Lid for beverage container and beverage container

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a lid for a beverage container in which a drinking port is formed when a portion for forming the drinking port is pressed and which is excellent in terms of hygiene and safety by preventing a fingertip from entering deeply through the lid for the beverage container and coming into contact with a beverage in the beverage container. [Solution] A lid for a beverage container which comprises a cover plate part that covers an opening of the beverage container and a side peripheral part that is provided on an outer peripheral edge of the cover plate part and that is engageable with an edge part of the opening, said lid being characterized by comprising: a drinking port forming part that is provided on the peripheral edge side of the cover plate part and that is surrounded by a drinking port forming line part made of a substantially C-shaped cut line part with an intermediate portion between end portions bulging toward the peripheral edge side; and an aroma window part that is surrounded by an aroma window line part made of a substantially C-shaped cut line part with an intermediate portion, which is between end portions and which is provided on the inner side of the drinking port forming part, bulging toward the center side more than the drinking port forming part, wherein the drinking port forming line part and the aroma window line part are spaced apart from each other.

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 a beverage container, and to a beverage container provided with the lid for a beverage container.

[0002] Conventionally, at many beverage retailers such as fast food stores and convenience stores, the opening of a beverage container such as a plastic (synthetic resin) or paper cup is covered with a lid for the beverage container, so that beverages such as juice and coffee contained therein are less likely to spill from the opening during carrying, when the beverages are sold.

[0003] Particularly in recent years, there has been a demand for a lid for a beverage container that eliminates the need for a straw and can form a drinking spout that allows easy drinking of the beverage without removing the lid for the beverage container. For this reason, there has been proposed a lid for a beverage container in which a drinking spout can be easily formed by pressing a drinking spout forming portion provided on the lid for a beverage container with a fingertip to push the drinking spout forming portion downward and fold it (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] According to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the opening operation itself can be simplified, the drinking spout can be formed by a single pressing operation on the drinking spout forming portion, and there is also an advantage that consumers can intuitively grasp how to form the drinking spout.

[0005] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2024-058988

[0006] However, in the lid for a beverage container disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, when forming the drinking spout, an operation of pushing the drinking spout forming portion downward with a fingertip is essential. In this case, if the pressing force applied from the fingertip to the drinking spout forming portion becomes excessively large, the fingertip will penetrate deep into the lid for the beverage container. As a result, the fingertip that has penetrated deep into the lid comes into contact with the beverage in the beverage container, making the beverage that is about to be drunk unsanitary. Furthermore, if the beverage is a so-called hot drink such as hot coffee or hot tea, there is a risk that the fingertip that comes into contact with the beverage may be burned, which causes a problem in terms of safety for consumers.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention was devised in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its objective is to provide a beverage container lid that is superior in terms of hygiene and safety by preventing fingertips from reaching deep into the beverage container lid and coming into contact with the beverage inside the beverage container, in a beverage container lid that forms a drinking spout by pressing a drinking spout forming portion.

[0008] The beverage container lid according to the first invention comprises a cover plate portion that covers the opening of a beverage container, and a side peripheral portion provided on the outer peripheral edge of the cover plate portion, which can engage with the edge of the opening of the beverage container when the cover plate portion covers the opening of the beverage container, and is characterized in that it comprises a drinking spout forming portion provided on the peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion, surrounded by a drinking spout forming line portion consisting of a substantially C-shaped cut line portion whose middle section between the ends bulges outwards toward the peripheral edge, which is the shape of the peripheral edge of the drinking spout, and an aroma window portion provided inside the drinking spout forming line portion, surrounded by an aroma window line portion consisting of a substantially C-shaped cut line portion whose middle section between the ends bulges outwards toward the center than the drinking spout forming portion, and the drinking spout forming line portion and the aroma window line portion are spaced apart from each other.

[0009] The lid for a beverage container according to the second invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, the aroma window portion is lifted upward by the reaction force that pushes the drinking spout forming portion downward.

[0010] The lid for a beverage container according to the third invention is characterized in that, in the first invention, it is surrounded by two linear portions extending from the inside of the drinking spout forming portion toward the inside of the aroma window portion, and further comprises a stress transmission portion with higher strength than the general portion of the covering plate portion.

[0011] The beverage container according to the fourth invention is characterized by comprising a container body and a beverage container lid described in any of the first to third inventions.

[0012] According to the first to fourth inventions, the beverage container lid and beverage container are provided with a drinking spout forming portion on the peripheral edge of the cover plate portion and an aroma window portion surrounded by an aroma window line portion, which is a roughly C-shaped cut line portion that bulges outwards towards the center than the drinking spout forming portion, located inside the drinking spout forming line portion, and the drinking spout forming line portion and the aroma window line portion are spaced apart from each other. As a result, a drinking spout can be formed by pressing the drinking spout forming portion with the upper lip. Therefore, it is possible to provide a beverage container lid that is superior in terms of hygiene and safety by preventing fingertips from reaching deep into the beverage container lid and coming into contact with the beverage inside the beverage container.

[0013] In particular, according to the second invention, the aroma window portion is lifted upward by the reaction force of pushing the mouthpiece-forming portion downward. As a result, when the mouthpiece-forming portion is pressed with the upper lip, the aroma window portion is lifted upward by the reaction force when the mouthpiece-forming portion is pushed downward. This makes it possible to form the aroma window at the same time as forming the mouthpiece.

[0014] In particular, according to the third invention, the cover plate is further provided with a stress transmission portion that is stronger than the general portion, surrounded by two linear portions that extend from the inside of the mouthpiece-forming portion toward the inside of the aroma window portion. As a result, when the mouthpiece-forming portion is pressed with the upper lip, the reaction force when the mouthpiece-forming portion is pushed downward is more easily transmitted to the aroma window portion, making it possible to lift the aroma window portion upward more easily. This makes it possible to easily form the aroma window at the same time as forming the mouthpiece.

[0015] Figure 1(a) is a schematic plan view showing an example of a paper lid to which the present invention is applied. Figure 1(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line IB-IB in Figure 1(a). Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the area within the dashed frame II in Figure 1(b). Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a paper lid to which the present invention is applied. Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of an example within the dashed frame II in Figure 1(b). Figure 5 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a drinking spout portion of a paper lid to which the present invention is applied. Figure 6(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the action of pressing the drinking spout portion with the upper lip. Figure 6(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line IB-IB in Figure 1(a) when the drinking spout portion is pressed with the upper lip. Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a paper lid with a drinking spout formed thereon. Figure 8 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a stress transmission portion. Figure 9 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a case where multiple stress transmission portions are provided.

[0016] Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a beverage container lid to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0017] Figure 1(a) is a schematic plan view showing an example of a paper cover 1 to which the present invention is applied, and Figure 1(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line IB-IB in Figure 1(a). Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the area within the dashed frame II in Figure 1(b), and Figure 3 is a perspective view thereof.

[0018] As shown in Figures 1(a), 1(b), 2, and 3, the paper lid 1 consists of a blank 10 mainly made of paper and includes a top plate portion 11, a wrapping portion 12, an outward extension portion 13, an inner fitting portion 14, a top portion 15, an outer fitting portion 16, an under rib 17, an enlarged diameter portion 18, and a downward extension portion 19. The shape of the paper lid 1 when viewed from above is, for example, circular. Hereinafter, in Figures 1 and 2, the outward direction (direction X1) refers to the direction outward from the paper container 2, which is to be fitted, for example, a paper cup; the downward direction (direction X2) refers to the downward direction when the paper container 2 is placed on the bottom surface; the upward direction (direction X3) refers to the upward direction when the paper container 2 is placed on the bottom surface; and the inward direction (direction X4) refers to the inward direction from the paper container 2. However, these downward (direction X2) and upward (direction X3) directions are not limited to perfectly vertical downward and vertical upward directions, but also include diagonally downward and diagonally upward directions that are offset from vertical downward and vertical upward directions, respectively. Furthermore, the outward direction (direction X1) may be, for example, the direction indicating the peripheral edge of the paper container 2, and the inward direction (direction X4) may be the direction indicating the central side of the paper container 2. In addition, the paper container 2 is not limited to being made of paper, but may be a container made of resin or metal.

[0019] Furthermore, the top plate portion 11 and the encasing portion 12 are primarily responsible for the function of preventing the contents 6 inside the paper container 2 from scattering or leaking, while the remaining peripheral portion OEP (outer extension portion 13, inner fitting portion 14, top portion 15, outer fitting portion 16, under rib 17, enlarged diameter portion 18, and downward extension portion 19) are responsible for fitting with the paper container 2.

[0020] The top plate portion 11 has a top surface 11a and a container surface 11b. The container surface 11b is on the underside of the top surface 11a. A drinking spout portion 3, which will be described later, is appropriately provided on the top plate portion 11. The container surface 11b faces the container portion of the paper container 2 when the paper lid 1 is fitted onto the paper container 2. The top plate portion 11 may be provided with recesses, protrusions, and other steps as appropriate from the viewpoint of convenience or decorative purposes.

[0021] The covering portion 12 is provided along the outer circumference of the top plate portion 11 and extends downward (direction X2) from the top plate portion 11. This covering portion 12 is continuous with the top plate portion 11. In this case, the covering portion 12 may be molded to gradually increase in diameter as it extends downward (direction X2). Also, the continuous portion between the covering portion 12 and the top plate portion 11 may be molded in a rounded, streamlined shape. With a covering portion 12 having such a form, the top plate portion 11 can be closed at a position spaced apart from the paper container 2. Furthermore, the top plate portion 11 and the covering portion 12 can be molded to form a so-called dome shape that bulges upward (direction X3).

[0022] The outer extension portion 13 is provided along the outer circumference of the encased portion 12 on the peripheral edge portion OEP of the paper cover 1 and extends outward (direction X1).

[0023] The inner fitting portion 14 is provided on the peripheral edge OEP of the paper cover 1, along the outer circumference of the outer extension portion 13, and extends upward (direction X3). The inner fitting portion 14 may be made up to the top portion 15 with a substantially uniform diameter, in other words, in a substantially vertical direction in cross-sectional view, but is not limited to this, and may gradually increase in diameter outward (direction X1) up to the top portion 15.

[0024] The top portion 15 is provided on the peripheral edge OEP of the paper cover 1, along the outer circumference of the inner fitting portion 14, and extends outward (direction X1).

[0025] The outer fitting portion 16 is provided on the peripheral edge OEP of the paper lid 1, along the outer circumference of the top portion 15, and extends downward (direction X2). The outer fitting portion 16 is separated from and opposite to the inner fitting portion 14. Below the top portion 15, an annular recess 20 is provided between the inner fitting portion 14 and the outer fitting portion 16, with the inner fitting portion 14 and the outer fitting portion 16 serving as the surrounding walls and the top portion 15 as the base. The annular recess 20 is fitted into the paper container 2. At this time, the inner fitting portion 14 fits into the inner circumferential surface 21 of the container portion of the paper container 2, and the outer fitting portion 16 fits into the outer circumferential surface of the curl portion 28 of the paper container 2.

[0026] The underrib 17 is formed in continuous with the outer fitting portion 16 and is bent in the inward direction (direction X4). The underrib 17 includes a curved surface that is concave toward the inward direction (direction X4).

[0027] The enlarged diameter portion 18 is provided along the outer circumference of the under rib 17 and extends outward (direction X1) as it progresses downward (direction X2).

[0028] The downward extension portion 19 extends downward (direction X2) from the lower end of the enlarged diameter portion 18.

[0029] The enlarged diameter portion 18 and the downward extension portion 19 may also be configured as a crimped portion 42 that is folded back and crimped from the end portion 10a of the paper lid 1. With such an enlarged diameter portion 18 and downward extension portion 19, it is possible to guide the paper container 2 into the annular recess 20 when fitting the annular recess 20 into the paper container 2.

[0030] It should be noted that the paper lid 1 to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the shape described above. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the paper lid 1 may have at least a top plate portion 11, a covering portion 12, an outer extension portion 13, an inner fitting portion 14, and a top portion 15, and may have any other configuration. In other words, the dotted line portion shown in Figure 4 is not particularly limited and may reflect any configuration or shape, or the dotted line portion itself may be omitted. That is, the paper lid 1 is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the covering plate portion consisting of the top plate portion 11 and the covering portion 12, and should have a side peripheral portion (peripheral edge portion OEP) that can engage with the edge of the opening of the paper container 2, which is a beverage container, when the covering plate portion covers the opening of the paper container 2.

[0031] Figure 5 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a drinking spout 3 of a paper lid 1 to which the present invention is applied. The drinking spout 3, as shown in Figure 5, for example, is provided on the outward (direction X1) side of the top plate 11 and has a drinking spout forming portion 33 surrounded by a drinking spout forming line portion 32 which is a cut line portion that is the shape of the drinking spout on the outward (direction X1) side of the drinking spout, and a fragrance window portion 35 surrounded by a fragrance window line portion 34 which is a roughly C-shaped cut line portion that bulges inward (direction X4) from the drinking spout forming portion 33 at the midpoint between ends C and D provided inside the drinking spout forming line portion 32.

[0032] The drinking spout forming line portion 32 includes any shape in which the middle of both ends A and B bulges outwards in a roughly C-shape (direction X1). The drinking spout forming portion 33 is the portion enclosed by the drinking spout forming line portion 32.

[0033] The aroma window line portion 34 includes any substantially C-shaped portion whose intermediate end between its ends C and D bulges inward (direction X4) compared to the mouthpiece forming portion 33. The mouthpiece forming line portion 32 and the aroma window line portion 34 are spaced apart. The mouthpiece forming line portion 32 and the aroma window line portion 34 are spaced apart, for example, on a straight line connecting the ends A and B of the mouthpiece forming line portion 32, such that a gap h is created between the mouthpiece forming line portion 32 and the aroma window line portion 34 from both ends A and B. Furthermore, the mouthpiece forming portion 33 surrounded by the mouthpiece forming line portion 32 is configured to have a larger diameter in the width direction than the aroma window portion 35 surrounded by the aroma window line portion 34.

[0034] Next, a method for forming a drinking spout on a beverage container lid according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 6 to 9. Figure 6(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the action of pressing the drinking spout forming portion 33 with the upper lip L. Figure 6(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line IB-IB in Figure 1(a) when the drinking spout forming portion 33 is pressed with the upper lip L. Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a paper lid with a drinking spout formed on it.

[0035] First, as shown in Figure 6, when drinking the contents 6 inside the paper container 2, the upper lip L presses the mouthpiece forming portion 33 downward (direction X2). As a result, as shown in Figure 6(b), the reaction force from pressing the mouthpiece forming portion 33 downward (direction X2) lifts the aroma window portion 35. This makes it possible to form the mouthpiece 110 and the aroma window 111 without using fingers. Therefore, by preventing fingertips from reaching deep into the beverage container lid and coming into contact with the beverage inside the container, it is possible to provide a beverage container lid that is superior in terms of hygiene and safety. In addition, since gaps h are provided between the aroma window lines 34 from both ends A and B of the mouthpiece forming line portion 32, when the mouthpiece forming portion 33 is pressed downward (direction X2), these gaps h act as a fulcrum, making it easier to transmit the reaction force that lifts the aroma window portion 35. Furthermore, when the upper lip L is separated from the mouthpiece forming portion 33, the downward pressure (direction X2) on the mouthpiece forming portion 33 is removed, allowing the mouthpiece forming portion 33 and the aroma window portion 35 to return to their original positions and be resealed.

[0036] A second embodiment of a beverage container lid to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the drinking spout 3 further has a stress transmission portion 36. Further explanations similar to those for the first embodiment will be omitted.

[0037] Figure 8 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a stress transmission section 36. Figure 9 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a case where multiple stress transmission sections 36 are provided. The drinking spout section 3 is surrounded by two lines extending from the inside of the drinking spout forming section 33 toward the inside of the aroma window section 35, and further comprises a stress transmission section 36 with higher strength than the general section of the top plate section 11. The stress transmission section 36 is a high-strength section formed by, for example, making it thicker than the general section, or by bending it by pressing, as shown in Figure 8. The drinking spout section 3 may also have two or more stress transmission sections 36 surrounded by two lines extending from the inside of the drinking spout forming section 33 toward the inside of the aroma window section 35, as shown in Figure 9.

[0038] As a result, by pressing the mouthpiece-forming portion 33 with the upper lip, the reaction force when pushing the mouthpiece-forming portion 33 downward is more easily transmitted to the aroma window portion 35, making it possible to lift the aroma window portion 35 upward more. This makes it possible to easily form the aroma window 111 at the same time as forming the mouthpiece 110.

[0039] While embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents.

[0040] 1 Paper lid 2 Paper container 3 Drinking spout 6 Contents 10 Blank 11 Top plate 12 Encased part 13 Outer extension 14 Inner fitting part 15 Top 16 Outer fitting part 17 Underrib 18 Enlarged diameter part 19 Downward extension part 20 Annular recess 21 Inner surface of container part 28 Curled part 31 Bulging part 32 Wire for forming the drinking spout 33 Part for forming the drinking spout 34 Wire for the aroma window 35 Part for the aroma window 36 Stress transmission part 42 Crimped part 110 Drinking spout 111 Aroma window

Claims

1. A beverage container lid comprising: a cover plate portion that covers the opening of a beverage container; and a side peripheral portion provided on the outer peripheral edge of the cover plate portion, which is capable of engaging with the edge of the opening of the beverage container when the cover plate portion covers the opening of the beverage container, wherein the lid comprises: a drinking spout forming portion provided on the peripheral edge side of the cover plate portion, surrounded by a drinking spout forming line portion consisting of a substantially C-shaped cut line portion whose intermediate position between the ends bulges outwards toward the peripheral edge, which is the shape of the peripheral edge of the drinking spout; and an aroma window portion provided inside the drinking spout forming line portion, surrounded by an aroma window line portion consisting of a substantially C-shaped cut line portion whose intermediate position between the ends bulges outwards toward the center compared to the drinking spout forming portion, wherein the drinking spout forming line portion and the aroma window line portion are spaced apart from each other.

2. The lid for a beverage container according to claim 1, characterized in that the aroma window portion is lifted upward by the reaction force of the drinking spout forming portion being pushed downward.

3. The beverage container lid according to claim 1, further comprising a stress transmission portion that is stronger than the general portion of the cover plate, surrounded by two linear portions that extend from the inside of the drinking spout forming portion toward the inside of the aroma window portion.

4. A beverage container comprising a container body and a lid for a beverage container as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

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