cap

Abstract

To provide a cap which easily achieves good stretching of a slit valve formed of a sheet material.SOLUTION: A cap 1 has a cylindrical part 7c and a sheet material 5 forming a slit valve, wherein the sheet material 5 has a bent part 5a bent to a bottom surface side on the outer peripheral edge, and at least the bottom surface of the bent part 5a is fastened to a top surface 7h of the cylindrical part 7c.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cap.

Background Art

[0002] For example, as described in Patent Document 1, a cap provided with a slit valve for discharging the contents in response to squeezing (pressing operation) on the container body is known.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the slit valve is formed of a sheet material, it is desirable that the slit valve has good sticking from the viewpoints of function, appearance, etc.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cap that easily realizes good sticking of a slit valve formed of a sheet material.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The cap of the present invention has a sheet material forming a slit valve and A locking cylinder that engages with the mouth of the container body, a top wall that extends radially inward from the locking cylinder and is annular in top view, and a part that extends upward from the inner periphery of the top wall, a cylindrical portion integrally formed with the sheet material by insert molding using the sheet material as an insert material, the sheet material having a bent portion that bends toward the bottom surface side at the outer peripheral edge, and at least the bottom surface of the bent portion being fixed to the top surface of the cylindrical portion.

[0007] Also, the cap of the present invention is preferably a cap having, in the above configuration, a diameter-expanded portion on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion that expands in diameter toward the top surface side in the vicinity of the bent portion.

[0008] Furthermore, in the above configuration, it is preferable that the cap of the present invention has a curved shape in the bent portion.

[0009] Furthermore, in the above configuration of the present invention, it is preferable that the top surface of the sheet material is a liquid-repellent cap.

[0010] Furthermore, the method for manufacturing the cap of the present invention involves the sheet material The aforementioned Used as an insert material The aforementioned Preferably, the method for manufacturing the cap includes a step of integrally forming the cylindrical portion with the sheet material by insert molding. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cap that makes it easier to achieve good tension in a slit valve formed from a sheet material. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the cap of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a top view showing the state when the cap is open. [Figure 3] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the area around the curved portion of the cap shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the area around the curved portion of the cap according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the area around the curved portion of the cap according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the area around the curved portion of the cap according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the area around the curved portion of the cap according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be illustrated and described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the cap 1 is attached to the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2, thereby forming the discharge container 3.

[0015] In this embodiment, the vertical direction means the direction along the central axis O of the mouth portion 2a, the upper direction means the direction from the body portion of the container body 2 toward the mouth portion 2a, the lower direction means the opposite direction, the radial direction means the direction along a straight line orthogonal to the central axis O, the circumferential direction means the direction around the central axis O, and the longitudinal section means a section including the central axis O.

[0016] The container body 2 has a bottle shape having a cylindrical mouth portion 2a centered on the central axis O and a bottomed cylindrical body portion connected to the lower end of the mouth portion 2a. The body portion has flexibility such that it can be elastically deformed by squeezing and can be restored to its original shape when the squeezing is stopped. An inner space 4 formed by the inner surface of the container body 2 houses a content (not shown). The container body 2 is formed, for example, by blow molding.

[0017] The content is not particularly limited and is liquid in this embodiment. Examples of the liquid content include foods such as sauces, cosmetics such as emulsions, and other products.

[0018] The cap 1 is composed of a sheet material 5 forming a slit valve and a cap body 6. The cap body 6 has a base portion 7 attached to the mouth portion 2a of the container body 2 and a lid portion 9 rotatably connected to the base portion 7 via a hinge portion 8.

[0019] The lid portion 9 is rotatable between a closed position where the lid portion 9 covers the sheet material 5 as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 and an open position where the lid portion 9 does not cover the sheet material 5 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 and also in FIG. 2. Note that the lid portion 9 is not limited to a configuration connected to the base portion 7 via the hinge portion 8 and may be provided separately from the base portion 7. Also, a configuration without the lid portion 9 may be adopted.

[0020] As shown by the solid line in Figure 1, the lid portion 9 has a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 9a centered on the central axis O, a top wall 9b extending radially inward from the outer peripheral wall 9a, and an inner peripheral wall 9c extending downward from the top wall 9b, with a hinge portion 8 connected to the lower end of the outer peripheral wall 9a.

[0021] The base portion 7 has a cylindrical shape centered on the central axis O and includes a locking cylinder 7a that engages with the opening portion 2a, a top wall 7b that extends radially inward from the locking cylinder 7a and is annular in top view, and a cylindrical portion 7c that extends upward from the inner periphery of the top wall 7b, with a hinge portion 8 connected to the upper end of the locking cylinder 7a.

[0022] The locking cylinder 7a is screwed onto the outer surface of the opening 2a, thereby locking it in place. However, the locking cylinder 7a is not limited to this configuration; for example, it may be configured to lock onto the outer surface of the opening 2a via a grooved shape for plugging. Furthermore, the locking cylinder 7a is not limited to a cylindrical shape; it may be a rectangular tube or other cylindrical shape.

[0023] The top wall 7b is in contact with the upper end surface of the opening 2a, and the inner peripheral edge of the top wall 7b extends so as to be slightly inclined upward radially inward. Note that the shape of the top wall 7b is not limited to this and can be set as appropriate.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the cylindrical portion 7c is cylindrical with the central axis O as its center. More specifically, the cylindrical portion 7c is a two-stage cylindrical shape consisting of a cylindrical lower cylinder 7d with the central axis O as its center, and an upper cylinder 7f connected to the upper end of the lower cylinder 7d via a stepped portion 7e, with an outer diameter and inner diameter smaller than that of the lower cylinder 7d. An annular projection 7g, which is annular in top view and protrudes radially outward from the upper end of the lower cylinder 7d, is provided, and as shown in Figure 1, the annular projection 7g contacts the inner surface of the inner circumferential wall 9c of the lid portion 9 when the lid is closed. The cylindrical portion 7c may also be configured as a cylindrical shape other than this two-stage cylindrical shape. Furthermore, the cylindrical portion 7c, as well as the inner circumferential edge and inner circumferential wall 9c of the top wall 7b, are not limited to a configuration centered on the central axis O, but may, for example, be eccentric from the central axis O.

[0025] The sheet material 5 is formed from a film having a single-layer or laminated structure of resin, and the top surface of the sheet material 5 has a liquid-repellent, finely textured surface (not shown). The method for forming the finely textured surface is not particularly limited and includes methods such as coating with fluorine-based fine particles (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-189773).

[0026] As shown in Figure 2, the sheet material 5 is circular in shape with its central axis O, matching the shape of the upper end of the cylindrical portion 7c. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, the sheet material 5 has a curved portion 5a that bends towards the bottom at its outer edge. In this embodiment, the curved portion 5a has an arc-shaped curve. That is, the curved portion 5a curves towards the bottom at its outer edge. Note that the curved portion 5a may have a curved shape other than an arc. Also, as shown in the second embodiment in Figure 4, the curved portion 5a may be configured to bend towards the bottom at its outer edge. Note that the top view shape of the sheet material 5 is not limited to a circle; it can be set to an ellipse, polygon, or other shape as appropriate to match the shape of the upper end of the cylindrical portion 7c.

[0027] The bottom surface of the outer peripheral edge (including the curved portion 5a) of the sheet material 5 is fixed to the top surface 7h (upper surface) of the cylindrical portion 7c (upper cylinder 7f). Furthermore, the outer peripheral edge of the top surface of the curved portion 5a is flush with the upper end of the outer peripheral surface 7i of the cylindrical portion 7c (upper cylinder 7f), and the outer peripheral end surface 5b of the curved portion 5a is fixed to the top surface 7h (upper surface) of the cylindrical portion 7c (upper cylinder 7f). The outer peripheral edge of the top surface of the curved portion 5a may be offset radially outward or radially inward from the upper end of the outer peripheral surface 7i of the cylindrical portion 7c. The fixing method is not particularly limited and can include, for example, adhesive bonding or welding.

[0028] By providing the curved portion 5a, the rigidity of the outer edge of the sheet material 5 can be increased, thereby stabilizing the shape of the outer edge, and making it easier to achieve good tension in the slit valve formed by the sheet material 5. From the viewpoint of enhancing this effect, it is preferable that the curved portion 5a be provided substantially around the entire circumference of the outer edge of the sheet material 5. Furthermore, in order to obtain the above effect, at least the bottom surface of the curved portion 5a should be fixed to the top surface 7h of the cylindrical portion 7c.

[0029] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, in this embodiment, the outer circumferential surface 7i of the cylindrical portion 7c (upper cylinder 7f) has an enlarged diameter portion 7j near the curved portion 5a that widens toward the top surface 7h (upward). With this configuration, when the cylindrical portion 7c is formed integrally with the sheet material 5 by insert molding using the sheet material 5 as an insert material, it becomes easier to achieve good tension in the slit valve formed from the sheet material 5. That is, because the outer diameter increases by about Δd at the enlarged diameter portion 7j near the curved portion 5a, the flow of molten resin moving upward in the cylindrical portion 7c within the mold is bent radially outward at the enlarged diameter portion 7j, as shown by the dashed arrow in Figure 3, and thereby can abut the bottom surface of the curved portion 5a radially outward. Therefore, the resin pressure acting radially outward on the bottom surface of the curved portion 5a can be efficiently increased, thereby efficiently promoting the tension of the sheet material 5. From the viewpoint of enhancing this effect, it is preferable to provide the enlarged diameter portion 7j substantially around the entire circumference of the cylindrical portion 7c. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of enhancing the above-mentioned effects, it is preferable that the curved portion 5a has a curved shape.

[0030] Furthermore, "near the curved portion 5a" means that the distance between the enlarged diameter portion 7j and the curved portion 5a is close enough that, when the cylindrical portion 7c is formed integrally with the sheet material 5 by insert molding as described above, the flow of molten resin can be directed radially outward towards the bottom surface of the curved portion 5a. The magnitude of Δd, which is the increase in outer diameter at the enlarged diameter portion 7j, can be appropriately set according to the distance between the enlarged diameter portion 7j and the curved portion 5a.

[0031] As shown in the third embodiment in Figure 5, the outer circumferential surface 7i of the cylindrical portion 7c may be configured not to have an enlarged diameter portion 7j near the curved portion 5a. In the third embodiment, the outer circumferential surface 7i of the cylindrical portion 7c has a constant outer diameter toward the top surface 7h near the curved portion 5a. Therefore, the upward flow of molten resin in the cylindrical portion 7c within the mold can be directed against the bottom surface of the curved portion 5a, as shown by the dashed arrow in Figure 5. Thus, the resin pressure acting radially outward on the bottom surface of the curved portion 5a can be increased, thereby promoting the tension of the sheet material 5.

[0032] In the second embodiment shown in Figure 4, the cylindrical portion 7c has an enlarged diameter portion 7j. However, as in the fourth embodiment shown in Figure 6, even when the bent portion 5a is bent towards the bottom surface at the outer peripheral edge of the sheet material 5, the outer peripheral surface 7i of the cylindrical portion 7c may not have an enlarged diameter portion 7j near the bent portion 5a. In the fourth embodiment, the outer peripheral surface 7i of the cylindrical portion 7c has a constant outer diameter toward the top surface 7h near the bent portion 5a.

[0033] As shown in the fifth embodiment in Figure 7, the outer surface 7i of the cylindrical portion 7c may have a reduced diameter portion near the curved portion 5a that narrows toward the top surface 7h. In the fifth embodiment, depending on the inclination angle (degree of reduction) of the reduced diameter portion, the upward flow of molten resin in the cylindrical portion 7c within the mold may not be able to abut the bottom surface of the curved portion 5a. However, even in that case, resin pressure can be applied radially outward to the bottom surface of the curved portion 5a, thereby promoting the tension of the sheet material 5. In the fifth embodiment, the curved portion 5a curves toward the bottom surface at the outer edge of the sheet material 5, but the fifth embodiment may also have a configuration in which the curved portion 5a bends toward the bottom surface at the outer edge of the sheet material 5.

[0034] In this embodiment (first embodiment), the timing for providing a liquid-repellent fine uneven surface on the top surface of the sheet material 5 is not particularly limited. For example, it may be before the curved portion 5a is fixed to the top surface 7h of the cylindrical portion 7c, or it may be after the curved portion 5a is fixed to the top surface 7h of the cylindrical portion 7c. The same applies to the second to fifth embodiments.

[0035] A sheet material 5 having a curved portion 5a can be obtained, for example, by punching it out with a punch having a tip shape corresponding to the bottom surface of the curved portion 5a. Alternatively, considering productivity, an in-die cut method may be used, in which a sheet material 5 having a liquid-repellent fine uneven surface on its top surface is supplied in a roll-to-roll manner and punched out within the mold of an insert molding process.

[0036] In order to minimize damage to the finely uneven surface during insert molding, it is preferable to set the mold in such a way that it does not press down on the finely uneven surface as much as possible. For example, it is preferable to perform insert molding while adhering the bottom surface of the sheet material 5 to the top surface of the core mold that forms the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 7c using an air intake or the like, in the direction indicated by the white arrow in Figure 3. It is also preferable to perform insert molding while pressing down on the top surface of the sheet material 5 only at the outer edge with the cavity mold that forms the outer circumferential surface 7i of the cylindrical portion 7c, and it is preferable that the pressing area be as small as possible.

[0037] In this embodiment (and the second to fifth embodiments), the entire cap body 6, including the cylindrical portion 7c, is formed as a single unit. However, this is not limited to this configuration; for example, the cylindrical portion 7c may be formed separately from the other parts and then integrated by fitting or other means. Such a configuration makes it easier to simplify the structure of the mold for forming the cylindrical portion 7c integrally with the sheet material 5 by insert molding using the sheet material 5 as the insert material.

[0038] As shown by the dashed line in Figure 2, a cross-shaped slit 5c is made in the center of the top view of the sheet material 5 by cutting with a blade or the like. The timing of making the slit 5c is not particularly limited; for example, it may be before the curved portion 5a is fixed to the top surface 7h of the cylindrical portion 7c, or it may be after the curved portion 5a is fixed to the top surface 7h of the cylindrical portion 7c. The shape of the slit 5c is not limited to a cross shape; for example, it may be a radial shape other than a cross shape, or a straight line shape, etc.

[0039] To discharge the contents from the discharge container 3, first, the lid 9 is opened to the open position, and the discharge container 3 is tilted. Then, by squeezing the body of the container 2, the storage space 4 inside the container 2 becomes positively pressurized, and this positive pressure causes the area around the slit 5c of the slit valve to curl upward, i.e., outward from the container, opening the slit 5c and discharging the contents. When the squeezing is stopped, the body returns to its original shape, allowing outside air to be drawn into the storage space 4 through the slit 5c as needed, closing the slit 5c and stopping the discharge of the contents.

[0040] Furthermore, because the top surface of the slit valve is liquid-repellent, even when the contents are discharged with the discharge container 3 in a horizontal position rather than upside down, it is possible to suppress the liquid contents from adhering to and remaining on the top surface of the slit valve.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified in various ways without departing from its spirit.

[0042] Therefore, the cap 1 of the embodiment described above can be modified in various ways, such as those described below.

[0043] The cap 1 of the above-described embodiment has a cylindrical portion 7c and a seat material 5 that forms a slit valve, and the seat material 5 has a curved portion 5a that bends toward the bottom surface at its outer peripheral edge, and as long as the cap 1 is such that at least the bottom surface of the curved portion 5a is fixed to the top surface 7h of the cylindrical portion 7c, various modifications are possible.

[0044] For example, the contents are not limited to liquid. Also, the sheet material 5 does not need to be liquid-repellent.

[0045] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, it is preferable that the cap 1 has an enlarged diameter portion 7j on the outer circumferential surface 7i of the cylindrical portion 7c that widens toward the top surface 7h near the bent portion 5a.

[0046] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, it is preferable that the cap 1 has a curved shape in the bent portion 5a.

[0047] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, it is preferable that the cap 1 has a liquid-repellent top surface on the sheet material 5.

[0048] Furthermore, the manufacturing method of the cap 1 in the above-described embodiment is preferably a method of manufacturing the cap 1 that includes a step of integrally forming the cylindrical portion 7c with the sheet material 5 by insert molding using the sheet material 5 as an insert material. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 1 cap 2. Container body 2a Mouth 3 Discharge container 4. Containment space 5 Sheet material 5a Curved section 5b Outer periphery of the curved section 5c slit 6. Cap body 7 Base section 7a Locking tube 7b Ceiling wall 7c Cylinder part 7d lower tube 7e Stepped section 7f upper tube 7g annular protrusion 7h Top surface of the cylindrical part 7i Outer surface of the cylindrical part 7j Expanded diameter part 8. Hinge section 9 Lid 9a Outer wall 9b Top wall 9c Inner wall O center axis

Claims

1. A sheet material forming a slit valve, A locking cylinder that engages with the mouth of the container body, A top wall, which is annular in shape when viewed from above, extends radially inward from the locking cylinder, It has a cylindrical portion that extends upward from the inner peripheral edge of the top wall and is integrally formed with the sheet material by insert molding using the sheet material as an insert material, The sheet material has a curved portion that bends towards the bottom surface at its outer edge, A cap in which at least the bottom surface of the curved portion is fixed to the top surface of the cylindrical portion.

2. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion has an enlarged diameter portion near the bent portion that widens toward the top surface.

3. The cap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bent portion has a curved shape.

4. The cap according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the top surface of the sheet material is liquid-repellent.

5. A method for manufacturing a cap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising the step of integrally forming the cylindrical portion with the sheet material by insert molding using the sheet material as the insert material.

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