Measuring cap

Abstract

To provide a measuring cap capable of accurately measuring and taking out a predetermined amount of granular material by a simple operation.SOLUTION: A measuring cap 1 comprises an inner plug member 2 and a take-out cylinder 4. The inner plug member has a closing wall part 11 having a passage hole 3. The closing wall part has a plurality of partition walls 20 connected to an attachment cylinder 10 through an elastic connection part 17. The partition walls each have a regulation part 21 and an operation claw 22 for regulating the entry of a granular material into the passage hole. The take-out cylinder has a push-down part 34 for pushing down the partition wall when the take-out cylinder is moved downward with respect to the inner plug member. The partition wall is switched from a regulation position P1 where the entry of the granular material into the passage hole is regulated by the pushing-down by the push-down part to a holding position where the entry of the granular material into the passage hole is allowed and the granular material passing through the passage hole is held by the operation claw. The operation claw has an elastic projection piece (elastic contact piece) 50 which rides over a projection piece (contact piece) 51 while being displaced when the partition wall is moved from the regulation position to the holding position and is repelled by the projection piece when the elastic projection piece rides over the projection piece.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a measuring cap.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, for example, a measuring cap capable of measuring and taking out a predetermined amount of granular matter from inside a container body has been known.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, with conventional measuring caps, it is difficult to accurately measure and take out a predetermined amount of granular matter with a simple operation, and there are problems with usability.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a measuring cap capable of accurately measuring and taking out a predetermined amount of granular matter with a simple operation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) The measuring cap according to the present invention comprises an inner stopper member fitted to the mouth of a container body containing granular material, and a dispensing cylinder positioned above the inner stopper member and movable vertically relative to the inner stopper member, through which the granular material passes. The inner stopper member comprises a fitting cylinder portion fitted to the mouth of the container body, and a closing wall portion positioned radially inward from the fitting cylinder portion, communicating the inside of the container body and the inside of the dispensing cylinder, and having a passage hole through which the granular material can pass. The closing wall portion comprises a plurality of divided walls positioned at intervals around the central axis of the passage hole and connected to the fitting cylinder portion via an elastic connecting portion. The plurality of divided walls comprises a restricting portion that restricts the entry of granular material from the inside of the container body into the passage hole, and a portion positioned above the restricting portion and extending upward, and the dispensing Each of the dispensing cylinders has an operating claw portion positioned inside the cylinder, and when the dispensing cylinder moves downward relative to the inner stopper member, it has a pressing portion that pushes down on the plurality of dividing walls and elastically displaces the elastic connecting portion, and the plurality of dividing walls, when pressed down by the pressing portion, are displaced from a restricted position in which the entry of granular material into the passage hole by the restricting portion is restricted, to a holding position in which the upper ends of the operating claw portions move closer to each other due to the elastic displacement of the elastic connecting portion, thereby allowing the entry of granular material into the passage hole and holding the granular material that has passed through the passage hole with the operating claw portion, and an elastic contact piece is formed on the upper end of the operating claw portion that displaces and overcomes a contact piece formed on the dispensing cylinder as the dividing wall moves from the restricted position to the holding position, and is repelled by the contact piece when it overcomes.

[0007] According to the measuring cap of the present invention, in the stage before the dispensing cylinder is pressed down against the inner stopper member, the multiple divided walls of the inner stopper member are in a restricting position, so the entry of granular material into the passage hole can be restricted by using the restricting portion. Therefore, even if the dispensing cylinder is changed from an upright position with the opening facing upward to an inverted position with the opening facing downward, for example, it is possible to prevent granular material from being unintentionally discharged to the outside.

[0008] When dispensing granular material, for example, the container body is inverted, and the dispensing cylinder is pressed down against the inner stopper member. This allows the multiple divided walls to be pressed downwards while the elastic connecting part is elastically displaced using the pressing part of the dispensing cylinder. This displaces the multiple divided walls so that the upper ends of the operating claws move closer together, and the multiple divided walls can be switched from a restricting position to a holding position. By positioning the multiple divided walls in the holding position, it is possible to allow the granular material to enter the passage hole from inside the container body, and the granular material that has passed through the passage hole can be held by the multiple operating claws. Therefore, a predetermined amount of granular material can be measured.

[0009] After weighing, releasing the downward pressure of the dispensing cylinder on the inner stopper allows the elastic restoring force of the elastic connecting part to move the multiple divided walls back from the holding position to the restricting position. As a result, the operating claws are displaced so that their upper ends are separated from each other, releasing the predetermined amount of granular material that was being held, and the restricting part prevents other granular material inside the container body from entering the passage hole. Therefore, the released predetermined amount of granular material can be removed to the outside through the dispensing cylinder. In this way, a predetermined amount of granular material can be measured and dispensed with a simple operation: pressing down the dispensing cylinder against the inner stopper member and then releasing the pressing operation.

[0010] In particular, when the multiple divided walls are switched from a restricting position to a holding position by pressing down the dispensing cylinder on the inner stopper member, the elastic contact piece formed on the operating claw displaces and overcomes the contact piece formed on the dispensing cylinder, and is repelled by the contact piece when it overcomes it. This makes it possible to generate sound by, for example, momentarily vibrating the elastic contact piece, and also provides the user with a tactile sensation such as a click. Therefore, it is possible to intuitively grasp that multiple dividing walls have switched to the holding position, and to recognize whether the amount of pressure applied to the dispensing cylinder is appropriate or insufficient. Consequently, misuse and misunderstandings such as being unable to dispense granular material despite pressing down due to insufficient pressure on the dispensing cylinder can be prevented. As a result, a measuring cap that is easy to use and has excellent operability can be created.

[0011] (2) The inner circumferential surface of the extraction cylinder is formed with a receiving recess that opens radially inward and downward, the operating claw portion is housed in the receiving recess when the dividing wall is in the restricting position, the contact piece is formed to extend downward from the downward-facing upper wall of the wall surface defining the receiving recess and may be positioned radially inward from the elastic contact piece.

[0012] In this case, since the operating claw portion is housed within the receiving recess when multiple segmented walls are in the restricting position, it is easy to secure a large passage hole. Therefore, it is easy to handle various granular materials. Furthermore, when switching multiple segmented walls from the restricting position to the holding position, it is possible to secure a radial inward displacement of the upper end of the operating claw portion. Therefore, it is easy to firmly hold granular materials using the operating claw portion. Moreover, since a contact piece can be formed using the upper wall of the receiving recess, it is easy to form the contact piece, and it is possible to form the contact piece without it protruding into the passage hole.

[0013] (3) A connecting cylinder is attached to the mouth of the container body or the mounting cylinder, and the dispensing cylinder and the connecting cylinder may be connected to each other via a connecting portion that is formed to be elastically deformable and supports the dispensing cylinder so as to be movable downward.

[0014] In this case, when the dispensing cylinder is pressed down, the connecting part elastically deforms and supports the downward movement of the dispensing cylinder, so that the pressing part can be used to press down on multiple segmented walls downward. Therefore, when the dispensing operation of the dispensing cylinder is released, the elastic restoring force of the connecting part can be used to bias the dispensing cylinder upward and return it to its original position. As a result, the elastic restoring force of the elastic connecting part makes it easy to efficiently and smoothly move the multiple segmented walls from the holding position to the restricting position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, a measuring cap can be obtained that can accurately measure and dispense a predetermined amount of granular material with simple operation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the measuring cap according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is the upper surface of the plug member shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the area around the inner stopper member and a portion of the dispensing cylinder. [Figure 4] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the container body in an inverted position after removing the overcap shown in Figure 1, and after the operating piece has been pressed in. [Figure 5] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the state after releasing the operation of the operating piece, as shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the operating claw in the process of returning to its original position (with the container body in an upright position). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the measuring cap according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Fig. 1, the metering cap 1 of the present embodiment is attached to the mouth A1 of a container body A containing granular materials W such as tablets, etc., and includes a cylindrical inner plug member 2 having a through hole 3 through which the granular materials W pass inside, a take-out cylinder 4 through which the granular materials W passing through the through hole 3 pass inside, and a capped cylindrical over cap 5.

[0018] In Fig. 1, the inner plug member 2, the take-out cylinder 4, and the over cap 5 are arranged coaxially with the central axis O of the through hole 3. Hereinafter, the side of the over cap 5 is referred to as upward and the side of the container body A is referred to as downward along the central axis O, and the direction along the central axis O is referred to as the vertical direction. Further, in a plan view seen from the vertical direction, the direction intersecting the central axis O is referred to as the radial direction, and the direction orbiting around the central axis O is referred to as the circumferential direction.

[0019] (Inner plug member) As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the inner plug member 2 includes a mounting cylinder portion 10 attached to the mouth A1 of the container body A, and a closing wall portion 11 disposed radially inside the mounting cylinder portion 10, communicating the inside of the container body A and the inside of the take-out cylinder 4, and having the through hole 3 formed therein.

[0020] The mounting cylinder portion 10 includes a seal cylinder 15 tightly fitted inside the mouth A1 of the container body A, and a flange portion 16 protruding radially outward from the upper end portion of the seal cylinder 15 and placed on the upper end opening edge of the mouth A1 of the container body A.

[0021] The closing wall portion 11 is composed of a plurality of divided walls 20 arranged at intervals around the central axis O and connected to the mounting cylinder portion 10 via elastic connecting portions 17. In the illustrated example, the closing wall portion 11 is composed of six divided walls 20 arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, but the number of the divided walls 20 is not limited to this case. Each of the multiple dividing walls 20 is equipped with a restricting portion 21 that restricts the entry of granular material W from inside the container body A into the passage hole 3, and an operating claw portion 22 that is positioned above the restricting portion 21, extends upward, and is located inside the dispensing cylinder 4. The inside of the operating claw portion 22 formed in each dividing wall 20 functions as the passage hole 3.

[0022] Each of the multiple divided walls 20 comprises a main plate portion 20a with its front and back surfaces facing vertically, and a side plate portion 20b that extends upward from the radial outer edge of the main plate portion 20a and has an elastic connecting portion 17 connected to its upper end. The main plate portion 20a is curved so as it extends upward from the radial outside to the inside. Therefore, in a vertical cross-sectional view along the vertical direction, the main plate portion 20a is formed in a curved shape that protrudes downward. The upper end of the main plate portion 20a is located below the upper end of the side plate portion 20b. Therefore, in a vertical cross-sectional view along the vertical direction, the length of the main plate portion 20a along its front and back surfaces is shorter than the vertical length of the side plate portion 20b.

[0023] The elastic connecting portion 17 extends upward from the inner peripheral edge of the flange portion 16 of the mounting cylinder portion 10, and then extends radially inward as it continues upward. Therefore, the upper end of the elastic connecting portion 17 is formed in a curved shape that protrudes radially outward. The elastic connecting portion 17 is connected to the upper end of the side plate portion 20b of the dividing wall 20. As a result, each of the multiple dividing walls 20 is connected to the mounting cylinder portion 10 via the elastic connecting portion 17. The elastic connecting portion 17 is connected so as to be located in the circumferential center of the dividing wall 20 when viewed from a direction along the central axis O. In this case, the circumferential width of the elastic connecting portion 17 is formed to be smaller than the circumferential width of the dividing wall 20.

[0024] The operating claw portion 22 is formed to extend upward from the radial inner end of the main plate portion 20a in the mounting cylinder portion 10. The operating claw portion 22 is formed along the entire circumferential length of the dividing wall 20. Therefore, the operating claw portion 22 is formed in a circular arc shape in plan view, centered on the central axis O. The operating claw portion 22 is located radially outward from the radial inner edge of the main plate portion 20a. Therefore, the radial inner edge of the main plate portion 20a is a projection 25 that protrudes radially inward from the operating claw portion 22. The lower surface of the main plate portion 20a in the divided wall 20, including this projection 25, functions as a restricting portion 21 that restricts the entry of granular material W into the through hole 3.

[0025] Furthermore, a pressed portion 26 is formed on the upper surface of the main plate portion 20a of the divided wall 20, which protrudes upward and is pressed down by a pressing portion 34, which will be described later. The pressed portion 26 is formed in a longitudinal rib shape with its front and back surfaces facing in the circumferential direction and extending in the radial direction. The pressed portion 26 connects the lower end of the operating claw portion 22 and the side plate portion 20b in the radial direction.

[0026] (Removal tube) As shown in Figure 1, the dispensing tube 4 is positioned above the inner stopper member 2 and is movable up and down relative to the inner stopper member 2. The dispensing cylinder 4 is formed in a cylindrical shape that extends vertically, is positioned above the pressed lower portion 26 of the inner plug member 2, and is formed to protrude above the operating claw portion 22. A receiving recess 30 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the lower part of the dispensing cylinder 4, which opens radially inward and downward. The housing recess 30 is formed to extend in the vertical direction and is formed in multiple locations, spaced apart in the circumferential direction, facing each of the multiple operating claw portions 22 radially. Each of the multiple operating claw portions 22 is housed within the housing recess 30.

[0027] As a result, the portion of the extraction cylinder 4 positioned above the operating claw portion 22 functions as the upper cylinder 31, and the portion surrounding the operating claw portion 22 from the radial outside functions as the lower cylinder 32.

[0028] The upper cylinder 31 has an inner diameter that is the same as the inner diameter of the multiple operating claw portions 22. The upper end opening of the upper cylinder 31 functions as an outlet 33 for removing granular material W. The inside of the upper cylinder 31 is in communication with the container body A through the through hole 3. As a result, after the granular material W in the container body A passes through the upper cylinder 31, it is removed to the outside through the outlet 33.

[0029] The lower end opening of the lower cylinder 32 is positioned above the pressed portion 26 of the inner plug member 2, and functions as a pressing portion 34 that presses down the dividing wall 20 via the pressed portion 26 when the entire outlet cylinder 4 moves downward relative to the inner plug member 2, thereby elastically displacing the elastic connecting portion 17. The pressing portion 34 is positioned above the upper edge of the pressed portion 26, with a predetermined distance H1 between them.

[0030] When the pressing portion 34 is used to push down the multiple dividing walls 20, as shown in Figure 3, each dividing wall 20 is elastically displaced downward from the elastic connecting portion 17 by the elastic displacement of the elastic connecting portion 17. As a result, each dividing wall 20 is displaced from the restricting position P1 shown in Figure 1, where the granular material W is restricted from entering the passage hole 3 by the restricting portion 21, to a holding position P2, where the upper ends of the operating claw portions 22 move closer to each other, allowing entry into the passage hole 3, and the granular material W that has passed through the passage hole 3 is held by the operating claw portion 22 (see Figure 4).

[0031] Specifically, when the dividing wall 20 is pushed down by the pressing portion 34, the upper ends of the operating claw portions 22 are displaced radially inward so that they move closer together, as shown by arrow F1 in Figure 3, and the lower ends of the operating claw portions 22 and the projections 25 on the main plate portion 20a of the dividing wall 20 are displaced radially outward. This allows granular material W to enter the through hole 3 from inside the container body A. As shown in Figure 1, the operating claw portion 22 is housed within the receiving recess 30 when the dividing wall 20 is in the restricting position P1. Then, as shown in Figure 4, when the dividing wall 20 is in the holding position P2, the operating claw portion 22 displaces radially inward from within the receiving recess 30 to hold the granular material W (one in the illustrated example).

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, the lower cylinder 32 of the dispensing cylinder 4 has an annular operating piece 35 formed to protrude radially outward, which is used to move the dispensing cylinder 4 downward. The operating piece 35 extends continuously along the entire length of the lower cylinder 32 in the circumferential direction. This makes it possible, for example, to hold the container body A with one hand and hook your fingertip onto the operating piece 35.

[0033] The dispensing tube 4, configured as described above, is assembled to the mouth A1 of the container body A via a connecting tube portion 41 and an annular connecting tube (connecting portion according to the present invention) 42. Specifically, the connecting cylinder portion 41 is attached to the mouth portion A1 of the container body A. The connecting cylinder 42 is formed to be elastically deformable and supports the dispensing cylinder 4 so that it can move downward, and also connects the dispensing cylinder 4 and the connecting cylinder portion 41 to each other. In this embodiment, the connecting cylinder portion 41 and the connecting cylinder 42 are integrally formed with the extraction cylinder 4, but this is not limited to this case, and they may be formed separately from the extraction cylinder 4, for example.

[0034] The connecting cylinder portion 41 includes a connecting cylinder 45 attached to the upper end of the mouth portion A1 of the container body A by undercut fitting, an annular wall 46 protruding radially inward from the upper end of the connecting cylinder 45, and an upper cylinder 47 extending upward from the inner peripheral edge of the annular wall 46. Furthermore, the method of attaching the connecting cylinder 45 is not limited to undercut fitting; for example, it may be attached to the mouth A1 of the container body A by screw connection.

[0035] The annular wall 46 presses the flange portion 16 of the inner plug member 2 against the upper opening edge of the mouth A1 of the container body A from above. As a result, the inner plug member 2 is attached to the mouth A1 of the container body A in a stable position. The upper cylinder 47 surrounds the elastic connecting portion 17 of the inner plug member 2 from the radial outside over its entire circumference.

[0036] The connecting cylinder 42 connects the upper end of the upper cylinder 47 to the outer circumferential surface of the lower cylinder 32 in the extraction cylinder 4, and also covers the elastic connecting portion 17 from above. The connecting cylinder 42 is formed in a curved shape that protrudes upward, and supports the extraction cylinder 4 so that it can be elastically displaced in the vertical direction.

[0037] (overcap) As shown in Figure 1, the overcap 5 is detachably attached to the mouth A1 of the container body A, for example, by screw connection. However, the method of attaching the overcap 5 is not limited to screw connection; for example, it may be attached by undercut fitting. A projection 5a is formed on the top wall of the overcap 5, projecting downward. The projection 5a is arranged coaxially with the central axis O and is inserted inside the outlet cylinder 4 and the operating claw portion 22. The lower end of the projection 5a is located above the projection 25 formed on the inner plug member 2.

[0038] As a result, even if, after the weighed granular material W is removed from the outlet 33 of the dispensing cylinder 4, some of the granular material W inside the container body A unintentionally remains inside the passage hole 3, the overcap 5 can be attached to use the projection 5a to push the granular material W back into the container body A for recovery.

[0039] (Elastic projection) In the measuring cap 1 configured as described above, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, an elastic projection (elastic contact piece according to the present invention) 50 protruding upward is formed at the upper end of the operating claw portion 22. The elastic projection 50 is formed to be thinner than the thickness of the operating claw portion 22 and is elastically displaceable radially with respect to the connection point with the operating claw portion 22 (see Figure 3).

[0040] Furthermore, the vertical distance H2 between the upper edge of the elastic projection 50 and the downward-facing upper wall of the wall surface defining the receiving recess 30 is larger than the vertical distance H1 between the lower edge of the pressing portion 34 and the upper edge of the pressed portion 26. As a result, when the pressing portion 34 contacts the pressed portion 26 from above due to the downward operation of the removal cylinder 4, the elastic projection 50 remains in close proximity to the upper wall of the housing recess 30 without making contact with it.

[0041] An annular projection (contact piece according to the present invention) 51 extending downward is formed on the upper wall of the receiving recess 30. The projection 51 is positioned radially inward from the elastic projection 50 and is formed such that its downward protrusion is smaller than the above-mentioned gap H2. However, the downward protrusion of the projection 51 is formed to be larger than (gap H2 - gap H1). In other words, the lower end edge of the projection 51 is located below the upper end edge of the elastic projection 50 when the pressing portion 34 contacts the pressed portion 26 from above.

[0042] Therefore, when the pressing portion 34 contacts the pressed portion 26 from above due to the downward operation of the dispensing cylinder 4, the elastic projection 50 approaches the upper wall of the housing recess 30 without contacting it, and the projection 51 is positioned to face the upper end of the elastic projection 50 from the radially inward side. Therefore, as the dividing wall 20 moves from the restricting position P1 to the holding position P2 in conjunction with the downward operation of the dispensing cylinder 4, the elastic projection 50 contacts (bumps into) the projection 51 as shown in Figure 3, and then displaces elastically. In particular, since the elastic projection 50 does not contact the upper wall of the receiving recess 30, it displaces elastically smoothly without receiving resistance from the upper wall. The elastic projection 50 is then strongly repelled by the projection 51 when it overcomes the projection 51.

[0043] Next, we will explain the operation of the measuring cap 1 configured as described above. First, remove the overcap 5 shown in Figure 1. Then, for example, while holding the container body A with one hand, invert it from an upright position with the outlet 33 facing upwards to an inverted position with the outlet 33 facing downwards. At this stage, the multiple divided walls 20 of the inner stopper member 2 are located at the restricting position P1, so the restricting portion 21 can be used to restrict the entry of granular material W into the passage hole 3. Therefore, granular material W will not be unintentionally discharged to the outside from the outlet 33.

[0044] To remove the granular material W, the dispensing cylinder 4 is pressed down against the inner stopper member 2. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, with the dispensing opening 33 facing downwards, the fingertips of the hand holding the container body A are hooked onto the operating piece 35, and the operating piece 35 is pushed toward the container body A. This allows the multiple divided walls 20 to be pushed toward the container body A while elastically displacing the elastic connecting part 17 using the pressing part 34. This displaces the multiple divided walls 20 so that the upper ends of the operating claws 22 move closer to each other, and the multiple divided walls 20 can be switched from the restricting position P1 to the holding position P2.

[0045] This allows granular material W to enter the through-hole 3, and the granular material W that has passed through the through-hole 3 can be held by multiple operating claws 22 (one in the illustrated example). Therefore, a predetermined amount of granular material W can be measured. After weighing, the pushing operation of the dispensing cylinder 4 against the inner stopper member 2 is released, as shown in Figure 5. This allows the multiple divided walls 20 to be moved back from the holding position P2 to the restricting position P1 by utilizing the elastic restoring force of the elastic connecting part 17. As a result, the operating claws 22 are displaced so that their upper ends are separated from each other, releasing the granular material W that was being held and allowing it to be contained within the receiving recess 30. Furthermore, the restricting part 21 can be used to prevent other granular material W inside the container body A from entering the passage hole 3. As a result, only the predetermined amount of granular material W that has been released can be taken out to the outside through the dispensing outlet 33, as shown by the arrow in Figure 5.

[0046] As described above, with the measuring cap 1 according to this embodiment, a predetermined amount of granular material W can be measured and dispensed with a simple operation: the container body A is in an inverted position with the dispensing opening 33 facing downwards, the dispensing cylinder 4 is moved toward the container body A relative to the stopper member 2, and then the movement operation is released.

[0047] Alternatively, with the container body A in an upright position with the outlet 33 facing upwards, the dispensing cylinder 4 can be pushed down toward the container body A relative to the stopper member 2, and then the container body A can be turned upside down. Even in this case, as shown in Figure 4, the granular material W can be held using the operating claw portion 22, so the same effect can be achieved.

[0048] In particular, when the dispensing cylinder 4 is pushed in toward the container body A, the multiple divided walls 20 are switched from the restricting position P1 to the holding position P2. At the same time, the elastic projection 50 formed on the operating claw portion 22 is displaced and overcomes the projection 51 formed on the receiving recess 30, and is repelled by the projection 51 when it overcomes the projection. This makes it possible to generate sound by, for example, momentarily vibrating the elastic projection 50, and also provides the user with a tactile sensation such as a click.

[0049] Therefore, it is possible to intuitively grasp that the multiple dividing walls 20 have switched to the holding position P2, and to recognize whether the amount of operation of the dispensing cylinder 4 is appropriate or insufficient. Thus, it is possible to prevent misuse and misunderstandings such as being unable to dispense granular material W despite pushing it in due to insufficient operation of the dispensing cylinder 4. As a result, the measuring cap 1 can be made easy to use and has excellent operability.

[0050] Furthermore, when multiple dividing walls 20 are positioned at the restricting position P1, the operating claw portion 22 is housed within the receiving recess 30, making it easier to secure a large passage hole 3. Therefore, it is easier to accommodate various granular materials W. Moreover, when switching the multiple dividing walls 20 from the restricting position P1 to the holding position P2, it is possible to secure a radial inward displacement of the upper end of the operating claw portion 22. Therefore, it is easier to firmly hold the granular material W using the operating claw portion 22. Furthermore, since the projection 51 can be formed using the upper wall of the receiving recess 30, it is easy to form the projection 51, and the projection 51 can be formed without protruding into the passage hole 3.

[0051] Furthermore, since the dispensing cylinder 4 can be operated using the operating piece 35, it is easy to operate, and stress can be efficiently transmitted to the dispensing cylinder 4, allowing for smooth operation. In addition, it is possible to suppress direct contact of fingertips, etc., with the dispensing cylinder 4 itself from which the granular material W is dispensed, thus reducing the psychological burden on the user, for example, in terms of hygiene. In particular, it makes it difficult for fingertips, etc., to touch the dispensing opening 33.

[0052] Furthermore, when the dispensing cylinder 4 is pressed down, the connecting cylinder 42 elastically deforms and supports the downward movement of the dispensing cylinder 4, so that the pressing portion 34 can be used to press down on the multiple dividing walls 20 downwards. Therefore, when the dispensing operation of the dispensing cylinder 4 is released, the elastic restoring force of the connecting cylinder 42 can be used to bias the dispensing cylinder 4 upwards and return it to its original position. As a result, the elastic restoring force of the elastic connecting portion 17 can be used to efficiently and smoothly return the multiple dividing walls 20 from the holding position P2 to the regulating position P1.

[0053] In particular, when the downward operation of the dispensing cylinder 4 is released, the elastic restoring force of the connecting cylinder 42 can be used to bias the dispensing cylinder 4 upward. Therefore, as shown in Figure 6, the dividing wall 20 returns to its original position due to the elastic restoring force of the elastic connecting part 17, and when the operating claw part 22 is displaced toward the housing recess 30 as indicated by arrow F2 in Figure 6, the projection piece 51 formed on the dispensing cylinder 4 can be moved upward away from the elastic projection piece 50 formed on the operating claw part 22. Note that Figure 6 shows the container body A in an upright position.

[0054] Therefore, when the multiple divided walls 20 return from the holding position P2 to the restricting position P1, it is difficult to make the elastic projection 50 come into contact with the projection 51, and the operating claw portion 22 can be housed in the housing recess 30 without elastically displacing the elastic projection 50. Therefore, when returning the dispensing cylinder 4 to its original position, it does not produce any sound or tactile sensation such as a click caused by the elastic displacement of the elastic projection 50, thus avoiding any discomfort during operation. In this respect as well, the measuring cap 1 can be made easy to use and highly operable.

[0055] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, modifications in each embodiment may be combined as appropriate. In addition, these embodiments and their modifications include, for example, those that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, and those that are equivalent.

[0056] For example, in the above embodiment, a receiving recess 30 is formed in the extraction cylinder 4, but the receiving recess 30 is not essential and may not be provided. In this case, multiple operating claw portions 22 can be arranged inside the extraction cylinder 4, and projections 51 that the elastic projections 50 overcome can be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the extraction cylinder 4. Furthermore, although the above embodiment was described using the example of attaching the dispensing tube 4 to the mouth A1 of the container body A via the connecting tube 42, it is not limited to this case, and for example, it may be attached to the mounting tube portion 10 of the inner stopper member 2.

[0057] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the vertical distance H2 between the upper edge of the elastic projection 50 and the upper wall of the receiving recess 30 is made larger than the vertical distance H1 between the lower edge of the pressing portion 34 and the upper edge of the pressed portion 26. However, the embodiment is not limited to this case, and for example, the distances may be equal. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] O…Central axis line A... Container body A1... Mouth of the container P1... Restricted location P2…Holding position 1… Measuring cap 2…Inner plug component 3... Passing hole 4...Removal tube 10... Mounting cylinder part 11...Closing wall part 17...Elastic connecting part 20…dividing wall 21... Regulatory Department 22...Operating claw part 30…Accommodation recess 34... Pressing part 35...Operation piece 41…Connecting cylinder part 42...Connection tube (connection part) 50…Elastic projection (elastic contact piece) 51...Protruding piece (abutting piece)

Claims

1. An inner stopper member that is fitted to the mouth of the container body containing granular material, It comprises a dispensing cylinder positioned above the aforementioned inner stopper member and movable vertically relative to the inner stopper member, through which granular material passes, The aforementioned plug member is A mounting cylinder portion that is attached to the mouth of the container body, It comprises a closing wall portion that is positioned radially inward from the mounting cylinder portion, communicates the inside of the container body with the inside of the dispensing cylinder, and has a passage hole formed therein through which granular material can pass, The aforementioned closing wall portion comprises a plurality of segmented walls arranged at intervals around the central axis of the through hole and connected to the mounting cylinder portion via elastic connecting portions. The multiple dividing walls are, A restricting section that restricts the entry of granular material from inside the container body into the passage hole, It has an operating claw portion which is positioned above the regulating portion, extends upward, and is located inside the extraction cylinder, The dispensing cylinder has a pressing portion that, when moved downward relative to the stopper member, pushes down on the plurality of dividing walls and elastically displaces the elastic connecting portion. The multiple dividing walls, when pressed down by the pressing portion, switch from a restricted position where the entry of granular material into the passage hole by the restricting portion is restricted, to a holding position where the upper ends of the operating claw portions move closer to each other due to the elastic displacement of the elastic connecting portion, thereby allowing the entry of granular material into the passage hole and holding the granular material that has passed through the passage hole with the operating claw portion. A measuring cap is provided, wherein the upper end of the operating claw portion has an elastic contact piece that, as the dividing wall moves from the restricting position to the holding position, displaces and overcomes a contact piece formed on the dispensing cylinder, and is repelled by the contact piece when it overcomes the contact piece.

2. In the measuring cap according to claim 1, The inner circumferential surface of the aforementioned extraction cylinder has a receiving recess formed therein, which opens radially inward and downward. The operating claw portion is housed in the receiving recess when the dividing wall is in the restricting position. A measuring cap wherein the contact piece is formed to extend downward from the upper wall facing downward among the wall surfaces defining the receiving recess, and is positioned radially inward from the elastic contact piece.

3. In the measuring cap according to claim 1 or 2, A connecting cylinder is attached to the mouth of the container body or the mounting cylinder. A measuring cap in which the dispensing cylinder and the connecting cylinder are formed to be elastically deformable and are connected to each other via a connecting portion that supports the dispensing cylinder so as to be movable downward.

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