Discharge cap

Abstract

The present invention provides a dispensing cap that is less likely to leak its contents, even when the contents are filled at high temperatures, and that also has a measuring function. [Solution] A discharge cap 3 having a cap body 4 and a lid 5, wherein the cap body 4 has a discharge cylinder 7d that forms a discharge port 4a, a contact portion 4b which is the lower surface of the lower end edge of the discharge cylinder 7d, a measuring cylinder 8a, a measuring bottom wall 8b having an opening 8b1, and a movable valve 6 which is held inside the measuring cylinder 8a so as to be movable between a lower limit position and an upper limit position, and the contents are discharged as the movable valve 6 moves from the lower limit position to the upper limit position, the lid 5 has a top wall 5a and a protruding portion 5b which protrudes from the top wall 5a into the discharge port 4a and is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the discharge cylinder 7d before use begins, and the movable valve 6 has a contact portion 6a1 which abuts against the contact portion 4b at the upper limit position, and a fitting portion 6b which fits into the protruding portion 5b so as to restrict the downward movement of the movable valve 6 from the upper limit position before use begins and is released from fitting with the protruding portion 5b when the lid 5 is unscrewed at the start of use,

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a discharge cap.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a discharge container having a container body with a mouth portion and a discharge cap, the discharge cap having a cap body attached to the mouth portion and a lid body, the cap body having a discharge cylinder that extends upward to form a discharge port, and the lid body having a top wall and a protruding portion that protrudes from the top wall into the discharge port and is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the discharge cylinder before use (see, for example, 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 a discharge container as described above, when the content is filled at a high temperature, if it comes into direct contact with the content, the close contact between the discharge cylinder and the protruding portion becomes weak, and there is a risk that the content will leak due to impacts such as transportation or dropping. Also, it is required to provide the discharge cap with a metering function for limiting the discharge amount per time.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a discharge cap that is less likely to leak the content even when the content is filled at a high temperature and has a metering function.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is as follows.

[0007] [1] The container body has a mouth, body, and bottom facing downwards in that order, and the cap body is attached to the mouth, and the lid is screwed off upward from the cap body when use begins. The cap body comprises a discharge cylinder extending upward to form a discharge port, a contact portion which is the lower surface of the lower end edge of the discharge cylinder, a measuring cylinder extending vertically, a measuring bottom wall connected to the lower end of the measuring cylinder and having an opening in the center, a movable valve held within the measuring cylinder so as to be movable between a lower limit position and an upper limit position, and a discharge flow path that extends radially inward through the measuring cylinder to the discharge port, and after use begins, the contents of the container body flow into the measuring cylinder from the opening, the contents of the container body are discharged through the discharge flow path as the movable valve moves from the lower limit position to the upper limit position, and the discharge flow path is blocked when the movable valve reaches the upper limit position. The lid has a top wall and a projection that extends from the top wall into the discharge port and comes into close contact with the inner surface of the discharge cylinder before use begins. The discharge cap comprises a contact portion that contacts the contacted portion at the upper limit position, and a fitting portion that fits onto the protruding portion before use so as to restrict the downward movement of the discharge valve from the upper limit position, and which is released from the fitting with the protruding portion when the cover is unscrewed at the start of use.

[0008] [2] The discharge pipe expands in diameter upwards, The discharge cap according to [1], wherein the cover has a cylindrical outer sealing portion that extends downward from the top wall and closely contacts the upper end of the discharge cylinder from the radially outer side before use.

[0009] [3] The aforementioned protrusion is cylindrical, The discharge cap according to [1] or [2], wherein the fitting portion holds the movable valve in the upper limit position by fitting it to the inner circumferential surface of the protrusion before the start of use. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a dispensing cap that is less likely to leak contents even when the contents are filled at high temperatures, and that also has a measuring function. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view showing the state of a dispensing container of one embodiment of the present invention before it is put into use. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of the dispensing container after it has been put into use. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the discharge container 1 has a container body 2 having a cylindrical mouth portion 2a centered on a central axis O, a body portion (not shown) that widens in diameter from the lower end of the mouth portion 2a, and a bottom portion (not shown) connected in this order downwards, and a discharge cap 3 attached to the mouth portion 2a. Note that the mouth portion 2a may be a cylindrical shape other than a cylindrical shape. The discharge cap 3 has a cap body 4 attached to the mouth portion 2a and a lid 5 that is screwed upward from the cap body 4 when use begins.

[0014] In this embodiment, the direction along the central axis O of the mouth 2a is called the vertical direction, the direction from the bottom of the container body 2 toward the mouth 2a along the vertical direction is called the upward direction, the opposite direction is called the downward direction, the direction perpendicular to the central axis O is called the radial direction, and the direction that circles the central axis O is called the circumferential direction.

[0015] The cap body 4 has a discharge cylinder 7d that extends upward and forms a discharge port 4a radially inward, a contact portion 4b that is the lower surface of the lower edge of the discharge cylinder 7d, a measuring cylinder 8a that extends in the vertical direction and is centered on the central axis O, a measuring bottom wall 8b that is continuous with the lower end of the measuring cylinder 8a and has an opening 8b1 at the center, a moving valve 6 that is held in the measuring cylinder 8a so as to be movable between a lower limit position and an upper limit position, and a discharge flow path that passes through a plurality of side holes 8a1 in the measuring cylinder 8a and reaches the discharge port 4a radially inward. The discharge cylinder 7d has a cylindrical shape that expands upward and is centered on the central axis O.

[0016] After the start of use, in the discharge cap 3, the content in the container body 2 flows into the measuring cylinder 8a from the opening 8b1, and the content in the container body 2 is discharged through the discharge flow path while the moving valve 6 moves from the lower limit position (the position shown in FIG. 2) to the upper limit position (the position shown in FIG. 1), and when the moving valve 6 reaches the upper limit position, the discharge flow path is blocked. Thereby, the measuring function can be exhibited.

[0017] The content is not particularly limited and is, for example, a liquid. The discharge container 1 of the present embodiment is particularly suitable when the content is a food such as a sauce or a dressing.

[0018] The cap body 4 has a main body member 7 and a measuring member 8 attached to the main body member 7. The main body member 7 has a mounting portion 7a mounted on the mouth portion 2a, a screwing cylinder 7b extending upward from the inner peripheral edge portion of the mounting portion 7a, an annular top wall 7c extending radially inward from the upper end portion of the screwing cylinder 7b, and a discharge cylinder 7d extending upward from the inner peripheral edge portion of the top wall 7c and partitioning the discharge port 4a radially inward. The measuring member 8 has a measuring cylinder 8a, a measuring bottom wall 8b, and a flange portion 8c extending radially outward from the upper end portion of the measuring cylinder 8a, and is fitted and held on the upper end portion of the inner peripheral surface of the screwing cylinder 7b of the main body member 7 (the protrusions 7e1 of a plurality of vertical ribs 7e provided at intervals in the circumferential direction). The upward movement of the measuring member 8 with respect to the main body member 7 is restricted by contact with the lower surface of the top wall 7c, and the downward movement of the measuring member 8 with respect to the main body member 7 is restricted by engagement with the inner peripheral surface of the screwing cylinder 7b.

[0019] The graduated cylinder 8a has a plurality of side holes 8a1 arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction above the flange portion 8c and below the upper part of the graduated cylinder 8a. Note that the number of side holes 8a1 provided in the graduated cylinder 8a is not limited to a plurality and may be one.

[0020] The mounting portion 7a is mounted by fitting so as to be restricted from moving upward with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 2a. It has a mounting cylinder 7a1, an annular wall 7a2 extending radially inward from the upper end portion of the mounting cylinder 7a1 and abutting against the upper end surface of the mouth portion 2a, and an inner cylinder 7a3 extending downward from the inner peripheral edge portion of the annular wall 7a2 and closely contacting the inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion 2a. The screwing cylinder 7b has a male screw portion 7b1 centered on the central axis O on its outer peripheral surface. The top wall 7c has a plurality of protrusions 7c1 protruding upward arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the upper surface.

[0021] The lid body 5 has a top wall 5a and a protruding portion 5b protruding from the top wall 5a into the discharge port 4a and closely contacting the inner peripheral surface of the discharge cylinder 7d before the start of use.

[0022] The moving valve 6 has a contact portion 6a1 that contacts the contact portion 4b at the upper limit position, and a fitting portion 6b that is fitted to the protruding portion 5b so as to restrict the downward movement of the moving valve 6 from the upper limit position before the start of use, and the fitting with the protruding portion 5b is released as the lid body 5 is screwed off and removed at the start of use.

[0023] The protruding portion 5b has a cylindrical shape, and the fitting portion 6b holds the moving valve 6 at the upper limit position by fitting to the inner peripheral surface of the protruding portion 5b before the start of use. The lower end portion of the protruding portion 5b has a locking portion 5b1 that protrudes radially inward and fits to the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion 6b so as to restrict the downward movement of the fitting portion 6b.

[0024] The moving valve 6 has a partition wall 6a extending vertically in the vertical direction, a cylindrical fitting portion 6b extending upward from the partition wall 6a inside the outer peripheral edge portion of the partition wall 6a, and a sliding wall 6c extending downward from the outer peripheral edge portion of the partition wall 6a and sliding vertically on the inner peripheral surface of the graduated cylinder 8a when the moving valve 6 moves between the lower limit position and the upper limit position. The outer peripheral edge portion of the partition wall 6a constitutes the contact portion 6a1 on the upper surface. The contact portion 6a1 forms a sealing portion for the content by closely contacting the contact portion 4b at the upper limit position.

[0025] The lid 5 has a cylindrical outer sealing portion 5c that extends radially outward from the top wall 5a and downward from the top wall 5a, and which makes close contact with the upper end of the discharge pipe 7d from the radially outward direction before use.

[0026] The lid 5 has a threaded cylinder 5d that extends radially outward from the outer sealing portion 5c and downward from the top wall 5a, and screws onto the male threaded portion 7b1 of the threaded cylinder 7b. The threaded cylinder 5d is unscrewed by rotating it in one direction circumferentially relative to the male threaded portion 7b1, and screwed onto by rotating it in the other direction circumferentially.

[0027] The lid 5 has multiple vibrating pieces 5e (the same number as the protrusions 7c1 on the top wall 7c) that extend downward from the top wall 5a, radially outward from the outer seal portion 5c and radially inward from the threaded cylinder 5d, spaced apart in the circumferential direction. When the lid 5 is screwed onto the cap body 4, the vibrating pieces 5e vibrate by elastically deforming in the circumferential direction, overcoming the corresponding protrusions 7c1 on the top wall 7c, and then returning to their original position. When the lid 5 is reattached to the cap body 4 after use, the vibration confirms that the attachment is complete.

[0028] The lid 5 has an outer peripheral wall 5f that extends radially outward from the top wall 5a and downward beyond the lower end of the screwed-on cylinder 5d. The outer peripheral wall 5f can be used as a gripping portion to hold the lid 5 in order to screw it onto or unscrew it from the cap body 4.

[0029] After use begins, with the lid 5 detached from the cap body 4, the discharge container 1 is tilted and the body 2b of the container body 2 is squeezed (pressed). This causes the contents 9 inside the container body 2 to flow into the measuring cylinder 8a through the opening 8b1 of the measuring bottom wall 8b, hitting the lower surface of the partition wall 6a of the movable valve 6, causing the movable valve 6 to move smoothly upward. Furthermore, the contents 9 inside the container body 2 can be discharged through the discharge channel until the movable valve 6 moves to its upper end position and blocks the discharge channel.

[0030] The cap body 4 allows the movable valve 6 to be pushed up by inserting a pin (not shown) through the opening 8b1 of the measuring bottom wall 8b. Therefore, in the capping process during the manufacturing of the discharge cap 3, after the lid 5 is screwed onto the cap body 4, a pin (not shown) is inserted through the opening 8b1 of the measuring bottom wall 8b to push the movable valve 6 up to the upper limit position, and the fitting portion 6b is fitted onto the protruding portion 5b. At that time, the contact portion 6a1 comes into contact with the contacted portion 4b, and the movable valve 6 is held (sealed) in the upper limit position.

[0031] The materials used to form the container body 2, lid 5, movable valve 6, main body member 7, and measuring member 8 are not particularly limited and may include, for example, resin.

[0032] According to this embodiment, when the contents are filled at high temperature during the manufacturing process, contact between the contact portion 6a1 of the movable valve 6 and the contacted portion 4b of the cap body 4 can be prevented from occurring when the contents are filled at high temperature inside the container body 2 before use, such as when the contents are filled at high temperature. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the contents from leaking out by preventing the contents from coming into contact with the discharge tube 7d, which would weaken the seal between the discharge tube 7d and the protruding portion 5b.

[0033] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the outer seal portion 5c can support the upper end of the discharge cylinder 7d from the radially outer side, so that when the protruding portion 5b comes into close contact with the discharge cylinder 7d, the discharge cylinder 7d does not spread radially outward, and the contact between the protruding portion 5b and the discharge cylinder 7d does not weaken.

[0034] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the fitting portion 6b fits into the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical projection 5b, and the outer circumferential surface of the projection 5b is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the discharge cylinder 7d. Therefore, the interference fit between the fitting portion 6b and the projection 5b, and the interference fit between the projection 5b and the discharge cylinder 7d can be set to be large, thus enabling good fitting and close contact.

[0035] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the embodiments described above can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Explanation of Symbols

[0036] 1 Discharge container 2 Container body 2a Mouth part 3 Discharge cap 4 Cap body 4a Discharge port 4b Contacted part 5 Lid body 5a Top wall<​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Claims

1. The container body has a mouth, body, and bottom facing downwards in that order, and the cap body is attached to the mouth, and the lid is screwed off upward from the cap body when use begins. The cap body comprises a discharge cylinder extending upward to form a discharge port, a contact portion which is the lower surface of the lower end edge of the discharge cylinder, a measuring cylinder extending vertically, a measuring bottom wall connected to the lower end of the measuring cylinder and having an opening in the center, a movable valve held within the measuring cylinder so as to be movable between a lower limit position and an upper limit position, and a discharge flow path that extends radially inward through the measuring cylinder to the discharge port, and after use begins, the contents of the container body flow into the measuring cylinder from the opening, the contents of the container body are discharged through the discharge flow path as the movable valve moves from the lower limit position to the upper limit position, and the discharge flow path is blocked when the movable valve reaches the upper limit position. The lid has a top wall and a projection that extends from the top wall into the discharge port and comes into close contact with the inner surface of the discharge cylinder before use begins. The discharge cap comprises a contact portion that contacts the contacted portion at the upper limit position, and a fitting portion that fits onto the protruding portion before use so as to restrict the downward movement of the discharge valve from the upper limit position, and which is released from the fitting with the protruding portion when the cover is unscrewed at the start of use.

2. The discharge pipe expands in diameter upwards, The discharge cap according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a cylindrical outer sealing portion that extends downward from the top wall and closely contacts the upper end of the discharge cylinder from the radially outer side before use.

3. The aforementioned protrusion is cylindrical, The discharge cap according to claim 1, wherein the fitting portion holds the movable valve in the upper limit position by fitting it to the inner circumferential surface of the protruding portion before use.

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