that the disc-shaped portion 27 of the top plate 22 protrudes from the inwardly facing flange-shaped portion 26 are all significant features that are sure to attract consumer attention.

[0061] Now, looking at tube container products available on the market, the caps are almost always simple in form, with a flat top plate integrated into the upper end of a straight skirt section. Even if a drain hole is provided at the top, it appears to be made as small and narrow as possible to make it as inconspicuous as possible.

[0062] In contrast, the cap 3 of this embodiment is formed in a way that makes the form related to the drainage function prominent, and while exhibiting high drainage functionality, it can be said that consumers will appreciate it as a novel design full of surprises not seen in conventional products. Such design aspects can be subject to design registration, and it is possible to file an application not only for the entire lid device, but also for a partial design characterized by the form of the cap 3, an application characterized by the enclosure wall 29 without the notches 31, or an application for a partial design characterized by one or two notches 31. The same applies to other embodiments.

[0063] In this embodiment, four lower water passage holes 18 are formed at 90° intervals in the main body 1, and six upper water passage holes 28 are formed at 60° intervals in the cap 3. However, it is also possible to form the same number of lower water passage holes 18 and upper water passage holes 28 at the same positions. The number of lower water passage holes 18 and upper water passage holes 28 can also be varied depending on the outer diameter. Furthermore, in the illustrated example, both the lower water passage holes 18 and upper water passage holes 28 are formed as arc-shaped elongated holes, and any shape such as circular, square, or elliptical can be used, and the number should be set according to the shape.

[0064] (4) Other embodiments Figures 6 and following show other embodiments. The second embodiment shown in Figures 6-8 has the same drainage structure as the first embodiment, but differs in that the hinge 2 is of the butterfly type and the skirt portion 21 and enclosure wall 29 of the cap 3 are straight. Regarding the hinge 2, the center portion is a film hinge 2c, and therefore, unlike the first embodiment, there is no recess 6 in the main body 1 and no cut-out hole 7 in the cap 3. In this embodiment, since the enclosure wall 29 is straight, a tab 30 for gripping with a finger when opening the lid is provided on the cap 3 as an essential structure.

[0065] Figures 9(A) and 9(B) show a third embodiment. This third embodiment is a specific example of claim 5, and is characterized in that the inner cylinder 9 and the outer cylinder 10 are connected by a number of rib-shaped bridges 35 arranged in the circumferential direction, and the space between adjacent bridges 35 is a lower drainage hole 18. In this embodiment, the total area of ​​the lower drainage holes 18 is very large, so it exhibits a very high drainage function.

[0066] In the solid line representation in (A) and the representation in (B), the bridge 35 is aligned with the height of the outer cylinder 10. However, as shown by the dashed line in (A) and the solid line in (C), it is possible to make the height of the bridge 35 lower than the inner cylinder 9. In any case, since the bridge 35 extends significantly toward the opening edge of the inner cylinder 9 than the top plate 11, the main body 1 has high rigidity as a whole. Therefore, it ensures high strength of the main body 1 while exhibiting a high drainage effect.

[0067] In this third embodiment, the upper water passage holes 28 of the cap 3 are located roughly in the middle between the outer seal cylinder 25 and the skirt portion 21, and the area surrounding each upper water passage hole 28 is formed as a funnel-shaped recess 36 that is inclined toward the upper water passage hole 28, with the boundary between adjacent funnel-shaped recesses 36 in the circumferential direction being a ridge line 36a.

[0068] The fourth embodiment shown in Figures 9(D) and 9(E) embodies claims 2 and 3. In this embodiment, the upper surface of the ring plate portion 17 that is on top in the inverted position is formed as an inwardly inclined surface 17a that slopes downward toward the inner cylinder 9 in the inverted position, and numerous lower water passage holes 18 are formed in a circumferential direction, including the lower end of the inwardly inclined surface 17a. Furthermore, between adjacent lower water passage holes 18, the ring plate portion 17 is mountain-shaped when viewed from the radial direction, similar to Figure 5(C), and inclined surfaces 19 toward the lower water passage holes 18 are formed on both sides of the ridge line 20, which is the peak of the mountain.

[0069] In this fourth embodiment, water and hot water collect towards the inner cylinder 9, resulting in excellent water collection functionality. Moreover, because the area between adjacent lower water passage holes 18 is mountain-shaped, water and hot water do not accumulate in the ring plate portion 17 between adjacent lower water passage holes 18, resulting in excellent drainage efficiency. In the illustrated example, the width of the lower water passage holes 18 is smaller than the width of the ring plate portion 17, but the width of the lower water passage holes 18 may be set to be the same as the width of the ring plate portion 17. In this case, the ring plate portion 17 is divided by the lower water passage holes 18, which also constitutes a specific example of claim 1.

[0070] In the fourth embodiment, the upper water passage holes 28 of the cap 3 are elongated in the radial direction, giving the overall appearance of a petal. Furthermore, on the upper and lower surfaces of the top plate 22, the surface that is facing upward when the unit is inverted has indentations and protrusions that are inclined toward each of the upper water passage holes 28. That is, on the upper surface of the top plate 22 when it is inverted, valley lines 37 toward the upper water passage holes 28 and ridge lines 38 located between adjacent upper water passage holes 28 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction.

[0071] Figure 10 shows a fifth embodiment that embodies claim 4. In this embodiment, the upper surface of the ring plate portion 17 when inverted has an uneven shape in which valleys 39 and peaks (ridges) 40 alternately continue in the circumferential direction, and a lower water passage hole 18 is formed at each valley 39. Furthermore, the lower water passage hole 18 is formed in a state offset from both the inner cylinder 9 and the outer cylinder 10, and therefore the peaks 40, valleys 39, inner circumferential surface 41 and outer circumferential surface 42 are inclined toward the lower water passage hole 18. Accordingly, a funnel-shaped enclosure surface that narrows toward the lower water passage hole 18 is formed at each portion between adjacent peaks 40.

[0072] Furthermore, in the fifth embodiment, the top plate 22 of the cap 3 is connected to the opening edge of the skirt portion 21, and a group of notches 43 communicating with the upper water passage holes 28 are formed at the opening edge of the skirt portion 21. Therefore, in this embodiment, there is no enclosure wall 29, and the top plate 22 has a shape that is gently concave downwards when in an upright position.

[0073] The sixth embodiment shown in Figure 11 is another example of the cap 3, and, similar to the fifth embodiment in Figure 10, the upper drainage holes 28 formed in the top plate 22 and the notches 43 formed in the skirt portion 21 are connected, and a V-shaped rib 44 is formed between adjacent upper drainage holes 28 and notches 43, connected to the top plate 22 and the skirt portion 21. In this embodiment, a high drainage function is ensured by the presence of a large number of upper drainage holes 28 and notches 43 in a connected state, and a reduction in the strength of the cap 3 can be prevented by the presence of a group of V-shaped ribs 44.

[0074] In the eighth embodiment shown in Figure 12(A), the first embodiment is used as a basis, but a notch 31 is also formed on the opposite side of the hinge 2. On the other hand, in the ninth embodiment shown in Figure 12(B), the notch 31 is located at the hinge 2 and on the opposite side. In Figure 12(A), the part of the enclosure wall 29 opposite the hinge 2 cannot be used as a tab for opening the lid, so it is preferable to provide an opening tab 30 on the skirt portion 21, as shown in Figures 8(C) and 8(E).

[0075] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be implemented in various other ways. For example, regarding the cap, the surface that faces the top plate 22 in an inverted position can be formed as a tapered surface inclined toward the outer seal cylinder, and a number of radially arranged upper water passage holes communicating with the lower part of the tapered surface can be provided in the circumferential direction. Regarding the main body, if the distance between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder is larger than a certain amount, the lower water passage holes can be formed in an elongated shape in the radial direction.

[0076] When forming a V-shape between adjacent lower drainage holes, it is also possible to form the V-shape into a right-angled triangle having one inclined surface toward one lower drainage hole and a vertical surface rising from the other lower drainage hole. In this application, the structure of the main body is treated as an independent claim and the structure of the cap as a dependent claim, but the cap structures specified in claims 6, 7, etc., can also be independent inventions.

[0077] The lid device disclosed in this application has a highly distinctive design even when the lid is open. However, it is also possible to register a partial design based on features such as the shape of the upper surface of the cap on the top surface of the main body when the lid is open in an upright position.

[0078] There are bottles designed for packaging highly viscous body products such as facial cleansing foam, which are blow-molded and have a flattened body that allows for easy extrusion and can be placed upright with the cap facing downwards. The present invention is also applicable to lid devices for such bottle-type containers.

[0079] Furthermore, although the embodiment was applied to a lid device having an openable hinged cap, the present invention can also be applied to lid devices with detachable caps, such as a lid device equipped with a screw cap that is attached to and detached from the main body by rotating it, or a lid device equipped with a cap that is attached to and detached from the main body by engaging and disengaging an undercut portion using elastic deformation. [Industrial applicability]

[0080] The present invention can be implemented as a lid device for tubular or bottle-shaped containers. Therefore, it can be used industrially. [Explanation of symbols]

[0081] 1 Main unit 2 hinges 3 caps 4 Tube containers 5. Dispensing tube of the tube container 8. Shoulder of the tube container 9 Inner cylinder 10 Outer cylinder 11 Top plate 12 spout 17 Ring plate section 17a Inwardly inclined surface of the ring plate 18 Lower water hole 19 Slope 20 Ridge 21 Skirt section 22 Top plate 24, 25 sealing tubes 26 Inward-facing flange-like portion 27 Disc-shaped part 28 Upper water hole 29 Enclosure wall 30. Finger tab for opening the lid 31 Notches

Claims

1. The device comprises a main body attached to the dispensing tube of a tubular or bottle-shaped container, the dispensing tube having a diameter much smaller than the shoulder portion, and a cap connected to the main body via a hinge or a cap formed separately from the main body. The main body is composed of an inner cylinder attached to the dispensing tube of the container, an outer cylinder located outside the inner cylinder, and an upper plate that connects the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and has a spout that communicates with the inner cylinder, The cap is a container lid device having a skirt portion that fits onto the main body and a top plate integrally provided on the skirt portion, In the upper plate of the main body, a ring plate portion connected to the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder has multiple downward water passage holes formed at circumferential intervals, dividing the ring plate portion. Container lid device.

2. The device comprises a main body attached to the dispensing tube of a tubular or bottle-shaped container, the dispensing tube having a diameter much smaller than the shoulder portion, and a cap connected to the main body via a hinge or a cap formed separately from the main body. The main body is composed of an inner cylinder attached to the dispensing tube of the container, an outer cylinder located outside the inner cylinder, and an upper plate that connects the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and has a spout that communicates with the inner cylinder, The cap is a container lid device having a skirt portion that fits onto the main body and a top plate integrally provided on the skirt portion, The upper plate of the main body has a ring plate portion connected to the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and the surface of the ring plate portion that is facing upward in an inverted position is formed as an inwardly inclined surface that slopes downward toward the lower end of the inner cylinder in an inverted position, and a plurality of downward water passage holes are formed in the ring plate portion, spaced apart in the circumferential direction so as to be located at least at the lower end of the inwardly inclined surface in an inverted position. Container lid device.

3. The portion of the ring plate of the upper plate between adjacent lower water passage holes has a raised surface that slopes downward toward the lower water passage holes when viewed from the radial direction in an inverted position. A container lid device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The device comprises a main body attached to the dispensing tube of a tubular or bottle-shaped container, the dispensing tube having a diameter much smaller than the shoulder portion, and a cap connected to the main body via a hinge or a cap formed separately from the main body. The main body is composed of an inner cylinder attached to the dispensing tube of the container, an outer cylinder located outside the inner cylinder, and an upper plate that connects the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and has a spout that communicates with the inner cylinder, The cap is a container lid device having a skirt portion that fits onto the main body and a top plate integrally provided on the skirt portion, The upper plate of the main body has a ring plate portion connected to the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and the surface of the ring plate portion that faces upward when inverted has an uneven shape with peaks and valleys arranged alternately in the circumferential direction, and there are drainage holes at the location of each valley. Container lid device.

5. It comprises a main body attached to the dispensing tube of a tube-shaped or bottle-shaped container having a dispensing tube with a small diameter relative to the body, and a cap connected to the main body via a hinge or a cap formed separately from the main body. The main body comprises an inner cylinder attached to the dispensing tube of the container and an upper plate connected to the inner cylinder, the upper plate having a spout that communicates with the inner cylinder, The cap is a container lid device having a skirt portion that fits onto the main body and a top plate integrally provided on the skirt portion, The inner and outer cylinders are integrally connected via numerous rib-like bridges arranged in parallel in the circumferential direction, with each section between adjacent ribs serving as a drainage hole. Container lid device.

6. The top plate of the aforementioned cap has an upper water passage hole, The skirt portion of the cap has an enclosure wall integrally formed thereon that extends to the opposite side of the main body, sandwiching the top plate, and a drainage notch is formed in the enclosure wall. A container lid device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, or 5.

7. The top plate of the aforementioned cap has an upper water passage hole, The skirt portion of the cap has an integral enclosure wall that extends from the main body on the opposite side of the top plate, and the enclosure wall widens in diameter as it moves away from the top plate. A container lid device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, or 5.

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