JP7484642B2 - Outlet structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a spout structure for a packaging container.

A packaging container that has an inner plug and a cap for sealing the packaging container and that reduces the effort required to open the container has been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses a packaging container in which the cap cuts off the intended opening portion of the inner plug as the cap rotates in the closing direction.

International Publication No. 2007/126062

In the packaging container of Patent Document 1, for example, the separation part provided in the inner plug is separated by removing the cap to expose the opening and serve as the spout, so there are limitations to convenience, such as low freedom in designing the spout due to the ease of forming the opening.

The present invention was made in consideration of these problems, and aims to further improve the convenience of a spout structure that opens by opening part of the inner plug.

One aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem is a spout structure that includes an inner plug including a cylindrical wall, a fitting portion that fits with the mouth of the container body, a partition wall on the inside of the cylindrical wall, and a protrusion extending from the partition and having a communicating portion consisting of a notch or hole, and a cap that is placed on the inner plug and includes a side wall, a top plate with a spout, and an engaging portion that is provided on the outer periphery of the spout of the top plate and can engage with the protrusion, and when the cap moves toward the container body, the partition wall and the protrusion separate from the cylindrical wall with the engaging portion engaged with the protrusion, allowing the contents to pass through the communicating portion and the spout, thereby opening the plug.

According to the present invention, the contents that pass through the opening formed in the stopper can be poured out by passing it through a notch or hole provided in the cap as a pouring outlet, which makes it easier to design the pouring speed and pouring direction, and provides various improvements in convenience.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a spout structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inside plug according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a spout structure according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a cylindrical wall and a cap according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a cap according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a mouth portion and a fitting portion of a container body according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a spout structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an inside plug according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

First Embodiment
A longitudinal cross-sectional view of a spout structure of a packaging container according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1(a) shows the spout structure in an unopened state, and Fig. 1(b) shows the spout structure in an open state. There are no limitations on the packaging container to which the spout structure can be attached, but examples include bottles molded from resins such as polyethylene terephthalate.

The spout structure includes an inner plug 20 attached to the mouth 11 of the container body 10, and a cap 30. The inner plug 20 includes a cylindrical wall 27 having an external thread 25 formed thereon, an annular fitting portion 21 that fits with the mouth 11, a partition wall 22 on the inside of the cylindrical wall 27, and a protrusion 23 extending from the partition wall 22. The cap 30 includes a side wall 31, an inner wall 38 having an internal thread 37 formed thereon, a top plate 32 having a spout 36, and an engagement portion 35 provided on the outer periphery of the spout 36 of the top plate 32 and capable of engaging with the protrusion 23. The side wall 31 and the inner wall 38 may be integrally formed without a gap therebetween. The cap 30 is placed over the inner plug 20 and is screwed into the cylindrical wall 27. In the example of FIG. 1, the cap 30 further includes a hinge 33 and a lid body 34 that is connected to the hinge 33 and can open and close the spout 36. The inner plug 20 can be preferably manufactured using polyethylene (low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene), and the cap 30 can be preferably manufactured using polypropylene or polyethylene (high-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene).

As shown in FIG. 1(a), in the unopened state, the partition 22 of the inner plug 20 is connected to the cylindrical wall 27, and the inner plug 20 closes the cylindrical wall 27. By rotating the cap 30 in the closing direction, the partition 22 and the protruding portion 23 separate from the cylindrical wall 27 with the engaging portion 35 engaged with the protruding portion 23, as shown in FIG. 1(b), and the cap is opened.

Figure 2(a) shows a schematic perspective view of the stopper 20 fitted into the mouth 11. The protrusion 23 has a communication portion 24. In this example, the communication portion 24 is a notch. Figure 2(b) shows another example of the protrusion 23. In this example, the communication portion 24 is a hole. In the state shown in Figure 1(b), the contents can pass through the communication portion 24, such as a hole or notch, and the spout 36.

In this way, the outlet 36 is provided separately from the communication part 24 of the inner plug 20, so the shape of the outlet 36 can be designed independently of the inner plug 20, making it easier to adjust the pouring speed according to the viscosity of the contents, the purpose, etc. In addition, the pouring speed can also be adjusted by the size of the communication part 24. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the pouring speed can be suppressed by making the diameter of the outlet 36 smaller than the diameter of the partition wall 22. FIG. 3 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of another example of the outlet structure. In this example, the cap 30 has an outlet to which a pouring member 40 having a slit in a cross shape or the like is attached, at a position offset from the central axis of the tube wall 27, so that the pouring direction can be inclined. In this way, the cap 30 can be designed in a variety of ways without being limited in its form as long as it can provide an outlet.

The partition 22 also serves to suppress the momentum of the contents moving toward the spout 36, preventing the contents from splashing. It is preferable that the partition 22 has a shape in which the central portion protrudes toward the inside of the container body 10. This makes it easier to suppress deformation of the partition 22 even if the internal pressure of the contents increases, and also allows the contents to be suitably guided along the partition 22 to the communication portion 24, preventing the contents from remaining behind.

The cap 30 can also be rotated in the opening direction to remove it from the tube wall 27 and pour out the contents. In this case, the protrusion 23 and the partition wall 22 are removed together with the cap 30 because the protrusion 23 is engaged with the engagement portion 35. This makes it possible to obtain an opening larger than the spout 36, allowing a large amount of contents to be poured out in a short period of time. To prevent dripping in this case, a drip prevention portion 28 may be provided that extends from the top of the tube wall 27 and has an inner diameter that increases toward the tip, as shown in FIG. 1.

The engagement structure between the protrusion 23 and the engagement portion 35 can be, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, an engagement structure in which the engagement portion 35 sandwiches the protrusion 23 from both the inner and outer periphery of the top of the protrusion 23, but is not limited to this. As in the example of FIG. 2(b), when the communication portion 24 is a hole and the top of the protrusion 23 is continuous, the top is difficult to move (difficult to deform), so a structure in which the engagement portion 35 contacts and engages with the protrusion 23 from either the inner or outer periphery of the top of the protrusion 23 may be adopted.

Figures 4(a) and (b) show a schematic, see-through view of the tube wall 27 and a portion of the inner wall 38 and inner thread 37 of the cap 30. The inner wall 38 has a recess near the tip of the thread of the inner thread 37, where the thread height is lower than other portions. The recess is formed, for example, by not providing a thread. The tube wall 27 has a first rib 29a and a second rib 29b formed between the threads of the outer thread 25.

In the state shown in FIG. 4(a), the recess engages with the first rib 29a, restricting the rotation of the cap 30 to a certain extent. In other words, a certain amount of rotational torque is required to release this engagement. This state corresponds to the state shown in FIG. 1(a). In this state, the spout structure is in an unused state where it has not been opened, and it can be transported, sold, etc. in this state, for example.

In addition, in the state shown in FIG. 4(b), the recess engages with the second rib 29b, restricting the rotation of the cap 30 to a certain degree. In other words, a certain amount of rotational torque is required to release this engagement. This state corresponds to the state shown in FIG. 1(b). In this state, the spout structure is in an open, usable state. For example, in this state, the user can continue to use the product. In this way, by restricting rotation to a certain degree in the unused state and in the used state, unintended rotation of the cap 30 can be suppressed. In addition, by restricting rotation to a certain degree in the used state, when the user rotates the cap 30 in the closing direction to open the cap, the completion of the rotation operation can be detected, and loosening of the cap in the used state can be suppressed.

The first rib 29a and the second rib 29b are preferably provided at positions where they overlap when viewed from the central axial direction of the tube wall 27. This ensures that the orientation of the cap 30 relative to the container body 10 along the rotational direction is the same when displayed in a store and when in use. Therefore, if the cap 30 has a hinge 33 or an obliquely positioned spout 36, etc., and has a shape and function that is directional for ease of use, the orientation of the cap 30 in its used state can be presented to the user even when it is unused when displayed in a store, making it possible to appeal to ease of use.

Figure 4(c) shows a schematic side view of the cap 30 as seen from the direction of the arrow in Figure 4(a). In the example shown in Figure 4(c), the side wall 31 of the cap 30 is treated to have a non-slip surface at one or two locations about 90° away from the position where the recess of the internal thread 37 is formed in the direction of rotation of the cap 30. This allows the user to pinch the non-slip processing location when rotating the cap 30, preventing the engagement point between the recess of the internal thread 37 and the first rib 29a or the second rib 29b from being pressed, and preventing the force required for disengagement from becoming unnecessarily large. Note that the form of the non-slip processing is not limited, and the lid 34 may also be treated to have a non-slip surface.

As shown in FIG. 5, a band 39 may be detachably provided on the side wall 31 of the cap 30 at the end opposite the top plate 32. In this case, when the cap is not opened, the band 39 abuts against the base 21' of the fitting portion 21 of the inside plug 20 shown in FIG. 1, restricting the rotation operation of the cap 30 in the closing direction as an unused state that has not been opened. For example, in this state, the cap can be transported, sold, etc. When the band 39 is separated from the side wall 31, the cap 30 can be rotated in the closing direction. The cap is opened by the rotation operation, and the end of the cap 30 abuts against the base 21', completing the rotation operation in the closing direction, and the user can detect that the partition 22 of the inside plug 20 has been broken. For example, the user can continue using the cap by assuming this state as a used state.

In this way, by restricting the movement of the cap 30 to a certain degree between the unopened and opened states, unintended breakage of the inner plug 20 and loosening of the cap 30 can be prevented. In addition, if a band 39 is provided, the fact that the band 39 is not separated can indicate that the bottle is unopened.

When the cap 30 is rotated in the closing direction, the rotational torque of the cap 30 and the pressure caused by the cap 30 approaching the tube wall 27 are transmitted from the top plate 32 through the protruding portion 23 between the tube wall 27 and the partition wall 22, acting as a breaking force. By adjusting the effect of the rotational torque and the pressure by designing the shape and size of the protruding portion 23, etc., the rotational torque and rotation angle required for breaking can be adjusted. For example, if the protruding portion 23 is allowed to deform in the rotational direction to a large extent, the rotation angle required for breaking will increase, but the peak of the rotational torque can be suppressed, making it easy for even a user with weak strength to rotate the cap 30. Between the fitting portion 21 and the partition wall 22, a thin-walled portion or half cut, etc. may be appropriately provided to weaken the strength.

In an unused state, the engagement portion 35 and the protrusion 23 do not need to be engaged. In this case, engagement occurs as the rotation operation progresses. At this time, the user can feel the engagement, and thus can easily feel the start and progress of opening along with the fluctuation in the force required for the subsequent rotation operation, eliminating anxiety that the opening may not have been completed.

In order to allow the rotational torque to act favorably as a breaking force, a non-slip mechanism against the rotational direction may be provided between the stopper 20 and the mouth 11 of the container body 10, or between the stopper 20 and the top plate 32, or both, to more reliably suppress rotation of the fitting portion 21. An example of a cross section at the location indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 1(a) is shown in FIG. 6. In the example shown in FIG. 6, unevenness is provided on the inner circumference of the fitting portion 21 and the outer circumference of the mouth 11 to suppress slippage between the stopper 20 and the mouth 11. In addition, to suppress slippage between the stopper 20 and the top plate 32, unevenness may be provided on the contact surface between the engagement portion 35 and the protrusion 23 in a similar manner, for example.

The inside stopper 20 according to this embodiment can be separated from the container body 10 and thus can be disposed of separately. To facilitate separation, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the fitting portion 21 may be provided with a sorting belt 26 as part of a fitting mechanism with the mouth portion 11 of the container body 10, and the fitting portion 21 may be easily released from the mouth portion 11 by separating the fitting portion 21 from the fitting portion 21, for example by breaking the sorting belt 26 along the thin portion, so that the inside stopper 20 can be separated from the container body 10. Alternatively, the fitting portion 21 and the tube wall 27 do not have to be separable, and may be welded to each other, for example.

Second Embodiment
The spout structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the spout structure according to the first embodiment, in which a restricting portion that restricts movement of the cap 30 along the central axis direction of the cylindrical wall 27 is provided instead of the internal threads 37 and the external threads 25. Explanations of matters similar to those in the first embodiment will be omitted.

A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the spout structure according to this embodiment is shown in FIG. 7. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the regulating portion is composed of a ridge 37' provided on the inner peripheral wall of the inner wall 38 and multiple ridges 25', 25'', 25''' provided on the outer peripheral wall of the cylindrical wall 27. Each plane including the ridge 37' and each ridge 25' is perpendicular to the central axis of the cylindrical wall 27. The ridge 37' and each ridge 25' may be provided around the entire circumference, or may be provided intermittently.

In the unopened state shown in FIG. 7(a), the ridge 37' is sandwiched between the first ridge 25' and the second ridge 25'' from the top of the tube wall 27. In the open state shown in FIG. 7(b), the ridge 37' is sandwiched between the third ridge 25'' from the top of the tube wall 27 and the top of the fitting portion 21. As a result, the movement of the cap 30 along the central axis of the tube wall 27 is restricted to a certain degree in each state. In this embodiment, the restriction portion restricts the movement of the cap 30 to a certain degree in the unopened state and the open state, thereby preventing unintended breakage of the inner plug 20 and loosening of the cap 30. The structure of the restriction portion is not limited as long as it has a similar function.

In this embodiment, by pushing the cap 30, a pressing force is transmitted from the top plate 32 through the protruding portion 23 between the cylindrical wall 27 and the partition wall 22, and acts as a breaking force. The shape of the protruding portion 23 is the same as in the first embodiment, but may be modified. FIG. 8 shows a protruding portion 23 according to a modified example. In the example shown in FIG. 8, a portion of the top of the protruding portion 23 is higher than the other portions, and as the cap 30 is pushed in the closing direction, it first comes into contact with and is pressed against the top plate 32. In this way, the breaking force is first applied locally to initiate breaking, and then this triggers the breaking to progress, allowing the breaking to be performed preferably with less force.

As described above, in the spout structure according to the present invention, the contents that pass through the opening formed in the inner plug 20 can be further poured out through the spout 36 provided in the cap 30, and various improvements in convenience can be achieved, such as making it easier to design the pouring speed and pouring direction. Note that the features in each of the above-mentioned embodiments can be omitted, modified, or combined as appropriate.

The present invention is useful for the spout structure of a packaging container.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Container body 11 Mouth 20 Inner plug 21 Fitting portion 21' Base 22 Partition wall 23 Protrusion 24 Communication portion 25 External thread 25', 25'', 25''' Convex strip 26 Separation belt 27 Cylinder wall 28 Dripping prevention portion 29a First rib 29b Second rib 30 Cap 31 Side wall 32 Top plate 33 Hinge 34 Lid 35 Engagement portion 36 Spout 37 Internal thread 37' Convex strip 38 Inner wall 39 Band 40 Spout member

Claims (9)

an inner plug including a cylindrical wall, a fitting portion that fits with an opening of a container body, a partition wall on the inside of the cylindrical wall, and a protruding portion that extends from the partition wall and has a communication portion formed of a notch or a hole;
a cap that is provided on the outer periphery of the pouring outlet of the top plate and includes an engagement portion that is engageable with the protrusion, and is adapted to cover the inside plug;
A spout structure in which, by moving the cap toward the container body, the partition and the protrusion separate from the cylindrical wall with the engagement portion engaged with the protrusion, allowing the contents to pass through the communication portion and the spout, thereby opening the spout. The spout structure according to claim 1, wherein the cap further comprises a lid capable of opening and closing the spout. The spout structure according to claim 1 or 2, in which the cylindrical wall has an external thread and the side wall has an internal thread, and the cap can be moved toward the container body by rotating the cap in the closing direction. The side wall is provided with a recess in the middle of the thread of the internal screw, the height of the thread being lower than other portions,
The cylindrical wall is provided with a first rib between the threads of the outer screw, the first rib engaging with the recess when the cap is not opened and restricting rotation of the cap to a certain degree in an unused state, and a second rib engaging with the recess when the cap is opened by rotating the cap in a closing direction and restricting rotation of the cap to a certain degree in a used state,
The spout structure according to claim 3 , wherein the first rib and the second rib are provided at positions overlapping each other when viewed from the central axial direction of the cylindrical wall. The spout structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cylindrical wall and the side wall are provided with a restricting portion that restricts the movement of the cap along the central axis of the cylindrical wall to a certain extent in an unused state when the cap is not opened, and restricts the movement of the cap toward the container body to a certain extent in an opened state in a used state. The cylindrical wall is provided with a base,
A band is provided on the side wall in a separable manner,
When the container is not opened, the band abuts against the base to restrict the cap from moving toward the container body, thereby preventing the cap from moving toward the container body.
A spout structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein separation of the band enables movement of the cap toward the container body, and when the side wall abuts the base, movement of the cap toward the container body is completed and the partition breaks, placing the cap in a usable state. The spout structure according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the engagement portion and the protrusion are not engaged in the unused state. The spout structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the partition wall has a shape in which the central portion protrudes toward the inside of the cylindrical wall. The spout structure of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cylindrical wall is provided with a drip suppression section that extends from the top and increases in inner diameter toward the tip.

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