cap

Abstract

To provide a cap capable of manufacturing by one metal mold and in one molding step, capable of simultaneously performing an unsealing operation and an unplugging operation in one action, and capable of easily removing a hinge at initial unsealing.SOLUTION: A hinge 4 is detachably connected to an upper lid part 5 and a cap body part 3 via a lid-side hinge weakened part 41 and a body-side hinge weakened part 42. By a force applied to a handle 43 integrated with the hinge 4, the lid-side hinge weakened part 41 and the body-side hinge weakened part 42 are broken, and the handle 43 and the hinge 4 are detached from the upper lid part 5 and the cap body part 3, and an unplugging part 61 provided to an inside plug 37 and an unplugging tool 53 provided to an inside plug holding part 51 of the upper lid part 5 are engaged in a rocking direction of the upper lid part 5 around a hinge fulcrum, and an inside plug weakened part 38 is broken by the integral rotation of the upper lid part 5 and the inside plug 37, so that unsealing and unplugging are simultaneously performed in one action.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap to be attached to a container, and to a technology for enabling an opening operation to be performed in a single action. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a technique for opening a sealed plug is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1.

[0003] When the cap is opened for the first time, the cap is opened and unsealed at the same time by rotating the lid. When the cap is opened for the first time, the lid is rotated in the closing direction, and the bottomed tubular part of the cap body rotates together with the lid, cutting the weakened part. As a result, the bottomed tubular part separates from the pouring hole, opening the pouring hole.

[0004] The cap structure disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a cap base body to be attached to the container body, an inner lid that closes the opening of the cap base body, and an outer lid. The cap base body and the inner lid are integrally formed via a thin-walled portion. The cap base body and the outer lid are connected by a thin-walled connecting portion. The outer lid and the inner lid are provided with uneven portions that fit together, and the outer lid is provided with a standing wall that elastically contacts the cap base body.

[0005] By rotating the outer lid in a circumferential direction, the thin-walled connecting portion between the cap base body and the outer lid is cut, and the thin-walled portion connecting the cap base body and the inner lid is also cut, and the inner lid is separated from the cap base body while remaining connected to the outer lid by the mating recesses and projections.

[0006] In addition, the cap described in Patent Document 3 has a seal ring at the lower end of the annular side wall of the cap body, and the seal ring is separated from the annular side wall by tearing a weakened line formed in the seal ring, and a gripping piece for separating the seal ring is provided integrally with the seal ring.

[0007] In addition, the cap described in Patent Document 4 has a connecting piece that is a belt-like piece that extends in the circumferential direction and connects the mounting tube and the lid body over almost the entire circumferential direction at the portion other than the hinge. A knob piece that protrudes radially outward is provided at the end of the connecting piece. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication 2013-184741 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 3030824 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 9-77103 [Patent Document 4] Patent Publication No. 2014-91524 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The configuration of Patent Document 1 requires that the lid and the cap body be molded as two separate members and then combined, requiring two types of molds and a setting process. In addition, when opening the cap for the first time, the lid must first be rotated in the closing direction and then in the opposite opening direction, meaning that two actions are essential for the initial opening operation.

[0010] In the configuration of Patent Document 2, the cap base body and the outer lid are connected by a thin connecting part, and the outer lid and the inner lid are provided with uneven parts that fit together. Therefore, in order to join the inner lid and the outer lid at the uneven part, it is necessary to move the outer lid relative to the inner lid in the axial direction of the cap so that the uneven parts fit together.

[0011] In order to allow the outer lid to move relative to the inner lid in the axial direction of the cap, the connecting part forming the hinge needs to be long. In other words, the connecting part must have a relatively long, curved, expandable shape to allow the outer lid to swing around the hinge fulcrum and to allow the outer lid to move up and down.

[0012] As a result, the connecting portion that breaks during the opening operation will protrude a long distance from the outer surface of the outer lid, which may cause the user to feel a foreign body in their hands during the subsequent opening and closing operations, and in some cases may cause injury to their fingers.

[0013] The present invention is devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a cap that can be manufactured using a single mold and a single molding process, that allows the opening and unscrewing operations to be performed simultaneously in a single action, and that allows the hinge to be easily removed during initial opening. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the cap according to the present invention comprises a cap body portion to be attached to the mouth of a container, a top cover portion integral with the cap body portion via a hinge, a hinge weakening portion that holds the hinge so that the hinge can be separated from the top cover portion and the cap body portion, a handle that is integral with the hinge, an inside plug held in the cap body via the inside plug weakening portion, an inside plug holding portion in the top cover portion that holds the inside plug, an opening portion provided on the inside plug, and a handle provided on the inside plug holding portion. The cap has a cap opening device that is configured so that the opening device can enter the opening device in the direction in which the top lid part swings around the hinge fulcrum, and when the top lid part rotates around the axis of the mouth part, the opening device and the cap opening device engage with each other and rotate together, and the inner plug weakened part breaks due to the integral rotation of the top lid part and the inner plug, and the hinge weakened part breaks when force is applied to the handle, causing the handle and hinge to be separated from the top lid part and the cap main body part.

[0015] The cap according to the present invention is characterized in that the cap body has an opening evidence, and the hinge is disposed so as to cover the opening evidence. Effect of the Invention

[0016] In the above configuration, in the initial cap opening operation, the hinge weakened portion is broken by applying force to the handle to separate the hinge from the top lid portion and the cap body, and then the top lid portion is rotated around the axis of the mouth portion. At this time, the opening portion engages with the opening tool, and the top lid portion and the inside plug rotate together, breaking the inside plug weakened portion and opening the inside plug. The inside plug separated from the cap body portion by breaking the inside plug weakened portion is held by the inside plug holding portion and opened together with the top lid portion. Therefore, the inside plug opening operation and the top lid portion and inside plug opening operations can be performed simultaneously with one action.

[0017] When opening the inner plug, there is no hinge that would resist the integral rotation of the top lid and the inner plug, making it easy to open the inner plug. In addition, by removing the hinge, a structure can be realized that does not give a foreign body sensation to the user's hands when gripping the top lid to open the inner plug or when gripping the top lid during each opening operation after opening.

[0018] In addition, in the event of an attempted tampering operation, the weakened hinge portion breaks, ensuring tamper evident (TE), which indicates whether or not the product has been tampered with. In addition, because the handle covers the tamper evident, if the handle and hinge are partially peeled off in an attempted tampering operation, the tamper evident of the cap body portion will be revealed, ensuring tamper evident (TE), which indicates whether or not the product has been tampered with.

[0019] Furthermore, since the cap body and the top lid are structured to be connected by a hinge, the cap body and the top lid can be molded simultaneously in one molding process using one mold. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a handle of a cap in an embodiment of the present invention when the cap is attached to a container. [Diagram 2] FIG. 13 shows the cap in the embodiment, with the hinge viewed from the front in a state where the cap is attached to a container. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the cap in the embodiment after being folded; [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Figure 3 [Diagram 5] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the cap in the embodiment before folding; [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the cap in the embodiment before folding. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a main part of the hinge of the cap according to the embodiment; [Figure 8] Cross-sectional view of arrows B-B in Figure 7 [Figure 9] Cross-sectional view of arrow CC in Figure 7 [Figure 10] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the cap in the embodiment when it is attached to a container. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a front view of the cap in the embodiment after it has been opened. [Figure 12] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the upper cover portion after opening in the embodiment; [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the cap in the embodiment after opening. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 shows the cap in the embodiment in an open state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In Fig. 1 to Fig. 10, a cap 1 is composed of a cap body 3 that is attached to a mouth 21 of a container 2, and an upper lid 5 that is connected to the cap body 3 via a hinge 4.

[0022] The hinge 4 has a structure that allows the top lid 5 to move only in the swinging direction around the hinge fulcrum. As shown in Figures 6 and 9, the hinge 4 has a top lid joint 71 that is integral with the top lid 5, and the top lid joint 71 is separated from the top lid 5 via a top lid groove 72 formed in the top lid 5, and is connected to the top lid 5 via the lid-side hinge weakened portion 41.

[0023] 6 and 8, the hinge 4 has a body joint 73 that is integral with the cap body 3, and the body joint 73 is separated from the cap body 3 via a body groove 74 formed in the cap body 3, and is connected to the cap body 3 via the body-side hinge weakened portion 42. The hinge 4 can be separated from the upper lid 5 and the cap body 3 by breaking the lid-side hinge weakened portion 41 and the body-side hinge weakened portion 42.

[0024] A handle 43 is formed on one side of the hinge 4. One end of the handle 43 forms a fixed end that is continuous with the hinge 4, and the other end extends along the circumferential direction of the cap 1 to form a free end and is spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the cap body 3. The handle 43 also has a handle breaking portion 44 that connects to the cap body 3 midway in the circumferential direction of the cap 1.

[0025] The cap body 3 has an opening evidence 45 on its side, here at a position corresponding to the body groove 74 , and the hinge 4 is disposed so as to cover the opening evidence 45 .

[0026] With this structure, when force is applied to the handle 43, the handle breaking portion 44, the body side hinge weakened portion 42, and the lid side hinge weakened portion 41 break in succession, and the handle 43 and hinge 4 are separated from the top lid portion 5 and the cap body portion 3, revealing the opening certificate 45.

[0027] The container 2 has, on the outer surface of the mouth portion 21 to which the cap 1 is attached, an annular recess 22 and a container holding portion 23 for holding the container 2 during filling.

[0028] The cap body 3 has a spout 31 on one side in the axial direction of the container 2, and a base 32 on the other side that covers the mouth 21 of the container 2. The base 32 has an annular fitting groove 33 that fits into the opening edge of the container 2, and an annular protrusion 34 on the inner surface of the fitting groove 33 that engages with the annular recess 22 of the mouth 21.

[0029] On one side of the cap body 3, there is a cylindrical sealing wall 35 surrounding the spout 31, and a male thread portion 36 that screws into the upper lid portion 5 is located radially outward from the sealing wall 35.

[0030] The cap body 3 has an inner plug 37, and an inner plug weakened portion 38 formed between the outer peripheral edge of the inner plug 37 and the inner peripheral edge of the spout 31 holds the inner plug 37 detachably from the cap body 3.

[0031] The top cover portion 5 has a cylindrical plug holding portion 51 that holds the plug 37 whose plug weakened portion 38 has been broken, and has an annular protrusion 52 on the inner peripheral edge of the lower end of the plug holding portion 51. The plug 37 has a pair of arc-shaped plug engaging portions 39 that come into pressure contact with the plug holding portion 51, and has arc-shaped recesses 60 on the outer side of the plug engaging portions 39 that engage with the annular protrusions 52 of the plug holding portion.

[0032] The inside plug 37 has an opening part 61 on the top surface, and the inside plug holding part 51 has an opening tool 53 on the inside that engages with the opening part 61. Here, the opening part 61 has two plate-like bodies 61a provided on the inside plug 37, and the opening tool 53 has one plate-like body 53a that is inserted between the two plate-like bodies 61a of the opening part 61. However, it is also possible that the opening part 61 is one plate-like body 61a provided on the inside plug 37, and the opening tool 53 is two plate-like bodies 53a separated so that the one plate-like body 61a of the opening part 61 can be inserted. The plate-like body 61a of the opening part 61 has a shape that does not hinder the swinging of the upper cover part 5 around the hinge fulcrum, and the shape and dimensions can be set appropriately. Here, an inclined side 61b is provided at a portion corresponding to the corner of the plate-like body 61a. The inclined side 61b is not essential, and the plate-like body 61a may be rectangular depending on the height and width dimensions.

[0033] The opening portion 61 and the opening tool 53 are structured so that the opening tool 53 can enter the opening portion 61 in the swinging direction of the top cover portion 5 around the hinge fulcrum, and when the top cover portion 5 rotates around the axis of the mouth portion 21, the opening portion 61 and the opening tool 53 engage with each other and rotate together.

[0034] A pair of reinforcing members 62 are disposed on the outer sides of both plate-like bodies 61a of the plug opening part 61, and the reinforcing members 62 form structural members that reinforce the plate-like bodies 61a. Both sides of the plate-like body 53a of the plug opening tool 53 are held by the inner surfaces of the inside plug holding part 51.

[0035] The upper cover portion 5 has an annular seat portion 54 on its inner bottom surface which is pressed against the upper edge of the sealing wall 35 of the cap main body portion 3, and has a female thread portion 56 on the inner surface of the lower end of the cylindrical wall portion 55 which screws into the male thread portion 36 of the cap main body portion 3.

[0036] The operation of the above-mentioned configuration will be described. (Before manufacturing and folding) The cap body 3 and the top lid portion 5 are structured to be connected by the hinge 4, so that the cap body 3 and the top lid portion 5 can be molded simultaneously in one molding process using one mold. (set) The manufactured unfolded cap body 3 and top lid portion 5 are folded by bending the hinge 4 in the middle, and the top lid portion 5 is swung around the hinge fulcrum of the hinge 4. When the top lid portion 5 swung around the hinge fulcrum, one plate-like body 53a of the opener 53 enters between the two plate-like bodies 61a of the opener portion 61.

[0037] When the top cover 5 is attached to the cap body 3 by folding, the inside plug holding portion 51 of the top cover 5 is pressed against the inside plug engaging portion 39 of the inside plug 37, and the annular convex portion 52 of the inside plug holding portion 51 is engaged with the arc-shaped concave portion 60 of the inside plug engaging portion 39. In addition, the upper edge of the sealing wall 35 of the cap body 3 is pressed against the annular seat portion 54 of the top cover 5. Furthermore, the female thread portion 56 of the cylindrical wall portion 55 of the top cover 5 overlaps with the male thread portion 36 of the cap body 3.

[0038] In this manner, by simply swinging the top cover 5 around the hinge fulcrum of the hinge 4 and folding it in the swinging direction, the opener 53 can be smoothly inserted into the opener 61, completing the setting process. (Corning) The folded cap 1 is then fitted onto the container 2. The base portion 32 of the cap body 3 is placed over the mouth portion 21, the fitting groove 33 of the base portion 32 is fitted into the opening edge of the container 2, and the annular protrusion 34 of the fitting groove 33 is engaged with the annular recess 22 of the mouth portion 21, thereby attaching the cap 1 to the container 2. (Opening, uncorking) As shown in Figures 11 to 14, when cap 1 is initially opened or unsealed, the force applied to handle 43 causes handle breaking portion 44, body side hinge weakened portion 42, and lid side hinge weakened portion 41 to break in succession, and handle 43 and hinge 4 are easily separated from top lid portion 5 and cap body portion 3, revealing opening evidence 45.

[0039] Thereafter, the top cover portion 5 is rotated around the axis of the mouth portion 21. At this time, the opening portion 61 and the opening tool 53 engage with each other, and the top cover portion 5 and the inside plug 37 rotate together, breaking the inside plug weakened portion 38, and the inside plug 37 is opened.

[0040] The inside plug 37 separated from the cap body 3 due to the rupture of the inside plug weakened portion 38 is held by the inside plug holding portion 51 and opened together with the top lid portion 5. Therefore, the operation of unsealing the inside plug 37 and the operation of opening the inside plug 37 and the top lid portion 5 can be performed simultaneously with one action.

[0041] When opening the inside plug 37, there is no hinge 4 which acts as a resistance to the integral rotation of the top cover portion 5 and the inside plug 37, and therefore the inside plug 37 can be easily opened.

[0042] In addition, by removing the hinge 4, a structure can be realized that does not give a foreign body sensation to the user's hands when grasping the top cover portion 5 to open the inner plug 37 or during each opening operation after opening.

[0043] Furthermore, in the event of an attempted tampering operation, handle breaking portion 44, main body side hinge weakened portion 42, and lid side hinge weakened portion 41 break, ensuring tamper evident (TE) indicating whether or not tampering has occurred. Furthermore, because hinge 4 covers opening evidence 45, if handle 45 and hinge 4 are peeled off halfway in an attempted tampering operation, opening evidence 45 of cap main body 3 will appear, ensuring tamper evident (TE) indicating whether or not tampering has occurred. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1 Cap 2 containers 3 Cap body 4 Hinge 5 Top cover 21 Mouth 22 Annular recess 23 Circular seat 31 Spout 32 Base 33 Fitting groove 34 Annular protrusion 35 Seal Wall 36 Male thread 37 Inner stopper 38 Weakened part of inner plug 39 Inner plug engagement part 41 Weakened hinge on the lid side 42 Weakened hinge part on main body side 43 Handle 44 Handle breakage 45 Opening receipt 51 Inner stopper holding part 52 Annular protrusion 53 Opener 53a Plate-shaped body 54 Annular seat 55 Cylindrical wall 56 Female thread 60 Circular recess 61 Opening 61a Plate-shaped body 62 Reinforcement member 71 Top lid joint 72 Top cover groove 73 Main body joint 74 Body groove

Claims

1. the cap includes a main body portion to be attached to the mouth of a container, an upper lid portion integral with the cap main body portion via a hinge, a hinge weakening portion that holds the hinge so that the hinge can be separated from the upper lid portion and the cap main body portion, a handle that is integral with the hinge, an inner plug held by the cap body via the inner plug weakening portion, an inner plug holding portion of the upper lid portion that holds the inner plug, an opening portion provided on the inner plug, and an opening tool provided on the inner plug holding portion; The opening portion and the opening tool are structured so that the opening tool can enter the opening portion in the swinging direction of the top lid portion about the hinge fulcrum, and the opening portion and the opening tool engage with each other and rotate together during the opening operation of the top lid portion rotating about the axis of the mouth portion, and the weakened portion of the inner plug breaks due to the integral rotation of the top lid portion and the inner plug, A cap characterized in that the hinge weakened portion breaks when a force is applied to the handle, and the handle and hinge are separated from the top cover portion and the cap body portion.

2. 2. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap body has an opening evidence, and the hinge is disposed so as to cover the opening evidence.

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