Pour cap
A simplified dispensing cap with a ball valve mechanism addresses the complexity and cost issues of existing caps by reducing parts and assembly complexity, while maintaining effective check valve functionality and content freshness.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2021022247
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2020-08-06
- Filing Date
- 2021-02-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-02
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-02-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing dispensing caps for laminated release containers have complex structures with many parts, leading to increased costs, complex assembly, and higher labor costs for setting each part.
A dispensing cap with a simplified structure that reduces the number of parts, featuring a tubular cap body with a ball valve mechanism that includes a spring valve and rib portions to effectively function as a check valve.
The simplified dispensing cap effectively functions as a check valve while reducing the number of parts and assembly complexity, thereby lowering production costs and maintaining the freshness of contents.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a pouring cap to be attached to the opening of a bottle container or a spouted pouch container that contains a liquid content such as soy sauce. [Background technology]
[0002] In order to maintain the freshness of the contents such as soy sauce, a delamination container (delamination container) is used as a container that can avoid contact with outside air as much as possible. The delamination container has an outer container and an inner bag, and the inner bag peels off from the outer container and shrinks as the contents decrease. Such a delamination container (delamination container) is usually equipped with a double container cap at the mouth of the outer container, which is equipped with a pouring tube for pouring the contents and a check valve for preventing outside air from entering the inner bag. By pressing the outer container, the inside of the inner bag is pressurized through the air between the outer container and the inner bag, which opens the valve body of the check valve to pour out the contents. In addition, the outer container has a through hole between the outer container and the inner bag to take in outside air, and when the outer container returns to its original shape after pouring, outside air is taken in through the through hole, and only the outer container returns to its original shape while the inner bag remains deformed and reduced in volume.
[0003] In order to fully utilize the functions of the delaminated container, the cap attached to a general delaminated container (delaminated container) is designed with a structure on the cap side, and a function having a check valve effect is realized by combining multiple parts with complex shapes. Specifically, the discharge cap attached to the discharge container described in Patent Document 1 is an inner plug member formed by setting a valve body part consisting of a connecting body in which an outer joint part, a connecting piece, and an air valve part are integrally molded, and a plug body having an inner tube part, a flange part, an outer tube part, and an intermediate tube part, and the inner plug member is attached inside the cap body having a discharge port and an outside air introduction hole, so that when the body of the container is pinched and pressed with the fingers, the liquid content can be discharged, and when the pressing is stopped, the liquid content stops.
[0004] Furthermore, as an item having a similar effect to that of Patent Document 1, a cap has been invented which is provided on the mouth of a container body which contains the contents and which deforms when pressed, and which comprises an annular bottom wall having a discharge outlet, an annular groove provided on the outer periphery of the bottom wall, a flow outlet provided in the groove and a base having the flow groove connected to the flow outlet, a cylindrical support part having one end disposed in the groove, a plurality of elastic pieces connected to the support part, a check valve connected to the plurality of elastic pieces and having a valve body which opens and closes the discharge outlet, and a discharge nozzle which covers the bottom wall. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-14380 A [Patent Document 2] WO2017-199697 A1 publication Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0006] However, in the caps for the discharge containers described in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2, the structure of each component part is complicated in order to activate the check valve function, and the setting work to set them correctly is also time-consuming. Also, since there are many component parts before assembly, the cost of the mold to mold the component parts and the labor cost to set each component part are required, which causes a problem of increased costs.
[0007] An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a pouring cap that has a reduced number of parts, a simple assembly structure, and an effective check valve function. [Means for solving the problem]
[0008] The invention described in claim 1 is a pouring cap to be attached to the mouth of a container that contains contents such as liquid, the pouring cap comprising: a top plate portion having a pouring outlet; a cylindrical cap body having a side wall portion extending downward from the outer periphery of the top plate portion; a tube portion that is inside the cap body and hangs down from the back surface of the top plate portion; a protrusion portion that protrudes inwardly on the inside near the lower end of the tube portion; the pouring outlet is formed by extending upward from the upper surface of the top plate portion to form a pouring tube portion that communicates with the tube portion and has an inner diameter that is further inside than the inner diameter of the tube portion; a space portion is formed within the tube portion that can accommodate a spherical ball valve that is larger than the circumference of the protrusion portion; the pouring cap is connected to a part of the inside of the lower end of the pouring tube portion, and the connection is opened by pressing the ball valve. did This part acts as a support shaft and forms a spring valve that bends upward. At the same time, a downwardly protruding, generally semi-spherical pressing portion is formed at the tip of the spring valve, and a rib portion having a lower end surface located further below the lower end surface of the spring valve is formed at the lower end side of the pouring tube portion at a position opposite to the spring valve. It is a dispensing cap.
[0009] Claim 2 The invention described in is a pouring cap in which, when the peripheral wall of the ball valve abuts against the pressing portion and the rib portion, the gap between the lower end of the pouring tube portion, which is not formed by the rib portion, and the ball valve becomes a passage.
[0010] Claim 3 The invention described in is a pouring cap in which three or more rib portions are formed and the rib portions are arranged at equal intervals.
[0011] Claim 4 The invention described in is a pouring cap in which a plurality of grooves recessed in the form of vertical lines are formed on the protruding outer wall surface of the protruding portion. Effect of the Invention
[0012] To provide a pouring cap having a simple structure and effectively functioning as a check valve while reducing the number of parts. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the dispensing cap of the present invention as viewed from above. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion a in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the state in which FIG. 1 is turned upside down. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part b in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the pouring cap of the present invention as viewed from the side. [Figure 6] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line y-y' of FIG. 1, showing the ball valve before it is set in the space. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of part c in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a ball valve is set in the space portion in the state shown in FIG. 6. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion d in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the ball valve is further moved upward from the state shown in FIG. 8 so that the ball valve abuts against a rib portion. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion e in FIG. [Figure 12] 11 is an enlarged view of part e' in FIG. 10 cut in the x-x' direction. [Figure 13] 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the z-z' direction in FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The pouring cap A of the present invention is a plastic cap molded by injection molding using resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. The pouring cap A of the present invention can be used to attach to the opening of a container such as a blown bottle container containing a liquid or creamy content such as soy sauce, a spouted pouch container made of soft packaging material, or a tube container, and can provide a pouring cap A that can fully exhibit the check valve function even when used with these containers.
[0015] As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the pouring cap A of the present invention is a cap body 1 and a lid body 2 that covers the cap body 1, which are connected by turning a hinge portion 3. The cap body 1 is composed of a cylindrical side wall portion 1c and a top plate portion 1b having a pouring outlet 1a. The lid body 2 has a knob portion 2a that protrudes outward from a part of the peripheral wall surface of the lid body 2 opposite the hinge portion 3, so that the lid body 2 can be easily opened by hooking a finger when opening the lid body 2. Furthermore, when the lid body 2 is placed on the cap body 1, a recessed portion 1m that is recessed inward is formed in a part of the side wall portion 1c of the cap body 1 below the knob portion 2a so that the finger can be easily hooked. Also, a fitting portion 2b is formed on the back surface of the lid body 2 to fit with the pouring outlet 1a.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view cut in the y-y' direction shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of part c in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, the spout 1a has a spout tube part 1f extending upward from the top plate part 1b. The cross section of the tip of the spout tube part 1f forms an approximately C-shaped curve outward toward the tip so that the liquid can be easily cut off. This allows the liquid content flowing out of the spout 1a to flow around the outside of the spout 1a curved in the C shape and not drip, and has the effect of returning the liquid content adhering to the outlet of the spout 1a to the inside of the spout tube part 1f. In addition, a fitting part 1o protruding outward is formed near the end point of the approximately C-shaped curve, and the fitting part 1o fits into the fitting part 2b to maintain the seal and prevent the liquid content from leaking out.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 6 or 7, a cylindrical portion 1d is formed on the back surface of the top plate portion 1b at a position communicating with the pouring tube portion 1f and extending downward. As shown in FIG. 6, the inside of the tube portion 1d is formed with a space portion 1g having a space capable of accommodating a spherical ball valve 4. Furthermore, the tube portion 1d is formed with a protruding portion 1e protruding toward the central axis of the tube portion 1d near the inner periphery of the lower end thereof so that the ball valve 4 can be inserted from the lower end side and the ball valve 4 does not fall from the lower side of the tube portion 1d after insertion. The inner periphery of the tube portion 1d is formed as the space portion 1g with an inner periphery large enough that the ball valve 4 can be pushed up by the liquid contents or the like and moved upward when the liquid contents or the like in the bottle container are about to come out by pinching and pressing the body portion of the bottle container containing the liquid contents or the like with fingers.
[0018] 2 is an enlarged view of the portion a in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, a plate-shaped spring valve 1h is formed at a part of the lower end side of the pouring tube portion 1f between the tube portion 1d and the pouring tube portion 1f, protruding toward the central axis of the pouring tube portion 1f. In addition, a substantially hemispherical pressing portion 1j is formed at the tip of the spring valve 1h so that the lower side has a spherical surface. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the pouring cap A of the present invention seen from the back side, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the portion b in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, in the pouring cap A of the present invention, the rib portion 1k is arranged at at least three points at equal intervals so as to protrude toward the central axis of the pouring tube portion 1f, so that the ball valve 4 can be stationary evenly when the liquid content or the like pushes up the ball valve 4 and moves upward. As shown in FIG. 7, the installation position of the rib portion 1k is between the pouring / dispensing tubular portion 1f and the tubular portion 1d, and is located below the height of the back surface of the spring valve 1h and above the most protruding tip of the downwardly protruding spherical surface of the pressing portion 1j, so that the lower end of the rib portion 1k is located.
[0019] FIG. 8 shows the state where the ball valve 4 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 1d, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the portion d in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 9, when the ball valve 4 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 1d, the ball valve 4 pushes up the pressing portion 1j, and the spring valve 1h is warped upward from the support shaft 1i of the spring portion 1h at the boundary between the cylindrical portion 1d and the spring portion 1h. As a result, the warped plate-like spring valve 1h portion is forced to return downward, and tries to press the ball valve 4 downward, so that the surface where the ball valve 4 and the protruding portion 1e come into contact with each other can be sealed in a more intimate contact state, as shown in FIG. 9, and this intimate contact state can be maintained. As a result, when the container with the contents inside is stored, the ball valve 4 and the protruding portion 1e are sealed in a tight contact state, so that it is possible to prevent air from entering the container from the outside, and it is possible to store the contents in a fresh state.
[0020] Next, Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the ball valve 4 is further moved upward from the state shown in Fig. 8 and the ball valve 4 abuts against the rib portion 1k. Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of part e in Fig. 10, and Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of Fig. 10 cut in the x-x' direction. With the cap shown in Fig. 10 set on a bottle container, tilt the bottle container containing liquid such as soy sauce or cream-like contents, and press the body of the bottle container with your fingers. Then, pressure is applied inside the bottle container, and the ball valve 4 is pushed by the contents and moves upward, coming to rest by abutting against the rib portion 1k. As shown in Figures 4, 11 and 12, the gaps between the rib portions 1k, the gap between the rib portion 1k and the spring portion 1h, and further the gap between the ball valve 1k and the spring valve 1h which is generated when the ball valve 4 is in contact with the rib portion 1k, serve as passages 1l through which the liquid contents in the bottle container pass, and the liquid contents pass through the passages 1l and the pouring tube portion 1f and are discharged from the pouring outlet 1a.
[0021] When the pressure on the bottle container body is stopped, the spring portion 1h, which had been warped upward, acts to return to its original position, so that the spring portion 1h presses down the ball valve 4, and the ball valve 4 and the protruding portion 1e come into contact again to form a seal. This structure prevents the liquid content from being discharged even when the bottle container is tilted sideways. This prevents the liquid content from spilling out even if the container is accidentally knocked over during use. In addition, the cap can prevent air from entering the container during storage, so that the cap can be provided to preserve the liquid content while maintaining its freshness.
[0022] As described above, the spring portion 1h shown in Figures 6 and 7 has a structure that can be incorporated into the cap body 1 by injection molding and molded as one part, so that a pouring cap A that fully functions as a check valve can be provided by combining only the ball valve 4 and the cap with a reduced number of component parts. In addition, the structure that provides the check valve function has a simple shape, and the setting process of the ball valve 4 can be a simple operation of simply pushing it in from the bottom end of the cylindrical portion 1d to provide a pouring cap A that effectively functions as a check valve. This reduces the labor required for setting and the number of component parts, so that a pouring cap A with a check valve function can be provided at low cost.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view cut in the z-z' direction shown in FIG. 8. The pouring cap A of the present invention can be used as a cap attached to the mouth of a bottle container containing seasonings such as soy sauce that can be used in the food service industry, such as conveyor belt sushi restaurants and Japanese restaurants, and can maintain freshness. The bottle container is held with the fingers and tilted sideways, and pressure is applied to the body of the bottle container to pour out the soy sauce or other contents. When the pouring out of the contents is to be stopped, the pressure applied to the body of the bottle container is released while the bottle container is raised, and the ball valve 4 moves downward and comes into close contact with the protruding portion 1e to close the lid, and the pouring out of the soy sauce or other contents is stopped. In this case, a few drops of the contents may remain inside the pouring tube portion 1f. Since it is necessary to return the contents remaining inside the pouring tube portion 1f to the bottle container, at least one groove portion 1p is formed in a vertical line shape on a part of the protruding outer wall surface of the protruding portion 1e, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 13. As a result, the few drops of content remaining inside the pouring tube portion 1f can flow back into the bottle container through the passage that is the recess of the groove portion 1p, making it hygienic.
[0024] In addition, in the pouring cap A of the present invention, unless pressure is applied to the body of the bottle container, the spring valve 1h will keep pressing the ball valve 4, so even if the bottle container is accidentally knocked over, the liquid contents will not spill out. Furthermore, when pouring out the contents such as soy sauce, by gripping the body of the bottle container with the fingers and applying pressure, the ball valve 4, pressed by the contents such as soy sauce in the bottle container, will push up the spring valve 1h, so that while the spring valve 1h continues to be pressed by the ball valve 4, it will be in a curved up state and can be poured out.
[0025] In addition, the pouring cap A of the present invention can be attached to a laminated peelable bottle container (delamination container) to further enhance the functional effect of the check valve of the present invention. However, it is possible to provide a pouring cap A that can fully regulate the outflow of the contents by the check valve function, not only when it is attached to a laminated peelable bottle container (delamination container), but also when it is attached to a blown bottle container, a bag-shaped pouch container, a tube container, etc. In addition, a laminated peelable bottle container (delamination container) refers to a double container composed of an outer container and an inner container, and there are a shape in which a through hole is provided in the body of the bottle container to take in air between the outer container and the inner container, and a through hole is provided on the cap side. When the pouring cap A of the present invention is attached to a laminated peelable bottle container and a through hole for taking in air between the outer container and the inner container is not provided on the laminated peelable bottle container side, a through hole for taking in air between the outer container and the inner container can be provided in the top plate part 1b of the pouring cap A, although not shown in the figure, between the outer container and the inner container. The through hole refers to a small hole formed through a part of the top plate portion 1b in order to take in outside air between the outer container and the inner container of the delaminated bottle container. [Explanation of symbols]
[0026] 1 Cap body 1a spout 1b Top plate 1c Side wall part 1d cylinder part 1e Protrusion 1f Dispensing cylinder part 1g space 1h Spring valve 1i spindle 1j Presser section 1k Rib section 1l aisle 1m recess 1n communication 1o Fitting part 1p groove 2 Lid 2a Knob 2b Engagement part 3 Hinge part 4. Ball Valve A Pour Cap
Claims
1. A pouring cap to be attached to the mouth of a container for containing liquid contents, The pouring cap includes a top plate portion having a pouring outlet, and a cylindrical cap body having a side wall portion extending downward from an outer periphery of the top plate portion; a tube portion that is disposed inside the cap body and that hangs down from the rear surface of the top plate portion; a protruding portion protruding inwardly from an inner side near a lower end of the cylindrical portion; The pouring outlet is formed by extending upward from the upper surface of the top plate portion a pouring tubular portion that is in communication with the tubular portion and has an inner diameter that is further inside than the inner diameter of the tubular portion, A space is formed in the cylindrical portion, in which a spherical ball valve having a circumference larger than that of the protruding portion can be accommodated, A spring valve is formed by connecting with a part of the inside of the lower end of the pouring tube portion, and bending upward by the pressure of the ball valve, the connected part becomes a support shaft, A pouring cap characterized in that a downwardly protruding, approximately hemispherical pressing portion is formed at the tip of the spring valve, and a rib portion having a lower end surface located further below the lower end surface of the spring valve is formed on the lower end side of the pouring tube portion at a position opposite the spring valve.
2. The pouring cap according to claim 1, characterized in that when the peripheral wall of the ball valve abuts against the pressing portion and the rib portion, a gap between the lower end of the pouring tube portion not formed by the rib portion and the ball valve becomes a passage.
3. 3. The pouring cap according to claim 1, wherein three or more rib portions are formed, and the rib portions are disposed at equal intervals.
4. 4. The pouring cap according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed on the protruding surface of the protruding portion, the grooves being recessed in the shape of vertical lines.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
JP1972030937U
JP1973110347U
JP1976068745U
JP1980090551U
Dispensing container
JP2013014380A