CA2990674A1

CA2990674A1 - Container cap equipped with function for unfolding state

Info

Publication number: CA2990674A1
Application number: CA2990674A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Bo Youn SUNG
Original assignee: Kim Soo Keum
Current assignee: Kim Soo Keum
Priority date: 2017-03-07
Filing date: 2018-01-03
Publication date: 2018-09-07
Also published as: CN109383920A; KR20180102476A; SG11202001187VA; BR112019022856B1; WO2019031779A1; CN209127261U; CN109383920B; US20200207525A1; CA3072429A1; MX2018000014A; KR102195928B1; BR112019022856A2

Abstract

At least one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a cap with stay-open function, including a tamper ring to be prevented from separation from a spout of a container, a cap body for screwing to an outer circumferential surface of the spout of the container, a hinge portion for interconnecting the cap body and the tamper ring over a circumferential portion of a cutout section defined by and between the cap body and the tamper ring, and bridges configured to connect the cap body and the tamper ring at intervals along the circumferential portion of the cutout section, and to be cut when the cap body is opened. The hinge portion has both side edges, which are respectively adjacent to the cutout section, deepen from an outer surface toward an inner surface of the cap body to form bending indents integrated with the cap body and the tamper ring, and to include a lower longitudinally central area extending downwardly to form a protrusion. The tamper ring has a longitudinally central area including a section set to form a slit, and to have an area corresponding to the projection with a space maintained and indented downwardly by a depth to form a recess.

Description

CONTAINER CAP EQUIPPED WITH FUNCTION FOR
UNFOLDING STATE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure in some embodiments relates to a container cap with a stay-open function. More particularly, the present disclosure in some embodiments relates to a stay-open container cap that stays connected with a tamper ring clinging to the cap spout and maintains a full open position apart from the cap opening after the container is uncapped.
BACKGROUND

[0002] Containers for liquid materials including a liquid food such as mineral water or for liquid substances such as oil, paint or chemicals are generally formed with a mouth or spout that allows entry and exit of the liquid material.

[0003] In addition, such a spout is installed with a cap for opening and closing the opening of the spout, in order to control the ingress and egress of liquid material.

[0004] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, a typical coupling structure of a spout (N) of a container (B) and a cap 10 includes a male thread or screw (MIS) formed on the external surface (EIS) of the relatively protruding spout (N), and a female screw (F/S) provided to a corresponding inner surface (VS) of the covering cap 10, so as to allow screw coupling or uncoupling between the container (B) and the cap 10.

[0005] As seen in example caps disclosed by Korean registered patent publication No. 10-1325850 (container cap: hereinafter referred to as "prior art 1") and Korean registered patent publication No. 10-1038894 (container cap:
hereinafter referred to as "prior art 2"), recent development of the cap 10 of the container (B) keeps the cap 10 attached to its spout (N) even after it is unscrewed to address the concern for missing cap and possible contamination from surroundings.

[0006] According to the above prior art 1 and 2 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the container cap 10 constitutes a cap body 16 which includes a top portion 12 and a cylindrical sidewall 14 extending downwardly from the top portion 12 into a cylindrical shape and formed internally with a female screw (F/S), and it has a tamper ring 18 integrally connected by a plurality of circumferentially arranged bridges 20 and a hinge portion 22 on one side.

[0007] In addition, the tamper ring 18 under the hinge portion 22 is formed with an incision slit 24 extending centrally thereof along a horizontal length and with anti-rotation projections 30 projecting from the inner circumferential walls thereof below the incision slit 24.

[0008] Therefore, when rotating the cap body 16 to open the spout (N) of the container (B), the cap body 16 rises while the tamper ring 18 can't so as to break the bridges 20 from connecting the cap body 16 via a cutout section 25 with the tamper ring 18 because the latter has its anti-rotation projections stuck by a flange (C) which formed on the container (B) and interposes the tamper ring 18 between a supporting shoulder (SIC) also formed on the container (B).

[0009] In this way, the breakage or intactness of the bridges 20 allows to verify whether there is an opening of the cap 10 on the container (B).

[0010] Here, the above-mentioned hinge portion 22 is connected to the upper part of the slit 24 in the tamper ring 18, and the slit 24 yields (open) when the cap body 16 is elevated from the spout (N) of the container (B) and thereby maintains the connection between the tamper ring 18 and the cap body 16 via the hinge portion 22.

[0011] Further, the prior arts 1 and 2 disclose opening portions 26 having an incision shape extending to the cap body 16 and the tamper ring 18 on both sides of the hinge portion 22. The opening portions 26 are adapted to secure a clearance for allowing the hinge portion 22 to be folded in and out, and they have their lengths in the direction toward the upper cap body 16 from the boundary position between the cap body 16 and the tamper ring 18.

[0012] Then, the hinge portion 22 between the two opening portions 26 is provided with a stepped portion or bump 28 which extends horizontally midway between the cap body 16 and the tamper ring 18 and gets thinner outwardly, and at the same time, is formed so as to be bent with reference to the horizontal tangential direction of the cap body 16 and the tamper ring 18. As a result, the bump 28 has a shape protruding on both sides in the horizontal direction further outward than the surfaces of the cap body 16 and the tamper ring 18.

[0013] The protuberance of the bump 28 on both sides from the surfaces of the cap body 16 and the tamper ring 18 as described above presents not only a cumbersome extraneous matter to the user's touch, but also a snag to jeopardize one's safe uncapping in a forceful attempt to overcome the engagement of the cap 10 when it is tightly screwed or stuck with solidified contents between the container (B) and the cap 10.

[0014] Above all, although the hinge portion 22 of the prior art 1, 2 provides the bump 28 to allow the cap body 16 to be tilted from the container (B), the cap body 16 has its tilting angle inherently affected by the elastic restoring force of the hinge portion 22 to end up where it blocks some of the opening of the container (B), which inconveniently requires a manual tilting of the cap body out of its obstructive position when a user desires to drink right out of the container (B) at the spout (N).

[0015] As a solution to such inconvenience, Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-0981240 (hereinafter referred to as "prior art 3") proposed, as depicted in FIG. 3, a prop 32 to be provided between hinge parts 22 '50 that the tip of the prop 32 is supported by the outer wall of the spout of the container and thereby firmly keeps a cap body 16 open.

[0016] Here, the tip of the prop 32 is located above the position of a slit 24.

[0017] However, according to the above prior art 3, as also confirmed in FIGS.

3 and 4, when a cap body 16 turns to open the spout of the container (B), the portion of a tamper ring 18 above a slit 24 is twisted, starting from the portion of the tamper ring 18, which is stopped by the step (C), about opposite end positions P1 of the slit 24, positions P2 of opening portions 26 in the tamper ring

18, and positions P3 of the connections of the prop 32 with the cap body 16, wherein the twisted sections run the length of dl, d2 and d3 summed by connecting the dots of the positions P1 to P3.
[0018] The aforementioned twisted sections by the length of dl to d3 are inclusive of the protrusion length d3 of the prop 32. As a result, the twisted sections of dl to d3 cause the tamper ring 18 to distend over a prescribed clearance (D) against the outer wall of the spout (N) of the container (B) to disable the prop 32 to receive a proper support, resulting in the cap body 16 subject to the torsibility due to the twists situated to obstruct the opening of the spout (N) of the container (B).

[0019] In order to counter this effect, the uppermost part of the opening portion 26 leading up to the upper side of the cap body 16 needs to be extended to the highest possible level not to interfere with a female thread (F/S) on the inner wall of the cap body 16, where it is necessary to form the prop to a sufficiently long length.

[0020] However, the extension of the length of the prop 32 cannot provide a force so that the prop 32 eventually comes into close contact with the wall of the spout (N) of the container (B) rather than just lying on the wall, resulting in less than 90 at which the cap body 16 can be angled from the opening of the container (B). This then causes the inconvenience that the user needs to manually take the cap body 16 out of the way to the container (B).

[0021] In addition, in order to solve such a problem, the prior art 3 provides the prop 2 with a projection (T) formed to lie against the step (C) or a male screw (M/S) which is formed on the spout (N) of the container (B), but such protrusion (T) sticks from the outer surface of the cap body 16 where the opening of the spout (N) of the container (B) is closed, disturbing the user's attempt to open the container (B).

[0022] When the cap body 16 is opened, the forcibly twisted state of the connecting portions (P1 to P3) between the upper tamper ring 18 above the slit 24, the hinge portion 22' and the cap body 16 makes thinner formations within the connecting portions (P1 to P3) susceptible to breakage when they receive a resilient force repulsive to the twists on one side and the bearing power of the prop on the other side, and to the risk of losing the cap body 16.
CITATION LIST

[0023] Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-1325850 (Published November 6, 2013)

[0024] Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-1038894 (Published June 2,2011)

[0025] Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-0981240 (Published September 10, 2010) SUMMARY

[0026] In accordance with some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a cap with a stay-open function, including a tamper ring, a cap body, a hinge portion and bridges. The tamper ring is configured to be prevented from separation from a spout of a container. The cap body is configured to be screwed to an outer circumferential surface of the spout of the container. The hinge portion is configured to interconnect the cap body and the tamper ring over a circumferential portion of a cutout section defined by and between the cap body and the tamper ring. And the bridges are configured to connect the cap body and the tamper ring at intervals along the circumferential portion of the cutout section, and to be cut when the cap body is opened. Here, the hinge portion is configured to have both side edges, which are respectively adjacent to the cutout section, deepen from an outer surface toward an inner surface of the cap body to form bending indents integrated with the cap body and the tamper ring, and to include a lower longitudinally central area extending downwardly to form a protrusion. The tamper ring is configured to have a longitudinally central area including a section set to form a slit, and to have an area corresponding to the projection with a space maintained and indented downwardly by a depth to form a recess.

[0027] In some embodiments, each of the bending indents deepens from the outer surface toward the inner surface, and forms a slope of a shape gradually decreasing in thickness from a widthwise center to an edge of the hinge portion so that the bending indents may be severed at opposite side areas which are relatively thin bordering the cap body in the height direction and collocated with the cutout section.

[0028] In some embodiments, the tamper ring has lateral sides each including, upwardly of the slit and on either side of the hinge portion, at least one torsion groove having a width, a length, and a depth from an outer surface to an inner surface of the tamper ring. The torsion groove is inclined by a predetermined degree to have one top end lying close to the hinge portion and the other bottom end lying close to a tip end of the slit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a configuration of a container cap according to the prior art for explaining the operation of the configuration.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a separation between a tamper ring and a cap body shown in FIG. 1.

[0031] FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams of a prop installed according to another prior art and the operation thereof.

[0032] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a configuration of a container cap with a stay-open function according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure for explaining the operation of the configuration.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a front view for explaining an arrangement between a recess and a protrusion in FIG. 5.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state of use according to the structure of the container cap of FIG. 5.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
B: container N: spout M/S: male screw F/S: female screw C: lower flange/step I/S: inner peripheral surface EIS: outer peripheral surface S/C: supporting shoulder D: clearance OIL: open line 10, 40: container cap 12, 42a: top portion 14: sidewall 16, 42: cap body 18, 44: tamper ring 20: bridge 22, 56: hinge portion 24, 46: slit 25, 52: cutout section 26: opening portion 28: stepped portion/bump 30, 44c: anti-rotation projection 32: prop 48: bending indent 49: recess 50: protrusion 54: torsion groove DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned deficiencies of the prior art, and seeks to provide a container cap with a stay-open function, which prevents damage to the connection between the cap body and a tamper ring for ensuring stable performance thereof with repeated use, and which is repositionable to completely clear the way for drinking or dispensing from the container.

[0036] Terms and words used in the specification and the appended claims should not be construed as limited to general and lexical meanings, but interpreted based on the meanings and concepts that conform to the technical idea of the present disclosure on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to define the terms appropriately for the best explanation.

[0037] The configurations illustrated in the described embodiments and drawings in the description of the present disclosure are merely preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, but not to represent all the technical ideas of the present disclosure, and therefore, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that could replace the illustrations at the time of application of the present disclosure are within the scope of the claims of the present disclosure.

[0038] In order to explain the present disclosure, it is assumed that containers in discussion are in a default state where they are set to be upright, i.e., the spouts of the containers are on the upper side, and a reference to an inner side is to refer to a direction to the center of the container at that level or a site in the same direction, and an outer side represents the opposite direction or a site away from the center of the container.

[0039] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail.

[0040] A container cap 40 having a stay-open function according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a tamper ring 44, a cap body 42, a hinge portion 56 and bridges 20, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. Similar to the prior art, the tamper ring 44 is prevented from being separated from a container (B) under the support of a step (C) formed on a spout (N) of the container (B). The cap body 42 is configured to be screwed to an outer circumferential surface (E/S) of the spout (N) of the container (B), and to be spaced from the tamper ring 44 with a cutout section 52 defined between the underside of the cap body 42 and the top of the tamper ring 44. The hinge portion 56 is configured to interconnect the cap body 42 and the tamper ring over a predetermined portion of the circumference of the cutout section 52 between the cap body 42 and the tamper ring 44. The bridges 20 are adapted to maintain spacing between the cap body 42 and the tamper ring 44 along the circumference of the cutout section 52, and to be cut as the gap of the cutout section 52 widens between the cap body 42 when opened.

[0041] In the above-described configuration, the hinge portion 56 according to some embodiments has both side edges, which are respectively adjacent to the cutout section 52, deepen from an outer surface toward an inner surface of the cap body 42, and forms bending indents 48 integrated with the cap body 42 and the tamper ring 44.

[0042] The bending indents 48 each deepens from the outer surface toward the inner surface in such a direction as to form a slope of a shape gradually decreasing in thickness from a widthwise (the circumferential direction of the cap body 42) center of the hinge portion 56 to the edge thereof so that the side walls of the cap body 42 are thin on the upper side of where it merges with the cutout section 52.

[0043] Such thinly formed portion of the bending indent 48 establishes a score line or open line (0/L) adapted to be breakable gradually starting from where the thickness is small in response to a tensile force received by an upper tamper ring 44a positioned above the slit 46 and within a section or channeled section spanning from two side end positions of the slit 46 to the opposite edges of the cutout section 52 which are in contact with the hinge portion 56 as the gap of the cutout section 52 widens between the cap body 42 when opened.

[0044] The portion where the thickness of the bending indents 48 gradually increases toward the center of the width of the hinge portion 56 is adapted to stop the gradual incisions by the tension acting on the tamper ring 44a in the above section in order to be able to withstand the tension acting on the tamper ring 44a without incision.

[0045] Further, the above-described hinge portion 56 is formed with a protrusion 50 extending downward at a lower longitudinally central area thereof, i.e., at the lower portion of its integrally connected upper tamper ring 44a on the upper side of the slit 46.

[0046] Then, on the upper portion of a lower tamper ring 44b on the lower side of the slit 46 and corresponding to the above-described protrusion 50 with a space maintained and indented downwardly by a depth to form a recess 49.
In addition, the lower tamper ring 44b is formed with anti-rotation projections 44c projecting from the inner circumferential walls thereof.

[0047] Therefore, the above-described slit 46 is formed along an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the tamper ring 44, and then extended by the recess 49 having a depth downward at a portion corresponding to the above-described protrusion 50.

[0048] In addition, within the above-described channeled section of the upper tamper ring 44a, i.e., the section spanning from the two side end positions of the slit 46 to the opposite edges of the cutout section 52, at least one torsion groove 54 is formed having a width, a length, and a depth from an outer surface to an inner surface of the upper tamper ring 44a in some embodiments.

[0049] Further, the torsion groove 54 has the direction of its longitudinal extension inclined by a predetermined degree, in particular, has its longitudinal dimension oriented so that one top end lies close to the hinge portion 56 and the other bottom end lies close to a tip end of the slit 46.

[0050] With the cap body 42 opened, the upper tamper ring 44a on the upper side of the slit 46 is twisted, exerting a force to turn the cap body 42 back to the original shape thereof to cover the spout (N) of the container (B), when the torsion grooves 54 engage to induce deformation in a twisted state so as to alleviate the resultant torsibility.

[0051] In the end, the torsion grooves 54 serve a dual purpose to ease twisting of the channeled section, and with the cap body 42 opened, to allow the tensile force exclusively to act on the above-described channeled section spanning from the two side end positions of the slit 46 to the opposite edges of the cutout section 52.

[0052] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure described above, the bending indents are formed integral to its adjoining cap body, the hinge and tamper ring portions on the upper portion of the slit, and the protrusion is positioned below the horizontal position of the slit, whereby, at the time of opening the cap body, the protrusion is strongly supported by the spout of the container, resisting the torsibility of the twisted tamper ring extending from the two side end positions of the slit to the hinge portion as well as the tensile force inclusive of the torsibility, and accordingly the tilting angle of the cap body with respect to the spout of the container is further widened as compared with the prior art and stays out of an interfering position and stably clears the way for the content to flow out through the opening of the spout of the container to effect an easy-to-use container cap.

[0053] In addition, the slope of the above-described bending indents may break at their thinner parts which then advantageously remain in a depth safe for user's touch without a protrusion to stick out, and the bending indents work by stealth without impairing the aesthetic appearance of the container cap.

[0054] Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the various characteristics of the disclosure. Therefore, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described for the sake of brevity and clarity. Accordingly, one of ordinary skill would understand the scope of the disclosure is not limited by the explicitly described above embodiments but by the claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cap with a stay-open function, the cap comprising:
a tamper ring configured to be prevented from separation from a spout of a container;
a cap body configured to be screwed to an outer circumferential surface of the spout of the container;
a hinge portion configured to interconnect the cap body and the tamper rind over a circumferential portion of a cutout section defined by and between the cap body and the tamper ring; and bridges configured to connect the cap body and the tamper ring at intervals along the circumferential portion of the cutout section, and to be cut when the cap body is opened, wherein the hinge portion is configured to have both side edges, which are respectively adjacent to the cutout section, deepen from an outer surface toward an inner surface of the cap body to form bending indents integrated with the cap body and the tamper ring, and to include a lower longitudinally central area extending downwardly to form a protrusion, and wherein the tamper ring is configured to have a longitudinally central area including a section set to form a slit, and to have an area corresponding to the projection with a space maintained and indented downwardly by a depth to form a recess.

2. The cap of claim 1, wherein each of the bending indents deepens from the outer surface toward the inner surface, and forms a slope of a shape gradually decreasing in thickness from a widthwise center to an edge of the hinge portion so that the bending indents may be severed at opposite side areas which are relatively thin bordering the cap body in the height direction and collocated with the cutout section.

3. The cap of claim 1, wherein the tamper ring has lateral sides each comprising, upwardly of the slit and on either side of the hinge portion, at least one torsion groove having a width, a length, and a depth from an outer surface to an inner surface of the tamper ring, the torsion groove being inclined by a predetermined degree to have one top end lying close to the hinge portion and the other bottom end lying close to a tip end of the slit.