Screw cap and container

Abstract

To provide a screw cap which can be easily opened and closed with no waste of a raw material. The screw cap includes a cap body 4, an outer cylinder 5 surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the cap body, and a plurality of ribs 7 arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder and joining the outer cylinder and the cap body to each other. The ribs extend from positions lower than an upper end of the outer cylinder to a brim 6, and there is a space between the outer cylinder and the cap body in a radial direction other than the ribs, so that the amount of raw material can be reduced. With the outer cylinder 5, it is easier to open and close than the cap body. In an up-down direction, when the outer cylinder is divided into a first area 5hl from the upper end of the outer cylinder to the ribs 7 and a second area 5h2 where the ribs are arranged, the first area is elastically deformable in the radial direction, so that fingers do not have pain when pinching the outer cylinder and a favorable feeling is provided.

Description

SCREW CAP AND CONTAINER

[0001] The present invention relates to a screw cap and a container including the screw cap.

[0002] A screw cap basically has a configuration in which an internal thread is formed in the inner peripheral surface of a cap body. The screw cap is attached to a mouth portion of a container body. An external thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion. When the outer diameter of the cap body is extremely greater than the outer diameter of the mouth portion, the thickness of the cap body in a radial direction becomes extremely great. In order to avoid waste of the material of the screw cap, it is desirable to design the outer diameter of the cap body to be greater to some extent than the outer diameter of the mouth portion. That is, the outer diameter of the cap body correlates with the outer diameter of the mouth portion. The outer diameter of the cap body also correlates with the ease of opening and closing the screw cap. Thus, when the outer diameter of the mouth portion is small, the outer diameter of the cap body is also small, and for this reason, the screw cap is difficult to be opened and closed.

[0003] As an example of a conventional screw cap devised to be easily opened and closed even if the outer diameter of a mouth portion is small while avoiding waste of a raw material, a screw cap in which a large number of ribs protrude from the outer peripheral surface of a cap body such that these ribs are adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction has been known (Patent Literature 1).

[0004] The wider a distance between adjacent ones of the ribs in the circumferential direction (the smaller the number of ribs), the more the raw material can be reduced. However, when the number of ribs is great, the outer peripheral surface of the screw cap comes close to a cylindrical surface, and a feeling when the screw cap is pinched with fingers is better.

[0005] The rib protrudes outward in a radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the cap body. When the protruding amount of the rib in the radial direction increases, the outer diameter of the screw cap increases, and the screw cap is easily opened and closed. In addition, when the screw cap is opened and closed, the rotational force thereof is transmitted from the fingers pinching the screw cap to the rib, and therefore, the thickness of the rib in the circumferential direction is designed to withstand such rotational force.

[0006] Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2005-271922Problems to be Solved by Invention

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the screw cap disclosed in Patent Literature 1 under the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a screw cap capable of achieving both easy opening and closing and minimization of waste of a raw material using a configuration different from that of the screw cap of Patent Literature 1 and to provide a container including the screw cap.Solution to Problems

[0008] The screw cap of the present invention includes a screw cap body having a cap body, an outer cylinder, and a plurality of ribs. The cap body is formed with an internal thread in an inner peripheral surface, and opens and closes a mouth portion of a container body. The outer cylinder surrounds the outer peripheral surface of the cap body. The plurality of ribs is arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the cap body, and joins the outer cylinder and the cap body to each other. The ribs extend downward from positions lower than the upper end of the outer cylinder. In an up-down direction, the outer cylinder is divided into a first area from the upper end of the outer cylinder to the ribs and a second area where the ribs are arranged. In addition, the screw cap of the present invention is characterized in that the portion of the first area of the outer cylinder is elastically deformable in a radial direction.

[0009] The screw cap body further has a brim extending along the outer periphery of the cap body and joining the cap body and the outer cylinder to each other at a position on a lower side of the cap body with respect to the ribs.

[0010] The brim further includes a through-hole.

[0011] The dimension of the rib in an up-down direction is shorter than the dimension of the outer cylinder in the up-down direction. Specifically, with reference to the lower end of the outer cylinder, the dimension of the rib in the up-down direction is 1 / 3 to 5 / 6 of the dimension of the outer cylinder in the up-down direction.

[0012] The cap body includes a cylinder body which is a portion formed with the internal thread, a closing plate which is a portion closing the mouth portion, and an inner ring protruding downward from the closing plate and sandwiching the mouth portion from the radial direction in cooperation with the cylinder body.

[0013] The cap body includes a contact ring protruding downward from the closing plate between the cylinder body and the inner ring and being contactable with the end surface of the mouth portion.

[0014] The screw cap may include, in addition to the screw cap body, an anti-tamper ring joined to the screw cap body and being breakable on the lower side of the brim when engaged with the mouth portion in an initial opening operation.

[0015] The container of the present invention includes a screw cap and a container body. The container body has a spout which is a drinking spout openable and closable by turning the screw cap, and a pouch which is a bag attached to the spout.Effects of Invention

[0016] The screw cap of the present invention achieves both easy opening and closing and minimization of waste of a raw material. The container of the present invention also has the effects of the screw cap.

[0017] Figs. 1(A), 1(B), and 1(C) are a front view, a plan view, and a bottom view showing a screw cap of a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a line A-B-C in Fig. 1(B); Fig. 3 is a front view showing a container of the first embodiment; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along a line D-D in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along a line E-E in Fig. 4; Figs. 6(A) and 6(B) are plan views showing a state before the screw cap is elastically deformed and a state during the elastic deformation; Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a screw cap of a modification; and Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the container of the first embodiment.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 8, a container 1 of a first embodiment of the present invention includes a container body 2 with a spout 2a as a drinking spout, and a screw cap 3 which can be opened and closed by being turned relative to the spout 2a.

[0019] In the present specification, a line which is a center when the screw cap 3 turns will be referred to as an “axis L”. A direction in which the axis L extends will be referred to as an “axial direction”. The “axial direction” is an up-down direction in the present embodiment with reference to Figs. 8, 2, and 3. A direction in which the screw cap 3 moves when the container body 2 is closed is a “down direction”. A direction in which the screw cap 3 moves when the container body 2 is opened is an “up direction”. As will be described later, a direction in which the spout 2a as part of the container body 2 is sandwiched by an opening of a pouch 2s as part of the container body 2 will be referred to as a “front-back direction”. A direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the front-back direction will be referred to as a “left-right direction”. Note that the front-back direction and the left-right direction are directions defined for the sake of convenience in description. Thus, the front-back direction and the left-right direction do not necessarily coincide with the front-back direction and the left-right direction at the time of using the container body 2, or may be switched. Further, all directions perpendicular to the axis L as viewed from the up-down direction will be referred to as a “diametrical direction” or a “radial direction”. In the “diametrical direction” or the “radial direction”, a direction facing the axis L will be referred to as an “inward direction”, and the opposite direction thereof will be referred to as an “outward direction”. A member or portion located in the inward direction may be expressed as being located inside, and a member or portion located in the outward direction may be expressed as being located outside. For an annular object as viewed from the up-down direction, a direction of rotating about the annular object will be referred to as a “circumferential direction”.

[0020] (Container Body and Pouch) The container body 2 includes the pouch 2s and the spout 2a. The pouch 2s is a bag in the present embodiment. The pouch 2s includes at least two sheet members overlapping with each other in the front-back direction, and the peripheral edges thereof are sealed. The two sheet members have flexibility to push out contents when a user squeezes the pouch 2s. The two sheet members of the pouch 2s overlap with each other in the front-back direction in a state of the pouch 2s being not filled with the contents, and inflates in the front-back direction in a state of the pouch 2s being filled with the contents.

[0021] (Spout) Portions of the spout 2a will be referred to as a mouth portion 10, a grip portion 20, and an attachment portion 30 in this order in the down direction from the top. The grip portion 20 is a portion gripped by fingers of a hand different from a hand holding the screw cap 3 when the user turns the screw cap 3 relative to the container body 2. The attachment portion 30 is a portion for attaching the spout 2a to the pouch 2s. The spout 2a is, for example, an injection-molded component made of synthetic resin. As the synthetic resin, for example, polypropylene or polyethylene is used, but the synthetic resin is not limited thereto. So-called polyolefin is suitable because such a material is inexpensive and have good processability. The spout 2a is attached to a not shown opening formed at the upper end of the pouch 2s. The spout 2a includes a straw 2b and a member projecting in the radial direction from the straw 2b. The straw 2b has a cylindrical shape extending in the up-down direction. Fluid passes through the inside of the straw 2b. The straw 2b includes a first passage 11, a second passage 21, and a third passage 31. The first passage 11, the second passage 21, and the third passage 31 form a center portion of the spout 2a. The first passage 11 is an upper portion of the straw 2b, and forms part of the mouth portion 10. The second passage 21 is an intermediate portion of the straw 2b in the up-down direction, and forms part of the grip portion 20. The third passage 31 is a lower portion of the straw 2b, and forms part of the attachment portion 30.

[0022] (Mouth Portion) The mouth portion 10 includes the first passage 11, an external thread 12, and a first flange 13. The external thread 12 is a thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first passage 11. The first flange 13 is a flange projecting outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the first passage 11 at a position lower than the external thread 12. In the present embodiment, the first flange 13 includes two flange pieces 14 arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction.

[0023] (Grip Portion) The grip portion 20 includes the second passage 21 and a grip body 22. The grip body 22 includes a plurality of flanges 23 projecting outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the second passage 21.

[0024] (Grip Body) The grip body 22 is point-symmetric about the axis L as viewed from the up-down direction. The grip body 22 includes the plurality of flanges 23 arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the grip body 22 includes three flanges 23. When the three flanges 23 are distinguished from each other, these flanges will be referred to as a second flange 23, a third flange 23, and a fourth flange 23 in this order from the top.

[0025] Each of the second to fourth flanges 23 includes a pair of projections 24. The pair of projections 24 projects symmetrically outward in the radial direction with respect to the first flange 13. As shown in Fig. 4, each of the second to fourth flanges 23 has a substantially rectangular shape long in the left-right direction as viewed from the up-down direction. The grip body 22 has two long sides 25 and two short sides 26. Specifically, the grip body 22 has an octagonal shape in which four corners of an elongated rectangle are chamfered as viewed from the up-down direction, and the two long sides 25 are longer than the other six sides. The two short sides 26 are the edges of the pair of projections 24. The second flange 23, the third flange 23, and the fourth flange 23 have substantially the same shape as viewed from the up-down direction. The flanges 23 overlap with each other in such a relationship that the third flange 23 and the fourth flange 23 are hidden under the second flange 23.

[0026] (Attachment Portion) As shown in Fig. 8, the attachment portion 30 includes the third passage 31 and a pair of vertical pieces 32. The pair of vertical pieces 32 projects outward to the left and right in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the third passage 31. The pair of vertical pieces 32 is symmetrical, and protrudes from below the fourth flange 23 of the grip body 22. As viewed from above, the pair of vertical pieces 32 overlaps with each other in a state being hidden under the fourth flange 23 of the grip body 22. The pair of vertical pieces 32 extends in the diametrical direction parallel to the two long sides 25 of the grip body 22, and extends toward the middle of the two short sides 26 of the grip body 22. The thickness of the pair of vertical pieces 32 parallel to the short side 26 is sufficiently smaller than the inner diameter of the third passage 31. Specifically, the right vertical piece 32 extends rightward from the right side of the outer peripheral surface of the third passage 31, and the thickness thereof in the front-back direction decreases as extending rightward. The left vertical piece 32 extends leftward from the left side of the outer peripheral surface of the third passage 31, and the thickness thereof in the front-back direction decreases as extending leftward.

[0027] (Screw Cap) The screw cap 3 includes a screw cap body 3a as a basic configuration, and may further include an anti-tamper ring 8 described later. The screw cap 3 is, for example, an injection-molded component made of synthetic resin. As the synthetic resin, for example, polypropylene or polyethylene is used, but the synthetic resin is not limited thereto. So-called polyolefin is suitable because such a material is inexpensive and have good processability.

[0028] (Screw Cap Body) As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, the screw cap body 3a has a function of opening and closing the mouth portion 10 by turning the screw cap body 3a relative to the mouth portion 10 with the screw cap body 3a pinched with fingers. The screw cap body 3a includes a cap body 4, an outer cylinder 5, and a rib 7, and may further include a brim 6 and an anti-deformation body V. (Cap Body) The cap body 4 includes a cylinder body 41, a closing plate 42, an inner ring 43, and a contact ring 44.

[0029] (Cylinder Body and Closing Plate) The cylinder body 41 has a cylindrical shape, and has a function of covering the mouth portion 10 from the outside in the radial direction. The lower end of the cylinder body 41 is an open end. The outer peripheral surface of the cylinder body 41 is a cylindrical surface. An internal thread 45 is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder body 41. The closing plate 42 has a disk shape, and closes an upper end portion of the cylinder body 41.

[0030] (Inner Ring) The inner ring 43 is an annular body protruding downward from the lower surface of the closing plate 42. In other words, it can be said that the inner ring 43 has a cylindrical shape. The inner ring 43 is located inside the cylinder body 41. (Contact Ring) The contact ring 44 is an annular body protruding downward from the lower surface of the closing plate 42. The contact ring 44 is sufficiently shorter than the inner ring 43 in the up-down direction. The contact ring 44 is located outside the inner ring 43 and inside the cylinder body 41. In other words, the cylinder body 41, the contact ring 44, and the inner ring 43 are located to be spaced apart from each other in this order inward from the outside in the radial direction. In other words, it can be said that the inner ring 43 and the contact ring 44 are arranged concentrically about the axis L with respect to the cylinder body 41. In a state of the container 1 being closed as shown in Fig. 5, the inner ring 43 cooperates with the cylinder body 41 to sandwich the mouth portion 10 from the radial direction, and the contact ring 44 is in contact with the upper end of the mouth portion 10. Thus, when the container 1 is filled with the contents, the contents can be sealed.

[0031] (Outer Cylinder) As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the outer cylinder 5 includes an outer cylinder body 51 and a plurality of raised members 52. The outer cylinder 5 has a cylindrical shape centered on the axis L. The inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 5 is a cylindrical surface. The plurality of raised members 52 is provided side by side in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder body 51. That is, the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 5 is a surface having asperities in the circumferential direction due to the presence of the plurality of raised members 52. The raised member 52 has a function of improving the strength of the outer cylinder 5 in the radial direction and preventing slip. The outer cylinder 5 is joined to the outer edge of the brim 6 at its lower end portion. Further, the outer cylinder 5 is located outside the cylinder body 41 in the radial direction. In other words, it can be said that the outer cylinder 5 and the cylinder body 41 form concentric double cylinders centered on the axis L.

[0032] The outer cylinder 5 is divided, in the up-down direction, into a first area 5h1 from an upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 to the rib 7 and a second area 5h2 in which the rib 7 is disposed. An annular first space S1 is formed between the first area 5h1 and the cap body 4 in the radial direction. On the other hand, a plurality of second spaces S2 defined in the circumferential direction by the plurality of ribs 7 is formed between the second area 5h2 and the cap body 4 in the radial direction. Note that the dimension 5h of the outer cylinder 5 in the up-down direction does not include a portion joined to the brim 6.

[0033] The thickness of the raised member 52 in the radial direction is, for example, twice or less the thickness of the outer cylinder body 51. In addition, the maximum outer diameter of the outer cylinder 5 and the maximum outer diameter of the anti-tamper ring 8 are substantially the same as each other. That is, the outer cylinder 5 and the anti-tamper ring 8 are located on the same cylindrical surface in appearance. The thickness (maximum value) of the outer cylinder 5 in the radial direction is greater than the thickness (maximum value) of the anti-tamper ring 8 in the radial direction. The thickness of the outer cylinder 5 in the radial direction is set such that the outer cylinder 5 is elastically deformed in the first area 5h1 and is not substantially elastically deformed in the second area 5h2.

[0034] (Brim) The brim 6 is an annular body as viewed from above, and is joined to a lower end portion of the cap body 4 at its inner edge. As shown in Fig. 1(B), the brim 6 extends along the circumferential direction at the outer periphery of the lower end portion of the cap body 4 as viewed from above. The brim 6 is formed with a plurality of through-holes 6a penetrating the brim 6 in the up-down direction. The plurality of through-holes 6a is arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, one through-hole 6a is formed between adjacent ones of the ribs 7 in the circumferential direction. Each through-hole 6a is formed slightly apart from the inner periphery and outer periphery of the brim 6 in the radial direction. The position of the through-hole 6a in the circumferential direction is different from an intermediate position in the circumferential direction between adjacent two of the ribs 7 in the circumferential direction.

[0035] (Rib) The rib 7 is a thin plate-shaped member extending in the up-down direction and the radial direction. The rib 7 is joined to the cylinder body 41 at its inner end and to the outer cylinder body 51 at its outer end, in the radial direction. The lower end of the rib 7 is joined to the upper surface of the brim 6. The rib 7 extends in the up direction from the upper surface of the brim 6 to such an extent that the rib 7 does not reach the upper end of the outer cylinder body 51. That is, it can be said that the rib 7 extends downward from a position lower than the upper end of the outer cylinder 5. The length of the rib 7 in the up-down direction will be described later. In the present embodiment, four ribs 7 are located at equal intervals in the circumferential direction about the axis L. In other words, the four ribs 7 are located apart from each other by 90 degrees in the circumferential direction as viewed in the up-down direction. As shown in Fig. 2, the rib 7 extends in the up-down direction from a position apart from the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 in the down direction by a certain distance until reaching the brim 6. In other words, a dimension 7h of the rib 7 in the up-down direction with respect to the upper surface of the brim 6 is shorter than a dimension 5h of the outer cylinder 5 in the up-down direction. Preferably, the dimension 7h of the rib 7 in the up-down direction is 1 / 3 or more and 9 / 10 or less, preferably 1 / 3 or more and 1 / 2 or less, and more preferably 1 / 3 or more and 7 / 10 or less with respect to the dimension 5h of the outer cylinder 5 in the up-down direction. As viewed from above, all the ribs 7, the brim 6, and the through-holes 6a are visually recognized. In a case of less than 1 / 3, the force of support by the rib 7 when the outer cylinder 5 is pinched in order to open the container 1, which will be described later, is smaller, and for this reason, elastic deformation of the outer cylinder 5 is extremely great. Thus, fingers pinching the outer cylinder 5 tend to have an unpleasant feeling. In a case of more than 9 / 10, the force of support by the rib 7 is greater, and for this reason, the elastic deformation of the outer cylinder 5 is extremely small. Thus, the ease of opening and closing may be impaired. The dimension 7h of the rib 7 in the up-down direction is preferably 1 / 3 or more and 1 / 2 or less in order to balance the finger feeling and the ease of opening and closing when the container 1 is opened. When the dimension 7h of the rib 7 in the up-down direction is 1 / 3 or more and 7 / 10 or less, it is further suitable for cap holding force by a capper of a filling machine when the container 1 is filled with the contents, which is more preferable.

[0036] (Anti-Deformation Body) The anti-deformation body V protrudes downward from the lower surface of the brim 6. Specifically, the anti-deformation body V is formed at a position different from a position immediately below the through-hole 6a. The anti-deformation body V includes an annular ring-shaped inner ring portion V1 located inside in the radial direction with respect to the through-hole 6a, and protrusions V2 protruding outward in the radial direction from the inner ring portion V1 at positions on both sides of the through-hole 6a in the circumferential direction. Note that in Fig. 1(C), between adjacent two of the protrusions V2 in the circumferential direction, there are a portion where the through-hole 6a is located and a portion where the lower surface of the brim 6 is exposed. That is, in Fig. 1 (C), two protrusions V2 are located between adjacent two of the through-holes 6a in the circumferential direction. The anti-deformation body V prevents the anti-tamper ring 8 from being pushed inward of the screw cap 3 in the radial direction even when another screw cap 3 or the like is pressed against the anti-tamper ring 8 or when force directed inward from the outside in the radial direction is applied to the anti-tamper ring 8 for the purpose of some kinds of tamper. Specifically, when force is applied from the left side of the anti-tamper ring 8 in Fig. 2, the inner peripheral surface of the anti-tamper ring 8 comes into contact with the anti-deformation body V, so that inward deformation or displacement of the anti-tamper ring 8 can be prevented.

[0037] (Anti-Tamper Ring) As previously described, the screw cap 3 may include the anti-tamper ring 8. The screw cap 3 in the present embodiment includes the anti-tamper ring 8. The anti-tamper ring 8 is an annular ring-shaped body as viewed from below. In other words, the anti-tamper ring 8 is a thin band ring extending in the up-down direction and the circumferential direction. The anti-tamper ring 8 is joined to the lower surface of the brim 6. Thus, the anti-tamper ring 8 is located on the lower side of the brim 6. The anti-tamper ring 8 is a so-called tamper-proof ring which ensures an unopened state of the container 1. The anti-tamper ring 8 engages with the spout 2a in an initial opening operation, and a part thereof is formed to be breakable. The anti-tamper ring 8 includes a band body 81 and a joint portion 82. A distance between the lower end of the cap body 4 and the lower end 8P of the anti-tamper ring 8 will be referred to as a dimension 8h of the anti-tamper ring 8 in the up-down direction. The dimension 8h of the anti-tamper ring 8 in the up-down direction is shorter than the dimension 7h of the rib 7 in the up-down direction.

[0038] (Band Body) The band body 81 surrounds the spout 2a in the circumferential direction. As shown in Fig. 5, the band body 81 is disposed with a distance outward in the radial direction from the anti-deformation body V. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the band body 81 includes a robust portion 84 and a fragile portion 85 formed continuously in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, the anti-tamper ring 8 includes two robust portions 84 arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction and two fragile portions 85 joining the two robust portions 84 in a breakable state. The robust portion 84 has an arc shape with an angle slightly smaller than 180 degrees as viewed from the up-down direction. The fragile portion 85 has a smaller thickness in the radial direction than that of the robust portion 84 and a smaller dimension in the up-down direction than that of the robust portion 84.

[0039] (Joint Portion) Each of two joint portions 82 joins, at part thereof in the circumferential direction, the robust portion 84 of the band body 81 and the screw cap body 3a. For example, as shown in Fig. 1(C), one of the joint portions 82 is located in the vicinity of the back side of the right fragile portion 85, and the other joint portion 82 is located in the vicinity of the front side of the left fragile portion 85 which is not visible in Fig. 1. The joint portion 82 is located at one of both end portions of the robust portion 84 in the circumferential direction. A configuration of breaking the fragile portion 85 is located on the other end side opposite to the joint portion 82. As shown in Fig. 4, the one end portion is an end portion in a direction Close in which the screw cap 3 is turned when the container 1 is closed. The other end side opposite to the joint portion 82 is a side closer to an end portion in a direction Open in which the screw cap 3 is turned when the container 1 is initially opened, with respect to the joint portion 82.

[0040] (Meshing Portion) The configuration of breaking the fragile portion 85 is a meshing portion 9 for meshing in the circumferential direction between the inner peripheral surface of the robust portion 84 and the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 10. The meshing portion 9 includes an internal tooth 91 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the robust portion 84 and an external tooth 92 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 10 and meshing with the internal tooth 91 in the circumferential direction. The robust portion 84 includes an arc-shaped robust portion body 84a and the internal tooth 91 protruding inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface of the robust portion body 84a. The mouth portion 10 includes, at a lower end portion thereof, the external tooth 92 extending outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the first passage 11. The external tooth 92 protrudes in the up direction from the upper surface of the second flange 23.

[0041] The external tooth 92 and the internal tooth 91 mesh with each other in the circumferential direction, and the external tooth 92 is disposed adjacent to the internal tooth 91 in one direction in the circumferential direction. The one direction is the direction Open in which the screw cap 3 is turned when the container 1 is initially opened.

[0042] In the present embodiment, each of the two robust portions 84 includes two internal teeth 91 spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. The two internal teeth 91 are located biased to one of the pair of fragile portions 85 adjacent to both ends of the robust portion 84 in the circumferential direction. When the two internal teeth 91 are distinguished from each other, one closer to the one fragile portion 85 will be referred to as a first internal tooth 91a, and the other will be referred to as a second internal tooth 91b. Note that the joint portion 82 is disposed closer to the other fragile portion 85 in the circumferential direction of the robust portion 84.

[0043] In the present embodiment, the mouth portion 10 includes four external teeth 92. Specifically, the mouth portion 10 includes two external teeth 92, respectively, at positions corresponding to the two internal teeth 91 of each of the two robust portions 84. When the two external teeth 92 are distinguished from each other, a first external tooth 92a extends outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the first passage 11, and a second external tooth 92b extends toward the inner peripheral surface of the robust portion 84 from the first passage 11 side with respect to an outer tip portion of the first external tooth 92a in the radial direction. The first external tooth 92a meshes with the first internal tooth 91a, and the second external tooth 92b meshes with the second internal tooth 91b. When the screw cap 3 is turned in an initial opening operation, the first internal tooth 91a is pushed outward in the radial direction when moving over the first external tooth 92a, and the second internal tooth 91b is pushed outward in the radial direction when moving over the second external tooth 92b, so that the fragile portion 85 is broken and the robust portion 84 is kept joined to the brim 6 at the joint portion 82.

[0044] (Positional Relationship in Up-Down Direction) As shown in Fig. 2, the uppermost position of the upper surface of the closing plate 42 in the up-down direction will be referred to as a top position 42P. In the present embodiment, a center portion of the upper surface of the closing plate 42 is recessed in the down direction. Thus, a portion outside the center portion in the radial direction (more specifically, portion where the contact ring 44 is disposed) is the top position 42P.

[0045] A positional relationship in the up-down direction among the top position 42P, a lower end 44P of the contact ring 44, the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5, and a lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 is that these are arranged in this order in the down direction from the top. That is, the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44 is located in the down direction with respect to the top position 42P. The upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located in the down direction with respect to the contact ring 44. The lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 is located in the down direction with respect to the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5. Thus, in the up-down direction, the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located between the top position 42P and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43, and is located between the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44 and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43.

[0046] (Effects) The screw cap 3 of the present embodiment is easily opened and closed. Specific description will be given. The container 1 of the first embodiment described above is basically in the unopened state in which the container body 2 is filled with the contents and the screw cap 3 is closed. When the container 1 is initially opened, an operator applies force to the outer cylinder 5 to turn the screw cap 3. In the initial opening operation, the anti-tamper ring 8 is broken, and therefore, greater force than that in second and subsequent opening operations is required. When the force is applied to the screw cap 3 by, for example, the index finger, the middle finger, and the thumb in the initial opening operation, a contact area a1 where the index finger contacts the screw cap 3, a contact area a2 where the middle finger contacts the screw cap 3, and a contact area a3 where the thumb contacts the screw cap 3 are formed over the entire circumference of the outer cylinder 5 as shown in Fig. 6(A). In a state in which no force is applied to the three contact areas a1 to a3, the first area 5h1 is in a circular shape as viewed from above, and the outer diameter thereof is d0.

[0047] When the force is applied to the three contact areas a1 to a3, the rib 7 does not extend in the first area 5h1 of the outer cylinder 5, and therefore, as viewed from above, the first area 5h1 elastically deforms from the circular shape to a slight ellipse as shown in Fig. 6(B). That is, at the upper end 5P in the first area 5h1, the outer diameter dimension of the minor axis of the ellipse is d1, and the outer diameter dimension of the major axis of the ellipse is d2. The outer diameter dimension is in a relationship of d1 < d0 < d2. In this case, since the shape of the first area 5h1 as viewed from above is flat as compared with the case of the circular shape, the outer cylinder 5 is easily pinched and the force is easily applied. Even when the first area 5h1 is elastically deformed, the thickness of the outer cylinder 5 in the radial direction and the dimension of the first area 5h1 in the up-down direction are set such that rotational force is transmitted. On the other hand, since there is the rib 7 in the second area 5h2 of the outer cylinder 5, the second area 5h2 is hardly elastically deformed even when the above-described force is applied, and the circular shape is held as viewed from above. As described above, since the screw cap 3 includes the outer cylinder 5 greatly separated outward from the internal thread 45 in the radial direction, great torque can be generated with small force by the operator. Thus, the operator can easily open and close the screw cap 3. The outer diameter d0 of the outer cylinder 5 is, for example, 20 to 30 mm. The dimensions of the lower end of the screw cap body 3a and the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 in the up-down direction are, for example, 6, 10, 15, or 20 mm. A dimension in the up-down direction between the lower end 8P of the anti-tamper ring 8 and the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is, for example, 10, 15, 20, or 25 mm.

[0048] Further, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, between the outer cylinder 5 and the cap body 4 in the radial direction, there is the annular first space S1 in the first area 5h1, and there is the plurality of second spaces S2 divided in the circumferential direction by the rib 7 in the second area 5h2. Thus, as compared with a screw cap in which spaces S1, S2 are also filled with synthetic resin or a screw cap in which a rib 7 extends from the upper end 5P of an outer cylinder 5 to a brim 6, the amount of raw material of the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment can be reduced. Moreover, since the outer diameter of the portion pinched by the operator is greater than that of a screw cap including no outer cylinder 5, the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment is easily opened and closed.

[0049] In addition, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, for example, as compared with a screw cap in which a rib 7 extends from the upper end 5P of an outer cylinder 5 to a brim 6, the elastic deformation in the first area 5h1 when the outer cylinder 5 is strongly pinched to open the container 1 provides a favorable feeling of fingers with no pain. Moreover, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, when the outer cylinder 5 is pinched to open the container 1, pinching force is transmitted from the outer cylinder 5 to the cap body 4 via the rib 7 and the brim 6 in the second area 5h2, and therefore, the screw cap 3 is easily opened and closed as compared with, for example, a screw cap with no rib 7. Further, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, when the screw cap 3 is turned to open the container 1, the rotational force is transmitted not only from the second area 5h2 but also from the elastically-deformed first area 5h1, and the first area 5h1 is flattened and easily pinched, so that the container 1 can be opened with great rotational force. That is, the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment achieves both reduction in the amount of raw material and the easy opening and closing, and also provides the favorable feeling.

[0050] The screw cap 3 of the first embodiment includes the brim 6. With the brim 6, the flow of synthetic resin inside a mold is stabilized at the time of manufacturing the screw cap 3, so that the screw cap 3 can be more stably manufactured. In the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, since the brim 6 includes the through-hole 6a between adjacent ones of the ribs 7 in the circumferential direction, the pinching force for the outer cylinder 5 is transmitted to the cap body 4 from the portion other than the through-hole 6a via the brim 6 and the rib 7 while the amount of the raw material is reduced, so that the ease of opening and closing can be maintained. The through-hole 6a functions as a drain hole when the screw cap 3 is closed after the container body 2 has been filled with the contents and is sterilized and cleaned with water or the like.

[0051] In the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, since the dimension 7h of the rib 7 in the up-down direction is set to 1 / 3 to 5 / 6 of the dimension 5h of the outer cylinder 5 in the up-down direction with reference to the brim 6, it is possible to achieve both the favorable feeling and the easy opening and closing while further reducing the amount of raw material.

[0052] In the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, in the unopened state, the mouth portion 10 is sandwiched in the radial direction by the cylinder body 41 and the inner ring 43, and the contact ring 44 and the mouth portion 10 are in contact with each other, thereby enhancing sealability. In addition, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, since the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located between the top position 42P of the closing plate 42 and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 in the up-down direction, it becomes easier to visually recognize that the outer cylinder 5 is on the outside the cap body 4 in the radial direction, and the ease of opening due to the size of the outer diameter becomes easier to understand, and the operation is facilitated.

[0053] In the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located between the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44 and the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 in the up-down direction. Thus, for example, as compared with a screw cap in which the upper end 5P of an outer cylinder 5 is located lower than the lower end 43P of an inner ring 43 in the up-down direction, the area pinched by fingers in the up-down direction is expanded, and the operation is facilitated.

[0054] Since the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment includes the anti-tamper ring 8 in a state of the container 1 being unopened, making the first area 5h1 elastically deformable in the radial direction works effectively. When the screw cap 3 is turned by the initial opening operation, there is a possibility that not only the outer cylinder 5 but also the anti-tamper ring 8 are pinched together. Depending on the degree of pinching, there is a possibility that a behavior of breaking the anti-tamper ring 8, which occurs when the screw cap 3 is turned, is hindered. Even in a case where a fingertip touches the anti-tamper ring 8 when the screw cap 3 is pinched, when the first area 5h1 is elastically deformed, the fingertip is less likely to touch the anti-tamper ring 8, the force of the fingertip is less likely to be transmitted to the anti-tamper ring 8, and the anti-tamper ring 8 is easily broken by the initial opening operation.

[0055] Specifically, for example, when the outer cylinder 5 is pinched with balls of fingers such that fingertips face the down direction and a direction in which the fingers extend is substantially parallel to the up-down direction, even if the fingertips touch the anti-tamper ring 8, the first area 5h1 is elastically deformed such that the fingertip of the thumb and the fingertip of the index finger are opened. Accordingly, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, for example, as compared with a screw cap in which a rib 7 extends from the upper end 5P of an outer cylinder 5 to a brim 6, the force is less likely to be transmitted to the anti-tamper ring 8, and the initial opening operation is facilitated.

[0056] Moreover, in the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment, since the dimension 7h of the rib 7 in the up-down direction is made longer than the dimension 8h of the anti-tamper ring 8 in the up-down direction, the force of turning the screw cap 3 is easily transmitted from the rib 7 to the cylinder body 41 and the initial opening operation is facilitated, for example, as compared with a screw cap in which the dimension 7h of a rib 7 in the up-down direction is equal to or less than the dimension 8h of the anti-tamper ring 8 in the up-down direction.

[0057] Fig. 7 shows a screw cap 3T according to a modification of the present invention. The screw cap 3T of the modification is different from the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment in terms of its outer diameter. Specifically, in the screw cap 3T of the modification, the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 5 is made greater than the outer diameter of the anti-tamper ring 8. As viewed from above, the outer cylinder 5 and the anti-tamper ring 8 are in such a positional relationship that these include a portion overlapping with each other in the up-down direction.

[0058] In the screw cap 3T of the modification, since the outer periphery of the anti-tamper ring 8 is located inside the outer periphery of the outer cylinder 5 in the radial direction, for example, when the outer cylinder 5 is pinched such that fingertips face the down direction and a direction in which fingers extend is substantially parallel to the up-down direction in a state in which the container 1 is unopened, the fingertips are less likely to touch the anti-tamper ring 8 and the opening operation is facilitated as compared with the screw cap 3 of the first embodiment.

[0059] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0060] For example, in the above-described embodiments, the position of the through-hole 6a in the circumferential direction is the position different from the intermediate position in the circumferential direction between adjacent two of the ribs 7 in the circumferential direction and these through-holes 6a are not point-symmetric with respect to the axis L. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the position may be the intermediate position in the circumferential direction between adjacent two of the ribs 7 in the circumferential direction or may be close to one of the ribs 7. In the vicinity of the one rib 7, the through-hole 6a is formed in the brim 6 in the vicinity of three members which are the cap body 4, the rib 7, and the outer cylinder 5. Thus, even in a situation where the hole is formed in the brim 6 and the rigidity of the brim 6 may be lowered, the brim 6 is reinforced by the above-described three members, and therefore, the rigidity of the brim 6 is less likely to be lowered, which is preferable.

[0061] In the above-described embodiments, the through-hole 6a is formed in the brim 6, but the present invention is not limited thereto and the brim 6 may have no through-hole 6a.

[0062] In the above-described embodiments, the dimension of the rib 7 in the up-down direction is 1 / 3 to 5 / 6 of the dimension of the outer cylinder 5 in the up-down direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto and the dimension of the rib 7 is only required to be shorter than the dimension of the outer cylinder 5 in the up-down direction.

[0063] In the above-described embodiments, the cap body 4 includes the cylinder body 41, the closing plate 42, the inner ring 43, and the contact ring 44, but the present invention is not limited thereto and the cap body 4 is only required to include at least the cylinder body 41 and the closing plate 42. In the above-described embodiments, the top position 42P of the closing plate 42 is located higher than the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the positional relationship with the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 in the up-down direction does not matter.

[0064] In the above-described embodiments, the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 is located between the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 and the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the positional relationship in the up-down direction between the lower end 43P of the inner ring 43 and the lower end 44P of the contact ring 44 does not matter. Further, the upper ends of the plurality of raised members 52 provided side by side in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder body 51 are located slightly lower than the upper end 5P of the outer cylinder 5 in Figs. 1 and 2, but may be located at the same position in the up-down direction as that of the upper end 5P, or may be located lower than the upper end 5P by a half of the entire length of the outer cylinder 5 in the up-down direction. When the upper end of the raised member 52 is located lower than the upper end 5P by the half of the entire length of the outer cylinder 5 in the up-down direction, this makes the elastic deformation of the first area 5h1 of the outer cylinder 5 more suitable together with the thickness of the plurality of raised members 52.List of Reference Signs

[0065] 1 Container 2 Container Body 2a Spout 2b Straw 2s Pouch 10 Mouth Portion 11 First Passage 12 External Thread 13 First Flange 14 Flange Piece 20 Grip Portion 21 Second Passage 22 Grip Body 23 Flange 24 Projection 25 Two Sides, Long Side 26 Two Sides, Short Side 30 Attachment Portion 31 Third Passage 32 Vertical Piece 3, 3T Screw Cap 3a Screw Cap Body 4 Cap Body 41 Cylinder Body 42 Closing Plate 42P Top Position 43 Inner Ring 43P Lower End of Inner Ring 44 Contact Ring 44P Lower End of Contact Ring 45 Internal Thread 5 Outer Cylinder 5h Dimension of Outer Cylinder in Up-Down Direction 5h1 First Area 5h2 Second Area 5P Upper End of Outer Cylinder 51 Outer Cylinder Body 52 Raised Member 6 Brim 6a Through-Hole 7 Rib 7h Dimension of Rib in Up-Down Direction 7P Upper End of Rib V Anti-Deformation Body V1 Inner Ring Portion V2 Protrusion 8 Anti-Tamper Ring 8h Dimension of Anti-Tamper Ring in Up-Down Direction 8P Lower End of Anti-Tamper Ring 81 Band Body 82 Joint Portion 84 Robust Portion 84a Robust Portion Body 85 Fragile Portion 9 Meshing Portion 91, 91a, 91b Internal Tooth 92, 92a, 92b External Tooth a1, a2, a3 Contact Area d0, d1, d2 Outer Diameter Dimension L Axis S1 First Space S2 Second Space

Claims

1. A screw cap comprising: a screw cap body having a cap body formed with an internal thread in an inner peripheral surface and configured to open and close a mouth portion which is an upper portion of a container body, an outer cylinder surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the cap body, and a plurality of ribs arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the cap body and joining the outer cylinder and the cap body to each other, wherein the ribs extend downward from positions lower than an upper end of the outer cylinder, in an up-down direction, the outer cylinder is divided into a first area from the upper end of the outer cylinder to the ribs and a second area where the ribs are arranged, and a portion of the first area of the outer cylinder is elastically deformable in a radial direction.

2. The screw cap according to claim 1, wherein the screw cap body further has a brim extending along an outer periphery of the cap body and joining the cap body and the outer cylinder to each other at a position lower than the ribs.

3. The screw cap according to claim 2, wherein the brim has a through-hole penetrating the brim in the up-down direction between adjacent ones of the ribs in the circumferential direction of the cap body.

4. The screw cap according to claim 2 or 3, wherein with reference to the brim, a dimension of the rib in the up-down direction is 1 / 3 to 5 / 6 of a dimension of the outer cylinder in the up-down direction.

5. The screw cap according to claim 4, wherein the cap body has a cylinder body formed with an internal thread in an inner peripheral surface, a closing plate closing an upper end portion of the cylinder body, and an inner ring protruding downward from the closing plate and sandwiching the mouth portion from the radial direction in cooperation with the cylinder body, and in the up-down direction, the upper end of the outer cylinder is located between a top position which is an uppermost position of an upper surface of the closing plate and a lower end of the inner ring.

6. The screw cap according to claim 5, wherein the cap body has a contact ring protruding downward from the closing plate between the cylinder body and the inner ring and being contactable with an end surface of the mouth portion, in the up-down direction, a lower end of the contact ring is located between the top position of the closing plate and the lower end of the inner ring, and in the up-down direction, the upper end of the outer cylinder is located between the lower end of the contact ring and the lower end of the inner ring.

7. The screw cap according to claim 6, further comprising: in addition to the screw cap body, an anti-tamper ring joined to the screw cap body, disposed on a lower side of the brim, and being breakable when engaged with the mouth portion in an initial opening operation, wherein the dimension of the rib in the up-down direction is longer than a dimension of the anti-tamper ring in the up-down direction.

8. A container comprising: the screw cap according to claim 1 or 2; and a container body to which the screw cap is attached, wherein the container body has a spout which is a drinking spout openable and closable by turning the screw cap, and a pouch which is a bag attached to the spout.

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