Nozzle cap
A dual-fitting nozzle cap for liquid containers addresses inefficiencies and high costs by adapting to various resin materials, ensuring efficient sealing and reduced production complexity.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-06-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing nozzle caps for liquid containers are inefficient and costly to produce due to the need for separate designs for different resin materials, leading to increased production costs and decreased efficiency when switching between polyethylene terephthalate and other resins.
A nozzle cap design with dual fitting portions and support projections that can fit and seal multiple container types, including polyethylene terephthalate and other resins, reducing capping torque and maintaining production efficiency.
The nozzle cap provides a universal fit for different resin materials, enhancing production efficiency and reducing costs by eliminating the need for separate molds and production adjustments.
Smart Images
Figure 0007837234000001 
Figure 0007837234000002 
Figure 0007837234000003
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a nozzle cap.
Background Art
[0002] Generally, in containers for storing liquid substances such as liquid detergents, liquid bleaches, liquid softeners, solvents, etc., and powder and granular substances such as granular detergents, granular bleaches, granular seasonings, etc., there are those having a nozzle cap attached to the mouth of a bottle container as a container with a nozzle, and a measuring cylinder portion for measuring the content poured out from the nozzle, and a measuring cap that is detachably attached to the container.
[0003] In the above nozzle cap, a liquid seal is performed by the seal area of the inner cylinder portion contacting the inner peripheral surface at the mouth of the bottle container (for example, Patent Document 1). As materials for the bottle container, which is a consumer product, polypropylene (PP) resin, polyethylene (PE) resin, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin, etc. are often used.
[0004] When the bottle container is made of polyethylene terephthalate resin, if it is stored at a high temperature (for example, 40°C), the mouth may expand and liquid leakage may occur. Therefore, the seal area of the inner cylinder portion is formed up to the range that faces the base side of the mouth in the radial direction so that the inner cylinder portion of the nozzle cap contacts the inner peripheral surface of the base side where the expansion is relatively less than that of the tip side at the mouth, thereby suppressing liquid leakage.
Prior Art Documents
[0007] Therefore, developing nozzle caps for resins other than polyethylene terephthalate resin is conceivable, but this would not only require mold investment but also necessitate switching production conditions and equipment according to the resin used during product manufacturing. This would lead to problems such as decreased production efficiency and increased costs.
[0008] This invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a nozzle cap that can be fitted to bottle containers made of different materials, thereby contributing to improved production efficiency and cost reduction. [Means for solving the problem]
[0009] The present invention has the following aspects. [1] A nozzle cap that is detachably attached to the mouth of a container for containing contents, comprising: a cylindrical inner cylinder portion centered on a vertically extending central axis that fits into the mouth; a bottom wall portion provided on the lower side of the inner cylinder portion; and a trough-shaped nozzle protruding upward from the bottom wall portion and guiding the dispensing of the contents, wherein the inner cylinder portion has a first fitting portion that can fit into a first mouth of a first container, and a second fitting portion that can fit into a second mouth of a second container different from the first container, having a shape at least partially different from the first mouth, and is arranged vertically apart from the first fitting portion. [2] The nozzle cap according to [1], wherein the first fitting portion is located above the second fitting portion, and the radial thickness dimension of the first fitting portion with respect to the central axis is the same as or greater than the radial thickness dimension of the second fitting portion. [3] The nozzle cap as described in [2], wherein the upper end of the first fitting portion is located 0.6 mm to 1.2 mm below the position of the upper end of the inner cylinder portion, the vertical dimension of the first fitting portion is 1.2 mm to 2.8 mm, the upper end of the second fitting portion is located 0.6 mm to 1.4 mm below the position of the lower end of the first fitting portion, and the vertical dimension of the second fitting portion is 1.6 mm to 3.4 mm. [4] The nozzle cap according to [2] or [3], wherein the thickness dimension of the first fitting portion is 0.8 mm or more and 2.6 mm or less, and the thickness dimension of the second fitting portion is the same as the thickness dimension of the first fitting portion, or is 0.2 mm or more and 0.8 mm thinner than the thickness dimension of the first fitting portion. [5] The nozzle cap according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the first opening has a first male threaded portion on its outer circumference, the second opening has a second male threaded portion on its outer circumference, and the outer cylinder is positioned apart from the inner cylinder radially outward with respect to the central axis, and the outer cylinder has a female threaded portion on its radially inward side that can engage with the first male threaded portion and the second male threaded portion, respectively. [6] The nozzle cap according to [5], wherein the outer cylinder portion has a support projection that protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface at a position above the female thread portion and supports the second opening portion from the radially outward. [7] The nozzle cap according to [6], wherein the support projections are arranged in a plurality at intervals in the circumferential direction with respect to the central axis. [8] The nozzle cap according to [6] or [7], wherein the maximum protrusion of the support projection is 0.08 mm or more and 0.2 mm or less. [9] The nozzle cap according to any one of [6] to [8], wherein the first container is made of either polyethylene resin or polypropylene resin, and the second container is made of polyethylene terephthalate resin. [Effects of the Invention]
[0010] This invention allows for the fitting of nozzle caps to bottle containers made of different materials. Therefore, it is possible to provide nozzle caps that contribute to improved production efficiency and cost reduction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0011] [Figure 1] This figure shows an embodiment of the present invention, and is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the top of the container 1 in an upright state, with the nozzle cap 4 attached to the container 2. [Figure 2] This is a magnified partial cross-sectional view of the inner cylinder portion 13 and the outer cylinder portion 11. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of the outer cylinder portion 11 perpendicular to the central axis C at the position of the support projection 8 in the central axis direction. [Figure 4] This is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the inner cylinder portion 13 and outer cylinder portion 11 of the first container 2A, where the nozzle cap 4 is fitted to the first opening 3A and sealed liquid-tightly. [Figure 5] This is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the inner cylinder portion 13 and outer cylinder portion 11 of the second container 2B, where the nozzle cap 4 is fitted to the second opening portion 3B to create a liquid-tight seal. [Figure 6] This is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the inner cylinder portion 13 and outer cylinder portion 11 of the modified nozzle cap 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the nozzle cap of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Note that the following embodiments show one aspect of the present invention, do not limit this invention, and can be arbitrarily changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Also, in the following drawings, in order to make each configuration easier to understand, the actual structure, scale, number, etc. in each structure are made different.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the top in the upright state of the container 1 in which the nozzle cap 4 of the present invention is attached to the container 2. The container 1 includes a container 2, a nozzle cap 4, and a measuring cap 6.
[0014] The container 2 is in the shape of a bottle for containing contents. The container 2 has a storage space 2a for storing the contents. Examples of the contents include, for example, laundry detergents (liquid or powder), liquid bleaches, fabric softeners, detergents for dishwashers, liquid mouthwashes, etc., and liquid laundry detergents and fabric softeners are preferred.
[0015] The container 2 has a mouth 3. The mouth 3 is in a cylindrical shape along the vertical direction, and opens the storage space 2a of the container 2 upward in the upright state. The mouth 3 has a male screw portion 5 on the outer peripheral side. A generally bottomed cylindrical nozzle cap 4 is attached to the mouth 3 from above, and a generally lid-shaped cylindrical measuring cap 6 is attached to the nozzle cap 4 from above. The mouth 3, the nozzle cap 4, and the measuring cap 6 share a central axis C along the vertical direction in the upright state.
[0016] In the following description, the direction along the central axis C will be appropriately referred to as the central axis direction, the direction orthogonal to the central axis C will be referred to as the radial direction, and the direction around the axis centered on the central axis C will be referred to as the circumferential direction. Also, one end side in the central axis direction, the side where the nozzle cap 4 is provided in the container 2 will be appropriately referred to as the upper side (above the bottle), and the side where the container 2 is provided will be referred to as the lower side (below the bottle) for explanation.
[0017] The container 2 is formed of resin. Examples of the resin constituting the container 2 include polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate, with high-density polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate being preferred. The production method of the container 2 is formed by blow molding, stretch blow molding, or injection blow molding.
[0018] The nozzle cap 4 has an outer cylinder portion 11, a flange portion 12, an inner cylinder portion 13, a bottom wall portion 14, a nozzle 15, and an outer mouth portion 16. The outer cylinder portion 11 is cylindrical with the central axis C as the center. FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the inner cylinder portion 13 and the outer cylinder portion 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the outer cylinder portion 11 is disposed radially outward and separated from the inner cylinder portion 13. The outer cylinder portion 11 has an internal thread portion 7 and a support protrusion 8 on the inner peripheral surface 11a. The internal thread portion 7 is formed by being recessed radially outward from the inner peripheral surface 11a. The internal thread portion 7 meshes with the external thread portion 5 at the mouth portion 3. By the meshing of the internal thread portion 7 and the external thread portion 5, the nozzle cap 4 is detachably attached to the mouth portion 3 of the container 2.
[0019] The support protrusion 8 is located above the internal thread portion 7. The support protrusion 8 protrudes radially inward from the inner peripheral surface 11a. When the nozzle cap 4 is attached to the mouth portion 3 of the container 2, the support protrusion 8 faces the upper side of the mouth portion 3 from the outside in the radial direction. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the outer cylinder portion 11 perpendicular to the central axis C at the position of the support protrusion 8 in the central axis direction. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality (six locations in FIG. 3) of the support protrusions 8 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction with the central axis C as the center. The support protrusion 8 can support the upper side of the mouth portion 3 from the outside in the radial direction when the nozzle cap 4 is attached to the mouth portion 3 of the container 2.
[0020] For example, if container 2 is made of polyethylene terephthalate resin, when high-temperature contents are placed in container 2, the opening 3 expands. At this time, the expansion of the opening 3 can be suppressed by the support projection 8 supporting the opening 3 from the radial outside. Since the expansion of the opening 3 is greater on the upper side, the expansion of the opening 3 can be effectively suppressed by the support projection 8 supporting the opening 3 from the upper side.
[0021] Furthermore, if the support projections 8 are provided along the entire circumference, the capping torque when attaching the nozzle cap 4 to the mouth portion 3 will be large. However, in this embodiment, the support projections 8 are spaced apart in the circumference, and contact with the mouth portion 3 is localized, thus suppressing excessive capping torque.
[0022] In order to achieve the above effects, the maximum protrusion amount of the support projection 8 in the outer cylinder portion 11 is preferably 0.08 mm or more and 0.2 mm or less, more preferably 0.10 mm or more and 0.18 mm or less, and in this embodiment, it is 0.12 mm. The maximum protrusion of the support projection 8 is the distance from the inner circumferential surface 11a of the outer cylinder portion 11 to the innermost radial position of the support projection 8. To achieve the above effects, it is preferable that the number of support protrusions 8 be scattered between 2 and 10 locations, and more preferably between 4 and 8 locations.
[0023] The flange portion 12 extends radially inward from the upper end of the outer cylinder portion 11. The inner cylinder portion 13 extends downward from the radially inward end of the flange portion 12. The inner cylinder portion 13 is inserted into the opening portion 3 when the outer cylinder portion 11 is fitted into the opening portion 3.
[0024] The inner cylinder portion 13 has a first fitting portion 13A and a second fitting portion 13B. As shown in Figure 2, the first fitting portion 13A is provided around the entire circumference of the outer circumference near the upper end of the inner cylinder portion 13. When the nozzle cap 4 is attached to the mouth portion 3 of the container 2, the first fitting portion 13A faces the upper side of the mouth portion 3 from the radially inner side. When the first fitting portion 13A is fitted to the mouth portion 3 from the radially inner side, it can seal the mouth portion 3 liquid-tightly around its entire circumference. By sealing the mouth portion 3 liquid-tightly from the radially inner side around its entire circumference, leakage of the contents contained in the storage space 2a of the container 2 can be suppressed.
[0025] The second fitting portion 13B is positioned vertically apart from the first fitting portion 13A in the inner cylinder portion 13. The second fitting portion 13B is provided around the entire circumference on the outer circumference of the inner cylinder portion 13, lower than the first fitting portion 13A. A portion of the second fitting portion 13B faces the area below the area facing the first fitting portion 13A on the upper side of the mouth portion 3 of the container 2 from the radially inward side when the nozzle cap 4 is attached to the mouth portion 3 of the container 2. The second fitting portion 13B has a projection 13C at a position facing the mouth portion 3. The projection 13C has a cross-sectional arc shape that protrudes radially outward from the second fitting portion 13B. The amount of projection 13C is preferably 0.01 mm or more and 0.15 mm or less, more preferably 0.04 mm or more and 0.10 mm or less, and in this embodiment, as an example, it is 0.05 mm. The second fitting portion 13B and projection 13C can seal the opening 3 liquid-tightly around its entire circumference when fitted into contact with the opening 3 from the radially inner side. By sealing the opening 3 liquid-tightly from the radially inner side around its entire circumference, the contents contained in the storage space 2a of the container 2 can be prevented from leaking.
[0026] The outer diameter of the second fitting portion 13B is smaller than the outer diameter of the first fitting portion 13A. Because the outer diameter of the second fitting portion 13B is smaller than that of the first fitting portion 13A, the circumference of the second fitting portion 13B is shorter than the circumference of the first fitting portion 13A. Therefore, the capping torque when attaching the nozzle cap 4 to the mouth portion 3 can be made smaller when the second fitting portion 13B is fitted to the mouth portion 3 than when the first fitting portion 13A is fitted to the mouth portion 3.
[0027] The radial thickness dimension of the second fitting portion 13B is the same as, or smaller than, the radial thickness dimension of the first fitting portion 13A. In other words, the radial thickness dimension of the first fitting portion 13A is the same as, or larger than, the radial thickness dimension of the second fitting portion 13B. By making the radial thickness dimension of the second fitting portion 13B the same as the radial thickness dimension of the first fitting portion 13A, the radial rigidity of the second fitting portion 13B is increased. Therefore, when the second opening 3B expands due to high-temperature storage, the adhesion force at the fitting portion between the second fitting portion 13B and the second portion 10 of the second opening 3B can be increased, further suppressing liquid leakage. Furthermore, because the radial thickness dimension of the first fitting portion 13A is greater than the radial thickness dimension of the second fitting portion 13B, when the gate portion is provided above the inner cylinder portion 13, the dimensions of the cavity for forming the first fitting portion 13A are larger than the dimensions of the cavity for forming the second fitting portion 13B. This allows the molten resin to flow smoothly from the cavity for forming the first fitting portion 13A to the cavity for forming the second fitting portion 13B during injection molding.
[0028] The upper end position H1 of the first fitting portion 13A is preferably located 0.6 mm or more and 1.2 mm or less below the upper end position H0 of the inner cylinder portion 13, and more preferably 0.8 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less. In this embodiment, as an example, it is located at 0.9 mm. The dimension of the first fitting portion 13A in the central axis direction (vertical direction) from the upper end position H1 to the lower end position H2 is preferably 1.2 mm or more and 2.8 mm or less, and more preferably 1.6 mm or more and 2.4 mm or less. In this embodiment, as an example, it is located at 2.0 mm.
[0029] The upper end position H3 of the second fitting portion 13B is preferably located 0.6 mm or more and 1.4 mm or less below the lower end position H2 of the first fitting portion 13A, and more preferably 0.8 mm or more and 1.2 mm or less. In this embodiment, as an example, it is located at 1.0 mm. The dimension in the central axis direction of the second fitting portion 13B from the upper end position H3 to the lower end position H4 is preferably 1.6 mm or more and 3.4 mm or less, and more preferably 2.0 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less. In this embodiment, as an example, it is located at 2.5 mm.
[0030] The radial thickness dimension of the first fitting portion 13A is preferably 0.8 mm or more and 2.6 mm or less, more preferably 1.2 mm or more and 2.2 mm or less, and in this embodiment, as an example, it is 1.3 mm. The radial thickness of the second fitting portion 13B is preferably 0.2 mm or more and 0.8 mm thinner than the radial thickness of the first fitting portion 13A, and more preferably 0.4 mm or more and 0.6 mm thinner. In this embodiment, as an example, the thickness is 0.8 mm, which is 0.5 mm thinner. It is also preferable that the radial thickness of the second fitting portion 13B is the same as the radial thickness of the first fitting portion 13A, and in this embodiment, as an example, the thickness is 1.3 mm.
[0031] Returning to Figure 1, the bottom wall portion 14 is located below the inner cylinder portion 13. The bottom wall portion 14 has a V-shaped inclined surface 14a that opens upward. The nozzle 15 extends upward from one of the inclined surfaces 14a of the bottom wall portion 14 and guides the dispensing of the contents. The nozzle 15 is formed in a trough shape with a U-shaped cross-section. The inside of the nozzle 15, which has a U-shaped cross-section, is in communication with the storage space 2a of the container 2 through a communication portion 14b formed in the bottom wall portion 14.
[0032] The outer opening portion 16 is cylindrical in shape, extending upward from the radially inner end of the flange portion 12. The outer opening portion 16 has a male threaded portion 17 on its outer circumference.
[0033] The nozzle cap 4 is formed from a resin such as polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, or low-density polyethylene, with polypropylene being preferred. The nozzle cap 4 is integrally molded by injection molding.
[0034] The measuring cap 6 includes a covered cylindrical measuring cylinder portion 41 that fits into the inner cylinder portion 13 and outer opening portion 16 to accommodate the nozzle 15 from above; a cylindrical screw portion 42 spaced apart on the radially outer side of the intermediate portion in the central axis direction of the measuring cylinder portion 41 and having a female screw portion 18 that engages with the male screw portion 17 of the outer opening portion 16 of the nozzle cap 4; a flange portion 43 that protrudes radially outward from the middle of the measuring cylinder portion 41 in the direction of the central axis C and is connected to the upper end edge of the screw portion 42; and a cylindrical cap-side sealing portion 25 that extends downward from the radially inner side of the flange portion 43.
[0035] When the female thread portion 18 engages with the male thread portion 17 and the measuring cap 6 is attached to the nozzle cap 4, the cap-side sealing portion 25 liquid-tightly seals the outer opening portion 16 of the nozzle cap 4 from the radially inner side.
[0036] The measuring cap 6 is formed by injection molding using, for example, an olefin-based thermoplastic synthetic resin such as polypropylene. When polypropylene resin is used, it offers excellent moldability and suitability for contents, and because it can be molded using a transparent resin, a measuring cap with excellent measuring capabilities can be manufactured.
[0037] The nozzle cap 4 configured as described above is fitted to the first opening of the first container and to the second opening of a second container, which is different from the first container and has a shape that differs from the first opening in at least part of its shape, and is attached so as to be removable.
[0038] [Fitting of nozzle cap 4 and first container] Figure 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the inner cylinder portion 13 and outer cylinder portion 11 of the first container 2A, where the nozzle cap 4 is fitted to the first opening 3A and sealed liquid-tightly. The first container 2A is formed, for example, from either polyethylene resin or polypropylene resin. In this embodiment, the first container 2A is formed from polyethylene resin.
[0039] As shown in Figure 4, the inner circumferential surface of the first opening 3A extends in the direction of the central axis with the same diameter. The first opening 3A is fitted to the first fitting portion 13A from the radially inward side on the upper side and is sealed liquid-tight. The first opening 3A is radially outward from the second fitting portion 13B. The first opening 3A is radially inward from the support projection 8. The first opening 3A has a first male threaded portion 5A on its outer circumference. The first male threaded portion 5A engages with the female threaded portion 7 of the outer cylinder portion 11. By engaging the first male threaded portion 5A with the female threaded portion 7, the nozzle cap 4 is detachably attached to the first opening 3A of the first container 2A.
[0040] [Fitting of nozzle cap 4 and second container] Figure 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the inner cylinder portion 13 and outer cylinder portion 11 of the second container 2B, where the nozzle cap 4 is fitted to the second opening portion 3B and sealed liquid-tight. The second container 2B of this embodiment is, for example, made of polyethylene terephthalate resin.
[0041] As shown in Figure 5, the inner circumferential surface of the second opening 3B has a first portion 9 and a second portion 10. The first portion 9 is located on the upper side in the central axis direction. The second portion 10 is located below the first portion 9. The second opening 3B is radially separated outward from the first fitting portion 13A. The inner circumferential surface of the second opening 3B is fitted with the second fitting portion 13B and projection 13C from the radially inner side in the second portion 10, and is sealed to be liquid-tight. The second opening 3B, which is made of polyethylene terephthalate resin, expands when stored at high temperatures, but by fitting with the second fitting portion 13B and projection 13C on the lower side where the expansion of the second opening 3B is relatively small, liquid leakage can be made less likely.
[0042] Furthermore, if the radial thickness of the first fitting portion 13A and the radial thickness of the second fitting portion 13B are the same, the capping torque when attaching the nozzle cap 4 will be greater when the second opening portion 3B is made of polyethylene terephthalate resin than when it is made of polyethylene resin. In this embodiment, the radial thickness of the second fitting portion 13B is thinner than the radial thickness of the first fitting portion 13A, and furthermore, the circumference of the second fitting portion 13B is shorter than the circumference of the first fitting portion 13A, so the capping torque can be kept to a similar level. As a result, it becomes unnecessary to change production conditions when switching resins.
[0043] The upper outer circumferential surface of the second opening 3B is supported from the radially outer side by the support projection 8. This support of the upper outer circumferential surface of the second opening 3B from the radially outer side by the support projection 8 suppresses liquid leakage caused by the expansion of the second opening 3B even when stored at high temperatures. At this time, the upper inner circumferential surface of the second opening 3B is radially separated from the first fitting portion 13A, thus suppressing an increase in capping torque when attaching the nozzle cap 4.
[0044] The second opening 3B has a second male threaded portion 5B on its outer circumference. The second male threaded portion 5B engages with the female threaded portion 7 of the outer cylinder 11. By engaging the second male threaded portion 5B with the female threaded portion 7, the nozzle cap 4 is detachably attached to the second opening 3B of the second container 2B. In other words, the female threaded portion 7 of the outer cylinder 11 can engage with the first male threaded portion 5A of the first opening 3A and the second male threaded portion 5B of the second opening 3B, respectively, and can be used in common by the first opening 3A and the second opening 3B.
[0045] As described above, the nozzle cap 4 of this embodiment has a first fitting portion 13A that can be fitted into the first opening 3A of the first container 2A, and a second fitting portion 13B that can be fitted into the second opening 3B of the second container 2B, which is different from the first container 2A, and is positioned vertically apart from the first fitting portion 13A. Therefore, it can be detachably attached to multiple types of containers made of different resins, such as polyethylene resin and polyethylene terephthalate resin, and provide a liquid-tight seal. As a result, the nozzle cap 4 of this embodiment can be used for multiple types of containers, eliminating the need to develop a separate nozzle cap 4 for each resin used in the container, thus contributing to improved production efficiency and cost reduction.
[0046] Furthermore, in the nozzle cap 4 of this embodiment, the radial thickness dimension of the first fitting portion 13A is greater than the radial thickness dimension of the second fitting portion 13B, so that molten resin can flow smoothly from the cavity in which the first fitting portion 13A is formed to the cavity in which the second fitting portion 13B is formed during injection molding. On the other hand, in the nozzle cap 4 of this embodiment, the radial thickness dimension of the second fitting portion 13B is the same as or smaller than the radial thickness dimension of the first fitting portion 13A, so that the capping torque when attaching the nozzle cap 4 can be kept to the same extent whether the second opening portion 3B is formed of polyethylene resin or polyethylene terephthalate resin, thus eliminating the need to switch production conditions associated with resin switching.
[0047] Furthermore, in the nozzle cap 4 of this embodiment, the outer cylinder portion 11 has a support projection 8 that protrudes radially inward and supports the second opening portion 3B from the radial outside. Therefore, even when the second opening portion 3B, which is made of polyethylene terephthalate resin, is stored at high temperatures, the expansion of the opening portion 3 can be suppressed. Moreover, in the nozzle cap 4 of this embodiment, since the support projections 8 are arranged in multiple locations spaced apart in the circumferential direction, contact with the second opening portion 3B becomes localized, and it is possible to suppress the capping torque when attaching the nozzle cap 4 from becoming excessively large.
[0048] Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the attached drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these examples. The shapes and combinations of the constituent members shown in the above examples are merely examples, and can be modified in various ways based on design requirements, etc., without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0049] For example, in the above embodiment, a configuration in which the radial thickness dimension of the second fitting portion 13B is smaller than the radial thickness dimension of the first fitting portion 13A is illustrated (radial thickness dimension of 0.8 mm), but the configuration is not limited to this. As shown in Figure 6 as a modified example, the radial thickness dimension of the second fitting portion 13B may be the same as the radial thickness dimension of the first fitting portion 13A. In this embodiment, as an example, the thickness dimension is 1.3 mm. By making the radial thickness dimension of the second fitting portion 13B the same as the radial thickness dimension of the first fitting portion 13A, the radial rigidity of the second fitting portion 13B is increased. Therefore, when the second opening 3B expands due to high-temperature storage, the adhesion force at the fitting portion between the second fitting portion 13B and the second portion 10 of the second opening 3B is increased, further suppressing liquid leakage.
[0050] Furthermore, although the above embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the container 2 is formed from polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, and polyethylene terephthalate resin, the embodiment is not limited to this configuration. The nozzle cap 4 of this embodiment can be widely applied to multiple types of resins in which the opening characteristics of the mouth portion 3 differ depending on the storage conditions.
[0051] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a configuration was illustrated in which the nozzle cap 4 has two fitting parts, a first fitting part 13A and a second fitting part 13B, corresponding to a first container 2A having a first opening 3A and a second container 2B having a second opening 3B, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the nozzle cap 4 may have three or more fitting parts that are spaced apart in the direction of the central axis, corresponding to a container having three or more types of openings. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0052] 2...Container, 2A...First container, 2B...Second container, 3...Mouth, 3A...First mouth, 3B...Second mouth, 4...Nozzle cap, 5A...First male thread, 5B...Second male thread, 7...Female thread, 8...Support projection, 11...Outer cylinder, 11a...Inner circumferential surface, 13...Inner cylinder, 13A...First fitting part, 13B...Second fitting part, 14...Bottom wall, 15...Nozzle, C...Central axis, H0...Position of the upper end in the inner cylinder
Claims
1. A nozzle cap that is detachably attached to the mouth of a container that holds its contents, A cylindrical inner cylinder portion that fits into the opening and extends vertically, with a central axis at its center, The bottom wall portion provided on the lower side of the inner cylinder portion, A trough-shaped nozzle protrudes upward from the bottom wall and guides the dispensing of the contents, Equipped with, The inner cylindrical portion is A first fitting portion that can be fitted into the first opening of the first container, A second fitting portion is fitted into a second container, which is different in shape from the first container, and which has a second opening that differs in shape from at least a part of the first opening, and the second fitting portion is positioned vertically apart from the first fitting portion. It has, The first opening has a first male threaded portion on its outer circumference, The second opening has a second male threaded portion on its outer circumference, The outer cylinder portion is positioned away from the inner cylinder portion, radially outward from the central axis, The outer cylinder portion has a female thread portion on its radially inner side that can engage with the first male thread portion and the second male thread portion, respectively. The outer cylinder portion has a support projection that protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface at a position above the female thread portion, and supports the second opening from the radially outward side. The nozzle cap is characterized in that the support protrusions are arranged in multiple locations at intervals in the circumferential direction with respect to the central axis.
2. The first fitting portion is located above the second fitting portion, The radial thickness dimension of the first fitting portion with respect to the central axis is the same as, or greater than, the radial thickness dimension of the second fitting portion. The nozzle cap according to claim 1.
3. The upper end of the first fitting portion is located at a position 0.6 mm or more and 1.2 mm or less below the position of the upper end of the inner cylinder portion. The vertical dimension of the first fitting portion is 1.2 mm or more and 2.8 mm or less. The upper end of the second fitting portion is located at a position 0.6 mm or more and 1.4 mm or less below the position of the lower end of the first fitting portion. The vertical dimension of the second fitting portion is 1.6 mm or more and 3.4 mm or less. The nozzle cap according to claim 2.
4. The thickness dimension of the first fitting portion is 0.8 mm or more and 2.6 mm or less. The thickness dimension of the second fitting portion is the same as the thickness dimension of the first fitting portion, or is 0.2 mm or more and 0.8 mm thinner than the thickness dimension of the first fitting portion. The nozzle cap according to claim 2.
5. The maximum protrusion of the support projection is 0.08 mm or more and 0.2 mm or less. A nozzle cap according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
6. The first container is formed from either polyethylene resin or polypropylene resin. The second container is made of polyethylene terephthalate resin. A nozzle cap according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
Citation Information
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