Tube container
The tube container design addresses damage issues by distributing impact through a cap end with a curved continuous portion and thinner, longer structure, enhancing durability and reducing stress concentration.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FUJI SEAL INTERNATIONAL INC
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-01
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
AI Technical Summary
Conventional tube containers suffer damage to the shoulder and cap due to localized stress when they fall, as the distance between the cap and shoulder is minimized to prevent foreign matter entry, leading to collision and potential damage upon impact.
A tube container design featuring a body with a dispensing section and cap that distribute impact through a cap end portion with a curved continuous portion and a thinner, longer cap end that bends easily, reducing localized stress concentration.
The design effectively suppresses damage to the shoulder and cap during falls by distributing impact over a larger contact surface and allowing the cap end to bend, thereby reducing stress concentration.
Smart Images
Figure JP2025041736_18062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Tube container 【0001】 The present disclosure relates to a tube container. 【0002】 In a conventional tube container disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-138458 (Patent Document 1), the pouring unit is composed of a pouring outlet portion and a shoulder portion that projects radially outward from this pouring outlet portion. Also, a cap is configured to be detachable from the pouring outlet portion. 【0003】 A conventional tube container disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-117232 (Patent Document 2) includes a head member having a body tube that is a laminated molded tube and a shoulder joined to one end of the body tube. The cap has a head and a cover connected to the head. The head has an inner tube portion attached to the tube container and an outer tube portion located radially outside the inner tube portion. 【0004】 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-138458 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-117232 【0005】 In order to suppress foreign matter from entering the inside of the cap from the outside, it is preferable to make the distance between the cap and the shoulder small. However, when this distance is small, when the tube container falls and lands on the cap side, due to the impact of landing, the shoulder and the edge of the cap collide locally. Also, when the shoulder and the edge of the cap are in contact with each other in advance, a large stress is applied to the contact portion between the shoulder and the edge of the cap due to the impact of landing. As a result, the cap or the shoulder is damaged. 【0006】 The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a tube container capable of suppressing damage to the shoulder and the cap during falling. 【0007】A tube container according to a certain aspect of the present disclosure comprises a body, a dispensing section, and a cap. The body includes an opening which is one end of a cylindrical body formed from a single sheet. The dispensing section includes a joint end, a shoulder, and a spout. The joint end is joined to the opening and extends annularly along the opening about a hypothetical central axis. The shoulder extends from the joint end toward the central axis. The spout extends from the shoulder along the central axis. The cap includes an engaging portion, a circumferential wall portion, and a cap end. The engaging portion is opposite the shoulder while engaging with the spout. The circumferential wall portion extends from the engaging portion toward the shoulder. The cap end extends from the circumferential wall portion away from the central axis and along the shoulder. The cap end includes a tip edge and a contact surface. The tip edge is located at the tip in the extending direction of the cap end, and the contact surface extends toward the tip edge while in contact with the shoulder. 【0008】 According to this disclosure, damage to the shoulder and cap during a fall can be suppressed. 【0009】 This is a perspective view showing a tube container according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. This is a partial cross-sectional view of the tube container of Figure 1, viewed in the direction of the arrow II-II. This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of region III in Figure 2. This is a further enlarged cross-sectional view of Figure 3. This is a partial cross-sectional view of a modified tube container. 【0010】 Hereinafter, a tube container according to the embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The same or corresponding parts in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated. 【0011】 Furthermore, in this specification, if a certain component is said to contain a specific resin as its main component, it may mean that the content of the specific resin in the certain component is 85% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, 95% by mass or more, or 99% by mass or more. 【0012】 (One Embodiment) Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a tube container according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 1, the tube container 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a body portion 10, a dispensing portion 20, and a cap 30. 【0013】The body portion 10 includes an opening 11, a closing portion 12, a housing body portion 13, and a side seal portion 14. 【0014】 The opening 11 is one end of a cylindrical body formed from a single sheet. The closing portion 12 is formed by closing the other end of the cylindrical body. In this embodiment, the closing portion 12 is formed by welding the inner surfaces of the other end of the cylindrical body together. The closing portion 12 may also be formed by closing the other end with a different member from the cylindrical body. The storage body portion 13 stores the contents. The storage body portion 13 is located between the opening 11 and the closing portion 12. The storage body portion 13 is composed of the portion between one end and the other end of the cylindrical body. 【0015】 The side seal portion 14 is formed when one end piece of the sheet is welded to the other end piece when forming the cylindrical body. In this embodiment, the side seal portion 14 extends across the opening 11, the closing portion 12, and the housing body portion 13. 【0016】 In this embodiment, the sheet and the body portion 10 are made of resin. In this embodiment, the sheet and the body portion 10 may mainly contain a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or cyclic olefin polymer, or they may mainly contain a polyester resin. In this embodiment, the sheet and the body portion 10 mainly contain a polyester resin. As a result, the tube container 1 has excellent recyclability. Furthermore, the sheet as a whole preferably contains 85% by mass or more of polyester resin, and more preferably 90% by mass or more. The polyester resin may be polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), and is preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 【0017】 The sheet and body portion 10 may have a multilayer structure formed by laminating multiple layers together in the thickness direction. The multiple layers may include a barrier layer or a reinforcing layer. 【0018】The thickness of the sheet is preferably, for example, 12 μm to 250 μm, from the viewpoint of forming the sheet into a cylindrical shape and the handling of the tube container 1. The thickness of the sheet is preferably 100 μm or more, more preferably 120 μm or more, and even more preferably 150 μm or more, from the viewpoint of ensuring the desired drop strength. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of making the housing body portion 13 of the body portion 10 resilient for dispensing the contents, the thickness of the sheet is preferably 200 μm or less. 【0019】 Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the tube container of Figure 1, viewed in the direction of the arrow II-II. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the dispensing section 20 includes a joint end 21, a shoulder portion 22, and a spout 23. 【0020】 The joint end 21 is joined to the opening 11 and extends in an annular shape along the opening 11 with respect to a virtual central axis C. The opening 11 is located on the outer circumferential surface of the joint end 21. The outer circumferential surface of the joint end 21 extends parallel to the central axis C. In this specification, unless otherwise specified, "inside" may refer to the side of the central axis C, and "outside" may refer to the side opposite to the central axis C. 【0021】 The shoulder portion 22 extends from the joint end 21 toward the central axis C. The shoulder portion 22 extends away from the torso portion 10, starting from the joint end 21. The shoulder portion 22 extends from the end of the joint end 21 opposite to the side of the housing body portion 13. The shoulder portion 22 extends in an annular shape around the central axis C. The shoulder portion 22 has a roughly frustoconical outer shape. The shoulder portion 22 may also have a roughly disc-shaped outer shape. 【0022】 The spout 23 extends from the shoulder portion 22 along the central axis C. The spout 23 extends from the end of the shoulder portion 22 on the side of the central axis C. The spout 23 extends away from the body portion 10, starting from the shoulder portion 22. The spout 23 has a cylindrical outer shape with respect to the central axis C. The contents contained in the main body portion 13 of the body portion 10 can be dispensed to the outside of the tube container 1 by passing through the joint end 21, the shoulder portion 22, and the inside of the spout 23. 【0023】Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of region III in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a further partially enlarged view of Figure 3. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the cap 30 includes an engaging portion 31, a peripheral wall portion 32, and a cap end portion 33. 【0024】 The engaging portion 31 is detachably engaged with the spout 23 and faces the shoulder portion 22. Unless otherwise specified, the cap 30 will be described as it is when the engaging portion 31 is engaged with the spout 23. The engaging portion 31 includes a top wall portion 311 and a protruding portion 312. 【0025】 The top wall portion 311 has a roughly plate-like outer shape. The top wall portion 311 faces the spout 23 in the direction in which the central axis C extends. The top wall portion 311 closes the spout 23. The top wall portion 311 faces the shoulder portion 22 in the direction in which the central axis C extends. The tube container 1 may be placed with the top wall portion 311 facing downwards. 【0026】 The protruding portion 312 protrudes from the top wall portion 311. The protruding portion 312 engages with the spout 23 in a detachable manner. The protruding portion 312 engages with the outer surface of the spout 23. In this embodiment, the protruding portion 312 has a snap-fit structure. 【0027】 The peripheral wall portion 32 extends from the engaging portion 31 toward the shoulder portion 22. Specifically, the peripheral wall portion 32 extends from the top wall portion 311. The peripheral wall portion 32 has a cylindrical outer shape with the central axis C as the center. 【0028】 The peripheral wall portion 32 includes a continuous portion 321 and a wall body 322. The continuous portion 321 is the portion that is continuous with the cap end portion 33. The wall body 322 is the portion that further connects the engaging portion 31 and the continuous portion 321. 【0029】The continuous portion 321 is separated from the shoulder portion 22. The inner surface 321a of the continuous portion 321 is curved convexly toward the shoulder portion 22 from the wall body 322 to the cap end portion 33. The thickness (Tx1) of the continuous portion 321 gradually decreases from the wall body 322 toward the cap end portion 33. In this specification, the thickness at a certain position in the peripheral wall portion 32 and the cap end portion 33 is the shortest dimension from the inner surface to the outer surface at that position. At the boundary between the wall body 322 and the continuous portion 321, the thickness of the wall body 322 (Tx2) and the thickness of the continuous portion 321 (Tx1) are the same. This makes it possible to make the thickness of the continuous portion 321 relatively thick, along with the thickness of the wall body 322. Consequently, the strength of the cap 30 can be improved. 【0030】 The cap end 33 extends from the peripheral wall portion 32 so as to be away from the central axis C and along the shoulder portion 22. Specifically, the cap end 33 extends from the continuous portion 321. The cap end 33 includes a tip edge 33a, a contact surface 33b, and a separation surface 33c. The tip edge 33a is located at the tip of the cap end 33 in the extension direction DE. The contact surface 33b extends to the tip edge 33a while in contact with the shoulder portion 22 at the tip side. The separation surface 33c (see Figure 4) faces the shoulder portion 22 but is separated from it. However, when the tube container 1 falls and lands with the cap 30 side down, and the cap 30 is partially pressed against the shoulder portion 22, the separation surface 33c may come into contact with the shoulder portion 22. The separation surface 33c is located between the inner surface 321a of the continuous portion 321 and the contact surface 33b. The separation surface 33c connects the inner surface 321a of the continuous portion 321 and the contact surface 33b to each other. However, the cap end 33 does not have to include the separation surface 33c. If the cap end 33 does not include the separation surface 33c, the contact surface 33b may be directly connected to the inner surface 321a of the continuous portion 321. 【0031】The cap end 33 extends in an annular shape around the central axis C. However, the cap end 33 may extend in an arc shape around the central axis C. The contact surface 33b extends in an annular shape around the central axis C. However, the contact surface 33b may extend in an arc shape around the central axis C. Furthermore, on any virtual plane including the central axis C and the cap end 33, the contact surface 33b extends linearly along the extension direction DE (see Figures 2 to 4). On the above virtual plane, the separation surface 33c extends linearly along the extension direction DE (see Figure 4). On any virtual plane including the central axis C and the cap end 33, the length (Lb) of the contact surface 33b is shorter than the length (Lc) of the separation surface 33c. 【0032】 In this embodiment, the thickness (Ty) of the cap end portion 33 is thinner than the thickness (Tx) of the peripheral wall portion 32. The length of the cap end portion 33 in the extension direction DE is greater than the thickness (Tx) of the peripheral wall portion 32. The length of the cap end portion 33 in the extension direction DE is 1.5 times or more and 2.5 times or less the thickness (Tx) of the peripheral wall portion 32. In the above, the thickness (Tx) of the peripheral wall portion 32 may be the minimum thickness of the peripheral wall portion 32, or it may be the minimum thickness (Tx2) of the wall body 322. 【0033】 In this embodiment, the dispensing section 20 and the cap 30 are made of molded resin. From the viewpoint of the recyclability of the tube container 1, it is preferable that the dispensing section 20 and the cap 30 are made of a resin composition mainly composed of polyester resin. The polyester resin used in the dispensing section 20 and the cap 30 can be the same as the polyester resin used in the sheet that makes up the body 10. The dispensing section 20 and the cap 30 may be formed from different materials. 【0034】From the viewpoint of the recyclability of the tube container 1, it is preferable that the resin composition constituting the dispensing section 20 and the cap 30 contains only polyester resin as the resin component. The resin composition constituting the dispensing section 20 and the cap 30 may further contain conventionally known additives. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of reducing environmental impact, it is preferable that the polyester resin in the resin composition is made from recycled materials or biomass-derived materials, but from the viewpoint of reducing the manufacturing cost of the dispensing section 20 and the cap 30, it is also preferable that the polyester resin in the resin composition is made from virgin materials. However, when the dispensing section 20 and the cap 30 are made from polyester resin, they are more prone to breakage when localized stress occurs in the dispensing section 20 or the cap 30 compared to when they are made from polypropylene or polyethylene. 【0035】 As described above, a tube container 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a body portion 10, a dispensing portion 20, and a cap 30. The body portion 10 includes an opening 11 which is one end of a cylindrical body formed from a single sheet. The dispensing portion 20 includes a joint end portion 21, a shoulder portion 22, and a spout 23. The joint end portion 21 is joined to the opening 11 and extends annularly along the opening 11 about a virtual central axis C. The shoulder portion 22 extends from the joint end portion 21 toward the central axis C. The spout 23 extends from the shoulder portion 22 along the central axis C. The cap 30 includes an engaging portion 31, a peripheral wall portion 32, and a cap end portion 33. The engaging portion 31 engages with the spout 23 and faces the shoulder portion 22. The peripheral wall portion 32 extends from the engaging portion 31 toward the shoulder portion 22. The cap end portion 33 extends from the peripheral wall portion 32 so as to be away from the central axis C and along the shoulder portion 22. The cap end portion 33 includes a tip edge 33a and a contact surface 33b. The tip edge 33a is located at the tip of the cap end portion 33 in the extension direction DE. The contact surface 33b extends to the tip edge 33a while in contact with the shoulder portion 22. 【0036】With the above configuration, when the tube container 1 falls and lands on the cap 30 side, the peripheral wall portion 32 is displaced toward the shoulder portion 22. As a result of this displacement, the cap end portion 33 presses against the shoulder portion 22. Here, the cap end portion 33 can distribute the impact over a relatively large contact surface 33b. In addition, the cap end portion 33 can easily bend relative to the peripheral wall portion 32 in response to the reaction force from the shoulder portion 22. This makes it possible to suppress localized collision between the shoulder portion 22 and the cap end portion 33 when the tube container 1 falls, and to suppress the application of large stresses to the contact point between the shoulder portion 22 and the cap 30. Consequently, damage to the shoulder portion 22 and the cap 30 can be suppressed. 【0037】 The above effects are more pronounced when the dispensing section 20 and cap 30 are made of a resin composition mainly composed of polyester resin. In other words, even if the dispensing section 20 and cap 30 are relatively fragile due to being made of a resin composition mainly composed of polyester resin, damage during drops can be effectively suppressed. 【0038】 Furthermore, in this embodiment, the peripheral wall portion 32 includes a continuous portion 321 that is continuous with the cap end portion 33. The continuous portion 321 is separated from the shoulder portion 22. The inner surface 321a of the continuous portion 321 is curved convexly toward the shoulder portion 22, up to the cap end portion 33. 【0039】 As described above, because the inner surface 321a of the continuous portion 321 is curved in a convex shape, when the tube container 1 falls and lands on the cap 30 side, the cap end 33 can bend more easily together with the continuous portion 321. 【0040】 Furthermore, the thickness (Ty) of the cap end 33 is thinner than the thickness (Tx) of the peripheral wall 32. This allows the cap end 33 to bend more easily relative to the peripheral wall 32 when the tube container 1 falls and lands on the cap side 30. 【0041】Further, the thickness (Tx1) of the continuous portion 321 gradually decreases toward the cap end 33. If the continuous portion has a step or the like (i.e., a portion where the thickness of the continuous portion changes abruptly), when the tube container falls and lands on the cap side, stress may concentrate on the abrupt change portion of the above thickness along with the bending of the cap end. However, in the present embodiment, the thickness (Tx1) gradually decreases as in the above configuration. Thereby, when the tube container 1 falls and lands on the cap 30 side, while suppressing local stress concentration on the continuous portion 321 along with the bending of the cap end 33, the thickness (Ty) of the cap end 33 can be made thinner. 【0042】 Further, the length of the cap end 33 in the extending direction DE is greater than the thickness (Tx) of the peripheral wall portion 32. Thereby, the extending direction DE of the cap end 33 becomes relatively long, and the cap end 33 becomes more likely to bend with respect to the peripheral wall portion 32. As a result, it is possible to further suppress the application of a large stress to the contact portion between the shoulder portion 22 and the cap 30. 【0043】 Further, the length of the cap end 33 in the extending direction DE is 1.5 times or more and 2.5 times or less the thickness (Tx) of the peripheral wall portion 32. If the length of the cap end 33 in the extending direction DE is 1.5 times or more the thickness (Tx) of the peripheral wall portion 32, the extending direction DE of the cap end 33 becomes even longer. Thereby, the cap end 33 becomes even more likely to bend with respect to the peripheral wall portion 32. As a result, when the tube container 1 falls and lands on the cap 30 side, the contact area between the shoulder portion 22 and the bent cap end 33 expands, and the stress acting on the shoulder portion 22 is further dispersed, so that it is possible to further suppress the application of a large load of the dropping impact locally to the shoulder portion 22. 【0044】 (Modification) The type of the cap is not limited to the above. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a tube container according to a modification. As shown in FIG. 5, the cap 30A may be a so-called hinge cap. In the cap 30A, the top wall portion 311 includes a first wall portion 311a, a second wall portion 311b, and a hinge 311c. 【0045】A through hole penetrating on the central axis C is formed in the first wall portion 311a. A protruding portion 312 and a peripheral wall portion 32 extend from the first wall portion 311a. The second wall portion 311b is connected to the first wall portion 311a by a hinge 311c. The second wall portion 311b is configured to be rotatable about the hinge 311c. Thereby, the second wall portion 311b can approach or separate from the first wall portion 311a. When the second wall portion 311b contacts the first wall portion 311a, the second wall portion 311b closes the through hole. 【0046】 In this modified example as well, the cap end portion 33 extends from the peripheral wall portion 32 so as to be away from the central axis C and along the shoulder portion 22. The leading edge 33a is located at the leading end of the extending direction DE of the cap end portion 33. The contact surface 33b extends while contacting the shoulder portion 22 up to the leading edge 33a. 【0047】 In the description of the above-described embodiments, combinable configurations may be combined with each other. 【0048】 The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included. 【0049】 1 Tube container, 10 Barrel portion, 11 Opening portion, 12 Closing portion, 13 Accommodating main body portion, 14 Side seal portion, 20 Pouring portion, 21 Joining end portion, 22 Shoulder portion, 23 Pouring outlet, 30, 30A Cap, 31 Engaging portion, 32 Peripheral wall portion, 33 Cap end portion, 33a Leading edge, 33b Contact surface, 33c Separation surface, 311 Top wall portion, 311a First wall portion, 311b Second wall portion, 311c Hinge, 312 Protruding portion, 321 Continuous portion, 321a Inner surface, 322 Wall main body, C Central axis, DE Extending direction.
Claims
1. A tube container comprising a body, a dispensing section, and a cap, wherein the body includes an opening which is one end of a cylindrical body formed from a single sheet, the dispensing section includes a joint end, a shoulder, and a spout, the joint end is joined to the opening and extends annularly along the opening with respect to a virtual central axis, the shoulder extends from the joint end toward the central axis, the spout extends from the shoulder along the central axis, the cap includes an engaging portion, a circumferential wall portion, and a cap end, the engaging portion engages with the spout and faces the shoulder, the circumferential wall portion extends from the engaging portion toward the shoulder, the cap end extends from the circumferential wall portion away from the central axis and along the shoulder, the cap end includes a tip edge and a contact surface, the tip edge is located at the tip in the extending direction of the cap end, The contact surface extends from the shoulder portion to the tip edge of the tube container.
2. The peripheral wall portion includes a continuous portion that is continuous with the cap end, the continuous portion is separated from the shoulder portion, and the inner surface of the continuous portion is curved convexly toward the shoulder portion up to the cap end portion. The tube container according to claim 1.
3. The tube container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the thickness of the cap end is thinner than the thickness of the peripheral wall portion.
4. The tube container according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the cap end is thinner than the thickness of the peripheral wall, and the thickness of the continuous portion gradually decreases toward the cap end.
5. The tube container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the length of the cap end in the extending direction is greater than the thickness of the peripheral wall portion.
6. The tube container according to claim 5, wherein the length of the cap end in the extending direction is 1.5 times or more and 2.5 times or less the thickness of the peripheral wall portion.