JP7610827B2 - cap - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cap that is attached to the mouth of a container.

The cap is attached to the mouth of a container that contains liquid, and forms a spout for pouring the liquid from the container to the outside (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As shown in FIG. 1 and paragraph [0029] of Patent Document 1, the cap (hinge cap) described in Patent Document 1 has, as a buffer mechanism 28, an annular side wall 48 that hangs down from the periphery of the spout 24, and a flow rate adjustment plate (bottom plate 50) that closes the lower end of the side wall 48. The side wall 48 has a plurality of slit-shaped openings 48a that allow the liquid (content liquid) to pass through, spaced apart in the circumferential direction. This buffer mechanism 28 reduces the momentum of the liquid (content liquid) when the container is tilted to pour out the liquid (content liquid).

JP 2019-189324 A

In the cap (hinge cap) described in Patent Document 1, when the container is tilted, the liquid (content liquid) whose momentum has been softened by the buffer mechanism 28 passes through the outlet 24 and is then poured out. Therefore, even if the momentum of the liquid (content liquid) is once softened by the buffer mechanism 28, it will be accelerated again when it is poured out from the outlet 24. Therefore, if we focus on the liquid (content liquid) that has been poured out of the cap (hinge cap) and the container, the momentum is not sufficiently softened as a result.

In particular, when the liquid (contents) is a liquid seasoning such as soy sauce, the liquid seasoning (such as soy sauce) poured out of the spout 24 accelerates and reaches a small dish or food, causing the liquid seasoning (such as soy sauce) to splash, which may stain the surrounding table or clothes.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a cap that can prevent the surrounding area from being contaminated by poured liquid.

In order to solve the above problems, a cap according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a lid body attached to a mouth of a container;
A pouring tube provided on the lid body;
A pouring plate provided inside the pouring tube and having a pouring outlet formed therein;
A flow rate adjusting plate disposed above the spout;
A support portion that supports the flow rate adjustment plate from the pouring plate;
a top cover connected to the cover body via a hinge;
The support portion has an opening that communicates with the spout and faces laterally,
The top cover is
an inner lid that engages with the flow rate adjustment plate and the pouring tube when attached to the lid body;
A gap is provided between the inner lid and a surface facing the lid body,
The inner lid is
an inner recess that surrounds the flow rate adjustment plate when the upper lid is attached to the lid body;
and an outer circumferential engagement portion that engages with the pouring tube when the upper lid is attached to the lid body,
The gap is reduced or eliminated when the top cover is attached to the cover body.

In addition, the cap according to the second invention is the cap according to the first invention, wherein the pouring tube has an air replacement hole,
The air replacement hole is a hole that introduces air into the interior of the container when liquid is poured from the interior of the container through the pouring outlet and the opening in the support part.

Furthermore, the cap according to the third invention is such that the total area of the openings of the support portion in the cap according to the second invention is greater than the total area of the air replacement holes.

In addition, the cap according to the fourth invention has an air replacement hole in the cap according to the second or third invention that faces to the side.

A cap according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the cap according to any one of the second to fourth aspects of the present invention , wherein an opening of the support portion is located on an opposite side to the hinge,
The air displacement hole is located on the hinge side.

The cap according to the sixth invention is a cap according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, in which the flow rate adjustment plate has a downward convex portion that protrudes downward at its center.

With this cap, the force of the liquid from the spout is softened by the flow rate adjustment plate, so the liquid that reaches the target outside the container is less likely to splash. Even if the liquid splashes up inside the container, it will not pass through the opening facing the side of the support part. This makes it possible to prevent the liquid from contaminating the surrounding area.

1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a state in which a cap according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a container. FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the cap attached to a container. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the cap of FIG. 1 with a top cover attached to a cover body. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a state in which a container with the cap attached is tilted to pour out liquid. FIG. FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a cap according to another embodiment of the present invention attached to a container.

The following describes a cap according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, this cap 1 is attached to the mouth m of a container B in which liquid L, such as liquid seasoning, is stored, and serves to soften the force of the liquid L and pour it out of the container B. To achieve this, the cap 1 comprises a lid body 2 attached to the mouth m of the container B, a pouring tube 3 attached to the lid body 2, a pouring plate 4 provided inside the pouring tube 3 and having a pouring outlet 5 formed therein, a flow rate adjustment plate 6 disposed above the pouring outlet 5, and a support portion 7 that supports the flow rate adjustment plate 6 from the pouring plate 4. The support portion 7 has an opening 8 that is connected to the pouring outlet 5 and faces to the side.

The pouring tube 3 preferably has an air replacement hole 31. The air replacement hole 31 is a hole that guides air into the interior of the container B when the liquid L is poured out from inside the container B through the pouring outlet 5 and the opening 8 of the support part 7. The air replacement hole 31 guides air into the interior of the container B when the liquid L is poured out from inside the container B through the pouring outlet 5 and the opening 8 of the support part 7, thereby suppressing pulsation of the poured liquid L. When the pulsation of the liquid L is suppressed, that is, when sudden fluctuations in the flow rate of the liquid L being poured out are suppressed, the flow rate of the liquid L being poured out becomes stable.

The total area of the openings 8 of the support part 7 is preferably larger than the total area of the air replacement holes 31. The number of openings 8 and air replacement holes 31 of the support part 7 is not limited to one each, and each may be multiple. By having the total area of the openings 8 of the support part 7 larger than the air replacement holes 31, a sufficient flow rate of the liquid L poured out from the openings 8 of the support part 7 is ensured.

The air replacement hole 31 is preferably a hole facing to the side. Here, the term "facing to the side" in terms of the air replacement hole 31 (and the opening 8 of the support part 7) is not limited to facing in a completely horizontal direction with respect to the vertical axis V of the lid body 2, but allows a deviation of up to ±10° from this horizontal direction. By having the air replacement hole 31 (and the opening 8 of the support part 7) facing to the side, even if liquid L splashes up inside the container B, the splashed liquid L does not pass through the air replacement hole 31 (and the opening 8 of the support part 7).

Preferably, the cap 1 includes a top cover 10 connected to the cover body 2 via a hinge 9, and as shown in FIG. 3, the opening 8 (8c) of the support part 7 is located on the opposite side of the hinge 9, and the air replacement hole 31 (31a) is located on the hinge 9 side. When the cap 1 includes the top cover 10, the user tries to pour out the liquid L from the opposite side of the top cover 10 (the opposite side of the hinge 9). Therefore, the liquid L is easily poured out from the opening 8 (8c) of the support part 7 located on the opposite side of the hinge 9. On the other hand, air is easily guided into the inside of the container B from the air replacement hole 31 (31a) on the hinge 9 side, which is difficult for the poured liquid L to reach. The opening 8 of the support part 7 may be located not only on the opposite side 8c of the hinge 9, but also on the hinge 9 side 8a, and between the opposite side 8c of the hinge 9 and the hinge 9 side 8a 8b, 8d. Similarly, the air replacement holes 31 may be located not only on the hinge 9 side 31a, but also on the opposite side 31c of the hinge 9, and between the hinge 9 side 31a and the opposite side 31c of the hinge 9 31b, 31d. The openings 8 of the support part 7 and the air replacement holes 31 are formed in many directions radially from the vertical axis V of the lid body 2, so that the liquid L can be more easily poured out and air can be guided into the container B.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the top lid 10 is preferably detachable from the lid body 2. For example, an engagement tube 21 is provided on the outer periphery of the pouring tube 3, and the top lid 10 is formed to be able to engage with the engagement tube 21 as a configuration for being detachable. When the liquid L is not used, the user attaches the top lid 10 to the lid body 2, and when the liquid L is used, the user removes the top lid 10 from the lid body 2. As a result, even if the container B falls or tilts when the liquid L is not used, the top lid 10 prevents the liquid L from flowing out. To ensure this prevention, the top lid 10 preferably has an inner lid 11 that engages with the flow rate adjustment plate 6 and the pouring tube 3. The inner lid 11 has an inner recess 16 that surrounds the flow rate adjustment plate 6 and an outer periphery engagement portion 13 that engages with the pouring tube 3 when the top lid 10 is attached to the lid body 2. When the top lid 10 is attached to the lid body 2, the inner lid 11 surrounds the flow rate adjustment plate 6 in the inner recess 16, and the pouring tube 3 and the outer circumferential engagement portion 13 engage with each other. This engagement positions the top lid 10 relative to the lid body 2, and reliably seals the pouring tube 3. The flow rate adjustment plate 6 and the inner recess 16 may be configured to engage with each other.

As shown in FIG. 1, the top lid 10 preferably has a gap 19 between the surface 15 facing the lid body 2 and the inner lid 11. As shown in FIG. 4, this gap 19 decreases (or disappears) when the top lid 10 is attached to the lid body 2. As a result, even if the top lid 10 is loosened from the lid body 2 due to the container B falling over or tilting, the inner lid 11 does not immediately come into contact with the locking protrusion 17, so the inner lid 11 is not subjected to external force until it comes into contact with the locking protrusion 17. Therefore, even if the top lid 10 is loosened from the lid body 2, the engagement between the outer peripheral engagement portion 13 of the inner lid 11 and the pouring tube 3 is not released for a while until the inner lid 11 is moved by an external force, in other words, the engagement is maintained.

The flow rate adjustment plate 6 preferably has a downward convex portion 61 that protrudes downward at its center. This downward convex portion 61 guides the liquid L from the spout 5 to the opening 8 of the support portion 7, stabilizing the flow rate of the liquid L poured out from the opening 8 of the support portion 7.

The lid body 2 is not particularly limited as long as it has a structure that allows it to be attached to the mouth m of the container B, but for example, it has an outer tube portion 27 that contacts the outer surface of the mouth m, and an inner tube portion 28 that contacts the inner surface of the mouth m. In other words, the lid body 2 is attached to the container B by the outer tube portion 27 and the inner tube portion 28 sandwiching the mouth m of the container B from the outer surface and inner surface.

The lid body 2 preferably has a drip receiver 22 on the outer periphery of the pouring tube 3. After the liquid L is poured out of the pouring tube 3, most of the dripping is prevented by the flow rate adjustment plate 6, but some dripping may remain outside the pouring tube 3. This slight dripping is received by the receiver 22 formed on the outer periphery of the pouring tube 3, for example, by a groove 22 formed between the pouring tube 3 and the engagement tube 21.

The material of the cap 1 is not particularly limited, but is preferably made of synthetic resin. By making the cap 1 from synthetic resin, it becomes easier to attach the lid body 2 to the mouth m of the container B, and it also becomes easier to attach and detach the lid body 2 and the top lid 10.

The following describes how to use the cap 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid L is sold together with the container B and the cap 1, with the cap 1 attached to the mouth m of the container B containing the liquid L and the top lid 10 attached to the lid body 2. If the liquid L contained in the container B is at a high temperature (above room temperature) when the cap 1 is attached to the mouth m of the container B, the temperature of the liquid L will naturally drop and the inside of the container B will be reduced in pressure. If a user who has purchased such liquid L together with the container B and the cap 1 initially opens the cap 1, the aforementioned reduced pressure state may be suddenly released, causing the liquid L to splash up inside the container B. However, because the opening 8 and the air replacement hole 31 of the support part 7 are facing sideways, the splashed up liquid L does not pass through the opening 8 and the air replacement hole 31 of the support part 7.

When using liquid L, as shown in Figure 1, the user removes top lid 10 from lid body 2, and tilts container B so that the side of lid body 2 opposite top lid 10 (opposite hinge 9) faces down, as shown in Figure 5. As a result, liquid L stored inside container B passes through spout 5, as shown by the solid black arrow in Figure 5, has its momentum softened by flow rate adjustment plate 6, and is guided by downward convex portion 61 to opening 8 of support portion 7 and poured out. At this time, air is guided into container B from air replacement hole 31, as shown by the hollow arrow in Figure 5.

The poured liquid L reaches the object on which the user wants to use the liquid L. If the liquid L is a liquid seasoning such as soy sauce, the object is, for example, a small dish or food.

In this way, with the cap 1, the force of the liquid L from the spout 5 is softened by the flow rate adjustment plate 6, so that the liquid L that reaches the target outside the container B is less likely to splash. Even if the liquid L splashes up inside the container B, the liquid L does not pass through the opening 8 facing the side of the support part 7. Therefore, contamination of the surroundings by the liquid L can be prevented.

Furthermore, the air replacement hole 31 suppresses pulsation of the liquid L and stabilizes the flow rate of the liquid L being poured out, further preventing contamination of the surroundings by the liquid L.

In addition, since the air replacement hole 31 faces to the side, even if liquid L splashes up inside the container B, it does not pass through the air replacement hole 31, and as a result, contamination of the surroundings by the liquid L can be further prevented.

In addition, because the opening 8 of the support part 7 has a total area larger than that of the air replacement hole 31, a sufficient flow rate of the liquid L poured out from the opening 8 of the support part 7 is ensured, so the user does not need to tilt the container B excessively to pour out the liquid L, which further prevents contamination of the surroundings by the liquid L.

In addition, the liquid L is more easily poured out and air is guided into the container B through the opening 8 of the support part 7 located on the opposite side of the hinge 9 and the air replacement hole 31 located on the hinge 9 side, so that contamination of the surroundings by the liquid L can be further prevented.

In addition, the downward convex portion 61 of the flow rate adjustment plate 6 guides the liquid L from the spout 5 to the opening 8 of the support part 7, so that the flow rate of the liquid L poured out from the opening 8 of the support part 7 is stabilized, and as a result, contamination of the surroundings by the liquid L can be further prevented.

In the above embodiment, the shapes of the opening 8 of the support part 7 and the air replacement hole 31 were not described, but there are no particular limitations as long as they guide the liquid L and air, respectively. As an example, the shapes of the opening 8 of the support part 7 and the air replacement hole 31 are rectangular, trapezoidal (for example, an isosceles trapezoid whose lower base is longer than its upper base), circular, etc.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the area of the outlet 5 was not described, but there is no particular limitation as long as the outlet 5 allows the liquid L to pass through. It is preferable that the area of the outlet 5 is larger than the area of the outlet plate 4. This is because the flow rate of the liquid L poured out is stabilized, which further prevents the liquid L from contaminating the surroundings.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the pouring plate 4 is horizontal with respect to the vertical axis V of the lid body 2, but this is not limited to the above. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the pouring plate 4 may be tilted so that the side of the vertical axis V is downward (the side opposite the vertical axis V is upward). By tilting the pouring plate 4 in this way, it is possible to achieve the effect that the liquid L can easily flow down the pouring plate 4 and return to the inside of the container B.

In addition, although the above embodiment does not describe the molding of the inner lid 11, the inner lid 11 may be molded integrally with the other components of the top lid 10 and then separated from the surface 15 of the top lid 10.

Furthermore, the above-described embodiment is illustrative in all respects and is not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. Among the configurations described in the above-described embodiment, those other than those described as the first invention in "Means for solving the problem" are optional configurations and may be deleted or modified as appropriate.

B container m mouth 1 cap 2 lid body 3 pouring tube 4 pouring plate 5 pouring outlet 6 flow rate adjustment plate 7 support portion 8 opening 9 hinge 10 top lid 13 outer peripheral engagement portion 16 inner engagement portion 21 engagement tube 22 receiving portion (groove portion)
27 Outer cylinder portion 28 Inner cylinder portion 31 Air replacement hole 61 Downward convex portion

Claims (6)

A lid body that is attached to the mouth of the container;
A pouring tube provided on the lid body;
A pouring plate provided inside the pouring tube and having a pouring outlet formed therein;
A flow rate adjusting plate disposed above the spout;
A support portion that supports the flow rate adjustment plate from the pouring plate;
a top cover connected to the cover body via a hinge;
The support portion has an opening that communicates with the spout and faces laterally,
The top cover is
an inner lid that engages with the flow rate adjustment plate and the pouring tube when attached to the lid body;
A gap is provided between the inner lid and a surface facing the lid body,
The inner lid is
an inner recess that surrounds the flow rate adjustment plate when the upper lid is attached to the lid body;
and an outer circumferential engagement portion that engages with the pouring tube when the upper lid is attached to the lid body,
A cap, characterized in that the gap is reduced or eliminated when a top lid is attached to the lid body. The outlet tube has an air replacement hole,
2. The cap according to claim 1, wherein the air replacement hole is a hole that introduces air into the interior of the container when liquid is poured out from the interior of the container through the pouring outlet and the opening of the support part. The cap according to claim 2, characterized in that the total area of the openings of the support portion is greater than the total area of the air replacement holes. A cap as described in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the air replacement hole is a hole facing to the side. the opening of the support is located on the opposite side of the hinge;
5. The cap according to claim 2, wherein the air displacement hole is located on the hinge side. A cap according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the flow rate adjustment plate has a downward convex portion that protrudes downward at its center.

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