Lid for beverage container and beverage container

Abstract

[Problem] To form a spout by lifting a spout formation region upward, even if the width of the spout diameter is reduced when a force in the center direction is applied to a cover board part with a lid closed. [Solution] The present invention is characterized by comprising: a push-in region 19 which is formed on a cover board part 4, is surrounded by a push-in line part 10 comprising a cutting line portion or a low-strength portion having a strength that is lower than that of a general portion in the cover board part 4, and is to be pushed in downward with a finger; and a spout formation region 20 which is formed on the lateral circumferential portion side in the cover board part 4 as compared to the push-in region 19, is surrounded by a spout formation line part 11 comprising the low-strength portion or the cutting line portion, and is lifted upward by a reaction force generated from pushing in the push-in region 19 downward. The present invention is characterized in that the spout formation region 20 has a reduced-diameter reference line 5 which comprises the low-strength portion or the cutting line portion and extends from the inside to the lateral circumferential portion side.

Description

Lid for beverage container and beverage container

[0001] The present invention relates to a lid for a beverage container that covers an opening of the beverage container, and a beverage container equipped with the lid.

[0002] Conventionally, many beverage retailers, such as fast food restaurants and convenience stores, sell beverage containers, such as plastic (synthetic resin) or paper cups, with a beverage container lid covering the opening, preventing the juice, coffee, or other beverage contained inside from spilling out of the opening when the container is being carried.

[0003] In particular, in recent years, there has been a demand for beverage container lids that do not require straws and that can form a drinking spout that makes it easy to drink beverages without removing the beverage container lid. For this reason, push-down types have been proposed in which the drinking spout is formed by making a valley fold in the part of the beverage container lid that forms the drinking spout.

[0004] However, this push-down type lid requires consumers to perform a two-step opening operation to form the drinking spout, which makes it difficult for consumers to intuitively understand how to form the drinking spout. For this reason, there has been a demand for a beverage container lid that simplifies the opening operation itself so that it can be performed in one step, allowing consumers to intuitively understand how to form the drinking spout.

[0005] Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a beverage container lid 1 having a seesaw-type (push-up-type) drinking spout, in which a drinking spout (110) is formed, consisting of a drinking spout-opening portion 12A, which is a pushing portion, and a drinking spout-forming portion 11A, separated by a linear perforation (low-strength portion for folding 14), and the drinking spout-opening portion 12A is pushed down with a finger, and the drinking spout-forming portion 11A is lifted in reaction to open the drinking spout (see claim 1 in the claims of Patent Document 1, paragraphs

[0024] to

[0036] of the specification, Figures 2 to 4 of the drawings, etc.).

[0006] A seesaw-type drinking spout, such as the lid for a beverage container described in Patent Document 1, can be opened in one step by simply pressing down on the pushing part with a finger, making it easy for consumers to intuitively understand how to form the drinking spout, and has the advantage that anyone can quickly open the drinking spout without an instruction manual.

[0007] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-6268

[0008] In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, as shown in Fig. 12(a), a side periphery 71 is provided on the periphery of a cover plate 70. When the lid is closed, the cover plate 70 covers the opening of the beverage container, and the side periphery 71 engages with the edge of the opening. At this time, the side periphery 71 is often subjected to a certain amount of load as it engages with the edge of the beverage container. Therefore, when the lid is closed, the cover plate 70 is subjected to a force toward the center, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 12(a), based on the load on the side periphery 71.

[0009] In such a case, the central force applied to the cover plate 70 causes the drinking spout 72, which is the weakest part of the cover plate 70, to be pushed from the periphery and bend, reducing the width of the drinking spout 72 itself. In such a case, as shown in Figure 12(b), the drinking spout-forming portion 75 enters below the reduced diameter of the drinking spout 72 and becomes engaged with the back surface of the cover plate 70, making it difficult to lift it upward.

[0010] The present invention was devised in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a lid for a beverage container that can lift the drinking spout forming portion upward to form a drinking spout even when a central force is applied to the cover plate portion when the lid is closed, causing the width of the drinking spout itself to narrow, and a beverage container equipped with this beverage container lid.

[0011] The lid for a beverage container according to the first invention is a lid for a beverage container comprising a cover plate portion that covers the opening of a beverage container, and a side periphery that is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the cover plate portion and can engage with the edge of the opening of the beverage container when the cover plate portion is made to cover the opening of the beverage container, and is further provided with a push-in portion that is formed on the cover plate portion and surrounded by a push-in line portion consisting of a low-strength portion or a cut line portion that is weaker than the general portion of the cover plate portion, and is pushed downward with a finger, and a drinking spout forming portion that is formed on the cover plate portion toward the side periphery from the push-in portion and surrounded by a drinking spout forming line portion consisting of the low-strength portion or the cut line portion, and is lifted upward by the reaction force of the push-in portion being pushed downward, and is characterized in that the drinking spout forming portion has a narrowing line that is formed by the low-strength portion or the cut line portion and extends from the inside toward the side periphery.

[0012] The lid for a beverage container according to the second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the drinking spout portion end, which is the end of the drinking spout forming line portion that surrounds the drinking spout forming portion, and the push-in portion end, which is the end of the push-in line portion that surrounds the push-in portion, are spaced apart from each other, the boundary between the drinking spout forming portion and the push-in portion is defined by a dividing line portion consisting of the low-strength portion or the cut line portion, and an engaging portion that can engage with the periphery of the drinking spout forming portion folded back via the dividing line portion is formed inside the push-in portion.

[0013] The lid for a beverage container according to the third invention is characterized in that, in the first or second invention, the tapered line extends linearly from the inside toward the side periphery at approximately the center of the drinking spout forming portion.

[0014] The lid for a beverage container according to the fourth invention is characterized in that, in the second invention, the narrowing line starts from a point inside the dividing line and extends toward the side periphery.

[0015] The lid for a beverage container according to the fifth invention is characterized in that, in the first or fourth invention, the narrowing line has a base line extending from the inside toward the side periphery and one or more branch lines branching off laterally from the base line.

[0016] The lid for a beverage container according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is the lid for a beverage container according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, characterized in that the diameter-reducing wire is formed over a plurality of lines.

[0017] A beverage container according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized by comprising a container body and a beverage container lid according to any one of the first to sixth aspects of the present invention.

[0018] According to the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, the width of the deflection can be reduced by making a valley fold in the drinking spout forming portion around the diameter reduction line, so that the drinking spout forming portion can be easily lifted with the fingers without being caught on the back surface of the cover plate. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily form a drinking spout in the cover plate of the beverage container lid.

[0019] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a beverage container lid and a beverage container to which the lid is fitted according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cover plate portion. FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view showing the detailed shape of the portion surrounded by the dashed line in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining various variations in the shape of the diameter-reducing line. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which the starting point of the diameter-reducing line is located closer to the side periphery than the dividing line portion. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which multiple diameter-reducing lines are formed. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration in which the diameter-reducing line is composed of a base line extending from the inside toward the side periphery and one or more branch lines branching off laterally from the base line. FIG. 8 is a first explanatory diagram showing, in stages, a method for forming a drinking spout on a beverage container lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the function and effect of the beverage container lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a second explanatory diagram showing, in stages, a method for forming a drinking spout on a beverage container lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a third explanatory diagram showing, in stages, a method for forming a drinking spout on a beverage container lid according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the problems of the conventional technology.

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] First, a lid 1 for a beverage container according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the lid 1 for a beverage container according to an embodiment of the present invention and a beverage container 2 to which the lid is fitted.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage container 2 is made of paper, has an opening 3 with a rim 3a at its top, and is a cylindrical paper cup with a bottom that is often used to hold and sell beverages 6 such as juice or coffee.

[0023] The beverage container 2 is not limited to being made of paper, but may be made of other materials such as plastic. When the beverage container 2 is made of plastic, an environmentally friendly biodegradable plastic may be used.

[0024] The beverage container 2 is used for selling the beverage 6 by closing the opening 3 with the beverage container lid 1 .

[0025] The lid 1 for a beverage container is made of paper and comprises a disk-shaped cover plate portion 4 that covers the opening 3 of the beverage container 2, and a side peripheral portion 50 that is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the cover plate portion 4 and can engage with the edge portion 3a of the opening 3 of the beverage container 2 when the cover plate portion 4 is arranged to cover the opening 3 of the beverage container 2.

[0026] The beverage container lid 1 is not limited to being made of paper, but may be made of other materials such as plastic. When the beverage container lid 1 is made of plastic, an environmentally friendly biodegradable plastic may be used.

[0027] Figure 2 is a plan view of the cover plate 4, and Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view showing the detailed shape of the portion surrounded by the dashed line in Figure 2. The cover plate 4 is provided with a pushing line 10 consisting of a low-strength portion or cut line that is weaker than the general portion of the cover plate 4. On the lateral periphery of this pushing line 10 is provided a drinking spout forming line 11 consisting of a cut line that forms the peripheral edge of the drinking spout to form the drinking spout, or a low-strength portion that is weaker than the general portion of the cover plate.

[0028] When the pressing line 10 is made of a low-strength portion, it is implemented by providing a low-strength portion that is weaker than the general portion of the cover plate portion 4, for example, by providing perforations or reducing the thickness by half-cutting. The pressing line 10 may have any shape that bulges inward in a convex shape from one end 10a and the other end 10b. The area surrounded by the pressing line 10 becomes the pressing portion 19.

[0029] When the drinking spout forming line 11 is made of a low-strength portion, it is implemented by providing a low-strength portion that is weaker than the general portion of the cover plate portion 4, for example, by providing perforations or reducing the thickness by half-cutting, etc. The drinking spout forming line 11 may have any shape that bulges convexly from one end 11a and the other end 11b toward the side periphery. The area surrounded by the drinking spout forming line 11 becomes the drinking spout forming portion 20.

[0030] 3, it is assumed that one end 11a and the other end 11b of this drinking spout-forming line portion 11 are located closer to the lateral periphery than one end 10a and the other end 10b of the pushing line portion 10. In other words, the pushing region 19 surrounded by the pushing line portion 10 is configured to have a larger diameter in the width direction than the drinking spout-forming region 20 surrounded by the drinking spout-forming line portion 11. However, the width diameters of the pushing region 19 and the drinking spout-forming region 20 are not limited to this and may be configured to have the same width diameter, or the drinking spout-forming region 20 is configured to have a larger diameter in the width direction than the pushing region 19.

[0031] A separate demarcation line 41 may be provided on the extension of one end 11a and the other end 11b of the drinking spout-forming line 11. This demarcation line 41 is a low-strength portion or cut line having a lower strength than the general portion of the cover plate 4. When such a low-strength portion is provided, processing such as providing perforations or reducing the thickness by half-cutting is performed. This demarcation line 41 may be continuous from one end 11a to the other end 11b, or may be formed intermittently over multiple sections from one end 11a to the other end 11b. By providing the demarcation line 41, the drinking spout-forming portion 20 can be configured to rotate freely around the demarcation line 41 as a fulcrum. However, this demarcation line 41 is not limited to being provided on the extension of one end 11a and the other end 11b of the drinking spout-forming line 11, and may be formed anywhere between the drinking spout-forming portion 20 and the pushing portion 19. That is, the dividing line portion 41 forms a boundary between the drinking spout forming portion 20 and the push-in portion 19. The dividing line portion 41 is not essential and may be omitted.

[0032] An engagement portion 13 may also be formed on the cover plate 4, more inward than the push-in portion 19. This engagement portion 13 is capable of engaging the periphery of the drinking spout forming portion 20 folded back via the dividing line 41. The engagement portion 13 is a cut line portion into which the periphery of the drinking spout forming portion 20 can be inserted. Cut lines 13a, 13b consisting of cuts perpendicular to the extension direction of the engagement portion 13 may be provided on both ends of the engagement portion 13. The provision of such cut lines 13a, 13b makes it possible to easily push the engagement portion 13 apart with fingers.

[0033] In the spout-forming region 20, a diameter-reducing line 5 consisting of a low-strength portion or a cut line extends from the inside toward the periphery. The starting point 5a of the diameter-reducing line 5 is located further inward, and its ending point 5b is located toward the periphery. The diameter-reducing line 5 is assumed to be linear from the starting point 5a to the ending point 5b, but this is not limited thereto. It may be curved as shown in FIG. 4(a) or irregularly linear as shown in FIG. 4(b). The diameter-reducing line 5 is formed approximately in the center of the spout-forming region 20, but this is not limited thereto. It may be formed at least anywhere in the spout-forming region 20. In the example of FIG. 2, the diameter-reducing line 5 is shown to be linear on an extension line connecting the centers O of the cover plate 4. However, this is not limited thereto. It may deviate from the extension line connecting the centers O of the cover plate 4, or it may extend diagonally from the inside toward the periphery as shown in FIG. 4(c).

[0034] The above description is given taking as an example a case where the diameter-reducing line 5 is extended toward the side periphery with its starting point 5a located inside the dividing line 41. In such a case, the starting point 5a of the diameter-reducing line 5 may be close to the pushing line 10, or may be provided on the pushing line 10 so as to intersect with it.

[0035] 5 shows an example in which the starting point 5a of the diameter-reducing origin 5 is located closer to the periphery than the dividing line 41. In this embodiment, the entire diameter-reducing origin 5 from the starting point 5a to the end point 5b is included within the spout-forming portion 20. Even in this case, the diameter-reducing origin 5 may be configured in a curved shape, an irregular linear shape, or may extend obliquely from the inside toward the periphery.

[0036] In other words, regardless of whether the starting point 5a of the narrowing line 5 is located closer to the side periphery than the dividing line portion 41, it is sufficient that the ending point 5b is located at least closer to the side periphery than the dividing line portion 41.

[0037] Furthermore, the reduced diameter wire 5 may be formed in a plurality of portions as shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b).

[0038] 7(a) and 7(b) show a configuration in which the diameter-reducing line 5 has a base line 51 extending from the inside toward the periphery and one or more branch lines 52 branching off laterally from the base line 51. The branch lines 52 do not extend in a direction perpendicular to the base line 51, but rather the inner branch line 52a is inclined inward, and the branch line 52b closer to the periphery is inclined toward the periphery. However, the angle of the branch lines 52 relative to the base line 51 may be perpendicular to each other or may be any other angle.

[0039] The branching position of the branch line 52 on the base line 51 may be closer to the lateral periphery than the starting point 5a and more inward than the end point 5b as shown in FIG. 7( a), but is not limited thereto. The branching positions of the branch line 52 may be the starting point 5a and the end point 5b as shown in FIG. 7( b).

[0040] Next, a method for forming a drinking spout on a lid for a beverage container according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 10. Figures 8 to 10 are explanatory diagrams showing the steps of the method for forming a drinking spout on a lid for a beverage container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] First, as shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), when the pushing portion 19 is pressed from above with a finger F, such as an index finger, stress is transmitted and the spout-forming portion 20 is lifted. At this time, as shown in Figure 9(a), when the pushing portion 19 is pressed with a finger F, the diameter-reducing line 5 opens and the spout-forming portion 20 is folded in a valley shape as seen from the surface, centered on the diameter-reducing line 5. As a result, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the pushing portion 19 sinks and the spout-forming portion 20 is lifted accordingly, making it possible to further reduce the deflection width H of the spout-forming portion 20.

[0042] Figure 9(b) shows the cross-sectional shape of the drinking spout-forming portion 20 just before it is lifted from the cover plate portion 4. As a result of the drinking spout-forming portion 20 being folded in a valley shape around the diameter-reducing line 5 when viewed from the surface, the bending width H is reduced, and as shown in the enlarged view in Figure 9(b), a gap is formed between the drinking spout-forming line 11 on the periphery of the drinking spout-forming portion 20 and the cover plate portion 4. As a result, even if the drinking spout-forming portion 20 is pressed down below the cover plate portion 4, the drinking spout-forming portion 20 can be prevented from being locked onto the back surface of the cover plate portion 4.

[0043] In particular, when the lid is closed, the side periphery 50 engages with the edge 3a of the opening 3 of the beverage container 2, which causes a force to be applied to the cover plate 4 toward the center due to the load on the side periphery 50. Even in such a case, according to the present invention, the width of deflection H can be reduced by making a valley fold in the drinking spout forming portion 20 around the diameter reduction line 5, so that the drinking spout forming portion 20 can be easily lifted with the fingers F without being caught on the back surface of the cover plate 4.

[0044] 10(a) and 10(b), the raised spout-forming portion 20 is folded with a finger F such as the thumb onto the inside of the cover plate 4. Since the spout-forming portion 20 can be prevented from being locked onto the rear surface of the cover plate 4, the operation of lifting and folding the spout-forming portion 20 upward can be easily realized.

[0045] Then, as shown in Figures 11(a) and 11(b), the drinking spout 110 is formed by inserting and engaging the periphery of the drinking spout forming portion 20 with a finger F, such as the thumb, into the engaging portion 13.

[0046] In this case, even if multiple diameter-reducing lines 5 are formed as shown in Figure 6, the drinking spout forming portion 20 can be similarly folded in a valley, preventing the drinking spout forming portion 20 from being engaged with the back surface of the cover plate portion 4.

[0047] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, by introducing one or more branch lines 52 that branch off laterally from the base line 51, when the pushing-in portion 19 is pushed in, the drinking spout forming portion 20 can be further reduced in diameter from the inside toward the side periphery, thereby preventing the drinking spout forming portion 20 from becoming engaged with the back surface of the cover plate portion 4.

[0048] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Lid for beverage container 2 Beverage container 3 Opening 3a Edge 4 Cover plate 5 Diameter reduction line 5a Starting point 5b Ending point 6 Beverage F Finger O Center 10 Push-in line 11 Drinking spout forming line 13 Engagement portion 13a, 13b Cutting line 19 Push-in portion 20 Drinking spout forming portion 41 Partition line 50 Side periphery 110 Drinking spout

Claims

1. A lid for a beverage container comprising a cover plate portion which covers an opening of a beverage container, and a side periphery which is provided on the outer periphery of the cover plate portion and which can engage with the edge of the opening of the beverage container when the cover plate portion is adapted to cover the opening of the beverage container, wherein the lid comprises: a push-in portion formed on the cover plate portion and surrounded by a push-in line portion consisting of a low-strength portion or a cut line portion which has lower strength than the general portion of the cover plate portion, and which is pushed downward with a finger; and a drinking spout forming portion formed on the cover plate portion toward the side periphery from the push-in portion and surrounded by a drinking spout forming line portion consisting of the low-strength portion or the cut line portion, and which is lifted upward by the reaction force of the push-in portion being pushed downward, wherein the drinking spout forming portion has a narrowing line consisting of the low-strength portion or the cut line portion which extends from the inside toward the side periphery.

2. A lid for a beverage container as described in claim 1, characterized in that: a drinking spout portion end which is an end of a drinking spout forming line portion surrounding the drinking spout forming portion, and a push-in portion end which is an end of a push-in line portion surrounding the push-in portion are spaced apart from each other; the boundary between the drinking spout forming portion and the push-in portion is defined by a dividing line portion consisting of the low strength portion or the cut line portion; and an engaging portion which can engage with the peripheral edge of the drinking spout forming portion folded back via the dividing line portion is formed inside the push-in portion.

3. A lid for beverage containers as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tapered line extends linearly from the inside towards the periphery at approximately the centre of the area where the drinking spout is to be formed.

4. A lid for beverage containers as described in claim 2, characterized in that the narrowing line starts on the inside of the dividing line and extends towards the side periphery.

5. A lid for beverage containers as set forth in claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the tapered line has a base line extending from the inside towards the periphery and one or more branch lines branching off laterally from the base line.

6. A lid for beverage containers as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the said diameter reduction line is formed in multiple places.

7. A beverage container comprising a container body and a beverage container lid according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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