EP2189387A1 - Plastic cap having a pouring protrusion - Google Patents
Plastic cap having a pouring protrusion Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2189387A1 EP2189387A1 EP08827112A EP08827112A EP2189387A1 EP 2189387 A1 EP2189387 A1 EP 2189387A1 EP 08827112 A EP08827112 A EP 08827112A EP 08827112 A EP08827112 A EP 08827112A EP 2189387 A1 EP2189387 A1 EP 2189387A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- pouring
- bill
- protrusion
- wall
- liquid
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 45
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 title claims abstract description 45
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 108
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 38
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 38
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 14
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 4
- 229920001577 copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000001965 increasing effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethene Chemical compound C=C VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000005977 Ethylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- VXNZUUAINFGPBY-UHFFFAOYSA-N ethyl ethylene Natural products CCC=C VXNZUUAINFGPBY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004952 Polyamide Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004793 Polystyrene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920000122 acrylonitrile butadiene styrene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- HQQADJVZYDDRJT-UHFFFAOYSA-N ethene;prop-1-ene Chemical group C=C.CC=C HQQADJVZYDDRJT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 235000011194 food seasoning agent Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920001903 high density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004700 high-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001771 impaired effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006872 improvement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920000092 linear low density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004707 linear low-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000014666 liquid concentrate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920002647 polyamide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001748 polybutylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920005672 polyolefin resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- -1 polypropylene, ethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002223 polystyrene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- QQONPFPTGQHPMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N propylene Natural products CC=C QQONPFPTGQHPMA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 125000004805 propylene group Chemical group [H]C([H])([H])C([H])([*:1])C([H])([H])[*:2] 0.000 description 1
- 238000004904 shortening Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000013555 soy sauce Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920003048 styrene butadiene rubber Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920003002 synthetic resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000000057 synthetic resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/04—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
- B65D47/06—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
- B65D47/08—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
- B65D47/0804—Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures integrally formed with the base element provided with the spout or discharge passage
- B65D47/0833—Hinges without elastic bias
- B65D47/0838—Hinges without elastic bias located at an edge of the base element
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D47/00—Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
- B65D47/36—Closures with frangible parts adapted to be pierced, torn, or removed, to provide discharge openings
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
- B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
- B65D2251/0006—Upper closure
- B65D2251/0025—Upper closure of the 47-type
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
- B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
- B65D2251/0068—Lower closure
- B65D2251/0093—Membrane
Definitions
- This invention relates to a plastic cap having a pouring protrusion (e.g., pouring cylinder) that serves as a guide when a liquid in a container is to be poured. More specifically, the invention relates to a plastic cap in which a bill is formed as a spout protruding outward at an upper end of the pouring protrusion.
- a pouring protrusion e.g., pouring cylinder
- Plastic caps have been widely used having a pouring cylinder that serves as a guide for pouring the liquid in the containers.
- a representative example of such plastic caps has a structure comprising, for example, a cap body fixed to the mouth portion of the container and an upper lid coupled by hinge to the cap body so as to be opened and closed, and in which a pouring cylinder is provided in the cap body. That is, the cap body has a cylindrical side wall (skirt) and a top panel which is so formed as to close the upper end of the cylindrical side wall.
- the pouring cylinder is formed in the upper surface of the top panel, and a portion where a port will be formed is sectionalized by an endless score in an area of the top panel surrounded by the pouring cylinder.
- An opening is formed by tearing apart the score in the cap body fixed to the mouth portion of the container. If the liquid in the container is poured through the opening, the liquid that is poured flows along the wall surface of the pouring cylinder; i.e., the liquid is smoothly poured without being scattered.
- the plastic caps having a bill formed in the pouring cylinder like those of the patent documents 1 and 2 are excellent in regard to liquid cutting performance but cause the width of liquid poured from the bill to vary if the degree of inclination of the container is varied even by a small amount at the time of pouring the content liquid.
- the size (area) of the liquid greatly varies when it is poured and falls. The problem is not serious when the size of the liquid that is falling is small. When the size of the falling liquid increases, however, the content liquid may fall on undesired portions, too, which is inconvenient.
- the content liquid is not poured until the container is greatly inclined, which is not suited for pouring the content liquid in small amounts.
- the liquid tends to be poured in large amounts, the width of the liquid is subject to vary when it is poured depending upon a change in the degree of inclination of the container and, besides, the liquid cutting performance cannot be much expected.
- the bills or the slender protruded portions effectively work when the content liquid is poured at a constant rate but cannot follow a change in the amount of pouring the content liquid.
- the bill fails to effectively work when it is attempted to pour the liquid in large amounts by greatly inclining the container.
- the liquid is poured even from the portion other than the bill, the liquid is poured unstably, and the liquid is not favorably cut.
- the bill is so designed as to smoothly pour the liquid when the liquid is poured in large amounts, the liquid can be smoothly poured even when poured in small amounts.
- the bill or the slender protruded portion must be formed in unnecessarily large sizes. Therefore, there still remains much room for improvement from the standpoint of convenience for customers in general.
- an object of the present invention to provide a plastic cap having a pouring protrusion which is capable of smoothly pouring a content liquid maintaining a constant liquid width even in case the degree of inclination of a container is varied to some extent at the time of pouring the content liquid and which also serves as a guide for pouring the liquid featuring good liquid cutting performance.
- Another object of the invention is to provide a plastic cap which is capable of smoothly pouring the liquid maintaining stability even when the liquid is poured in small amounts and in large amounts offering excellent convenience.
- a plastic cap including a cap body fixed to a mouth portion of a container and an upper lid mounted on said cap body so as to be opened and closed, said cap body having a top panel and a skirt falling down from a circumferential edge of the top panel, said top panel having an opening or a predetermined opening area for pouring a liquid in the container, and on an outer side of said opening or the predetermined opening area in the upper surface of said top panel, a pouring protrusion and an annular small protrusion for engagement with the upper lid being formed, said pouring protrusion serving as a guide for pouring the liquid in the container, and said annular small protrusion being positioned on an outer side of said pouring protrusion wherein:
- the plastic cap of the invention can employ the following embodiments.
- the plastic cap of the present invention has an important feature in that a groove is formed in the inner surface of a bill that protrudes outward from a pouring protrusion, the groove extending from an upper end portion of the seal surface up to an upper end of the bill.
- the groove works to squeeze the liquid that is poured. Therefore, even if the degree of inclination of the container varies to some extent at the time of pouring the content liquid, the content liquid can be smoothly poured maintaining a constant liquid width and, therefore, pouring of the content liquid can be easily adjusted. For example, even if the container is greatly inclined to some extent and the liquid is poured in large amounts, the liquid is squeezed by the groove. Therefore, the width of the liquid being poured from the bill does not almost change, and the area of the liquid does not increase at a point on where it falls.
- the inner surface of the bill is positioned in the inclined surface that is inclined outward from the upper end of the nearly vertical seal surface, and the groove extends passing through the inclined surface. Therefore, the liquid can be poured without the need of greatly inclining the container.
- a large groove portion for guiding a large amount pouring is formed in the groove.
- the large groove portion there are further formed a small groove portion for guiding a small amount pouring and an intermediate groove portion for guiding an intermediate amount pouring. Therefore, the liquid can be smoothly poured suppressing a change in the width of the liquid either when the liquid is poured in large amounts by greatly inclining the container or the liquid is poured in small amounts by little inclining the container.
- the cap includes a cap body 1 and an upper lid 2 coupled to the cap body 1 by hinge.
- a cap is molded in a state where the upper lid 2 is opened (see Fig. 2 ) by injection-molding a known synthetic resin, e.g., an olefin resin such as low-, intermediate- or high-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, isotactic polypropylene, ethylene/propylene copolymer, polybutene-1, ethylene/butene-1 copolymer, propylene/butene-1 copolymer or ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, or polystyrene, styrene/butadiene copolymer, ABS resin, thermoplastic polyester or polyamide.
- an olefin resin such as low-, intermediate- or high-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, isotactic polypropylene, ethylene/propylene copolymer,
- the cap body 1 comprises a top panel 5 and a skirt 6 hanging down from the circumferential edge of the top panel 5.
- the upper lid 2 is coupled by hinge to an upper end portion of the skirt 6.
- the hinge-coupling is designated at 7, and includes a central band 7a coupled to the upper end of the skirt 6 and a pair of auxiliary bands 7b, 7b positioned on both sides of the central band 7a and are coupled to the portions slightly lower than the upper end of the skirt 6.
- a rectangular shallow groove 7c is extending in the central band 7a on the upper surface side at the central portion thereof nearly up to both ends of the central band 7a.
- the groove 7c is provided so that the hinge can be easily bent.
- the groove 7c is formed so as not to reach both ends of the hinge from such a standpoint that the hinge will not be broken even when the upper lid is opened and closed many times.
- an engaging protrusion 8 is formed on the inner surface of the skirt 6 of the cap body 1, and an inner ring 9 is formed at the circumferential edge portion on the inner surface of the top panel 5, the inner ring 9 extending downward maintaining a gap from the skirt 6. That is, a mouth portion (not shown) of the container is fitted into a space between the inner ring 9 and the skirt 6, and the cap body 1 is firmly fixed to the mouth portion of the container due to the engagement of the engaging protrusion 8 with the outer surface of the container mouth portion.
- the skirt 6 forms a slit S in a thick portion thereof so as to extend downward from the upper end thereof. Due to the slit S, the skirt 6 is sectionalized into an inner wall 6a and an outer wall 6b to constitute a double wall structure. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 , the inner wall 6a and the outer wall 6b are coupled together at the lower ends thereof. Upon constituting the skirt 6 in the double wall structure, the cap can be easily removed from the container mouth portion for sorted disposal of caps.
- a pouring cylinder 11 is formed in the upper surface of the top panel 5 of the cap body 1 so as to guide the liquid when the content liquid is to be poured.
- the top panel 5 forms a dented portion being dented like a cup in the inner portion of the pouring cylinder 5.
- an endless score 12 is formed in the dented portion to form an opening for pouring.
- a tab ring 15 for breaking the score is provided on the outer surface of the top panel 5 via a strut 14 formed in a region on the inside of the endless score 12. Upon pulling up the tab ring 15, the score 12 breaks, the opening for pouring is formed in the top panel 5 as shown in Fig. 4 , and the liquid in the container can be poured through the opening for pouring.
- the content liquid that has flew out through the opening for pouring formed by the breakage of the score 12 is guided by the pouring cylinder 11 and is poured along the inner surface thereof.
- the pouring cylinder 11 is becoming low on the side where it is coupled to the upper lid 2 by hinge, and an upper portion 11a of the low portion is inclined outward. This is to prevent the pouring cylinder 11 from hindering the upper lid 2 when it is to be closed.
- the lower end portion on the inner surface of the pouring cylinder 11 is flat over the whole circumference and is forming a nearly vertical seal surface 17.
- part of the upper lid 2 comes into close contact with the seal surface 17 to maintain sealing after the opening for pouring has been formed by breaking the score 12.
- the upper end portion is partly inclined outward, and a bill 20 is formed protruding outward in a triangular shape as shown in a plan view of Fig. 1 and in a perspective view of Fig. 4 .
- An end of the bill 20 (central portion of the most protruded upper end) 20a is positioned on a center line X of the cap that passes through the center of the hinge-coupling portion 7a and is forming a vertex of a triangle.
- the lower portion on the inner surface of the bill 20 (corresponds to the base of a triangle formed by the bill 20) is positioned on the upper end of the seal surface 17, and the inner surface of the bill 20 is forming an inclined surface 20b being inclined upward from this portion.
- the bill 20 greatly protruding outward from the root of the pouring cylinder 11 serves as a spout, and the content liquid can be smoothly poured from this portion.
- the bill 20 is becoming thin at its upper end and is curved outward like a horn. That is, upon being curved like a horn in addition to assuming the shape of a bill, the liquid is suppressed from adhering on this portion, the liquid cutting performance is improved, and the liquid is effectively prevented from dripping after the content liquid has all been poured.
- annular small protrusion 21 for engagement with the upper lid 2 is formed on the outer surface of the top panel 5 on the outer side of the pouring cylinder 11.
- the upper lid 2 on the other hand, comprises a top panel 25 and a cylindrical side wall 27 extending from the circumferential edge of the top panel 25, and a seal ring 29 is formed on the inner surface of the top panel 25. That is, when the upper lid 2 is closed, the outer surface of the seal ring 29 comes into close contact with the seal surface 17 on the lower side of the pouring cylinder 11 to maintain sealing after the opening for pouring has been formed by breaking the score 12. Here, a portion 11a of the pouring cylinder 11 on the side of the hinge-coupling portion 7 is becoming low and is inclined outward. At the time of closing the upper lid 2, therefore, the seal ring 29 smoothly enters into the pouring cylinder 11 and comes into close contact with the seal surface 17.
- the central portion of the top panel 25 of the upper lid 2 is forming a swollen portion 25a being swollen like a dome.
- a swollen portion 25a being swollen like a dome.
- an arcuate surface without corner is formed by the inner surface of the top panel 25 surrounded by the seal ring 29 continuing from the inner surface of the seal ring 29, and the content liquid adhered on the inner surface of the top panel 25 can be quickly returned back into the container after the score 12 is broken.
- a flange 25b is formed on a portion of the top panel 25 on the side opposite to the hinge-coupling portion 7 enabling the upper lid 2 to be easily opened and closed.
- the flange 25b is provided at the upper end of the cylindrical side wall 27. At the time of opening the upper lid 2, therefore, the end 20a of the bill 20 formed in the pouring cylinder 11 is least touched by a finger.
- small protrusions 27a are provided maintaining a suitable gap on the front end side (opposite to the hinge-coupling portion 7) on the lower end surface of the cylindrical side wall 27 of the upper lid 2. That is, when the content liquid is poured, the liquid that is poured may often adhere onto the circumferential edge portion on the upper surface of the top panel 5 of the cap body 1 and, particularly, onto the portion on the opposite side of the hinge-coupling portion 7b. In such a case, if the whole lower end surface of the cylindrical side wall 27 comes into close contact with the circumferential edge portion on the upper surface of the top panel 5 when the upper lid 2 is closed, the adhered liquid is splashed to contaminate the surrounding.
- arcuate protrusions 27b are formed for adjusting the height to avoid tilting caused by the formation of small protrusions 27a.
- a protrusion 27c is circumferentially formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical side wall 27 at a lower portion thereof. That is, when the upper lid 2 is closed, the protrusion 27c comes into engagement with the small protrusion 21 formed on the outer surface of the top panel 5 and, therefore, the upper lid 2 is held in the closed state.
- a groove 30 is formed in the inner surface of the bill 20 of the pouring cylinder 11.
- the groove 30 extends from the upper end of the seal surface 17 up to the upper end of the bill 20. Since the above groove 30 is formed in the cap of the invention, the liquid that is poured is squeezed through the bill 20.
- the bill 20 works to maintain constant the width of the liquid that is poured and, therefore, to maintain nearly constant the area of a point on where the liquid falls effectively avoiding such an inconvenience that the surrounding is contaminated by an increased area of the point on where the liquid falls and making it easy to adjust the amount that is poured.
- the above groove 30 is formed in the tilted surface 20b (inner surface of the bill 20) that is inclined outward from the upper end of the nearly vertical seal surface 17 offering such an advantage that the content liquid can be poured without the need of greatly inclining the container.
- the inner surface of the bill 20 in which the groove 30 is formed i.e., the tilted surface 20b
- the tilted surface 20b is formed up to at least not less than a half of the height h of the pouring cylinder 11 as shown in a side sectional view of Fig. 6 .
- the length of the groove 30 formed in the inclined surface 20b decreases, and the squeezing effect of the groove 30 decreases down to a half.
- the angle ⁇ of inclination of the inclined surface 20a is about 10 to about 55 degrees by taking into consideration the easiness of pouring the liquid and removal from the mold after the cap has been molded.
- a predetermined opening area (corresponds to the opening designated at Z in the drawing) sectionalized by the score 12 formed in the top panel 5 is of a shape having a pouring liquid-squeezing region Z1 of a small width in a portion on the side facing the bill 20 and that the groove 30 has a width w nearly the same as the pouring liquid-squeezing region Z1.
- the pouring liquid is squeezed from the opening formed by tearing apart the score 12 up to the groove 30 and, therefore, the squeezing effect is further enhanced.
- the predetermined opening area (or the opening) Z is formed by the score 12 in the cup-like dented portion, and the pouring liquid-squeezing region Z1 is extending being tapered to become narrow toward the root portion of the pouring cylinder 11 being more dented than other portions to form a groove.
- the end portion 20a (center of the groove 30) of the bill 20 is positioned on an extension of the pouring liquid-squeezing region Z1.
- the groove 30 is desirably formed in a multiplicity of steps. That is, in Fig. 7 , in the greatest groove 30a (hereinafter called a large groove portion for guiding large amount pouring), there is formed a groove 30b (hereinafter called an intermediate groove portion for guiding intermediate amount pouring) having a width smaller than, and is deeper than, the above large groove portion 30a. In the intermediate groove portion 30b, there is, further, formed a groove 30c (hereinafter called a small groove portion for guiding small amount pouring) having a width smaller than, and is deeper than, the above intermediate groove portion 30b.
- a groove 30c hereinafter called a small groove portion for guiding small amount pouring
- groove portions 30a to 30c are all extending from the upper end of the seal surface 17 up to the upper end of the bill 20.
- users in general, are allowed to easily adjust the amount of the liquid that is poured.
- the container is greatly inclined, the liquid is poured through the large groove portion 30a of a large width. If the inclination of the container is decreased, the liquid is poured through the intermediate groove portion 30b of an intermediate width. If the degree of inclining the container is further decreased, the liquid is poured through the small groove portion 30c of the smallest width. That is, by watching the width of liquid poured from the bill 20, the users, in general, are allowed to adjust the degree of inclination of the container and to correctly adjust the amount of liquid that is poured.
- the bill 20 greatly protrudes outward. Therefore, though not shown, it is desired to provide a rib for correcting deformation on the inner surface of the upper lid 2 as disclosed in JP-A-2004-352284 . It is probable that the bill is deformed at the time of being removed from the mold. Upon closing the upper lid after the cap is molded, therefore, deformation of the bill 20 can be corrected by the rib for correcting deformation.
- the predetermined opening area Z is formed by the score 12, and the opening for pouring is formed by tearing the score 12. It is, however, allowable to form the opening for pouring from the first time (i.e., state of Fig. 4 ) instead of forming the score 12, as a matter of course.
- the upper lid 2 is coupled by hinge to the cap body 1, what is needed in the invention is to form a groove 30 in the inner surface of the bill 20. Therefore, people skilled in the art will be able to easily understand that the present invention is also applicable to the caps in which the upper lid 2 is fastened to the cap body 1 by screw.
- the plastic cap of the invention described above can assume a variety of structures in addition to the embodiment shown in the drawings described above.
- a finger may come in contact with the sharp end of the bill 20 when it is attempted to open the upper lid 2 by lifting it up by finger and a user may find it uncomfortable.
- Such an uncomfortable feeling can be eliminated by providing a buffer protrusion.
- An example of the cap provided with the buffer protrusion is shown in Figs. 8 to 12 .
- the cap of Figs. 8 to 12 has a basic structure which is the same as that of the cap shown in Figs. 1 to 4 . Therefore, reference numerals the same as those of Figs. 1 to 4 are quoted in Figs. 8 to 12 , too.
- the cap of the embodiment of Figs. 8 to 12 forms a pouring protrusion 110 of an arcuate shape instead of forming the pouring cylinder 11. That is, the pouring protrusion 110 is formed in an arcuate shape by cutting away a portion of a small height of the pouring cylinder 11 on the side of the hinge-coupling portion 7. Namely, the content liquid is poured from the portion on the side opposite to the hinge-coupled portion 7. Therefore, no guide wall is necessary in this portion. Upon cutting away this portion, therefore, no part is hindered by the pouring protrusion 11 at the time of closing the upper lid 2.
- the bill 20 is formed in the central portion of the pouring protrusion 110 in the circumferential direction, and a groove 20 is formed in the inner surface (inclined surface 20b) of the bill 20.
- the top panel 5 is so inclined that the side of the hinge-coupled portion 7 becomes low in the portion on the inside of the pouring protrusion 110.
- the lower end portion on the inner surface of the pouring protrusion 110 is flat over the whole areas and is forming a nearly vertical seal surface 17 (particularly, see Fig. 9 ).
- the top panel 5 is forming a surface that falls down toward the endless score 12.
- the lower portion of the surface is forming a tapered surface extending up to the endless score 12, and an upper portion that continues to the tapered surface is forming the nearly vertical seal surface 17a which is continuous to the seal surface 17 at the lower part of the pouring protrusion 110.
- the seal ring 29 of the upper lid 2 comes into close contact with the seal surfaces 17, 17a formed in the pouring protrusion 110 and in the top panel 5 to maintain the sealing after the opening for pouring is formed by breaking the score 12.
- the seal ring 29 formed on the upper lid 2 is elongated at a portion that comes into close contact with the seal surface 17a.
- a vertical groove 40 is formed by thinning the inner surface of the cylindrical side wall 27 of the upper lid 2 of the cap at a portion on the side opposite to the hinge-coupled portion 7 (inside of the portion where the flange 25b is formed).
- the bill 20 of the pouring protrusion 110 does not come in contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical side wall 27 of the upper lid when the upper lid 2 is closed; i.e., the upper lid 2 can be smoothly closed.
- a buffer protrusion 50 is formed on the outer surface of the pouring protrusion 110 to protrude outward at a portion on the lower side of the bill 20.
- the buffer protrusion 50 is positioned at a portion higher than the annular small protrusion 21 for engagement with the upper lid 2, and its outer end in the direction of diameter is positioned slightly on the outer side of the outer end 20a of the bill in the direction of diameter. As shown in Figs.
- the upper surface 50a of the buffer protrusion 50 extends in a horizontal direction, its outer circumferential edge extends in an arcuate shape, and the side surface 50b of the buffer protrusion 50 forms such a curve that the length of protrusion gradually decreases toward the lower side facilitating the removal from the mold at the time of molding.
- Fig. 13 showing a state where the upper lid is opened in the cap in which no buffer protrusion 50 is formed on the pouring protrusion 110. That is, the upper lid 2 that has been closed is opened by pushing the above flange 25b up by a finger P.
- the finger P may strongly hit the bill 20 that has a sharp end formed on the pouring protrusion 110. In such a case, a person who attempts to open the upper lid 2 may feel uncomfortable.
- Fig. 14 showing a state where the upper lid is opened in the cap of the invention that is forming the above-mentioned buffer protrusion 50.
- the finger P hits the buffer protrusion 50 when it is attempted to open the upper lid 2 by pushing it up with the finger P. Therefore, even if the finger P hits the end portion 20a of the bill 20, the degree of hitting the bill 20 is reduced making it possible to effectively avoid uncomfortable feeling caused by the hitting.
- the buffer protrusion 50 is positioned near the lower end of the end 20a of bill 20, and its upper end 50a desirably protrudes to an axis L that passes through the end of bill 20 or protrudes slightly beyond the axis L (see Fig. 10 ). This is because if the protruded position is on the inside of the axis L, the effect is not fully exhibited for reducing the hitting of bill 20 by the finger P.
- the degree of hitting the bill 20 by the finger P can be effectively decreased at the time of opening the upper lid 2 even when, for example, the end 20a of bill 20 is so protruding as to approach, without contacting thereto, the inner circumferential surface at the lower end of the cylindrical side wall 27 at the time when the upper lid 2 is closed.
- the cap of the present invention can be advantageously used for easily transferring the liquid in the container into a small container.
- Fig. 15 is a view showing a state of the cap of, for example, when the liquid contained in the container is transferred into a small container using the plastic cap of Fig. 13 without the buffer protrusion.
- the end portion of bill 20 at the upper end of the pouring protrusion 110 is so positioned as to come in contact with the upper end of the mouth wall 100 of the small container or not to come in contact with the mouth wall 100 of the small container.
- the content liquid is poured.
- the content liquid that is poured flows in while contacting the upper end surface of the mouth wall 100 of the small container causing such an inconvenience that part of the liquid flows and spills to the outer surface side of the mouth portion 100 of the container.
- the cap of the present invention having the buffer protrusion 50 as shown in Fig. 16 , on the other hand, if the container containing the liquid is inclined while bringing the mouth wall 100 of the small container into contact with the buffer protrusion 50 formed on the outer surface of the pouring protrusion 110, the bill 20 of the pouring protrusion 110 is positioned slightly over the mouth wall 100 of the small container. As a result, the liquid can be directly poured into the small container without coming in contact with the upper end of the mouth wall 100 of the small container.
- the endless score 12 formed in the top panel 5 of the cap body 1 has a shape that is narrow at a portion on the side of the hinge-coupling portion 7 and at a portion on the side opposite to the hinge-coupling portion 7 as shown, particularly, in Fig. 12 , and is forming narrow portions 12a and 12b. That is, the endless score 12 is torn apart to form the opening for pouring, and the container is inclined to pour the content liquid from the opening for pouring. In this case, the content liquid concentrates on the inner surface of the bill 20 of the pouring protrusion 11 from the narrow portion 12b formed on the side opposite to the hinge-coupling portion 7, and quickly flows out.
- the liquid adhered and remaining on the wall surface on the side of the hinge-coupling portion 7 quickly returns into the container from the narrow portion 12a. This is because the surface in which the endless score 12 is formed is inclined to be higher toward the side on where the bill 20 is formed and lower toward the side of the hinge-coupling portion 7.
- small ribs 60, 60 are formed extending downward at the portions where the narrow portions 12a, 12b are formed in the back surface of the top panel 5. Being guided by the ribs 60, the liquid adhered and remaining on the wall surface on the side of the hinge-couling portion 7 does not stay on the wall surface near the narrow portion 12a but effectively returns into the container.
- the skirt 6 assumes the double wall structure being sectionalized by the slit S into the inner wall 6a and the outer wall 6b which are coupled together at their lower ends.
- the skirt 6 By forming the skirt 6 in the double wall structure, the cap can be easily removed from the mouth portion of the container at the time of sorted disposal of caps.
- the outer side wall 6b is desirably provided, for example, with a score 65 as shown in Fig. 10 .
- the score 65 is formed in the outer side wall 6b at a position near the hinge-coupling portion 7 (hinge band 7b), and extends in the axial direction. That is, by pulling down the upper lid 2 which is in the state of being opened, the score 65 is torn apart and the outer side wall 6b is broken, permitting the cap body 1 to be easily removed from the container
- the outer side wall 6b When the outer side wall 6b is to be torn apart by utilizing the score 65, it is desired to form notches 67 at both the upper end and the lower end of the score 65 as shown in Fig. 10 . Formation of the notches 67 facilitates the tearing along the score 65.
- the outer side wall 6b is torn apart along the score 65, usually, by pulling down the upper lid 2 that is opened. General consumers, however, may often try to remove the cap body 1 from the container by pulling the upper lid 2 up. By forming the notch 67 at the lower end of the score 65, too, however, the score 65 can be torn apart when the upper lid 2 is pulled up, too, and the cap body 1 can be removed from the container.
- a rib 70 is extending in the axial direction being formed on the outer surface of the outer side wall 6b near the score 65 (near the hinge-coupling portion 7).
- the rib 70 is used as a positioning member at the time of fitting and fixing the cap body 1 to the mouth portion of the container.
- the skirt 6 is constituted in the double wall structure by utilizing the slit S, it is desired that the inner wall 6a and the outer wall 6b are coupled together at their lower ends through breakable bridge portions so that the cap body 1 can be very easily removed from the mouth portion of the container without using any particular tool.
- the sorted disposability can be enhanced by adjusting the strength of coupling.
- An example of such a cap is shown in Fig. 17 .
- Fig. 17 is a bottom view of the plastic cap in a state where the upper lid 2 is opened.
- the inner wall 6a and the lower end portion of the outer wall 6b sectionalized by the slit S are coupled together at their lower end portions through a weakened portion (score and a plurality of bridge portions 75).
- the bridge portions 75 can be easily torn apart.
- the lower end portions of the inner wall 6a and the outer wall 6b are sectionalized into a tear start region Q1, a tear proceed region Q2 and a tear impossible region Q3.
- the inner wall 6a and the outer wall 6b are coupled together maintaining the smallest strength which is lower than that of, for example, the tear proceed region Q2.
- the strength of coupling is the highest, and it is difficult to tear them apart.
- the tear start region Q1 starts from the lower end of the axial score 65 provided on the outer side of the one end of the hinge-coupling portion 7 of the outer wall 6b, and extends in the circumferential direction toward the side where the other end of the hinge-coupling portion 7 is positioned.
- the tear proceed region Q2 is continuous to the tear start region Q1.
- the tear impossible region Q3 is continuous to the tear proceed region Q2 and is, further, continuous to the tear start region Q1.
- the coupling strengths in the above regions Q1 to Q3 can be easily realized by adjusting the depth of the slit S.
- the slit S completely pierces through the skirt 6 from the upper end thereof to the lower end thereof.
- the inner wall 6a is completely separated from the outer wall 6b. Therefore, this region Q1 possesses the smallest coupling strength.
- the coupling strength is zero, and no weakened portion is formed.
- the completely divided slit S may be coupled with the bridge portions 75 having the smallest coupling strength.
- the coupling strength can be increased to be larger than that of the tear start region Q1 by increasing the thickness of the breakable bridge portions 75 to be larger than that of the bridge portions 75 in the tear start region Q1 in a range which permits the tear apart or by shortening the gaps among the bridge portions 75 to be smaller than the gaps thereof in the tear start region Q1.
- the coupling strength can be adjusted relying upon the score by deeply forming the slit S instead of providing the breakable bridge portions 75.
- the coupling strength which does not permit tear apart can be attained by forming the slit S most shallowly or without forming the slit S at all.
- Figs. 18 and 19 show a state where the cap forming the above regions is removed from the mouth portion of the container.
- no breakable bridge portion 75 is formed in a portion corresponding to the tear start region Q1, and breakable bridge portions 75 are formed maintaining a constant gap in only a portion that corresponds to the tear proceed region Q2.
- a portion of the outer wall 6b where the hinge-coupling portion 7 is provided for connecting the upper lid 2 serves as a start point of the tear start region Q1 of bridge portions 75 and where the inner wall 6a and the outer wall 6b are coupled together with the smallest strength (zero in this case). Therefore, the tearing attempt can be quickly commenced followed by the tearing of the tear proceed region Q2. Thus, the cap body 1 can be removed from the mouth portion of the container without at all using any particular tool.
- the notch 67 is provided at the lower end, too, in addition to the upper end of the axial score 65. Therefore, when it is attempted to remove the cap body 1 from the mouth portion of the container by pulling the upper lid 2 up, too, the cap body 1 can be removed from the mouth portion of the container due to the action of the notch 67 at the lower end of the axial score 65 and the tear start region Q1.
- the lengths of the regions Q1 to Q3 may be so set that the engaging force between the cap body 1 and the mouth portion of the container is not lost, a constant sealing is maintained, breakable bridge portions 75 are smoothly torn apart, and the cap body 1 can be easily removed from the mouth portion of the container.
- this length is, usually, set to be nearly equal to the circumferential length of the hinge band portion 7.
- the length of the tear proceed region Q2 may be so set that the cap body 1 can be easily removed from the mouth portion of the container when the bridge portions 75 in this region are torn apart. For instance, the length thereof will be sufficient if the total length of the tear start region Q1 and the tear proceed region Q2 is not less than about a half of the whole circumferential length of the skirt 6.
- the tear impossible region Q3 does not necessarily have to be provided.
- the cap in which the inner wall 6a and the outer wall 6b are coupled together through breakable bridge portions 75 features very excellent sorted disposability.
- the above-mentioned cap of the present invention can be effectively used as a cap of the containers filled with various beverages and seasoning liquids such as soy sauce and the like.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to a plastic cap having a pouring protrusion (e.g., pouring cylinder) that serves as a guide when a liquid in a container is to be poured. More specifically, the invention relates to a plastic cap in which a bill is formed as a spout protruding outward at an upper end of the pouring protrusion.
- Plastic caps have been widely used having a pouring cylinder that serves as a guide for pouring the liquid in the containers. A representative example of such plastic caps has a structure comprising, for example, a cap body fixed to the mouth portion of the container and an upper lid coupled by hinge to the cap body so as to be opened and closed, and in which a pouring cylinder is provided in the cap body. That is, the cap body has a cylindrical side wall (skirt) and a top panel which is so formed as to close the upper end of the cylindrical side wall. The pouring cylinder is formed in the upper surface of the top panel, and a portion where a port will be formed is sectionalized by an endless score in an area of the top panel surrounded by the pouring cylinder. An opening is formed by tearing apart the score in the cap body fixed to the mouth portion of the container. If the liquid in the container is poured through the opening, the liquid that is poured flows along the wall surface of the pouring cylinder; i.e., the liquid is smoothly poured without being scattered.
- In the above pouring cylinder, in general, at least a portion of the upper end is protruding outward beyond the root portion of the pouring cylinder to form a spout, and the upper end portion of the spout is curved outward like a horn. Recently, however, it has been proposed to form a bill that greatly protrudes outward at the upper end of the pouring cylinder and to use the bill as the spout featuring improved liquid cutting performance due to the formation of the bill (see
patent documents 1 and 2). - There has, further, been proposed a cap in which a slender portion is formed in a portion of the pouring cylinder protruding outward from the lower end up to the upper end thereof, and the content liquid is poured through the above portion (see patent document 3).
- Patent document 1:
JP-A-2003-40299 - Patent document 2:
JP-A-2004-352284 - Patent document 3:
JP-A-2007-131352 - The plastic caps having a bill formed in the pouring cylinder like those of the
patent documents - With the cap in which a slender portion is protruding in the pouring cylinder as disclosed in the patent document 3, on the other hand, the content liquid is not poured until the container is greatly inclined, which is not suited for pouring the content liquid in small amounts. Moreover, the liquid tends to be poured in large amounts, the width of the liquid is subject to vary when it is poured depending upon a change in the degree of inclination of the container and, besides, the liquid cutting performance cannot be much expected.
- With the caps of the
patent documents 1 to 3, further, the bills or the slender protruded portions effectively work when the content liquid is poured at a constant rate but cannot follow a change in the amount of pouring the content liquid. For example, if the bill is so designed as to smoothly pour the liquid when the liquid is poured in small amounts, then the bill fails to effectively work when it is attempted to pour the liquid in large amounts by greatly inclining the container. For instance, the liquid is poured even from the portion other than the bill, the liquid is poured unstably, and the liquid is not favorably cut. Further, if the bill is so designed as to smoothly pour the liquid when the liquid is poured in large amounts, the liquid can be smoothly poured even when poured in small amounts. In this case, however, the bill or the slender protruded portion must be formed in unnecessarily large sizes. Therefore, there still remains much room for improvement from the standpoint of convenience for customers in general. - It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a plastic cap having a pouring protrusion which is capable of smoothly pouring a content liquid maintaining a constant liquid width even in case the degree of inclination of a container is varied to some extent at the time of pouring the content liquid and which also serves as a guide for pouring the liquid featuring good liquid cutting performance.
Another object of the invention is to provide a plastic cap which is capable of smoothly pouring the liquid maintaining stability even when the liquid is poured in small amounts and in large amounts offering excellent convenience. - According to the present invention, there is provided a plastic cap including a cap body fixed to a mouth portion of a container and an upper lid mounted on said cap body so as to be opened and closed, said cap body having a top panel and a skirt falling down from a circumferential edge of the top panel, said top panel having an opening or a predetermined opening area for pouring a liquid in the container, and on an outer side of said opening or the predetermined opening area in the upper surface of said top panel, a pouring protrusion and an annular small protrusion for engagement with the upper lid being formed, said pouring protrusion serving as a guide for pouring the liquid in the container, and said annular small protrusion being positioned on an outer side of said pouring protrusion wherein:
- a bill is formed at an upper end portion of said pouring protrusion, the bill protruding outward in an inclined manner and assuming a triangular shape as viewed from the upper surface thereof;
- a lower end portion of an inner surface of said pouring protrusion is a seal surface that extends in a vertical direction;
- a groove is formed in the inner surface of said pouring protrusion extending from an upper end portion of said bill up to an upper end portion of said seal surface; and
- a seal ring is formed on an inner surface of said upper lid so as to come into close contact with said seal surface when said upper lid is closed.
- The plastic cap of the invention can employ the following embodiments.
- (1) The pouring protrusion has a cylindrical shape.
- (2) The inner surface of said bill of said pouring protrusion is forming an inclined surface that is inclined upward and outward from an upper end of said seal surface, said inclined surface being formed to a height of at least not less than a half that of said pouring protrusion as viewed on a side section at the center of said bill in the circumferential direction.
- (3) Said opening or the predetermined opening area is formed in a shape in which a portion thereof on a side facing said bill has a pouring liquid-squeezing region of a small width.
- (4) Said groove includes, as viewed from the upper direction, a large groove portion for guiding a large amount pouring extending from the upper end portion of said seal surface up to the upper end of the bill, and a small groove portion or a intermediate groove portion for guiding a small amount or intermediate amount pouring, the small groove portion or the intermediate groove portion being positioned on an inside of the large groove portion, having a width smaller than that of the large groove portion, and being deeper than the large groove portion, and being extending from the upper end portion of the seal surface up to the upper end of the bill.
- (5) On the inside of the large groove portion in said groove, there are formed the intermediate groove portion and the small groove portion, the small groove portion has a width smaller than, and is deeper than, said intermediate groove portion, and is extending from the upper end portion of said seal surface up to the upper end of the bill.
- (6) A dented portion that is most dented at the central portion thereof is formed on the inner side of the pouring protrusion of said top panel, said opening or said predetermined opening area is positioned in said dented portion, a pouring passage that is tapered to become narrow toward the end thereof is formed from the pouring liquid-squeezing region in the opening or in the predetermined opening area toward a root portion of said pouring protrusion, and the central portion of said groove is positioned on an extension of the pouring flow passage.
- (7) A buffer protrusion is formed protruding outward on the outer surface of said pouring protrusion, and the buffer protrusion is positioned on a lower portion than said bill and on a higher portion than said annular small protrusion for engagement with the upper lid.
- (8) Said buffer protrusion is positioned near a lower end of the bill, and an outer end of said buffer protrusion in the direction of diameter is located at a position the same as, or slightly on the outer side of, the outer end of the bill in the direction of diameter.
- (9) Said upper lid is coupled by hinge to the upper end portion of said skirt, and said bill is formed on an opposite side to a portion where said upper lid and the skirt are coupled together by hinge.
- (10) The outer end of said bill in the direction of diameter is so protruding as to approach the inner circumferential surface of the lower end of said upper lid but so as not to contact thereto when said upper lid is closed.
- (11) A double wall structure comprising an inner wall and an outer wall is formed in at least a portion of said skirt, said inner wall and said outer wall being coupled together at their lower ends through a weakened portion that can be torn apart, and said hinge-coupled portion is formed on said outer wall.
- (12) An axial score is formed in said outer wall on the outer side of one end of said hinge-coupling portion and extends in the axial direction so as to be torn apart;
notches are formed at an upper end and at a lower end of said outer wall, respectively, in the portion where said axial score is formed;
at the lower ends of said inner wall and said outer wall, there are formed a tear start region that starts with the lower end of said axial score and extends in the circumferential direction toward the side on where the other end portion of said hinge-coupling portion is positioned and a tear proceed region continuous to said tear start region; and
a strength of coupling the inner wall with the outer wall in said tear start region is set to be relatively smaller than a strength of coupling in said tear proceed region. - The plastic cap of the present invention has an important feature in that a groove is formed in the inner surface of a bill that protrudes outward from a pouring protrusion, the groove extending from an upper end portion of the seal surface up to an upper end of the bill. The groove works to squeeze the liquid that is poured. Therefore, even if the degree of inclination of the container varies to some extent at the time of pouring the content liquid, the content liquid can be smoothly poured maintaining a constant liquid width and, therefore, pouring of the content liquid can be easily adjusted. For example, even if the container is greatly inclined to some extent and the liquid is poured in large amounts, the liquid is squeezed by the groove. Therefore, the width of the liquid being poured from the bill does not almost change, and the area of the liquid does not increase at a point on where it falls.
- Further, the inner surface of the bill is positioned in the inclined surface that is inclined outward from the upper end of the nearly vertical seal surface, and the groove extends passing through the inclined surface. Therefore, the liquid can be poured without the need of greatly inclining the container.
- In the invention, further, a large groove portion for guiding a large amount pouring is formed in the groove. In the large groove portion, there are further formed a small groove portion for guiding a small amount pouring and an intermediate groove portion for guiding an intermediate amount pouring. Therefore, the liquid can be smoothly poured suppressing a change in the width of the liquid either when the liquid is poured in large amounts by greatly inclining the container or the liquid is poured in small amounts by little inclining the container.
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- [
Fig. 1 ] is a plan view showing a plastic cap having a pouring cylinder of the invention in a state where an upper lid is opened. - [
Fig. 2 ] is a side sectional view (A-A cross section) of the plastic cap having the pouring cylinder ofFig. 1 . - [
Fig. 3 ] is a side sectional view of the plastic cap having the pouring cylinder ofFig. 1 in a state where the upper lid is closed. - [
Fig. 4 ] is a perspective view of when a cap body is viewed from an inclined upper side in a state where an opening is formed in the top panel by tearing a score in the plastic cap having the pouring cylinder ofFig. 1 . - [
Fig. 5 ] is a plan view illustrating, on an enlarged view, a major portion of the plastic cap having the pouring cylinder ofFig. 1 . - [
Fig. 6 ] is an enlarged side sectional view (B-B sectional view) of the bill in the pouring cylinder shown inFig. 4 . - [
Fig. 7 ] is a plan view showing, on an enlarged scale, another example of the bill which is a major portion of the plastic cap having the pouring cylinder ofFig. 1 . - [
Fig. 8 ] is a plan view showing the plastic cap of the present invention provided with a buffer protrusion in a state where the upper lid is opened. - [
Fig. 9 ] is a side sectional view (A-A sectional view) of the plastic cap ofFig. 8 . - [
Fig. 10 ] is a side view of when the buffer protrusion of the plastic cap ofFig. 8 is viewed from the side surface. - [
Fig. 11 ] is a side view of when the buffer protrusion of the plastic cap ofFig. 8 is viewed from the front. - [
Fig. 12 ] is a bottom view of the plastic cap ofFig. 8 . - [
Fig. 13 ] is a view of a state of a finger of when the upper lid of the plastic cap without the buffer protrusion is opened. - [
Fig. 14 ] is a view of a state of a finger of when the upper lid of the plastic cap ofFig. 8 is opened. - [
Fig. 15 ] is a view showing a state of the cap of when the liquid contained in the container is transferred into a small container using the plastic cap ofFig. 13 without the buffer protrusion. [Fig. 16 ] is a view showing a state of the cap of when the liquid contained in the container is transferred into a small container using the plastic cap ofFig. 8 . - [
Fig. 17 ] is a bottom view of the cap in a state where the skirt of the cap body is sectionalized into an inner wall and an outer wall by a slit S, the inner wall and the outer wall being coupled together through breakable bridge portions. - [
Fig. 18 ] is a side view of the plastic cap ofFig. 17 in a state where a score formed in the outer side wall and the bridge portions between the inner wall and the outer wall are torn apart. - [
Fig. 19 ] is a top view of the cap in the state ofFig. 18 . - Referring to
Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 , the cap includes acap body 1 and anupper lid 2 coupled to thecap body 1 by hinge. Such a cap is molded in a state where theupper lid 2 is opened (seeFig. 2 ) by injection-molding a known synthetic resin, e.g., an olefin resin such as low-, intermediate- or high-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, isotactic polypropylene, ethylene/propylene copolymer, polybutene-1, ethylene/butene-1 copolymer, propylene/butene-1 copolymer or ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, or polystyrene, styrene/butadiene copolymer, ABS resin, thermoplastic polyester or polyamide. - The
cap body 1 comprises atop panel 5 and askirt 6 hanging down from the circumferential edge of thetop panel 5. Theupper lid 2 is coupled by hinge to an upper end portion of theskirt 6. The hinge-coupling is designated at 7, and includes acentral band 7a coupled to the upper end of theskirt 6 and a pair ofauxiliary bands central band 7a and are coupled to the portions slightly lower than the upper end of theskirt 6. Upon turning theupper lid 2 coupled by hinge to theskirt 6, thetop panel 5 of thecap body 1 is closed by theupper lid 2. - A rectangular
shallow groove 7c is extending in thecentral band 7a on the upper surface side at the central portion thereof nearly up to both ends of thecentral band 7a. Thegroove 7c is provided so that the hinge can be easily bent. Thegroove 7c is formed so as not to reach both ends of the hinge from such a standpoint that the hinge will not be broken even when the upper lid is opened and closed many times. - Referring, particularly, to
Fig. 2 , an engagingprotrusion 8 is formed on the inner surface of theskirt 6 of thecap body 1, and aninner ring 9 is formed at the circumferential edge portion on the inner surface of thetop panel 5, theinner ring 9 extending downward maintaining a gap from theskirt 6. That is, a mouth portion (not shown) of the container is fitted into a space between theinner ring 9 and theskirt 6, and thecap body 1 is firmly fixed to the mouth portion of the container due to the engagement of the engagingprotrusion 8 with the outer surface of the container mouth portion. - Further, the
skirt 6 forms a slit S in a thick portion thereof so as to extend downward from the upper end thereof. Due to the slit S, theskirt 6 is sectionalized into aninner wall 6a and anouter wall 6b to constitute a double wall structure. As shown inFigs. 2 and3 , theinner wall 6a and theouter wall 6b are coupled together at the lower ends thereof. Upon constituting theskirt 6 in the double wall structure, the cap can be easily removed from the container mouth portion for sorted disposal of caps. - A pouring
cylinder 11 is formed in the upper surface of thetop panel 5 of thecap body 1 so as to guide the liquid when the content liquid is to be poured. As will be understood fromFigs. 2 and3 , thetop panel 5 forms a dented portion being dented like a cup in the inner portion of the pouringcylinder 5. Referring toFig. 1 , further, anendless score 12 is formed in the dented portion to form an opening for pouring. Atab ring 15 for breaking the score is provided on the outer surface of thetop panel 5 via astrut 14 formed in a region on the inside of theendless score 12. Upon pulling up thetab ring 15, thescore 12 breaks, the opening for pouring is formed in thetop panel 5 as shown inFig. 4 , and the liquid in the container can be poured through the opening for pouring. - Therefore, the content liquid that has flew out through the opening for pouring formed by the breakage of the
score 12 is guided by the pouringcylinder 11 and is poured along the inner surface thereof. As will be understood, particularly, fromFigs. 2 and3 , the pouringcylinder 11 is becoming low on the side where it is coupled to theupper lid 2 by hinge, and anupper portion 11a of the low portion is inclined outward. This is to prevent the pouringcylinder 11 from hindering theupper lid 2 when it is to be closed. - The lower end portion on the inner surface of the pouring
cylinder 11 is flat over the whole circumference and is forming a nearlyvertical seal surface 17. When theupper lid 2 is closed, therefore, part of theupper lid 2 comes into close contact with theseal surface 17 to maintain sealing after the opening for pouring has been formed by breaking thescore 12. - At a portion of the pouring
cylinder 11 on the side opposite to the hinge-coupling portion 7, the upper end portion is partly inclined outward, and abill 20 is formed protruding outward in a triangular shape as shown in a plan view ofFig. 1 and in a perspective view ofFig. 4 . An end of the bill 20 (central portion of the most protruded upper end) 20a is positioned on a center line X of the cap that passes through the center of the hinge-coupling portion 7a and is forming a vertex of a triangle. The lower portion on the inner surface of the bill 20 (corresponds to the base of a triangle formed by the bill 20) is positioned on the upper end of theseal surface 17, and the inner surface of thebill 20 is forming aninclined surface 20b being inclined upward from this portion. Thus, thebill 20 greatly protruding outward from the root of the pouringcylinder 11 serves as a spout, and the content liquid can be smoothly poured from this portion. - As shown in
Figs. 2 and3 , further, thebill 20 is becoming thin at its upper end and is curved outward like a horn. That is, upon being curved like a horn in addition to assuming the shape of a bill, the liquid is suppressed from adhering on this portion, the liquid cutting performance is improved, and the liquid is effectively prevented from dripping after the content liquid has all been poured. - Further, an annular
small protrusion 21 for engagement with theupper lid 2 is formed on the outer surface of thetop panel 5 on the outer side of the pouringcylinder 11. - The
upper lid 2, on the other hand, comprises atop panel 25 and acylindrical side wall 27 extending from the circumferential edge of thetop panel 25, and aseal ring 29 is formed on the inner surface of thetop panel 25. That is, when theupper lid 2 is closed, the outer surface of theseal ring 29 comes into close contact with theseal surface 17 on the lower side of the pouringcylinder 11 to maintain sealing after the opening for pouring has been formed by breaking thescore 12. Here, aportion 11a of the pouringcylinder 11 on the side of the hinge-coupling portion 7 is becoming low and is inclined outward. At the time of closing theupper lid 2, therefore, theseal ring 29 smoothly enters into the pouringcylinder 11 and comes into close contact with theseal surface 17. - As shown in
Fig. 3 , further, the central portion of thetop panel 25 of theupper lid 2 is forming aswollen portion 25a being swollen like a dome. Upon forming theswollen portion 25a, an arcuate surface without corner is formed by the inner surface of thetop panel 25 surrounded by theseal ring 29 continuing from the inner surface of theseal ring 29, and the content liquid adhered on the inner surface of thetop panel 25 can be quickly returned back into the container after thescore 12 is broken. - Further, a
flange 25b is formed on a portion of thetop panel 25 on the side opposite to the hinge-coupling portion 7 enabling theupper lid 2 to be easily opened and closed. As will be understood fromFig. 3 , theflange 25b is provided at the upper end of thecylindrical side wall 27. At the time of opening theupper lid 2, therefore, theend 20a of thebill 20 formed in the pouringcylinder 11 is least touched by a finger. - Referring to
Fig. 2 ,small protrusions 27a are provided maintaining a suitable gap on the front end side (opposite to the hinge-coupling portion 7) on the lower end surface of thecylindrical side wall 27 of theupper lid 2. That is, when the content liquid is poured, the liquid that is poured may often adhere onto the circumferential edge portion on the upper surface of thetop panel 5 of thecap body 1 and, particularly, onto the portion on the opposite side of the hinge-coupling portion 7b. In such a case, if the whole lower end surface of thecylindrical side wall 27 comes into close contact with the circumferential edge portion on the upper surface of thetop panel 5 when theupper lid 2 is closed, the adhered liquid is splashed to contaminate the surrounding. The abovesmall protrusions 27a, however, effectively prevent the adhered liquid from splashing.
On the lower end surface of thecylindrical wall 27 on the side of the hinge-coupling portion 7b,arcuate protrusions 27b are formed for adjusting the height to avoid tilting caused by the formation ofsmall protrusions 27a. - Further, a
protrusion 27c is circumferentially formed on the inner surface of thecylindrical side wall 27 at a lower portion thereof. That is, when theupper lid 2 is closed, theprotrusion 27c comes into engagement with thesmall protrusion 21 formed on the outer surface of thetop panel 5 and, therefore, theupper lid 2 is held in the closed state. - With reference to
Figs. 5 and6 showing a major portion of the invention on an enlarged scale together with the perspective view ofFig. 4 , it is important that agroove 30 is formed in the inner surface of thebill 20 of the pouringcylinder 11. Thegroove 30 extends from the upper end of theseal surface 17 up to the upper end of thebill 20. Since theabove groove 30 is formed in the cap of the invention, the liquid that is poured is squeezed through thebill 20. Therefore, even when the degree of inclination of the container is varied to some extent in pouring the content liquid by inclining the container, thebill 20 works to maintain constant the width of the liquid that is poured and, therefore, to maintain nearly constant the area of a point on where the liquid falls effectively avoiding such an inconvenience that the surrounding is contaminated by an increased area of the point on where the liquid falls and making it easy to adjust the amount that is poured. - Further, the
above groove 30 is formed in the tiltedsurface 20b (inner surface of the bill 20) that is inclined outward from the upper end of the nearlyvertical seal surface 17 offering such an advantage that the content liquid can be poured without the need of greatly inclining the container. - In the present invention, it is desired that the inner surface of the
bill 20 in which thegroove 30 is formed, i.e., the tiltedsurface 20b, is formed up to at least not less than a half of the height h of the pouringcylinder 11 as shown in a side sectional view ofFig. 6 . This is because if a region of theinclined surface 20b is short, there occurs such an inconvenience that the container must be greatly inclined for pouring the liquid. Besides, the length of thegroove 30 formed in theinclined surface 20b decreases, and the squeezing effect of thegroove 30 decreases down to a half. - It is, further, desired that the angle θ of inclination of the
inclined surface 20a (seeFig. 6 ) is about 10 to about 55 degrees by taking into consideration the easiness of pouring the liquid and removal from the mold after the cap has been molded. - Referring to
Figs. 1 and5 , further, it is desired that a predetermined opening area (corresponds to the opening designated at Z in the drawing) sectionalized by thescore 12 formed in thetop panel 5 is of a shape having a pouring liquid-squeezing region Z1 of a small width in a portion on the side facing thebill 20 and that thegroove 30 has a width w nearly the same as the pouring liquid-squeezing region Z1. Upon forming the pouring liquid-squeezing region Z1, the pouring liquid is squeezed from the opening formed by tearing apart thescore 12 up to thegroove 30 and, therefore, the squeezing effect is further enhanced. - In the example shown in
Figs. 1 and5 , further, the predetermined opening area (or the opening) Z is formed by thescore 12 in the cup-like dented portion, and the pouring liquid-squeezing region Z1 is extending being tapered to become narrow toward the root portion of the pouringcylinder 11 being more dented than other portions to form a groove. Besides, theend portion 20a (center of the groove 30) of thebill 20 is positioned on an extension of the pouring liquid-squeezing region Z1. When the container is inclined, therefore, a pouring flow passage is formed straight from the pouring liquid-squeezing region Z1 up to theend portion 20a of thebill 20 to effectively pour the liquid contained in the container in a squeezed manner. - Referring to a partly enlarged plan view of
Fig. 7 showing another example of the invention, thegroove 30 is desirably formed in a multiplicity of steps. That is, inFig. 7 , in thegreatest groove 30a (hereinafter called a large groove portion for guiding large amount pouring), there is formed agroove 30b (hereinafter called an intermediate groove portion for guiding intermediate amount pouring) having a width smaller than, and is deeper than, the abovelarge groove portion 30a. In theintermediate groove portion 30b, there is, further, formed agroove 30c (hereinafter called a small groove portion for guiding small amount pouring) having a width smaller than, and is deeper than, the aboveintermediate groove portion 30b.
Thesegroove portions 30a to 30c are all extending from the upper end of theseal surface 17 up to the upper end of thebill 20. Upon forming thegroove 30 in the multi-step constitution as described above, users, in general, are allowed to easily adjust the amount of the liquid that is poured. Concretely, if the container is greatly inclined, the liquid is poured through thelarge groove portion 30a of a large width. If the inclination of the container is decreased, the liquid is poured through theintermediate groove portion 30b of an intermediate width. If the degree of inclining the container is further decreased, the liquid is poured through thesmall groove portion 30c of the smallest width. That is, by watching the width of liquid poured from thebill 20, the users, in general, are allowed to adjust the degree of inclination of the container and to correctly adjust the amount of liquid that is poured. - In the invention described above, the
bill 20 greatly protrudes outward. Therefore, though not shown, it is desired to provide a rib for correcting deformation on the inner surface of theupper lid 2 as disclosed inJP-A-2004-352284 bill 20 can be corrected by the rib for correcting deformation. - In the example concretely described above, further, the predetermined opening area Z is formed by the
score 12, and the opening for pouring is formed by tearing thescore 12. It is, however, allowable to form the opening for pouring from the first time (i.e., state ofFig. 4 ) instead of forming thescore 12, as a matter of course. - Further, though the
upper lid 2 is coupled by hinge to thecap body 1, what is needed in the invention is to form agroove 30 in the inner surface of thebill 20. Therefore, people skilled in the art will be able to easily understand that the present invention is also applicable to the caps in which theupper lid 2 is fastened to thecap body 1 by screw. - The plastic cap of the invention described above can assume a variety of structures in addition to the embodiment shown in the drawings described above. With the
bill 20 being formed at the upper end of the pouringcylinder 11, for instance, a finger may come in contact with the sharp end of thebill 20 when it is attempted to open theupper lid 2 by lifting it up by finger and a user may find it uncomfortable. Such an uncomfortable feeling, however, can be eliminated by providing a buffer protrusion. An example of the cap provided with the buffer protrusion is shown inFigs. 8 to 12 . - The cap of
Figs. 8 to 12 has a basic structure which is the same as that of the cap shown inFigs. 1 to 4 . Therefore, reference numerals the same as those ofFigs. 1 to 4 are quoted inFigs. 8 to 12 , too. - The cap of the embodiment of
Figs. 8 to 12 forms a pouringprotrusion 110 of an arcuate shape instead of forming the pouringcylinder 11. That is, the pouringprotrusion 110 is formed in an arcuate shape by cutting away a portion of a small height of the pouringcylinder 11 on the side of the hinge-coupling portion 7. Namely, the content liquid is poured from the portion on the side opposite to the hinge-coupledportion 7. Therefore, no guide wall is necessary in this portion. Upon cutting away this portion, therefore, no part is hindered by the pouringprotrusion 11 at the time of closing theupper lid 2. - Like in the pouring
cylinder 110, thebill 20 is formed in the central portion of the pouringprotrusion 110 in the circumferential direction, and agroove 20 is formed in the inner surface (inclined surface 20b) of thebill 20. As will be understood fromFig. 9 , further, thetop panel 5 is so inclined that the side of the hinge-coupledportion 7 becomes low in the portion on the inside of the pouringprotrusion 110. - The lower end portion on the inner surface of the pouring
protrusion 110 is flat over the whole areas and is forming a nearly vertical seal surface 17 (particularly, seeFig. 9 ). In the notch (i.e., the region where the pouringprotrusion 110 is cut and is not existing) on the side of the hinge-coupling portion 7, thetop panel 5 is forming a surface that falls down toward theendless score 12. The lower portion of the surface is forming a tapered surface extending up to theendless score 12, and an upper portion that continues to the tapered surface is forming the nearlyvertical seal surface 17a which is continuous to theseal surface 17 at the lower part of the pouringprotrusion 110. That is, when theupper lid 2 is closed, theseal ring 29 of theupper lid 2 comes into close contact with the seal surfaces 17, 17a formed in the pouringprotrusion 110 and in thetop panel 5 to maintain the sealing after the opening for pouring is formed by breaking thescore 12. As will be understood fromFig. 9 , therefore, theseal ring 29 formed on theupper lid 2 is elongated at a portion that comes into close contact with theseal surface 17a. - Referring to
Figs. 8 and9 , further, avertical groove 40 is formed by thinning the inner surface of thecylindrical side wall 27 of theupper lid 2 of the cap at a portion on the side opposite to the hinge-coupled portion 7 (inside of the portion where theflange 25b is formed). Upon forming thevertical groove 40, thebill 20 of the pouringprotrusion 110 does not come in contact with the inner surface of thecylindrical side wall 27 of the upper lid when theupper lid 2 is closed; i.e., theupper lid 2 can be smoothly closed. - In the above plastic cap, a
buffer protrusion 50 is formed on the outer surface of the pouringprotrusion 110 to protrude outward at a portion on the lower side of thebill 20. Thebuffer protrusion 50 is positioned at a portion higher than the annularsmall protrusion 21 for engagement with theupper lid 2, and its outer end in the direction of diameter is positioned slightly on the outer side of theouter end 20a of the bill in the direction of diameter. As shown inFigs. 10 and 11 , further, theupper surface 50a of thebuffer protrusion 50 extends in a horizontal direction, its outer circumferential edge extends in an arcuate shape, and theside surface 50b of thebuffer protrusion 50 forms such a curve that the length of protrusion gradually decreases toward the lower side facilitating the removal from the mold at the time of molding. - According to the present invention, uncomfortable feeling that stems from when the finger hits the
end 20a of thebill 20 when theupper lid 2 is to be opened, is effectively prevented by the formation of thebuffer protrusion 50 as described above. - Reference should be made, for example, to
Fig. 13 showing a state where the upper lid is opened in the cap in which nobuffer protrusion 50 is formed on the pouringprotrusion 110. That is, theupper lid 2 that has been closed is opened by pushing theabove flange 25b up by a finger P. In this case, the finger P may strongly hit thebill 20 that has a sharp end formed on the pouringprotrusion 110. In such a case, a person who attempts to open theupper lid 2 may feel uncomfortable. - Reference should, further, be made to
Fig. 14 showing a state where the upper lid is opened in the cap of the invention that is forming the above-mentionedbuffer protrusion 50. According to the present invention as will be understood fromFig. 14 , the finger P hits thebuffer protrusion 50 when it is attempted to open theupper lid 2 by pushing it up with the finger P. Therefore, even if the finger P hits theend portion 20a of thebill 20, the degree of hitting thebill 20 is reduced making it possible to effectively avoid uncomfortable feeling caused by the hitting. - As will be understood from the above description, the
buffer protrusion 50 is positioned near the lower end of theend 20a ofbill 20, and itsupper end 50a desirably protrudes to an axis L that passes through the end ofbill 20 or protrudes slightly beyond the axis L (seeFig. 10 ). This is because if the protruded position is on the inside of the axis L, the effect is not fully exhibited for reducing the hitting ofbill 20 by the finger P. - Upon providing the
buffer protrusion 50 as described above, the degree of hitting thebill 20 by the finger P can be effectively decreased at the time of opening theupper lid 2 even when, for example, theend 20a ofbill 20 is so protruding as to approach, without contacting thereto, the inner circumferential surface at the lower end of thecylindrical side wall 27 at the time when theupper lid 2 is closed. - Further, the cap of the present invention can be advantageously used for easily transferring the liquid in the container into a small container.
-
Fig. 15 is a view showing a state of the cap of, for example, when the liquid contained in the container is transferred into a small container using the plastic cap ofFig. 13 without the buffer protrusion. As will be understood from this drawing, if the container is inclined while bringing the outer surface of the pouringprotrusion 110 of the cap into contact with the upper end of themouth portion 100 of the small container into which the liquid is to be poured, the end portion ofbill 20 at the upper end of the pouringprotrusion 110 is so positioned as to come in contact with the upper end of themouth wall 100 of the small container or not to come in contact with themouth wall 100 of the small container. In this state, the content liquid is poured. In this case, therefore, the content liquid that is poured flows in while contacting the upper end surface of themouth wall 100 of the small container causing such an inconvenience that part of the liquid flows and spills to the outer surface side of themouth portion 100 of the container. - By using the cap of the present invention having the
buffer protrusion 50 as shown inFig. 16 , on the other hand, if the container containing the liquid is inclined while bringing themouth wall 100 of the small container into contact with thebuffer protrusion 50 formed on the outer surface of the pouringprotrusion 110, thebill 20 of the pouringprotrusion 110 is positioned slightly over themouth wall 100 of the small container. As a result, the liquid can be directly poured into the small container without coming in contact with the upper end of themouth wall 100 of the small container. That is, upon inclining the container while bringing thebuffer protrusion 50 into contact with themouth wall 100 of the small container, unintentional movement of the container can be avoided at the time of pouring and, besides, the liquid can be poured without coming in contact with thecontainer wall 100 of the small container into which the liquid is to be poured making it possible to reliably pour the content liquid into the small container without spilling the content liquid. - Reverting to
Figs. 9 to 12 , theendless score 12 formed in thetop panel 5 of thecap body 1 has a shape that is narrow at a portion on the side of the hinge-coupling portion 7 and at a portion on the side opposite to the hinge-coupling portion 7 as shown, particularly, inFig. 12 , and is formingnarrow portions endless score 12 is torn apart to form the opening for pouring, and the container is inclined to pour the content liquid from the opening for pouring. In this case, the content liquid concentrates on the inner surface of thebill 20 of the pouringprotrusion 11 from thenarrow portion 12b formed on the side opposite to the hinge-coupling portion 7, and quickly flows out. After the end of pouring, further, the liquid adhered and remaining on the wall surface on the side of the hinge-coupling portion 7 quickly returns into the container from thenarrow portion 12a. This is because the surface in which theendless score 12 is formed is inclined to be higher toward the side on where thebill 20 is formed and lower toward the side of the hinge-coupling portion 7. - As shown in
Fig. 12 , further,small ribs narrow portions top panel 5. Being guided by theribs 60, the liquid adhered and remaining on the wall surface on the side of the hinge-couling portion 7 does not stay on the wall surface near thenarrow portion 12a but effectively returns into the container. - In the caps shown in
Figs. 1 to 4 andFigs. 8 to 12 though described with reference to the cap ofFigs. 1 to 4 , theskirt 6 assumes the double wall structure being sectionalized by the slit S into theinner wall 6a and theouter wall 6b which are coupled together at their lower ends. By forming theskirt 6 in the double wall structure, the cap can be easily removed from the mouth portion of the container at the time of sorted disposal of caps. When the above double wall structure is employed, theouter side wall 6b is desirably provided, for example, with ascore 65 as shown inFig. 10 . - The
score 65 is formed in theouter side wall 6b at a position near the hinge-coupling portion 7 (hingeband 7b), and extends in the axial direction. That is, by pulling down theupper lid 2 which is in the state of being opened, thescore 65 is torn apart and theouter side wall 6b is broken, permitting thecap body 1 to be easily removed from the container - When the
outer side wall 6b is to be torn apart by utilizing thescore 65, it is desired to formnotches 67 at both the upper end and the lower end of thescore 65 as shown inFig. 10 . Formation of thenotches 67 facilitates the tearing along thescore 65. Theouter side wall 6b is torn apart along thescore 65, usually, by pulling down theupper lid 2 that is opened. General consumers, however, may often try to remove thecap body 1 from the container by pulling theupper lid 2 up. By forming thenotch 67 at the lower end of thescore 65, too, however, thescore 65 can be torn apart when theupper lid 2 is pulled up, too, and thecap body 1 can be removed from the container. - In the example of
Fig. 10 , arib 70 is extending in the axial direction being formed on the outer surface of theouter side wall 6b near the score 65 (near the hinge-coupling portion 7). Therib 70 is used as a positioning member at the time of fitting and fixing thecap body 1 to the mouth portion of the container. - Further, when the
skirt 6 is constituted in the double wall structure by utilizing the slit S, it is desired that theinner wall 6a and theouter wall 6b are coupled together at their lower ends through breakable bridge portions so that thecap body 1 can be very easily removed from the mouth portion of the container without using any particular tool. - Further, when the
inner wall 6a and theouter wall 6b are coupled together through breakable bridge portions, the sorted disposability can be enhanced by adjusting the strength of coupling. An example of such a cap is shown inFig. 17 . -
Fig. 17 is a bottom view of the plastic cap in a state where theupper lid 2 is opened. In this cap, theinner wall 6a and the lower end portion of theouter wall 6b sectionalized by the slit S are coupled together at their lower end portions through a weakened portion (score and a plurality of bridge portions 75). Thebridge portions 75 can be easily torn apart. - In
Fig. 17 , further, the lower end portions of theinner wall 6a and theouter wall 6b are sectionalized into a tear start region Q1, a tear proceed region Q2 and a tear impossible region Q3. Namely, in the tear start region Q1, theinner wall 6a and theouter wall 6b are coupled together maintaining the smallest strength which is lower than that of, for example, the tear proceed region Q2. In the tear impossible region Q3, the strength of coupling is the highest, and it is difficult to tear them apart. - As will be understood from
Fig. 17 , the tear start region Q1 starts from the lower end of theaxial score 65 provided on the outer side of the one end of the hinge-coupling portion 7 of theouter wall 6b, and extends in the circumferential direction toward the side where the other end of the hinge-coupling portion 7 is positioned. The tear proceed region Q2 is continuous to the tear start region Q1. The tear impossible region Q3 is continuous to the tear proceed region Q2 and is, further, continuous to the tear start region Q1. - The coupling strengths in the above regions Q1 to Q3 can be easily realized by adjusting the depth of the slit S.
- In the tear start region Q1, for example, the slit S completely pierces through the
skirt 6 from the upper end thereof to the lower end thereof. In this region Q1, theinner wall 6a is completely separated from theouter wall 6b. Therefore, this region Q1 possesses the smallest coupling strength. In this case, the coupling strength is zero, and no weakened portion is formed. Further, the completely divided slit S may be coupled with thebridge portions 75 having the smallest coupling strength. - In the tear proceed region Q2, on the other hand, the coupling strength can be increased to be larger than that of the tear start region Q1 by increasing the thickness of the
breakable bridge portions 75 to be larger than that of thebridge portions 75 in the tear start region Q1 in a range which permits the tear apart or by shortening the gaps among thebridge portions 75 to be smaller than the gaps thereof in the tear start region Q1. In the tear proceed region Q2, further, the coupling strength can be adjusted relying upon the score by deeply forming the slit S instead of providing thebreakable bridge portions 75. - In the tear impossible region Q3, further, the coupling strength which does not permit tear apart can be attained by forming the slit S most shallowly or without forming the slit S at all.
- The regions Q1 to Q3 having the thus adjusted coupling strengths are formed in the lower end portions of the
inner wall 6a and theouter wall 6b contributing to further enhancing the sorted disposability.Figs. 18 and 19 show a state where the cap forming the above regions is removed from the mouth portion of the container.
In the example ofFigs. 18 and 19 , nobreakable bridge portion 75 is formed in a portion corresponding to the tear start region Q1, andbreakable bridge portions 75 are formed maintaining a constant gap in only a portion that corresponds to the tear proceed region Q2. - As will be understood from
Figs. 18 and 19 , after theupper lid 2 is pulled down to tear thescore 65 apart, theouter wall 6b is stripped off in the circumferential direction by gripping theupper lid 2, whereby thebridge portions 75 are torn apart, theouter wall 6b is completely separated from theinner wall 6a, and theouter wall 6b and theinner wall 6a remain coupled together in only the region Q3 which does not permit tear apart. As a result, the engaging force between thecap body 1 and the mouth portion of the container greatly decreases, and thecap body 1 can be easily removed from the mouth portion of the container by pulling up thecap body 1 by holding by hand theouter wall 6b that is stripped off. - In effecting the tear apart as described above, a portion of the
outer wall 6b where the hinge-coupling portion 7 is provided for connecting theupper lid 2 serves as a start point of the tear start region Q1 ofbridge portions 75 and where theinner wall 6a and theouter wall 6b are coupled together with the smallest strength (zero in this case). Therefore, the tearing attempt can be quickly commenced followed by the tearing of the tear proceed region Q2. Thus, thecap body 1 can be removed from the mouth portion of the container without at all using any particular tool. - In this case, further, the
notch 67 is provided at the lower end, too, in addition to the upper end of theaxial score 65. Therefore, when it is attempted to remove thecap body 1 from the mouth portion of the container by pulling theupper lid 2 up, too, thecap body 1 can be removed from the mouth portion of the container due to the action of thenotch 67 at the lower end of theaxial score 65 and the tear start region Q1. - The lengths of the regions Q1 to Q3 may be so set that the engaging force between the
cap body 1 and the mouth portion of the container is not lost, a constant sealing is maintained,breakable bridge portions 75 are smoothly torn apart, and thecap body 1 can be easily removed from the mouth portion of the container. For example, if the length of the tear start region Q1 is unnecessarily increased, the engaging force decreases between thecap body 1 and the mouth portion of the container, and sealing performance is impaired. Therefore, this length is, usually, set to be nearly equal to the circumferential length of thehinge band portion 7. Further, the length of the tear proceed region Q2 may be so set that thecap body 1 can be easily removed from the mouth portion of the container when thebridge portions 75 in this region are torn apart. For instance, the length thereof will be sufficient if the total length of the tear start region Q1 and the tear proceed region Q2 is not less than about a half of the whole circumferential length of theskirt 6. The tear impossible region Q3 does not necessarily have to be provided. - As will be understood from the above description, the cap in which the
inner wall 6a and theouter wall 6b are coupled together throughbreakable bridge portions 75 features very excellent sorted disposability. - The above-mentioned cap of the present invention can be effectively used as a cap of the containers filled with various beverages and seasoning liquids such as soy sauce and the like.
Claims (13)
- A plastic cap including a cap body fixed to a mouth portion of a container and an upper lid mounted on said cap body so as to be opened and closed, said cap body having a top panel and a skirt falling down from a circumferential edge of the top panel, said top panel having an opening or a predetermined opening area for pouring the liquid in the container, and on an outer side of said opening or the predetermined opening area in the upper surface of said top panel, a pouring protrusion and an annular small protrusion for engagement with the upper lid being formed, said pouring protrusion serving as a guide for pouring the liquid in the container, and said annular small protrusion being positioned on an outer side of said pouring protrusion wherein:a bill is formed at an upper end portion of said pouring protrusion, the bill protruding outward in an inclined manner and assuming a triangular shape as viewed from the upper surface thereof;a lower end portion of an inner surface of said pouring protrusion is a seal surface that extends in a vertical direction;a groove is formed in the inner surface of said pouring protrusion extending from an upper end portion of said bill up to an upper end portion of said seal surface; anda seal ring is formed on an inner surface of said upper lid so as to come into close contact with said seal surface when said upper lid is closed.
- The plastic cap according to claim 1, wherein said pouring protrusion has a cylindrical shape.
- The plastic cap according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of said bill of said pouring protrusion is forming an inclined surface that is inclined upward and outward from an upper end of said seal surface, said inclined surface being formed to a height of at least not less than a half that of said pouring protrusion as viewed on a side section at the center of said bill in the circumferential direction.
- The plastic cap according to claim 1, wherein said opening or the predetermined opening area is formed in a shape in which a portion thereof on a side facing said bill has a pouring liquid-squeezing region of a small width.
- The plastic cap according to claim 1, wherein said groove includes, as viewed from the upper direction, a large groove portion for guiding a large amount pouring extending from the upper end portion of said seal surface up to the upper end of the bill, and a small groove portion or a intermediate groove portion for guiding a small amount or intermediate amount pouring, the small groove portion or the intermediate groove portion being positioned on an inside of the large groove portion, having a width smaller than that of the large groove portion, and being deeper than the large groove portion, and being extending from the upper end portion of the seal surface up to the upper end of the bill.
- The plastic cap according to claim 5, wherein on the inside of the large groove portion in said groove, there are formed the intermediate groove portion and the small groove portion, the small groove portion has a width smaller than, and is deeper than, said intermediate groove portion, and is extending from the upper end portion of said seal surface up to the upper end of the bill.
- The plastic cap according to claim 4, wherein a dented portion that is most dented at the central portion thereof is formed on the inner side of the pouring protrusion of said top panel, said opening or said predetermined opening area is positioned in said dented portion, a pouring passage that is tapered to become narrow toward the end thereof is formed from the pouring liquid-squeezing region in the opening or in the predetermined opening area toward a root portion of said pouring protrusion, and the central portion of said groove is positioned on an extension of the pouring flow passage.
- The plastic cap according to claim 1, wherein a buffer protrusion is formed protruding outward on the outer surface of said pouring protrusion, and the buffer protrusion is positioned on a lower portion than said bill and on a higher portion than said annular small protrusion for engagement with the upper lid.
- The plastic cap according to claim 8, wherein said buffer protrusion is positioned near a lower end of the bill, and an outer end of said buffer protrusion in the direction of diameter is located at a position the same as, or slightly on the outer side of, the outer end of the bill in the direction of diameter.
- The plastic cap according to claim 1, wherein said upper lid is coupled by hinge to the upper end portion of said skirt, and said bill is formed on an opposite side to a portion where said upper lid and the skirt are coupled together by hinge.
- The plastic cap according to claim 10, wherein the outer end of said bill in the direction of diameter is so protruding as to approach the inner circumferential surface of the lower end of said upper lid but so as not to contact thereto when said upper lid is closed.
- The plastic cap according to claim 10, wherein a double wall structure comprising an inner wall and an outer wall is formed in at least a portion of said skirt, said inner wall and said outer wall being coupled together at their lower ends through a weakened portion that can be torn apart, and said hinge-coupled portion is formed on said outer wall.
- The plastic cap according to claim 11, wherein:an axial score is formed in said outer wall on the outer side of one end of said hinge-coupling portion and extends in the axial direction so as to be torn apart;notches are formed at an upper end and at a lower end of said outer wall, respectively, in the portion where said axial score is formed;at the lower ends of said inner wall and said outer wall, there are formed a tear start region that starts with the lower end of said axial score and extends in the circumferential direction toward the side on where the other end portion of said hinge-coupling portion is positioned and a tear proceed region continuous to said tear start region; anda strength of coupling the inner wall with the outer wall in said tear start region is set to be relatively smaller than a strength of coupling in said tear proceed region.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2007208506 | 2007-08-09 | ||
PCT/JP2008/064291 WO2009020202A1 (en) | 2007-08-09 | 2008-08-08 | Plastic cap having a pouring protrusion |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP2189387A1 true EP2189387A1 (en) | 2010-05-26 |
EP2189387A4 EP2189387A4 (en) | 2012-08-01 |
EP2189387B1 EP2189387B1 (en) | 2018-01-24 |
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Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP08827112.7A Active EP2189387B1 (en) | 2007-08-09 | 2008-08-08 | Plastic cap having a pouring protrusion |
Country Status (7)
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US (1) | US20100219186A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2189387B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2009062091A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20100052510A (en) |
CN (1) | CN101821172B (en) |
TW (1) | TW200920662A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2009020202A1 (en) |
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WO2019110853A1 (en) * | 2017-12-07 | 2019-06-13 | Betapack, S.A.U. | Lid for bottles |
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GB1439460A (en) * | 1972-07-19 | 1976-06-16 | Parsons Bros Ltd | Tamperproof closures for containers |
JPS5490348U (en) * | 1977-12-05 | 1979-06-26 | ||
JPS6173555U (en) * | 1984-10-18 | 1986-05-19 | ||
JPS633956U (en) * | 1986-06-25 | 1988-01-12 | ||
GB8625169D0 (en) * | 1986-10-21 | 1986-11-26 | Duma Packaging As | Closure assembly |
USD319981S (en) * | 1988-10-17 | 1991-09-17 | Specialty Packaging Licensing Company | Pour spout for containers |
US5169040A (en) * | 1990-06-12 | 1992-12-08 | Wiley Lee A | Dripless spout having a V-shaped channel |
JP3591065B2 (en) * | 1995-07-17 | 2004-11-17 | 凸版印刷株式会社 | Easy-to-pour spout |
US5850953A (en) * | 1997-01-28 | 1998-12-22 | Aptargroup, Inc. | Drip-free dispensing structure with collecting reservoir |
US6648188B2 (en) * | 1999-12-21 | 2003-11-18 | Owens-Brockway Plastic Products Inc. | Liquid dispensing package and method of manufacture |
US6269986B1 (en) * | 2000-06-20 | 2001-08-07 | Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc. | Dispensing closure with tamper evident lid panel |
JP4159235B2 (en) * | 2000-09-04 | 2008-10-01 | エム・エフ・ヴィ株式会社 | Hinge cap |
JP2003040299A (en) * | 2001-08-02 | 2003-02-13 | Japan Crown Cork Co Ltd | Cap with pouring out cylinder |
JP3895704B2 (en) * | 2003-05-28 | 2007-03-22 | 日本クラウンコルク株式会社 | Plastic cap with extraction tube |
JP2006016052A (en) * | 2004-07-02 | 2006-01-19 | Toppan Printing Co Ltd | Cap with unfair opening-preventing function |
JP4725992B2 (en) * | 2004-11-30 | 2011-07-13 | 株式会社吉野工業所 | Cap with lid |
US7303088B2 (en) * | 2005-03-11 | 2007-12-04 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Tamper-evident closure |
JP4786236B2 (en) * | 2005-07-13 | 2011-10-05 | 日本クラウンコルク株式会社 | Cap with excellent separation and disposal |
JP4840917B2 (en) * | 2006-07-12 | 2011-12-21 | 日本クラウンコルク株式会社 | Cover with IC tag |
-
2008
- 2008-08-08 KR KR1020107004712A patent/KR20100052510A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2008-08-08 CN CN2008801109254A patent/CN101821172B/en active Active
- 2008-08-08 TW TW097130458A patent/TW200920662A/en unknown
- 2008-08-08 WO PCT/JP2008/064291 patent/WO2009020202A1/en active Application Filing
- 2008-08-08 JP JP2008204994A patent/JP2009062091A/en active Pending
- 2008-08-08 EP EP08827112.7A patent/EP2189387B1/en active Active
- 2008-08-08 US US12/670,961 patent/US20100219186A1/en not_active Abandoned
Non-Patent Citations (2)
Title |
---|
No further relevant documents disclosed * |
See also references of WO2009020202A1 * |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2019110853A1 (en) * | 2017-12-07 | 2019-06-13 | Betapack, S.A.U. | Lid for bottles |
RU2742562C1 (en) * | 2017-12-07 | 2021-02-08 | Бетапак, С.А.У. | Bottle plug |
US11279529B2 (en) | 2017-12-07 | 2022-03-22 | Betapack, S.A.U. | Stopper for bottles |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
KR20100052510A (en) | 2010-05-19 |
JP2009062091A (en) | 2009-03-26 |
CN101821172A (en) | 2010-09-01 |
US20100219186A1 (en) | 2010-09-02 |
CN101821172B (en) | 2012-01-25 |
EP2189387B1 (en) | 2018-01-24 |
EP2189387A4 (en) | 2012-08-01 |
TW200920662A (en) | 2009-05-16 |
WO2009020202A1 (en) | 2009-02-12 |
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