cap

Abstract

The present invention provides a cap that can suppress the deployment of airbags while also being able to be made smaller and lighter. [Solution] A cap 1 having a dispensing tube 16 provided on a cap body 15 and a lid 17 for opening and closing the dispensing tube 16, wherein the dispensing tube 16 has a spout 27 at its tip and a communication port 28 at its base end opposite to the tip, the cap body 15 has a cylindrical member 21 that fits into a container 2, the inside of the cylindrical member 21 and the inside of the dispensing tube 16 are in communication via the communication port 28, the tip of the cylindrical member 21 opposite to the communication port 28 is open, the dispensing tube 16 is provided with a plurality of first protruding pieces 41 that protrude radially inward, the cylindrical member 21 is provided with a plurality of second protruding pieces 42 that protrude radially inward, and a flow passage 43 is formed inside the cap body 15 that passes between the second protruding pieces 42, from the inside of the cylindrical member 21 through the first protruding pieces 41 to the spout 27 of the dispensing tube 16.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap including a cap main body attached to a container, a spout cylinder for pouring out a content accommodated inside the container, and a lid for opening and closing the spout cylinder. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as this type of cap, for example, Patent Document 1 below discloses a cap including a cap main body attached to a mouth portion of a container, a spout cylinder for pouring out a content accommodated in the container, and a lid for opening and closing the spout cylinder. The content is a paste-like viscous substance, such as ginger, garlic, emulsified mayonnaise, and the like.

[0003] The spout cylinder is provided on the cap main body. The lid is connected to the cap main body via a hinge. The cap main body includes an outer cylinder portion externally fitted to the mouth portion of the container, and an inner cylinder portion inserted into the mouth portion of the container. The inside of the inner cylinder portion communicates with the inside of the spout cylinder.

[0004] An inner plug is fitted between the outer cylinder portion and the inner cylinder portion. The inner plug is insertable into the mouth portion of the container together with the inner cylinder portion, and has an inner outlet communicating with the inside of the inner cylinder portion, and a plurality of elastically deformable stopper pieces for opening and closing the inner outlet.

[0005] According to this configuration, by opening the lid and pressing the container from the outside, the content in the container passes through the inner outlet, is poured out from the inside of the inner cylinder portion through the inside of the spout cylinder to the outside. At this time, since the stopper pieces are pressed by the content and deformed in the opening direction, the inner outlet opens, a part of the content moves toward the retention space, and the retention space is filled with the content.

[0006] Thereafter, when the pressing on the container is released, the content retained in the retention space rests on the stopper pieces, and backflow of the content can be blocked by the stopper pieces. Therefore, the content easily stays in the retention space, and the effect of suppressing the occurrence of air backwashing can be obtained.

[0007] An airbag is a phenomenon that occurs when the contents are dispensed from the dispenser and the pressure on the container is released, causing the contents to be pulled back into the container and external air to be drawn in through the dispenser. When such an airbag occurs, the air that enters the container can oxidize the contents, potentially degrading their quality. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7199050 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] However, in the conventional design described above, a stopper piece is provided in the inner stopper to prevent backflow of the contents, so the cap requires an inner stopper as a separate component from the cap body and lid. This increases the number of parts that make up the cap, making it difficult to make the cap smaller and lighter. The present invention aims to provide a cap that can suppress the generation of airbags and can also be made smaller and lighter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a cap comprising a cap body attached to a container, a dispensing tube for dispensing the contents contained inside the container, and a lid for opening and closing the dispensing tube, The dispensing cylinder is provided on the cap body, has a spout at its tip, and a communication port at the base end opposite the tip. The cap body has a cylindrical member that fits inside the container. The inside of the cylindrical member and the inside of the dispensing cylinder are in communication through a communication opening. The cylindrical member has an opening at the end opposite the communication port. The dispensing cylinder is provided with a plurality of first protruding pieces that project radially inward from the dispensing cylinder. The cylindrical member is provided with a plurality of second protruding pieces that project radially inward from the cylindrical member. The cap body is characterized by having a flow passage formed inside, which passes through the second protruding piece, through the inside of the cylindrical member, through the first protruding piece, and to the spout of the dispensing cylinder.

[0011] According to this, by opening the lid and compressing the container from the outside, the contents inside the container flow through the flow passage, passing between the first and second protruding pieces, and are dispensed to the outside from the spout.

[0012] Subsequently, when the pressure on the container is released, the backflow of contents inside the dispensing cylinder is restricted by the first protruding piece, and the backflow of contents inside the cylindrical member is restricted by the second protruding piece.

[0013] This prevents the contents inside the dispensing tube and the contents inside the cylindrical member from returning to the container, causing the contents to remain inside the dispensing tube and the cylindrical member, and the dispensing tube to be blocked by the remaining contents. As a result, it is possible to suppress the formation of an airbag, which is caused by outside air being sucked in from the dispensing tube and flowing into the container.

[0014] As described above, the first and second protruding pieces restrict the backflow of the contents, ensuring that the contents remain reliably inside the dispensing cylinder and the cylindrical member, thereby significantly suppressing the generation of airbags.

[0015] Furthermore, since the cap has a cap body and a lid, and the cap body is equipped with a dispensing tube and first and second protruding pieces to restrict backflow of the contents, the number of parts constituting the cap is reduced, making the cap smaller and lighter.

[0016] According to the cap of the present invention, it is preferable that the first protruding piece is provided at multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the dispensing cylinder.

[0017] According to the cap of the present invention, it is preferable that a first gap is formed between circumferentially adjacent first protruding pieces. According to this arrangement, when the container is pressed and compressed from the outside, the content inside the container flows through the first gap along the flow path and is discharged to the outside from the spout.

[0018] According to the cap of the present invention, where the direction in which the content flows from inside the container through the flow path to the spout is defined as the discharging direction, and the direction in which the content flows backward from the spout through the flow path back into the container is defined as the return direction,[NEWLINE] the first protruding piece has a third inclined portion provided on the discharge cylinder, and a fourth inclined portion provided at a tip end of the third inclined portion,[NEWLINE] the third inclined portion is inclined from a base portion of the first protruding piece toward the discharging direction,[NEWLINE] and it is preferable that the fourth inclined portion is inclined from a tip portion of the third inclined portion toward the return direction.

[0019] According to the cap of the present invention, it is preferable that the first protruding piece is elastically deformable around a base portion thereof in both the discharging direction in which the content flows from inside the container toward the spout and the return direction opposite to the discharging direction in which the content flows back from the spout into the container.

[0020] According to this arrangement, when the container is pressed and compressed from the outside, the content inside the container flows through the flow path and is discharged to the outside from the spout. At this time, the first protruding piece is pushed by the content and deforms in the discharging direction, so the flow resistance that the content receives from the first protruding piece is reduced, allowing the content to be smoothly discharged from the spout.

[0021] Thereafter, when the pressing on the container is released, the first protruding piece deforms in the return direction and returns to its original shape. Thus, backflow of the content inside the discharge cylinder is restricted by the first protruding piece, and the content remains inside the discharge cylinder.

[0022] According to the cap of the present invention, it is preferable that the second protruding pieces are provided at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical member.

[0023] According to the cap of the present invention, it is preferable that a second gap is formed between adjacent second protruding pieces in the circumferential direction. According to this arrangement, when the container is pressed and compressed from the outside, the content in the container flows through the flow path via the second gap and is poured out from the spout to the outside.

[0024] According to the cap of the present invention, if the direction in which the content flows from the inside of the container through the flow path to the spout is defined as the pouring direction, and the direction in which the content flows back from the spout through the flow path back into the container is defined as the return direction, the second protruding piece has a fifth inclined portion provided on the tubular member and a sixth inclined portion provided at a tip end of the fifth inclined portion, the fifth inclined portion is inclined from the root portion of the second protruding piece toward the return direction, and it is preferable that the sixth inclined portion is inclined from the tip end portion of the fifth inclined portion toward the pouring direction.

[0025] According to the cap of the present invention, it is preferable that the second protruding piece is elastically deformable around the root portion in the pouring direction in which the content flows from the inside of the container toward the spout and in the return direction opposite to the pouring direction, which is the direction from the spout back into the container.

[0026] According to this arrangement, when the container is pressed and compressed from the outside, the content in the container flows through the flow path and is poured out from the pouring cylinder to the outside. At this time, the second protruding piece is pushed by the content and deforms in the pouring direction, so the flow resistance that the content receives from the second protruding piece is reduced, and the content can be poured out smoothly from the pouring cylinder.

[0027] Thereafter, when the pressing on the container is released, the second protruding piece deforms in the return direction and returns to its original shape. Therefore, the backflow of the content inside the tubular member is restricted by the second protruding piece, and the content remains inside the tubular member.

[0028] According to the cap of the present invention, the first protruding pieces are provided at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction of the pouring cylinder, a first gap is formed between adjacent first protruding pieces in the circumferential direction, and the second protruding pieces are provided at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction of the tubular member, A second gap is formed between adjacent second protruding pieces in the circumferential direction. It is preferable that the positions of the first gap and the second gap are offset in the circumferential direction so that they do not overlap in the axial direction.

[0029] According to this, when the container is compressed by external pressure and the contents are dispensed from the dispensing tube, and then the pressure on the container is released, the contents remain inside the dispensing tube and the cylindrical member. At this time, the positions of the first gap and the second gap are offset so that they do not overlap. Therefore, the contents that flow back into the cylindrical member through the first gap are first struck by the second protruding piece, obstructing the flow, and do not pass through the second gap and return to the container from the inside of the cylindrical member via the shortest route. As a result, the contents are more likely to remain inside the cylindrical member.

[0030] According to the cap of the present invention, it is preferable that the cap body can be attached to the container via a screw.

[0031] In the cap of the present invention, it is preferable that the lid is connected to the cap body via a hinge.

[0032] According to the cap of the present invention, the lid has an outer sealing cylinder, In the closed state with the lid closed, it is preferable that the outer sealing cylinder is fitted onto the tip of the dispensing cylinder so that the inner circumference of the outer sealing cylinder and the outer circumference of the dispensing cylinder are in close contact and sealed.

[0033] According to this design, after pressing the container to dispense the contents from the dispensing tube, releasing the pressure on the container and closing the lid causes the outer sealing tube to fit over the tip of the dispensing tube, creating a tight seal between the inner circumference of the outer sealing tube and the outer circumference of the dispensing tube. This prevents any remaining contents inside the dispensing tube from spilling out. [Effects of the Invention]

[0034] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the generation of airbags and to make the cap smaller and lighter. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0035] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view of a cap in a first embodiment of the present invention, showing that after the contents have been dispensed from the spout, the contents remain inside the dispensing tube and the inner cylindrical member, and the dispensing tube is blocked by the contents. [Figure 2] This is a cross-section of the cap. [Figure 3] This is a plan view of the cap. [Figure 4] This is a bottom view of the cap. [Figure 5] This is a magnified cross-sectional view of a portion of the cap. [Figure 6] This is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the cap in the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the cap in the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view of the cap according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a functional evaluation table showing the function of the cap in multiple examples and multiple comparative examples of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment)

[0037] In the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, 1 is a cap attached to the mouth 3 of the container 2. Here, the axial direction 6 of the cap 1 is defined as the vertical direction, the direction perpendicular to the axis 7 of the cap 1 is defined as the radial direction 8, and the circumferential direction centered on the axis 7 of the cap 1 is defined as the circumferential direction 9.

[0038] The container 2 contains, for example, a medium to high viscosity liquid substance 11. Suitable contents 11 include substances with a viscosity of 1,000 to 40,000 mPa·s (millipascal seconds), such as mayonnaise or ketchup.

[0039] Container 2 is a flexible, elastically deformable synthetic resin container, and can be in the shape of a bag, tube, or other form. A male thread 12 is formed on the outer circumference of the opening 3. The cap 1 comprises a cap body 15 that is attached to the mouth 3 of the container 2, a dispensing tube 16 for dispensing the contents 11, and a lid 17 for opening and closing the dispensing tube 16.

[0040] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the cap body 15 has a cylindrical outer cylindrical member 20 that fits onto the mouth 3 of the container 2, an inner cylindrical member 21 (an example of a cylindrical member) that fits inside the mouth 3, and a disc-shaped partition wall 22 that separates the inside of the mouth 3 from the outside of the dispensing tube 16.

[0041] The outer cylindrical member 20 and the inner cylindrical member 21 extend downward from the partition wall 22. A mounting groove 23 is formed around the entire circumference between the outer cylindrical member 20 and the inner cylindrical member 21. The mounting groove 23 is an open groove at the bottom and closed at the top by the partition wall 22.

[0042] An internal thread 25 is formed on the inner circumference of the outer cylindrical member 20. The male thread 12 of the mouth 3 of the container 2 and the internal thread 25 of the outer cylindrical member 20 are screwed together, and the tip of the mouth 3 is inserted into the mounting groove 23, thereby attaching the cap body 15 to the container 2.

[0043] The dispensing cylinder 16 is erected on the partition wall 22 of the cap body 15, has a spout 27 at its tip (upper end), and a communication port 28 at its base end (lower end) opposite to the tip.

[0044] The inner cylindrical member 21 has an opening at its lower end (tip) opposite to the communication port 28, and the inside of the inner cylindrical member 21 and the inside of the dispensing cylinder 16 are in communication via the communication port 28. As shown in Figure 5, the inner diameter D of the inner cylindrical member 21 is larger than the inner diameter d of the dispensing cylinder 16. The partition wall 22 is provided with an annular fitting portion 30 that protrudes upward. The fitting portion 30 is formed to surround the outside of the dispensing cylinder 16.

[0045] The lid 17 is rotatably connected to the cap body 15 via a hinge 33. The lid 17 has a circular top plate portion 34, a cylindrical skirt portion 35 provided on the outer edge of the top plate portion 34, a circular inner sealing cylinder 36, and a circular intermediate cylinder 37. The inner sealing cylinder 36 and the intermediate cylinder 37 are provided on the top plate portion 34, and the intermediate cylinder 37 is positioned between the skirt portion 35 and the inner sealing cylinder 36.

[0046] As shown by the dashed line in Figure 2, when the lid 17 is rotated in the closing direction 38 to close it, the tip of the inner sealing cylinder 36 is inserted into the spout 27 of the dispensing cylinder 16, so that the outer circumference of the tip of the inner sealing cylinder 36 and the inner circumference of the tip of the dispensing cylinder 16 are tightly sealed together around the entire circumference, and the fitting portion 30 is fitted between the skirt portion 35 and the intermediate cylinder 37.

[0047] The lower end (base end) of the dispensing cylinder 16 is provided with multiple (for example, eight in Figure 3) first protruding pieces 41 that protrude radially inward from the dispensing cylinder 16. The lower end of the inner cylindrical member 21 is provided with a plurality of second protruding pieces 42 (for example, 10 pieces in Figure 4) that protrude radially inward from the inner cylindrical member 21.

[0048] Inside the cap body 15, a flow passage 43 is formed that passes between the second protruding pieces 42, through the inside of the inner cylindrical member 21, through the first protruding pieces 41, and to the spout 27 of the dispensing cylinder 16.

[0049] The first protruding pieces 41 are provided at multiple locations (for example, eight locations in Figure 3) in the circumferential direction 9 of the dispensing cylinder 16 and face the communication opening 28. A first gap 45 is formed between adjacent first protruding pieces 41 in the circumferential direction 9. The opening area of ​​the communication opening 28 is reduced by the first protruding pieces 41.

[0050] As shown in Figure 5, the first protruding piece 41 is formed in a shape that is bent in the shape of a "V", and has a third inclined portion 47 provided at the lower end of the dispensing cylinder 16 and a fourth inclined portion 48 provided at the tip of the third inclined portion 47.

[0051] The third inclined portion 47 is inclined in the dispensing direction 49 from the base portion 41a of the first protruding piece 41. The fourth inclined portion 48 is inclined in the return direction 50 from the tip portion of the third inclined portion 47. The dispensing direction 49 is the direction in which the contents 11 flow from inside the container 2 through the flow passage 43 to the dispensing outlet 27, and corresponds to the upward direction in Figures 1, 2, and 5. The return direction 50 is the direction in which the contents 11 flow back into the container 2 from the spout 27 through the flow passage 43, and corresponds to the downward direction in Figures 1, 2, and 5. The first projection 41 is elastically deformable in the dispensing direction 49 and the return direction 50, centered on the base portion 41a.

[0052] The second protruding pieces 42 are provided at multiple locations (for example, 10 locations in Figure 4) in the circumferential direction 9 of the inner cylindrical member 21. A second gap 53 is formed between adjacent second protruding pieces 42 in the circumferential direction 9.

[0053] The flow passage 43 runs axially 6 (up and down) through the inside of the dispensing cylinder 16 and the inner cylindrical member 21, and has a first central opening 43a surrounded by the tips of each first protruding piece 41 as shown in Figure 3, a second central opening 43b surrounded by the tips of each second protruding piece 42 as shown in Figure 4, and first and second gaps 45, 53.

[0054] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the positions of the first gap 45 and the second gap 53 are offset in the circumferential direction 9 so that they do not overlap in the axial direction 6. That is, the second gap 53 does not exist directly below the first gap 45, but the second protruding piece 42 exists there. Also, the first gap 45 does not exist directly above the second gap 53, but the first protruding piece 41 exists there.

[0055] As shown in Figure 5, the second protruding piece 42 is formed in a shape that is bent in an inverted "V" shape with the top and bottom reversed, and has a fifth inclined portion 55 provided at the lower end of the inner cylindrical member 21 and a sixth inclined portion 56 provided at the tip of the fifth inclined portion 55.

[0056] The fifth inclined portion 55 is inclined in the return direction 50 from the base portion 42a of the second protruding piece 42. The sixth inclined portion 56 is inclined in the dispensing direction 49 from the tip portion of the fifth inclined portion 55. The second projection 42 is elastically deformable in the dispensing direction 49 and the return direction 50, centered on the base portion 42a. The following explains the operation of the above configuration.

[0057] As shown by the solid line in Figure 2, when the lid 17 is rotated in the opening direction 39 to open it, the container 2 is pressed from the outside by hand to compress and deform (squeeze) it, causing the contents 11 inside the container 2 to flow through the flow passage 43, pass between the first protruding piece 41 and the second protruding piece 42, and be dispensed to the outside from the spout 27.

[0058] In this case, as shown in Figure 5, the first protruding piece 41 is formed in a V-shape with a third inclined portion 47 and a fourth inclined portion 48, so that the impact when the contents 11 forcefully hit the first protruding piece 41 from the side (bottom side) of the container 2 is sufficiently reduced, and the amount of contents 11 dispensed is easily controlled.

[0059] Furthermore, when the contents 11 forcefully strike the first protruding piece 41 and the second protruding piece 42 from the inside of the container 2, the first protruding piece 41 and the second protruding piece 42 are pushed by the contents 11 and deform in the pouring direction 49 around their respective base portions 41a and 42a. As a result, the flow resistance that the contents 11 receives from the first protruding piece 41 and the second protruding piece 42 is reduced, and the contents 11 are smoothly poured out from the spout 27.

[0060] After dispensing, releasing your hand from the container 2 and releasing the pressure on the container 2 causes the first protruding piece 41 and the second protruding piece 42, which were deformed in the dispensing direction 49, to deform in the return direction 50 and return to their original shapes. The backflow of the contents 11 inside the dispensing cylinder 16 is restricted by the first protruding piece 41, and the backflow of the contents 11 inside the inner cylindrical member 21 is restricted by the second protruding piece 42.

[0061] As a result, as shown in Figure 1, it is possible to prevent the contents 11 inside the dispensing tube 16 and the contents 11 inside the inner cylindrical member 21 from returning to the container 2, and the contents 11 remain inside the dispensing tube 16 and the inner cylindrical member 21, and the dispensing tube 16 is blocked by the remaining contents 11. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the generation of an airbag in which outside air is sucked in from the dispensing tube 16 and flows into the container 2.

[0062] As described above, by arranging multiple first protruding pieces 41 and multiple second protruding pieces 42 in an upper and lower double configuration, backflow of the contents 11 is restricted. This ensures that the contents 11 remain reliably inside the dispensing cylinder 16 and the inner cylindrical member 21, significantly suppressing the generation of an airbag.

[0063] Furthermore, since the second protruding piece 42 is formed in an inverted "V" shape, the contents 11 are received from below in the curved recess of the second protruding piece 42. This ensures that the contents 11 remain securely inside the inner cylindrical member 21.

[0064] Furthermore, the cap 1 has a cap body 15 and a lid 17, and the cap body 15 is equipped with a dispensing tube 16 and first and second protruding pieces 41, 42 for restricting backflow of the contents 11, thus eliminating the need for an inner stopper like the one described in Japanese Patent No. 7199050 in the background art above. As a result, the number of parts constituting the cap 1 is reduced, making the cap 1 smaller and lighter.

[0065] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, when the contents 11 are dispensed and the pressure on the container 2 is released, the contents 11 remain inside the dispensing cylinder 16 and the inner cylindrical member 21. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the positions of the first gap 45 between the first protruding pieces 41 and the second gap 53 between the second protruding pieces 42 are offset so as not to overlap. Therefore, the contents 11 that flow back from inside the dispensing cylinder 16 through the first gap 45 into the inner cylindrical member 21 will first hit the second protruding piece 42, obstructing its flow, and will not pass through the second gap 53 and return to the container 2 from inside the inner cylindrical member 21 via the shortest route. This makes it easier for the contents 11 to remain inside the inner cylindrical member 21.

[0066] Subsequently, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 2, the lid 17 is rotated in the closing direction 38 to close it, so that the tip of the inner sealing cylinder 36 is inserted into the spout 27 of the dispensing cylinder 16, and the outer circumference of the tip of the inner sealing cylinder 36 and the inner circumference of the tip of the dispensing cylinder 16 are tightly sealed together over the entire circumference, and the fitting portion 30 is fitted between the skirt portion 35 and the intermediate cylinder 37. (Second Embodiment)

[0067] In the first embodiment described above, the first protruding piece 41 is formed in a shape bent in the shape of a "V" as shown in Figure 5. However, in the second embodiment described below, the first protruding piece 41 is formed in a shape bent in the shape of an inverted "V" as shown in Figure 6. In other words, the first protruding piece 41 has a third inclined portion 47 provided at the lower end of the dispensing cylinder 16 and a fourth inclined portion 48 provided at the tip of the third inclined portion 47.

[0068] The third inclined portion 47 is inclined in the return direction 50 from the base portion 41a of the first protruding piece 41. The fourth inclined portion 48 is inclined in the dispensing direction 49 from the tip portion of the third inclined portion 47. According to this, the same actions and effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

[0069] In each of the above embodiments, as shown in Figure 3, eight first protruding pieces 41 are provided, but the number is not limited to eight, and there may be more than eight. Similarly, as shown in Figure 4, ten second protruding pieces 42 are provided, but the number is not limited to ten, and there may be more than ten. The number of second protruding pieces 42 may be less than the number of first protruding pieces 41, but it is preferable to have more than the number of first protruding pieces 41, or the same number as the number of first protruding pieces 41.

[0070] In each of the above embodiments, the first protruding piece 41 is formed in the shape of a "V" or an inverted "V", and the second protruding piece 42 is formed in the shape of an inverted "V". However, the second protruding piece 42 may also be formed in the shape of a "V", or the first and second protruding pieces 41 and 42 may be formed in an optimal shape other than these. (Third embodiment)

[0071] In the first embodiment described above, as shown in Figure 5, the first protruding piece 41 is formed in a V-shape, and the second protruding piece 42 is formed in an inverted V-shape. However, in the third embodiment described below, as shown in Figure 7, the first protruding piece 41 is not bent in a V-shape, but is inclined from the base portion 41a in the dispensing direction 49 (upward). Furthermore, the second protruding piece 42 does not bend in an inverted "V" shape, but is inclined in the return direction 50 (downward) from the base portion 42a. According to this, the same actions and effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

[0072] In the third embodiment described above, as shown in Figure 7, the first protruding piece 41 is inclined in the dispensing direction 49, but it may also be inclined in the opposite direction, the return direction 50, or it may be made to protrude straight horizontally in the radial direction 8 of the dispensing cylinder 16 without being inclined.

[0073] Furthermore, although the second protruding piece 42 is inclined in the return direction 50, it may also be inclined in the opposite direction, the dispensing direction 49, or it may be made to protrude straight horizontally in the radial direction 8 of the inner cylindrical member 21 without being inclined. (Fourth embodiment)

[0074] In the fourth embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, the lid 17 has a circular outer sealing cylinder 61 between the inner sealing cylinder 36 and the intermediate cylinder 37. The outer sealing cylinder 61 is provided on the top plate portion 34.

[0075] As shown by the solid line in Figure 8, when the lid 17 is rotated in the closing direction 38 to close it, the tip of the inner sealing cylinder 36 is inserted into the spout 27 of the dispensing cylinder 16, so that the outer circumference of the tip of the inner sealing cylinder 36 and the inner circumference of the tip of the dispensing cylinder 16 are tightly sealed around the entire circumference, and the outer sealing cylinder 61 is fitted onto the tip of the dispensing cylinder 16, so that the inner circumference of the tip of the outer sealing cylinder 61 and the outer circumference of the tip of the dispensing cylinder 16 are tightly sealed around the entire circumference, and furthermore, the fitting portion 30 is fitted between the skirt portion 35 and the intermediate cylinder 37. The following explains the operation of the above configuration.

[0076] After dispensing the contents 11, releasing the pressure on the container 2 causes the contents 11 to remain inside the dispensing tube 16 and the inner cylindrical member 21, thereby sealing the dispensing tube 16 with the contents 11.

[0077] In this state, as shown by the solid line in Figure 8, by rotating the lid 17 in the closing direction 38 to close it, the tip of the inner sealing cylinder 36 is inserted into the spout 27 of the dispensing cylinder 16, and the outer circumference of the tip of the inner sealing cylinder 36 and the inner circumference of the tip of the dispensing cylinder 16 are tightly sealed around the entire circumference. At the same time, the outer sealing cylinder 61 is fitted onto the tip of the dispensing cylinder 16, and the inner circumference of the tip of the outer sealing cylinder 61 and the outer circumference of the tip of the dispensing cylinder 16 are tightly sealed around the entire circumference. Furthermore, the fitting portion 30 is fitted between the skirt portion 35 and the intermediate cylinder 37.

[0078] In this case, as described above, the tip of the inner sealing cylinder 36 is inserted into the spout 27 of the dispensing cylinder 16. Therefore, even if the contents 11 remaining inside the dispensing cylinder 16 overflow from the spout 27, the overflowed contents 11 are sealed by the outer sealing cylinder 61, thus preventing the contents 11 remaining inside the dispensing cylinder 16 from overflowing to the outside of the dispensing cylinder 16. In the fourth embodiment described above, the lid 17 is provided with an inner sealing cylinder 36 and an outer sealing cylinder 61, but it is also possible to omit the inner sealing cylinder 36 and provide only the outer sealing cylinder 61.

[0079] Figure 9 shows a functional evaluation table for several types of caps, showing the evaluation of each function. Samples S1 to S4 in the table are cap 1, which corresponds to an embodiment of the present invention, and samples S5 to S8 are caps that correspond to comparative examples of the present invention.

[0080] Of these, the caps 1 of samples S1 and S2 each have an inner diameter d of 8 mm in the dispensing cylinder 16, while the caps 1 of samples S3 and S4 each have an inner diameter d of 10 mm in the dispensing cylinder 16. The cap 1 of sample S1 has eight first protruding pieces 41 bent in a "V" shape and ten second protruding pieces 42 bent in an inverted "V" shape. The cap 1 of sample S2 has 10 first protruding pieces 41 bent in a "V" shape and 10 second protruding pieces 42 bent in an inverted "V" shape. The cap 1 of sample S3 has 10 first protruding pieces 41 bent in an inverted "V" shape and 10 second protruding pieces 42 bent in an inverted "V" shape. The cap 1 of sample S4 has 10 first protruding pieces 41 bent in a "V" shape and 10 second protruding pieces 42 bent in an inverted "V" shape.

[0081] Furthermore, the caps 1 of samples S5 and S6 have an inner diameter d of 5 mm for the dispensing cylinder 16, while the caps 1 of samples S7 and S8 have an inner diameter d of 10 mm for the dispensing cylinder 16.

[0082] The cap of sample S5 has eight first protrusions 41 but no second protrusions 42. Also, the first protrusions 41 are not bent in a "V" shape, but are inclined from the base portion 41a in the dispensing direction 49 (upward) (see the first protrusions 41 in Figure 7).

[0083] The cap of sample S6 has eight second protruding pieces 42, but no first protruding pieces 41. Also, the second protruding pieces 42 are not bent in an inverted "V" shape, but are inclined in the return direction 50 (downward) from the base portion 42a (see the second protruding piece 42 in Figure 7). Furthermore, the partition wall portion 22 is provided with a cylindrical member that covers the lower part of the communication opening 28 and protrudes into the interior of the inner cylindrical member 21. The cylindrical member has a closed bottom and has multiple flow holes that penetrate the inner and outer circumferential surfaces. When the contents 11 are dispensed from the spout 27, the contents 11 flow from inside the inner cylindrical member 21 through the flow hole of the cylindrical member, through the communication port 28, and into the dispensing cylinder 16.

[0084] The cap of sample S7 has eight first protrusions 41 but no second protrusions 42. Also, the first protrusions 41 are not bent in a "V" shape, but are inclined from the base portion 41a in the dispensing direction 49 (upward) (see the first protrusions 41 in Figure 7).

[0085] The cap of sample S8 has eight second protruding pieces 42, but does not have first protruding pieces 41. Also, the second protruding pieces 42 are not bent in an inverted "V" shape, but are inclined in the return direction 50 (downward) from the base portion 42a (see the second protruding pieces 42 in Figure 7). Furthermore, the partition wall portion 22 is provided with a cylindrical member similar to that of sample S6.

[0086] Furthermore, "dispensing feel" refers to the degree of controllability when dispensing the contents 11 from the dispensing spout 27 by pressing the container 2 with one's hand, in order to adjust the amount of contents 11 dispensed to the desired level. Generally, the smaller the pressure applied to the container 2, the better the controllability tends to be. However, if the pressure is too small, the controllability may decrease, and an unintended large amount of contents 11 may be dispensed.

[0087] In the "Dispensing Feel" column, a double circle ◎ indicates the best controllability of the dispensing amount, a single circle ○ indicates good controllability of the dispensing amount, a triangle △ indicates poor controllability of the dispensing amount, making it difficult to dispense the desired amount of contents 11, and an X × indicates even worse controllability of the dispensing amount, making it unsuitable for use.

[0088] Furthermore, "restorability" refers to how long the container 2 remains compressed and deformed without returning to its original shape after the contents 11 are dispensed from the spout 27 by pressing the container 2 with a hand, and then the pressure is released by releasing the hand from the container 2.

[0089] In the "Resilience" column, a single circle ○ indicates that the quality is good, meaning that after dispensing and the pressure on container 2 is released, the container 2 remains compressed and deformed for 8 hours or more without returning to its original shape when placed upright.

[0090] A triangle (△) indicates that container 2 will not immediately return to its original shape, but will return to its original shape in less than 8 hours. An "X" (×) indicates that container 2 will immediately return to its original shape.

[0091] In other words, if the "restorability" evaluation is a single circle (○), the contents 11 remain inside the dispensing tube 16 and the inner cylindrical member 21, the dispensing tube 16 is blocked by the contents 11, and the intake of outside air from the dispensing tube 16 into the container 2 is sufficiently suppressed. As a result, the container 2 remains in a compressed and deformed state without returning to its original shape.

[0092] Furthermore, as an example of contents 11, two types of tomato ketchup, A and B, are contained inside container 2. Tomato ketchup A is a typical tomato ketchup. Tomato ketchup B has a higher lycopene content than tomato ketchup A and is slightly more viscous than tomato ketchup A.

[0093] According to the functional evaluation table shown in Figure 9, the cap 1 of sample S1, that is, the cap 1 having a dispensing cylinder 16 with an inner diameter d of 8 mm, eight first protruding pieces 41 bent in a "V" shape, and ten second protruding pieces 42 bent in an inverted "V" shape, is the best in terms of evaluation of "dispensing feel" and "resilience".

[0094] Furthermore, the cap 1 equipped with both the first protruding piece 41 and the second protruding piece 42 (i.e., the examples S1 to S4) shows superior "resilience" compared to the cap equipped with only one of the first protruding piece 41 or the second protruding piece 42 (i.e., the comparative examples S5 to S8). As a result, equipping the cap 1 with both the first protruding piece 41 and the second protruding piece 42 allows the contents 11 to remain sufficiently inside the dispensing tube 16 and the inner cylindrical member 21, thereby reliably sealing the dispensing tube 16 with the contents 11.

[0095] In each of the above embodiments, as shown in Figure 5, the first protruding piece 41 is provided at the lower end of the dispensing cylinder 16. However, it is not limited to the lower end of the dispensing cylinder 16, and may be provided between the lower end and the upper end of the dispensing cylinder 16.

[0096] In each of the above embodiments, as shown in Figure 5, the second protruding piece 42 is provided at the lower end of the inner cylindrical member 21. However, it is not limited to the lower end of the inner cylindrical member 21, and may be provided between the lower end and the upper end of the inner cylindrical member 21.

[0097] The number of first protruding pieces 41 and the number of second protruding pieces 42 described in each of the above embodiments and in the functional evaluation table in Figure 9 are examples, and there may be multiple pieces other than 8 or 10. Also, although the inner diameter d of the dispensing cylinder 16 is set to 5 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm in the functional evaluation table in Figure 9, it is not limited to these values.

[0098] In the embodiments described above, as shown in Figure 2, a hinged cap 1 is shown in which the cap body 15 and the lid 17 are connected via a hinge 33. However, a screw-type cap 1 may also be used. In this case, the hinge 33 may not be provided, and the cap body 15 and the lid 17 may be separated, with threaded portions (female and male threads) formed on both the cap body 15 and the lid 17, respectively, and the lid 17 may be attached to and detached from the cap body 15 by turning it. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 1 cap 2 containers 6 Axial direction 8 Radial direction 9 Circumferential direction 11 Contents 12 Male screw 15 Cap body 16 Pour tube 17 Lid 21 Inner cylindrical member (cylindrical member) 25 Female thread 27 Spout 28 connecting ports 33 Hinge 41 1st protruding piece 41a Base 42 Second protruding piece 42a Base 43 Distribution path 45 First gap 47 Third slope 48 4th slope 49 Pour direction 50 Return direction 53 Second gap 55 5th slope 56 6th slope 61 Outer sealing tube

Claims

1. A cap comprising a cap body that attaches to a container, a dispensing tube for dispensing the contents contained inside the container, and a lid for opening and closing the dispensing tube, The dispensing cylinder is provided on the cap body, has a spout at its tip, and a communication port at the base end opposite the tip. The cap body has a cylindrical member that fits inside the container. The inside of the cylindrical member and the inside of the dispensing cylinder are in communication through a communication opening. The cylindrical member has an opening at the end opposite the communication port. The dispensing cylinder is provided with a plurality of first protruding pieces that project radially inward from the dispensing cylinder. The cylindrical member is provided with a plurality of second protruding pieces that project radially inward from the cylindrical member. A cap characterized in that a flow passage is formed inside the cap body, passing through the space between the second protruding pieces, through the inside of the cylindrical member, and through the space between the first protruding pieces to the spout of the dispensing cylinder.

2. The cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the first protruding piece is provided at multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the dispensing cylinder.

3. The cap according to claim 2, characterized in that a first gap is formed between adjacent first protruding pieces in the circumferential direction.

4. If we define the direction in which the contents flow from the container through the flow channel to the spout as the dispensing direction, and the direction in which the contents flow back into the container from the spout through the flow channel as the return direction, then, The first protruding piece has a third inclined portion provided on the dispensing cylinder and a fourth inclined portion provided at the tip of the third inclined portion. The third inclined portion is inclined in the dispensing direction from the base portion of the first protruding piece. The cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the fourth inclined portion is inclined in the return direction from the tip portion of the third inclined portion.

5. The cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the first protruding piece is elastically deformable around its base portion in the dispensing direction, where the contents flow from inside the container toward the spout, and in the return direction, where the contents return from the spout toward the container, opposite to the dispensing direction.

6. The cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the second protruding piece is provided at multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical member.

7. The cap according to claim 6, characterized in that a second gap is formed between adjacent second protruding pieces in the circumferential direction.

8. If we define the direction in which the contents flow from the container through the flow channel to the spout as the dispensing direction, and the direction in which the contents flow back into the container from the spout through the flow channel as the return direction, then, The second protruding piece has a fifth inclined portion provided on the cylindrical member and a sixth inclined portion provided at the tip of the fifth inclined portion. The fifth inclined portion is inclined in the return direction from the base portion of the second protruding piece. The cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the sixth inclined portion is inclined in the dispensing direction from the tip portion of the fifth inclined portion.

9. The cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the second protruding piece is elastically deformable around its base portion in the dispensing direction, where the contents flow from inside the container toward the spout, and in the return direction, where the contents return from the spout toward the container, opposite to the dispensing direction.

10. The first protruding piece is provided at multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the dispensing cylinder. A first gap is formed between adjacent first protruding pieces in the circumferential direction. The second protruding piece is provided at multiple locations in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical member. A second gap is formed between adjacent second protruding pieces in the circumferential direction. The cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the positions of the first gap and the second gap are offset in the circumferential direction so as not to overlap in the axial direction.

11. The cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the cap body can be attached to a container via a screw.

12. The cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the lid is connected to the cap body via a hinge.

13. The lid has an outer sealing cylinder. The cap according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the lid is closed and the cap is sealed, the outer sealing cylinder is fitted onto the tip of the dispensing cylinder, and the inner circumference of the outer sealing cylinder and the outer circumference of the dispensing cylinder are in close contact and sealed.

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