Cover

Abstract

To provide a lid body of beverage container which is easy to be washed by a user.SOLUTION: A lid body includes a lid body, a seesaw member, an operation member, and a valve body. The lid body has a pouring port peripheral edge part for defining a pouring port and an inside surface. The seesaw member has a first end part, a second end part and a fulcrum part, and can oscillate with the fulcrum part being the fulcrum. The operation member is connected with the seesaw member so as to rotate, and has a lever part and a contact part coming into contact with the lid body. The valve body moves between a closed position and an open position according to the oscillation of the seesaw member. In the operation member, when a connection part is rotated via the lever part, the contact part is inclined being contacted with the lid body, and the second end part of the seesaw member is lowered. Thereby, the seesaw member oscillates, and the valve body is moved from the closed position to the open position. In the lid body, a part to be contacted with which the contact part coming into contact is formed as a substantially flat surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3B

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lid, particularly a lid used for a beverage container used for storing beverages.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a container for storing beverages. This container includes a container body 1 and a lid member 2 detachably attached to the container body. The lid member 2 includes a lid body 3 having a liquid passage hole for pouring out the liquid in the container body, a pouring lid 4 rotatably attached to the lid body 3 and having a plug portion for opening and closing the liquid passage hole, and an operation member 5 rotatably connected to the lid body 3 for operating the movement of the pouring lid 4. The operation member 5 rotates around the connection portion with the lid body 3. Thereby, it is possible to lock or unlock the pouring lid 4 with the liquid passage hole closed by the plug portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In this type of container, usually, parts such as the pouring lid 4 and the operation member 5 can be removed from the lid body 3 by a general user and attached to the lid body 3 again. For this reason, among the users of this type of container, there are quite a few who want to remove all the parts that can be removed by themselves from the lid body 3 and wash the lid body 3 and the removed parts individually.

[0005] The lid body 3 of the container disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a pair of side walls 32a and 32b, and between these side walls, there are provided a second support portion 35 for connecting the operating member 5 and a sliding portion 36 that comes into contact when the operating member 5 rotates. For this reason, the lid body 3 has a complex shape with many undulations, particularly between the side walls 32a and 32b. Therefore, even if a soiled area is found on the lid body 3, it is difficult to access it with a cleaning tool such as a sponge, and it cannot be said that the needs of users who want to keep the lid body 3 clean are satisfied.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a lid that is easy for users to clean.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The lid according to the first aspect is a lid attached to a beverage container body having an opening, and includes a lid body, a seesaw member, an operating member, and a valve body. The lid body is detachably fixed to the beverage container body so as to cover the opening, and has an inner surface facing the inside of the beverage container body and a spout peripheral edge portion defining a spout for pouring out the beverage in the beverage container body. The seesaw member has a first end portion, a second end portion, and a fulcrum portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion and supported by the lid body, and is swingable about the fulcrum portion. The operating member has a connecting portion rotatably connected to the second end portion of the seesaw member, a lever portion fixed to the connecting portion, and a contact portion fixed to the connecting portion and contacting the lid body. The valve body is coupled to the first end portion side of the seesaw member, and is movably disposed between a closed position for closing the spout and an open position for communicating the inside and outside of the beverage container body through the spout when the seesaw member swings about the fulcrum portion. When the operating member rotates the connecting portion via the lever portion, the contact portion inclines while contacting the lid body as the connecting portion rotates, and pulls down the second end portion of the seesaw member. Thereby, the seesaw member swings about the fulcrum portion, and moves the valve body from the closed position to the open position. In the lid body, the contacted portion where the contact portion contacts is formed as a generally flat surface.

[0008] According to the lid according to the above aspect, the contacted portion of the lid body is formed as a generally flat surface. Thereby, compared with the case where the contacted portion has a shape with many undulations, dirt is less likely to accumulate and cleaning becomes easier.

[0009] The lid according to the second aspect is the lid according to the first aspect, and the lid body further has a first restricting portion formed on the first end portion side of the generally flat surface and a second restricting portion formed on the second end portion side of the generally flat surface. The contact portion of the operating member inclines while contacting the lid body between the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion, and pulls down the second end portion of the seesaw member.

[0010] The lid according to the third aspect is the lid according to the second aspect, and when the contact portion of the operation member is on the first end side of the first restricting portion, the movement thereof is restricted by the first restricting portion, whereby the valve body is locked in the closed position.

[0011] The lid according to the fourth aspect is the lid according to any one of the first to third aspects, and further includes a vent peripheral portion that defines a vent having a size smaller than that of the spout.

[0012] The lid according to the fifth aspect is the lid according to the fourth aspect, and further includes a plug body. The plug body is coupled to the first end side of the seesaw member, and when the seesaw member swings about the fulcrum portion, it moves between the closed position and the open position together with the valve body. The plug body closes the vent in the closed position and allows the inside and outside of the beverage container body to communicate through the vent in the open position.

[0013] The lid according to the sixth aspect is the lid according to the fourth or fifth aspect, and further includes a first seal portion, a second seal portion, and a third seal portion. The first seal portion is integrally formed with the inner surface of the lid body in a non-separable manner, and is configured to be in close contact with the peripheral portion defining the opening of the beverage container body to seal the gap between the peripheral portion of the beverage container body and the lid body. The second seal portion is formed integrally with the first seal portion from the same material as the first seal portion, and is formed integrally with the spout peripheral portion in a non-separable manner. The third seal portion is formed integrally with the first seal portion and the second seal portion from the same material as the first seal portion and the second seal portion, and forms the vent peripheral portion.

[0014] The lid according to the seventh aspect is the lid according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, and further includes a handle portion that can be grasped by a user's hand when pouring the beverage. The handle portion is disposed at a position where the lever portion can be accessed by the fingers of the hand holding the handle portion.

[0015] The beverage container according to the eighth aspect includes a lid according to any one of the first to seventh aspects and a beverage container body.

Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the above aspect, a lid that is easy for the user to clean is provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

Figure 2C

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 5

Figure 6A

Figure 6B

Figure 7A

Figure 7B

Figure 7C

Figure 8A

Figure 8B

Figure 9A

Figure 9B

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a lid body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a beverage container including the same will be described. <1. Overview of Beverage Container> FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a beverage container 1 according to the present embodiment. The beverage container 1 is a beverage container called a water pitcher, a cold water cylinder, or the like, and is used to store beverages such as tea and water. The beverage container 1 includes a beverage container body 2 with an open upper portion for accommodating the beverage, and a lid body 3 detachably attached to the beverage container body so as to cover the opening of the beverage container body.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, the vertical direction and the front-rear direction of the beverage container 1 are defined, and the direction from the back to the front of the paper surface of FIG. 1 is defined as the left, and the direction from the front to the back is defined as the right. Hereinafter, the other drawings will also be described based on this. However, as will be described later, the orientation of the beverage container 1 according to the present embodiment during use is not limited to the direction of FIG. 1. Hereinafter, each part of the beverage container body 2 and the lid body 3 will be described.

[0020] <2. Beverage Container Body> FIGS. 2A to 2C are a plan view, a side view, and a bottom view of the beverage container body 2, respectively. The beverage container body 2 has a substantially rectangular bottom portion 20, side wall portions 21a to 21d rising upward from each side of the bottom portion 20, and a cylindrical portion 22. The side wall portions 21a and 12c are generally flat, and the side wall portions 21b and 21d protrude slightly outward. As will be described later, the beverage container 1 can be stored in a refrigerator in a horizontal posture in which any one of the side wall portions 21a to 21d faces downward and the bottom portion 20 faces sideways by the locking function of the lid body 3. The side wall portions 21a to 21d are continuous with the cylindrical portion 22 at the upper ends.

[0021] The cylindrical portion 22 is a part for attaching and detaching the lid body 3, and is also a peripheral portion that defines the opening S1 of the beverage container body 2. The user can store a beverage inside the beverage container body 2 through the opening S1 or clean the inside of the beverage container body 2. An attachment portion 220 is formed on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 22, and the lid body 3 is attached to the beverage container body 2 by attaching an attachment portion 300 of the lid body 3 described later to the attachment portion 220. In the present embodiment, the attachment portion 220 and the attachment portion 300 are screw grooves, and the beverage container body 2 and the lid body 3 can be attached and detached by a screw type.

[0022] The material of each part of the beverage container body 2 is not particularly limited, and for example, it can be integrally formed of a hard resin. Examples of the hard resin include polystyrene, polypropylene, AS resin, saturated polyester, PET resin, and the like. Preferably, the beverage container body 2 is formed transparently so that the inside can be visually recognized.

[0023] [Lid body] FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views showing the internal structure of the lid body 3 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3A shows the closed state of the lid body 3, and FIG. 3B shows the open state of the lid body 3. The closed state means that the pouring port S2 is closed by a valve body 36 described later, and the vent hole S3 is closed by a plug body 38, and the inside and outside of the beverage container body 2 are not in communication. The open state means that the pouring port S2 and the vent hole S3 are opened, and the inside and outside of the beverage container body 2 are in communication through the pouring port S2 and the vent hole S3. The lid body 3 includes a lid main body 30, a seesaw member 35, a valve body 36, an operation member 37, a plug body 38, and a seal portion 4, as will be described later. The lid main body 30, the seesaw member 35, the valve body 36, the operation member 37, and the plug body 38 are formed of a hard resin like the beverage container body 2, and the seal portion 4 is formed of an elastomer or silicone of a different material from this. Hereinafter, each part of the lid body 3 will be described.

[0024] [Cylindrical portion] FIG. 4A is a plan view of the lid body 30 of the lid 3, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the lid body 30. The lid body 30 has a cylindrical cylindrical portion 31, a handle portion 32 continuous from the cylindrical portion 31, and an upper surface portion 33. The cylindrical portion 31 is a portion to be attached to the attachment portion 220 of the beverage container body 2, and an attachment portion 300 is formed on the inner surface. The attachment portion 300 is a thread groove in the present embodiment. By inserting the cylindrical portion 22 of the beverage container body 2 inside the cylindrical portion 31 and rotating them relative to each other, the attachment portion 220 and the attachment portion 300 are connected, and the lid 3 is fixed to the beverage container body 2.

[0025] [Handle portion] The handle portion 32 is a portion formed behind the cylindrical portion 31 and forms a handle that can be gripped by hand when the user carries or uses the beverage container 1. The handle portion 32 extends downward from the cylindrical portion 31 and forms a loop that turns back downward and returns to the cylindrical portion 31. The loop can be sized such that, for example, an adult can grip it with one hand. The handle portion 32 is disposed at a position where the lever portion 372 of the operation member 37 described later can be accessed with the fingers of the hand holding this.

[0026] [Upper surface portion] The upper surface portion 33 forms a first upper surface 330 and a second upper surface 335 of the lid body 30, and an inner surface 331 (see FIG. 6A) that is on the back side of the first upper surface 330 and faces the inside of the beverage container body 2. The first upper surface 330 and the inner surface 331 are circular surfaces in a plan view that are continuous from the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion 31. The upper surface portion 33 is integrally formed with the first seal portion 40, the second seal portion 41, and the third seal portion 42 described later. The upper surface 410 of the second seal 41 portion and the upper surface 420 of the third seal portion 42 appear on the first upper surface 330 (see FIG. 4A), and the first seal portion 40, the lower surface 411 of the second seal portion 41, and the lower surface 421 of the third seal portion 42 appear on the inner surface 331 (see FIG. 6A).

[0027] The upper face portion 33 rises upward from the first upper face 330 and has side wall portions 331a and 331b that extend in the front-rear direction. The side wall portions 331a and 331b are plate-shaped portions having the same shape as each other and are arranged at a certain distance apart in the left-right direction. Between the side wall portions 331a and 331b, a seesaw member 35 (see FIG. 7) and an operation member 37 (see FIG. 8) described later are arranged.

[0028] The side wall portions 331a and 331b are continuous at the front end with an inclined portion 332 that is U-shaped in plan view. The inclined portion 332 is a funnel-shaped wall that inclines so as to widen upward from the front end of the first upper face 330, and the upper end of the inclined portion 332 protrudes forward beyond the front end of the first upper face 330 in side view. The inner surface of the inclined portion 332 defines a flow path for the beverage that is poured out through a spout S2 formed in the vicinity. When the user holds the handle portion 32 and tilts the entire beverage container 1, the beverage flows out into the region surrounded by the inclined portion 332 and the side wall portions 331a and 331b through the spout S2 and reaches the upper end of the inclined portion 332 along the inner surface of the inclined portion 332. Thereby, the beverage is smoothly poured out toward a cup or the like.

[0029] The upper face portion 33 further has a spout peripheral portion 333 that is near the lower end where the inclined portion 332 rises and is formed between the side wall portions 331a and 331b (see FIG. 4A). The spout peripheral portion 333 is formed at a position eccentric forward with reference to the center of the circle of the first upper face 330. The spout peripheral portion 333 defines a through hole that penetrates the upper face portion 33 in the vertical direction. As will be described later, this through hole functions as a spout S2 and a vent S3. The spout peripheral portion 333, together with a second seal portion 41 described later that is integrally formed therewith, defines a spout S2 for pouring the beverage out of the beverage container body 2. Further, the spout peripheral portion 333, together with a third seal portion 42 described later that is integrally formed therewith, defines a vent S3 that serves as a passage for the air in the beverage container 1.

[0030] The side wall portions 331a and 331b are separated upward from the first upper surface 330 behind the peripheral edge portion 333 of the spout, extend further rearward, and then continue with the rear end of the first upper surface 330 again. The upper surface portion 33 further has a bottom surface portion 331c that is continuously formed at the lower ends of the side wall portions 331a and 331b at the portion where the side wall portions 331a and 331b are separated from the first upper surface 330. The bottom surface portion 331c forms a flat surface extending parallel to the first upper surface 330 and surfaces that are continuous with the front end and the rear end of this flat surface and rise substantially vertically from the first upper surface 330.

[0031] The upper surface portion 33 further has a pair of left and right support portions 3310a and 3310b that are formed near the rear end of the bottom surface portion 331c and project upward from the upper surface of the bottom surface portion 331c. The support portions 3310a and 3310b of the present embodiment are integrally formed with the left and right side wall portions 331a and 331b, and the upper end portions are configured as curved surfaces without corners. The support portions 3310a and 3310b swingably support the fulcrum portions of the seesaw member described later.

[0032] The space S4 formed by enclosing the lower surface of the bottom surface portion 331c and the first upper surface 330 has a size that allows a user's finger to enter. Thereby, the user can also hook a finger on the bottom surface portion 331c to carry or pull the beverage container 1.

[0033] The upper surface portion 33 further has a rear end portion 334 that is disposed above the handle portion 32. The rear end portion 334 is continuous with the side wall portions 331a and 331b at both the left and right ends and is a portion that extends from the rear end of the first upper surface 330 to substantially the rear end of the handle portion 32. The upper surface of the rear end portion 334 forms the second upper surface 335 of the lid body 30. The second upper surface 335 is a substantially flat surface formed at the same or substantially the same height as the first upper surface 330. A first regulating portion 3340 and a second regulating portion 3341 are formed on the second upper surface 335.

[0034] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the portion surrounded by the dashed-dotted line in FIG. 4B. The first restricting portion 3340 and the second restricting portion 3341 are arranged at a constant interval in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the first restricting portion 3340 and the second restricting portion 3341 are arranged near the center in the left-right direction on the second upper surface 335 and are protrusions protruding upward. The first restricting portion 3340, the second restricting portion 3341, and the second upper surface 335 constitute a contact portion with which the contact portion 370 of the operation member 37 described later comes into contact and moves.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 5, the first restricting portion 3340 is formed in a mountain shape having a first inclined surface 3340a facing forward and a second inclined surface 3340b facing rearward in a side view. The inclination of the first inclined surface 3340a is relatively steep, and the inclination of the second inclined surface 3340b is relatively gentle. Further, the top of the first restricting portion 3340 is formed with a round shape so that the user's hand does not feel pain even when touched. The first restricting portion 3340 restricts the inclination and rotational movement of the operation member 37 when the contact portion 370 is on the first inclined surface 3340a side (front side), and thereby locks the closed state of the lid body 3 as described later. However, the first restricting portion 3340 has a protruding height such that when a stronger force is applied to the operation member 37, the contact portion 370 can be overridden from the front to the rear.

[0036] The second restricting portion 3341 is formed in a mountain shape having a first inclined surface 3341a facing forward and a second inclined surface 3341b facing rearward in a side view, and the height with respect to the second upper surface 335 is higher than that of the first restricting portion 3340. The inclinations of the first inclined surface 3341a and the second inclined surface 3341b are steeper than the first inclined surface 3340a of the first restricting portion 3340. Further, the top of the second restricting portion 3341 is also formed with a round shape so that the user's hand does not feel pain even when touched. The second restricting portion 3341 is a portion that restricts the inclination and rotational movement of the contact portion 370 of the operation member 37 described later. Different from the first restricting portion 3340, the contact portion 370 cannot move over the second restricting portion 3341 and move rearward.

[0037] The cylindrical portion 31, the handle portion 32, and the upper surface portion 33 can be formed of a rigid resin, similarly to the beverage container body 2. The rigid resin is as exemplified for the beverage container body 2.

[0038] FIGS. 6A and 6B are a bottom view and a cross-sectional view of the lid body 30 centered on the upper surface portion 33. In FIG. 6B, the seal portion 4 is represented by hatching. The inner surface 331 is the surface on the opposite side of the first upper surface 330 and faces the inside of the beverage container body 2 when the lid body 3 is attached to the beverage container body 2. In front of the inner surface 331, a rib 3310 protruding downward is formed. The rib 3310 has a shape in which a small arc is joined to the center of a large arc, and the second seal portion 41 and the third seal portion 42 described later are integrally formed along this rib inseparably.

[0039] [Seal portion] The seal portion 4 is formed integrally with the lid body 30, more specifically, the upper surface portion 33, by, for example, two-color molding. The seal portion 4 has a first seal portion 40 formed integrally with the peripheral edge of the inner surface 331 of the lid body 30, a second seal 41 continuous with the first seal portion 40 and integrally formed of the same material as this, and a third seal portion 42. While the lid body 30 is made of a rigid resin, the seal portion 4 is made of an elastomer or silicone and can seal the gap by its elasticity. Note that "elastomer" is a general term for polymer compounds having rubber elasticity.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first seal portion 40 is configured in an annular shape having substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the cylindrical portion 22 of the beverage container body 2. The first seal portion 40 is configured to be in close contact with the cylindrical portion 22 and seal the gap between the lid body 30 and the beverage container body 2 when the lid body 3 is attached to the beverage container body 2. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the beverage in the beverage container body 2 from leaking out through the gap between the lid body 30 and the beverage container body 2.

[0041] The second seal portion 41 is an annular portion that is continuously formed radially inward from the ring of the first seal portion 40 and is integrally formed with the peripheral edge portion 333 of the spout of the upper surface portion 33. The second seal portion 41 is formed at a position eccentric with respect to the center of the ring of the first seal portion 40. The outer periphery 4100 of the upper surface 410 of the second seal portion 41 is preferably at the same height or substantially the same height as the first upper surface 330 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B), although not limited thereto. Thereby, no step or almost no step is formed between the upper surface 410 and the first upper surface 330, so that dirt does not accumulate in this step portion and the cleaning operation becomes easy. Further, the upper surface 410 constitutes a valve seat of the valve body 36 described later, and when the valve body 36 is in the closed position, it is in close contact with the lower end portion 360 of the valve body 36 to seal the spout S2. The upper surface 410 may include a tapered surface that slopes downward from the outer periphery 4100 to the inner periphery 4101 in order to enhance the adhesion to the valve body 36. The lower surface 411 of the second seal portion 41 is also preferably at the same height or substantially the same height as the rib 3310, although not limited thereto, and cleaning from the inner surface 331 side is also easy.

[0042] The third seal portion 42 is an annular portion that is integrally formed with the peripheral edge portion 333 of the spout of the upper surface portion 33 and defines the vent S3. The inner diameter of the third seal portion 42 is smaller than the inner diameter of the second seal portion 41, whereby the size of the vent S3 defined by the third seal portion 42 is smaller than the size of the spout S2 defined by the second seal portion 41. In the present embodiment, the third seal portion 42 is continuously arranged outside the ring of the second seal portion 41. The outer periphery 4200 of the upper surface 420 of the third seal portion 42 is preferably at the same height or substantially the same height as the first upper surface 330, although not limited thereto. Thereby, no step or almost no step is formed between the upper surface 420 and the first upper surface 330, so that dirt does not accumulate in this step portion and the cleaning operation becomes easy. Further, the lower surface 421 of the third seal portion 42 is also preferably at the same height or substantially the same height as the rib 3310, although not limited thereto, and cleaning from the inner surface 331 side is also easy.

[0043] When the valve body 36 is in the open position, the vent S3 is opened by the plug body 38 and functions as a passage for air when pouring the beverage from the spout S2 by communicating the inside and outside of the beverage container body 2. If the vent S3 is not formed, when pouring the beverage from the spout S2, it is difficult for air to enter the beverage container body 2, so that the spout S2 tends to be clogged and the beverage may not be smoothly poured out from the beverage container body 2. However, in the lid body 3 of the present embodiment, since the vent S3 is formed, the beverage can be smoothly poured out from the spout S2. Therefore, the third seal portion 42 that defines the vent S3 is formed at a position farther from the inclined portion 332 and closer to the handle portion 32 than the second seal portion 41. The upper surface 420 of the third seal portion 42 is in close contact with the lower end portion 380 of the plug body 38 when the valve body 36 described later is in the closed position. Thereby, the vent S3 is sealed so that the beverage inside the beverage container body 2 does not leak from the vent S3. The upper surface 420 may include a tapered surface that slopes downward from the outer periphery 4200 to the inner periphery 4201 in order to enhance the adhesion to the plug body 38. In the present embodiment, the inner periphery 4201 is located lower than the inner periphery 4101 of the second seal portion 41. That is, the third seal portion 42 forms a deeper tapered surface than the second seal portion 41.

[0044] [Seesaw member] The seesaw member 35 is disposed between the side wall portions 331a and 331b of the upper surface portion 33 and is a substantially plate-shaped member extending in the front-rear direction. FIG. 7A is a side view of the seesaw member 35, FIG. 7B is a bottom view of the seesaw member 35, and FIG. 7C is a partial cross-sectional view near the rear end portion 351. The front end portion (first end portion) 350 of the seesaw member 35 has a shape along the outer shape of the inclined portion 332 and covers the space inside the inclined portion 332 so that dust or the like does not enter in the closed state of the lid body 3.

[0045] The rear end portion (second end portion) 351 of the seesaw member 35 extends above the rear end portion 334 of the upper surface portion 33 and is rotatably connected to an operation member 37 described later at the connected portion (see FIGS. 3 and 9). Thereby, the rear end portion 351 of the seesaw member 35 swings as the operation member 37 is operated. In the present embodiment, the connected portion is configured as a pair of left and right connected portions 3510a and 3510b. The connected portions 3510a and 3510b are plate-like portions protruding downward from the lower surface of the rear end portion 351, and slits 3511a and 3511b cut from the bottom upward are formed. The slits 3511a and 3511b are configured to elastically deform and receive the connecting portions 371a and 371b of the operation member 37 described later, respectively.

[0046] The seesaw member 35 further has a protruding portion 353 formed at the center in the left-right direction near the connected portions 3510a and 3510b. A partial cross-sectional view of the protruding portion 353 is shown in FIG. 7C. As shown in FIG. 7C, the protruding portion 353 is a mountain-shaped protrusion protruding downward from the bottom surface of the seesaw member 35 and is a portion that contacts an extended end portion 373 of the operation member 37 described later when the lid body 3 is in the closed state.

[0047] The seesaw member 35 further has a fulcrum portion that serves as a fulcrum for swinging. In the present embodiment, the fulcrum portion is a pair of left and right recesses 352a and 352b formed from the bottom surface to the left and right side surfaces of the seesaw member 35 at a position near the rear end portion 351 of the seesaw member 35. The surfaces defining the recesses 352a and 352b are formed in a shape corresponding to the outer shapes of the upper end portions of the support portions 3310a and 3310b of the upper surface portion 33, and the support portion 3310a fits into the recess 352a and the support portion 3310b fits into the recess 352b, respectively. Thereby, the seesaw member 35 is swingably supported by the support portions 3310a and 3310b of the upper surface portion 33.

[0048] [Valve body] The valve body 36 is a substantially cylindrical portion extending in the vertical direction, and its upper end is coupled to the seesaw member 35. In the present embodiment, the valve body 36 is integrally formed with the seesaw member 35 between the front end portion 350 of the seesaw member 35 and the recesses 352a and 352b. Thereby, the valve body 36 moves between a closed position where it closes the pouring port S2 and an open position where the inside and outside of the beverage container body 2 communicate with each other through the pouring port S2 as the seesaw member 35 swings. More specifically, the closed position is a position where the lower end portion 360 of the valve body 36 is in close contact with the upper surface 410 of the second seal portion 41 to seal the pouring port S2, whereby the lid body 3 is in a closed state. The open position is a position where the lower end portion 360 of the valve body 36 is separated from the upper surface 410 of the second seal portion 41 to open the pouring port S2, whereby the lid body 3 is in an open state. Note that the lower end portion 360 is formed thinner than other portions of the valve body 36, so that the outer diameter is smaller, thereby enhancing the adhesion to the upper surface 410 of the second seal portion 41.

[0049] [Plug body] The plug body 38 is, like the valve body 36, a substantially cylindrical portion extending in the vertical direction, and its upper end is coupled to the seesaw member 35. In the present embodiment, the plug body 38 is integrally formed with the seesaw member 35 between the valve body 36 and the recesses 352a and 352b. Thereby, the plug body 38 swings as the seesaw member 35 swings. The lower end portion 380 of the plug body 38 is in close contact with the upper surface 420 of the third seal portion 42 at the closed position of the valve body 36 to seal the vent port S3. The plug body 38 of the present embodiment is formed to protrude more downward (in the closed state of the lid body 3) than the valve body 36. Thereby, the lower end portion 380 of the plug body 38 is in close contact with the upper surface 420 of the third seal portion 42 at a deeper position at the closed position of the valve body 36. Note that the lower end portion 380 is formed thinner than other portions of the plug body 38, so that the outer diameter is smaller, thereby enhancing the adhesion to the upper surface 420 of the third seal portion 42.

[0050] [Operating member] The operating member 37 is a part for the user to operate the opening and closing of the lid body 3 with the fingers of the hand holding the handle part 32. It is located above the handle part 32 and is arranged between the side wall parts 331a and 331b of the upper surface part 33. FIG. 8A is a side view of the operating member 37, and FIG. 8B is a plan view of the operating member 37. The operating member 37 has a contact part 370, connecting parts 371a and 371b, a lever part 372, and an extending part 373, which are continuous from the base part 374 respectively. Each part will be described below.

[0051] [Base part] The base part 374 is the central part of the operating member 37 having a substantially U-shaped side view. The base part 374 has a first surface 3740 facing rearward and a second surface 3741 facing forward. The first surface 3740 and the second surface 3741 define a space S6 that is open upward. The space S6 is a space into which the rear end part 351 of the seesaw member 35 enters when the valve body 36 is in the open position (see FIG. 9B). The second surface 3741 is a curved surface having a shape along the curved surface of the rear end part 351 of the seesaw member 35, and is configured to overlap with the upper surface of the rear end part 351 when the valve body 36 is in the open position. Thereby, the second surface 3741 moves smoothly along the upper surface of the rear end part 351 while contacting the upper surface of the rear end part 351 in conjunction with the operation of the lever part 372 described later.

[0052] [Lever part] The lever part 372 is a part formed continuously behind the base part 374 and is a part for the user to perform the opening and closing operation of the lid body 3. The lever part 372 has a first surface 3720, a second surface 3721, and a top surface 3722 sandwiched between these surfaces. The first surface 3720 is a surface facing downward, and the second surface 3721 is a surface facing upward. The top surface 3722 is a smooth curved surface that is convex outward. The top surface 3722 projects from behind the side wall parts 331a and 331b of the upper surface part 33 together with at least a part of the first surface 3720 and the second surface 3721 (see FIG. 3). The top surface 3722 and the first surface 3720 are parts for the user to apply an upward pushing force to move the valve body 36 to the open position. Also, the top surface 3722 and the second surface 3721 are parts for the user to apply a downward pushing force to move the valve body 36 to the closed position.

[0053] [Contact portion] The contact portion 370 is a portion formed at the lower part of the base portion 374, and moves on the second upper surface 335 while contacting the second upper surface 335 of the lid body 30 as the lever portion 372 is operated. The contact portion 370 has a smooth curved surface 3700 that is convex downward and a concave surface 3701 that is continuous behind the curved surface 3700 and recessed upward. The curved surface 3700 is located in front of the first restricting portion 3340 of the upper surface portion 33 when the valve body 36 is in the closed position and contacts the second upper surface 335. At this time, the concave surface 3701 accommodates the first restricting portion 3340 and is positioned so as to overlap the first inclined surface 3340a and the second inclined surface 3340b (see FIG. 9A). The first inclined surface 3340a serves as a resistance to the rearward movement of the curved surface 3700 when the curved surface 3700 is located in front of it. Also, the second inclined surface 3340b serves as a resistance to the forward movement of the concave surface 3701. Thereby, the closed state of the lid body 3 is locked, and even if the beverage container 1 is placed horizontally, leakage of the beverage in the beverage container body 2 from the spout S2 and the vent S3 is prevented.

[0054] As described above, the first restricting portion 3340 does not have a height that completely prevents the movement of the curved surface 3700. For this reason, when a force greater than a certain level is applied to the lever portion 372, the curved surface 3700 contacts the first inclined surface 3340a of the first restricting portion 3340 and climbs over it while tilting, and begins to contact the second inclined surface 3340b. That is, the lock of the closed state of the lid body 3 is released.

[0055] The curved surface 3700 contacts the second inclined surface 3340b, and after moving rearward while further inclining, it can move on the second upper surface 335 to the second restricting portion 3341 (see FIG. 9B). As a result, the lid body 3 is in an open state. The second restricting portion 3341 protrudes higher than the first restricting portion 3340, and even if a considerably strong force equivalent to that applied to the lever portion 372 is applied, the curved surface 3700 does not overcome this. When the curved surface 3700 moves maximally rearward, it fits into the curved surface portion formed continuously by the first inclined surface 3341a of the second restricting portion 3341 and the second upper surface 335, and it becomes possible to maintain this state without an external force being applied. As a result, the open state of the lid body 3 is locked.

[0056] [Connecting portion] The connecting portions 371a and 371b are a pair of columnar portions extending left and right from the base portion 374. The connecting portions 371a and 371b are respectively fitted into the slits 3511a and 3511b of the connected portions 3510a and 3510b of the seesaw member 35 so as to be able to rotate within the slits 3511a and 3511b. Thereby, the seesaw member 35 and the operating member 37 are connected, and relative rotation is possible while they are in a connected state. That is, the connecting portions 371a and 371b function as the axis of rotation of the operating member 37 with respect to the seesaw member 35.

[0057] [Extended end portion] The extended end portion 373 is a portion extending forward and upward from the center in the left - right direction of the base portion 374. The tip portion 3730 of the extended end portion 373 includes a smooth curved surface. The tip portion 3730 contacts the inclined surface on the front side of the protruding portion 353 of the seesaw member 35 when the valve body 36 is in the closed position. At this time, the operating member 37 acts as a support between the protruding portion 353 of the seesaw member 35 and the rear end portion 334 of the upper surface portion 33, and supports the seesaw member 35 so as to maintain a horizontal state (see FIG. 9A). Also, the protruding portion 353 restricts the rearward rotation of the extended end portion 373 and assists in locking the closed state of the lid body 3.

[0058] <4. Operation of the lid body> Next, the operation of the lid body 3 will be described. As already described, FIG. 3A shows the closed state of the lid body 3, and FIG. 3B shows the open state of the lid body 3. Further, FIG. 9A is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the operation member 37 in the state where the closed state of the lid body 3 is locked, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the operation member 37 in the state where the open state of the lid body 3 is locked. Hereinafter, the operation of the lid body 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 9.

[0059] When the lid body 3 is in the closed state, the operation member 37 supports the seesaw member 35 in a posture such that the connecting portions 371a and 371b and the contact portion 370 are generally aligned in the vertical direction. At this time, the operation member 37 is restricted from rotating about the connecting portions 371a and 371b by the protruding portion 353 of the seesaw member 35 and the first restricting portion 3340 of the upper surface portion 33 (FIG. 9A). Thereby, the closed state of the lid body 3 is locked, and even if the beverage container 1 is placed in a horizontal posture, the seesaw member 35 is not swung by the beverage in the beverage container main body 2, and the valve body 36 does not move from the closed position to the open position. That is, the close contact between the second seal portion 41 and the valve body 36 and the close contact between the third seal portion 42 and the plug body 38 are maintained, and the beverage does not leak to the outside through the pouring port S2 and the vent port S3.

[0060] When the user pushes up the lever portion 372 with a force equal to or greater than a certain level, the curved surface 3700 of the operation member 37 overrides the first restricting portion 3340 backward, and the operation member 37 starts to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 9 so as to tilt about the connecting portions 371a and 371b. In parallel with this, the extending end portion 373 of the operation member 37 moves away from the protruding portion 353 of the seesaw member 35. That is, the lock of the closed state of the lid body 3 is released. The user can feel the release of the lock of the closed state of the lid body 3 by the change in the tactile sensation transmitted through the lever portion 372 when the curved surface 3700 overrides the first restricting portion 3340 or when the concave surface 3701 deviates from the first inclined surface 3341a and the second inclined surface 3341b of the first restricting portion 3340.

[0061] When the operating member 37 tilts, the connecting portions 371a and 371b move downward, whereby the rear end portion 351 of the seesaw member 35 is pulled downward, and the seesaw member 35 starts to swing. At the same time, the contact portion between the upper surface of the rear end portion 351 and the second surface 3741 of the operating member 37 gradually increases, and the rear end portion 351 enters the space S6 of the operating member 37. The second surface 3741 of the operating member 37 presses the upper surface of the rear end portion 351 from above to assist the swinging of the seesaw member 35.

[0062] The seesaw member 35 swings with the recesses 352a and 352b as fulcrums while being supported by the support portions 3310a and 3310b of the upper surface portion 33. Along with this, the front end portion 350 is lifted, the valve body 36 moves away from the upper surface 410 of the second seal portion 41, and moves to the open position. Also, the plug body 38 moves away from the upper surface 420 of the third seal portion 42. Thereby, the inside and outside of the beverage container body 2 communicate with each other through the pouring port S2 and the vent port S3.

[0063] The operating member 37 rotates with respect to the seesaw member 35, and the contact portion 370 moves rearward on the second upper surface 335 of the lid body 30. Thereby, the direction of the curved surface 3700 changes from downward to rearward, and the absolute positions of the connecting portions 371a and 371b change.

[0064] When the curved surface 3700 reaches the curved surface portion formed by the continuous connection of the first inclined surface 3341a of the second regulating portion 3341 and the second upper surface 335 and fits therein, the rear end portion 351 of the seesaw member 35 is suppressed by the second surface 3741 of the operating member 37. Thereby, the moment for rotating the seesaw member 35 around the connected portions 3510a and 3510b is balanced, and the state where the valve body 36 is farthest from the upper surface 410 is maintained. That is, the open state of the lid body 3 is locked (FIG. 9B).

[0065] After that, when the lever part 372 is pushed down, the lock of the open state of the lid body 3 is released, and the curved surface 3700 of the operation member 37 starts to move forward on the second upper surface 335 of the lid main body 30. As a result, the operation member 37 returns to its original posture, and the connecting parts 371a and 371b return to their original positions. Also, the seesaw member 35 swings in the opposite direction, the rear end part 351 is pulled upward, and the front end part 350 is pulled downward together with the valve body 36 and the plug body 38. On the other hand, the curved surface 3700 of the operation member 37 starts to rise along the second inclined surface 3340b of the first regulating part 3340, and resistance is transmitted to the user via the lever part 372. Further, the curved surface 3700 starts to descend along the first inclined surface 3340a of the first regulating part 3340, and the resistance transmitted to the user rapidly decreases. Subsequently, the seesaw member 35, the valve body 36, the operation member 37, and the plug body 38 return to their original positions and postures, and the lid body 3 becomes closed again. The user can feel the lock of the closed state of the lid body 3 due to the change in the tactile sensation as described above.

[0066] <5. Features> The user can easily remove the lid body 3 from the beverage container body 2 by releasing the screw connection between the mounting part 300 of the lid body 3 and the mounted part 220 of the beverage container body 2. Then, the beverage container body 2 can be washed through a relatively large opening S1. Also, the lid body 3 can be washed. The lid body 3 may be separated into, for example, the lid main body 30, the seesaw member 35, and the operation member 37 and washed individually. Since the rear end part 334 of the lid main body 30 has, for example, no downwardly recessed part and the first regulating part 3340 and the second regulating part 3341 protrude from a generally flat surface in a relatively simple shape, the user can easily wash the rear end part 334. Also, the seal part 4 made of elastomer and the lid main body 30 are integrally formed inseparably, and it is difficult for gaps for dirt to enter, and washing is also easy.

[0067] According to the sealing portion 4, the first sealing portion 40 functions as the first packing for sealing the opening S1, the second sealing portion 41 functions as the second packing for sealing the pouring port S2, and the third sealing portion 42 functions as the third packing for sealing the vent hole S3. Since the first to third sealing portions 40 to 42 of the sealing portion 4 are integrally formed and furthermore cannot be separated from the lid body 30, the user does not need to remove the first to third packings respectively, wash them individually, and attach them to the lid body 30 again. Therefore, the cleaning work becomes even easier.

[0068] <6. Modification Example> As described above, an embodiment of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible.

[0069] (1) The upper surface portion 33 (lid body 30) may have a vent hole peripheral portion independent of the peripheral portion of the pouring port 333 in addition to the peripheral portion of the pouring port. Further, the vent hole S3, the third sealing portion 42, and the plug body 38 may be omitted.

[0070] (2) The connection mechanism between the seesaw member 35 and the operation member 37 is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the connected portions 3510a and 3510b may be formed in a columnar shape, and slits for receiving the connected portions 3510a and 3510b may be formed in the connecting portions 371a and 371b. Further, the number of the connecting portion and the connected portion may be 1, or may be 3 or more.

[0071] (3) The shapes of the first restricting portion 3340 and the second restricting portion 3341 are not limited to the above embodiment. Further, the number of the first restricting portion 3340 and the second restricting portion 3341 may be 1, or may be 3 or more.

[0072] (4) The shapes of the support portions 3310a and 3310b and the shapes of the concave portions 352a and 352b are not limited to the above embodiment. Further, the number of the support portions 3310a and 3310b and the number of the fulcrum portions may be 1, or may be 3 or more.

[0073] (5) The shape of the protrusion 353 is not limited to the above embodiment. Also, the number of protrusions 353 may be two or more.

[0074] (6) The seal part 4 does not have to be formed such that the first seal part 40, the second seal part 41, and the third seal part 42 are continuously and integrally formed. At least one of these may be integrally formed inseparably from the lid body 30 independently of the others. Also, the second seal part 41 may be integrally formed inseparably from the valve body 36, and the third seal part 42 may be integrally formed inseparably from the plug body 38. Further, the first seal part 40, the second seal part 41, and the third seal part 42 may be configured as a first packing, a second packing, and a third packing, respectively, that are removable from the lid body 30. The second packing and the third packing may be attached to the lid body 30 side or may be attached to the valve body 36 and the plug body 38 sides. However, from the viewpoint of making cleaning easier, the configuration as in the above embodiment is preferable.

[0075] (7) At least one of the upper surface 410 of the second seal part 41 and the upper surface 420 of the third seal part 42 may be configured as a flat surface without including a tapered surface.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0076] 1 Beverage container 2 Beverage container body 3 Lid 4 Seal part 30 Lid body 32 Handle part 35 Seesaw member 36 Valve body S2 Pouring port S3 Vent hole

Claims

1. A lid attached to a beverage container body having an opening, which is detachably fixed to the beverage container body so as to cover the opening, and has an inner surface facing the inside of the beverage container body and a spout peripheral portion defining a spout for pouring out the beverage in the beverage container body; a seesaw member having a first end portion and a second end portion, and a fulcrum portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion and supported by the lid body, and being swingable about the fulcrum portion; an operation member having a connecting portion rotatably connected to the second end portion of the seesaw member, a lever portion fixed to the connecting portion, and a contact portion fixed to the connecting portion and contacting the lid body; a valve body coupled to the first end portion side of the seesaw member, and being movably disposed between a closed position for closing the spout and an open position for communicating the inside and outside of the beverage container body through the spout when the seesaw member swings about the fulcrum portion; comprising: when the operation member rotates the connecting portion through the lever portion, the contact portion of the operation member inclines while contacting the lid body as the connecting portion rotates, pulling down the second end portion of the seesaw member, whereby the seesaw member swings about the fulcrum portion and moves the valve body from the closed position to the open position; in the lid body, a contacted portion where the contact portion contacts is formed as a flat surface; a lid.

2. The lid body further has a first restricting portion formed on a first end portion side of the flat surface and a second restricting portion formed on a second end portion side of the flat surface; the contact portion of the operation member inclines while contacting the lid body between the first restricting portion and the second restricting portion, pulling down the second end portion of the seesaw member; The lid according to claim 1.

3. When the contact portion of the operation member is on the first end portion side of the first restricting portion, the movement thereof is restricted by the first restricting portion, whereby the valve body is locked in the closed position; The lid according to claim 2.

4. A vent peripheral portion defining a vent having a size smaller than the spout; further comprising: The lid according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A plug body coupled to the first end portion side of the seesaw member, and moving between the closed position and the open position together with the valve body when the seesaw member swings about the fulcrum portion; further comprising: The plug body closes the vent hole in the closed position and allows the inside and outside of the beverage container body to communicate with each other through the vent hole in the open position. The lid according to claim 4.

6. A first seal portion that is integrally formed with the inner surface of the lid body in a non-separable manner and is configured to seal a gap between the peripheral edge portion of the beverage container body that defines the opening of the beverage container body and the lid body by closely adhering to the peripheral edge portion of the beverage container body; A second seal portion that is formed integrally with the first seal portion from the same material as the first seal portion and is integrally formed with the peripheral edge portion of the pouring port in a non-separable manner; A third seal portion that is formed integrally with the first seal portion and the second seal portion from the same material as the first seal portion and the second seal portion and forms the peripheral edge portion of the vent hole; further comprising The lid according to claim 4 or 5.

7. A handle portion that can be grasped by a user's hand when pouring the beverage further comprising The handle portion is disposed at a position where a finger of the hand holding the handle portion can access the lever portion. The lid according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The lid according to any one of claims 1 to 7, a beverage container body, comprising a beverage container.

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