JP2001354250A - Spring hinged cap - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a spring hinged cap which is good in appearance, whose manufacturing cost can be reduced and which does not apply a load to a hinge. SOLUTION: An engaging portion 30 is located on a moving track of an elastic member 34, and a groove 36 is formed at the center of the elastic member 34 to align with a width of the engaging portion 30. Thus, as soon as a lid 14 is closed, the engaging portion 30 and the groove 36 are engaged with each other. In addition, in a process that the lid 14 is closed, a tip of the elastic member 34 presses the engaging portion 30 to elastically deform, and further when an open/close angle of the lid 14 reaches approximately 90 degrees, the tip passes by the engaging portion 30 to cause the groove 36 to engage with the engaging portion 30. Thus the engaging portion 30 traces the groove 36 when the lid 14 is opened/closed, decreasing a rattle when opening/closing. Since the engaging portion 30 elastically deforms, an amount of the elastic member 34 deforming when the portion 30 is engaged with the groove 36 is small, thereby preventing an excessive load from being applied to the member 34.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cap attached to a discharge port of a container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 10, a cap 54 fitted to a discharge port 52 of a container 50 filled with a liquid such as shampoo or rinse is provided with a lid 60 connected to a main body 56 by a hinge 58. Is provided.

The hinge portion 58 is thin and can be easily bent. However, the hinge portion 58 breaks beyond the fatigue limit while opening and closing the lid 60 many times, and the lid 60 There has been a problem that it is lost apart from 56.

For this reason, as shown in FIGS.
In some cases, an elastic member 64 is provided in addition to the hinge portion 62 so that the opening / closing stroke is constant and the load applied to the hinge portion 62 is within the fatigue limit. Utilizing the biasing force of the elastic member 64, the cover 66
Is automatically rotated in the closing direction or the opening direction.

[0005] The spring hinge cap 68 is designed so that the elastic member 64 is hidden by the hinge portion 62 when the lid 66 is closed, so that the appearance is improved.

However, the elastic member 64 is connected to the lid 66 and the main body 70.
In the molding method to be continuously provided with the hinge member 62 and the elastic member 6,
Even if a mold structure in which the top is slid between 4 is used, the molded product is not released.

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 12, an elastic member 64 is formed on the lid 66 side, and the spring hinge cap 6 is formed.
After the die 8 was die-cut, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the claw portion 64A of the elastic member 64 was connected to the locking piece 71 of the main body 70, but an extra assembly labor was required.
As a result, costs increased.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a spring hinge cap that has good appearance, can reduce manufacturing cost, and does not apply a load to the hinge portion.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the main body attached to the discharge port of the container is provided with an opening for discharging the contents. This opening is opened and closed by a lid rotatably connected to the main body by a hinge portion. A rib is formed on the main body, and an elastic member erected from the back surface of the lid is located between the hinge part and the rib in a process of closing the lid. This elastic member is covered by a hinge when the lid is closed, and when the lid is opened and closed, the tip of the elastic member is deformed by sliding the rib, and the lid is closed according to the opening and closing angle of the lid. Bias in the opening or opening direction.

As described above, the spring effect of the elastic member is exhibited when the lid is opened and closed without connecting the elastic member to the main body, and the opening and closing operation of the lid can be performed with a small force. In addition, it is not necessary to open and close the lid with force, and the lid opens and closes within the opening and closing stroke of the lid due to the urging force of the elastic member.

For this reason, the force acting on the hinge is within the fatigue limit, and the hinge is less likely to break. Also, when the lid is opened and closed, the elastic member slides on the rib, so that the lid does not shake. Further, since the elastic member does not connect the lid and the main body, the mold can be released and released at the same time. Further, since the labor for connecting the elastic member to the main body as in the related art can be omitted, the manufacturing cost is reduced.

Further, a groove is formed in the elastic member, and an engaging portion is provided on the movement trajectory of the elastic member, and engages with the groove in the process of closing the lid.

[0013] Therefore, when the main body is closed, the engaging portion and the groove are engaged at the same time, and when the lid is opened next time, the opening angle of the lid is restricted, so that the hinge portion is not easily damaged. In addition, when the cover is opened and closed, the engaging portion traces the groove, so that the play at the time of opening and closing is small.

Since the engaging portion is made of an elastic body, when the engaging portion engages with the groove, the amount of deformation of the elastic member is small, and no extra load is applied to the elastic member.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A spring hinge cap according to the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the spring hinge cap 10 includes a cylindrical main body 12 and a cylindrical lid 14 fitted to a top surface portion 28 of the main body 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, on the back of the main body 12,
Circular ribs 16 and 18 are provided upright on concentric circles, and a plurality of projections 20 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer rib 16. The rib 16 is provided at the discharge port 13 of the container 11 (see FIG. 1).
The rib 18 is located on the inner peripheral surface of the discharge port 13 on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 12, and when the main body 12 is fitted into the discharge port 13, the discharge port 13 is sandwiched between the projection 20 and the rib 18. ,
The main body 12 does not easily come out of the discharge port 13. In addition, since it is not a screw-in type, the number of steps for fitting the spring hinge cap 10 into the container 11 can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 2, a circular opening 22 is formed inside the rib 18 (see FIG. 3) of the top surface portion 28. A frusto-conical spout 23 projects from the opening 22 so that the liquid filled in the container 11 can be discharged without dripping. Further, the position of the spout 23 is shifted from the center of the top surface portion 28 to the outside,
The liquid can be discharged without opening the lid 14 fully.

A recess 27 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 12. Further, one end of a thin plate-like hinge piece 26 is connected to a lower corner of the recess 27, and the hinge piece 2
The other end of 6 is connected to the outer edge of the lid 14. The hinge piece 26 has a thin portion, and is bent when the lid 14 is opened and closed.

The width of the hinge piece 26 is substantially the same as the width of the opening of the recess 27, and the back surface of the hinge piece 26 is inserted into the recess 27 by the thickness of the recess. In addition, the hinge piece 26 is flush with the outer peripheral surface of the main body 12 and has a good appearance.

A hook-like engaging portion 30 whose free end is bent downward from the upper part of the inner wall of the concave portion 27 extends outward. Below the engaging portion 30, two ribs 32 extend from the inner wall of the concave portion 27.

On the other hand, an elastic member 34 located between the hinge piece 26 and the rib 32 in the process of closing the lid 14 stands on the back surface of the lid 14. As shown in FIG. 6, when the opening / closing angle θ of the lid 14 is about 90 degrees, the distal end portion contacts the rib 32, and as the opening / closing angle θ of the lid 14 decreases, as shown in FIG. Is elastically deformed, and the leading end slides on the rib 32. For this reason, the lid 14 does not shake during opening and closing.

Further, as shown in FIG.
4 is slightly curved toward the engagement portion 30 when the lid 14 is opened. Therefore, in the process of closing the lid 14, the elastic member 34
The direction of elastic deformation is on the engaging portion 30 side. On the other hand, the position at which the direction of the urging force of the elastic member 34 changes in the process of the distal end portion of the elastic member 34 sliding on the rib 32 is called an inversion position,
This is the position shown in FIG. When the lid 14 is closed until it has passed this reversing position, the lid 14 is automatically closed to the position shown in FIG. Conversely, when the lid 14 is opened, the lid 14 is automatically opened to the position shown in FIG.

As described above, the spring effect of the elastic member 34 is exerted when the lid 14 is opened and closed without connecting the elastic member 34 to the main body 12, and the opening and closing operation of the lid 14 can be performed with a small force. Further, it is not necessary to open and close the lid 14 by applying force, and the lid 14 opens and closes within the opening and closing stroke of the lid 14 by the urging force of the elastic member 34.

For this reason, the force acting on the hinge piece 26 is within the fatigue limit, and the hinge piece 26 is hardly broken. Further, since the elastic member 34 does not connect the lid 14 and the main body 12, the design can be performed without the undercut portion, and the cost of the mold can be reduced. Further, since there is no need to slide the frame between the elastic member 34 and the hinge piece 26, the number of products required can be minimized, and the running cost in mass production can be reduced. In addition, in this molding method, the mold can be released at the same time as the mold is opened, and further, since the labor for connecting the elastic member 34 to the main body 12 can be omitted, the manufacturing cost is reduced.

On the other hand, the engaging portion 30 is located on the movement trajectory of the elastic member 34, and a groove 36 (see FIG. 2) is formed at the center of the elastic member 34 in accordance with the width of the engaging portion 30. ing. For this reason, the engagement portion 30 and the groove portion 36 are engaged at the same time when the lid 14 is closed. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the process of closing the lid 14, the distal end of the elastic member 34 pushes the engaging portion 30 to elastically deform, and further, as shown in FIG. At this point, the tip portion passes through the engaging portion 30 and the groove portion 36 engages with the engaging portion 30. Thus, when the cover 14 is opened and closed, the engaging portion 30 traces the groove 36, and the play at the time of opening and closing is reduced.

Since the engaging portion 30 is elastically deformed, the amount of deformation of the elastic member 34 when the engaging portion 30 is engaged with the groove 36 is small, and no extra load is applied to the elastic member 34. Further, since the engaging portion 30 and the groove portion 36 are engaged,
It stops at the position shown in FIG. Therefore,
Since the opening / closing angle θ of the lid 14 is limited, the hinge piece 26 is less likely to be damaged.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, circular ribs 38 and 40 are formed on the back surface of the lid 14. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, when the lid 14 is completely closed,
8 is inscribed in the spout 23, the rib 40 is circumscribed in the spout 23 and the lid 14 closes the opening 22.

Further, a projection 23A is formed along the entire circumference at the end of the spout 23, and the projection 23A fits into a ring-shaped groove 39 formed between the rib 38 and the rib 40. When clicked, a click sound is generated, and it can be confirmed that the opening 22 is completely closed.

On the other hand, hinge pieces 26 are provided on the outer peripheral wall of the lid 14.
Hook 42 projecting outward at a position opposite to
Are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the main body 12.
The recess 24 is formed so as to have substantially the same width. For this reason, the lid 14 can be easily opened only by putting a finger on the recess 24 and pushing up the hook portion 42 from below.

One of the objects of the present invention is that the hinge piece 2
In order to prevent a load from being applied to the container 6, some people may discharge the liquid from the container 11 (see FIG. 1) in a state where the opening / closing angle θ of the lid 14 exceeds 90 degrees. Therefore, even in such a case, the engagement between the engagement portion 30 and the groove 36 can be easily released so that no load is applied to the engagement portion 30 and the elastic member 34.

Next, a method for opening and closing the lid of the spring hinge cap according to this embodiment will be described.

First, the lid 14 is rotated in a direction to close the spring hinge cap 10 (see FIG. 4) released from the mold toward the main body 12 around the hinge piece 26 to the position shown in FIG. . At this time, the engaging portion 30 is pushed by the tip of the elastic member 34 and is elastically deformed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when the opening / closing angle θ of the lid 14 reaches about 90 degrees, the distal end portion of the elastic member 34 passes through the engaging portion 30, and the groove portion 36 (see FIG. 2). Is the engagement portion 30
Engages. In this state, the elastic member 34 is completely assembled into the main body 12.

Further, when the lid 14 is rotated to reach the reverse position shown in FIG. 7, the direction of the urging force of the elastic member 34 changes. Then, when the lid 14 is closed until it passes the reversing position,
The lid 14 automatically closes to the position shown in FIG. After this,
By simply pressing the lid 14 from above in the direction of the arrow, the opening 22 is completely closed as shown in FIG.

When the cover 14 is opened, a finger is placed on the recess 24 shown in FIG. 9 and the hook 42 is pushed up from below to open the cover 14 to the position shown in FIG. It is automatically opened, but the engagement portion 30 and the groove 3
6 is engaged, the lid 14 stops at the position shown in FIG.

[0037]

According to the present invention, the spring effect of the elastic member is exerted when the lid is opened and closed without connecting the elastic member to the main body, and the lid can be opened and closed with a small force. In addition, it is not necessary to open and close the lid with force, and the lid opens and closes within the opening and closing stroke of the lid due to the urging force of the elastic member. For this reason, the force acting on the hinge is within the fatigue limit, and the hinge is less likely to break. Also, when the lid is opened and closed, the elastic member slides on the rib, so that the lid does not shake. Further, since the elastic member does not connect the lid and the main body, the mold can be released and released at the same time. Further, since the labor for connecting the elastic member to the main body as in the related art can be omitted, the manufacturing cost is reduced.

Further, when the main body is closed, the engaging portion and the groove are engaged at the same time, and when the lid is opened next time, the opening angle of the lid is restricted, so that the hinge portion is hardly damaged. In addition, when the cover is opened and closed, the engaging portion traces the groove, so that the play at the time of opening and closing is small.

Further, when the engaging portion engages with the groove,
The amount of deformation of the elastic member is small, and no extra load is applied to the elastic member.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a spring hinge cap and a container according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a spring hinge cap according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the spring hinge cap according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a spring hinge cap according to the present embodiment is opened.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the engaging portion according to the embodiment is engaged with the groove.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an engaging portion according to the present embodiment is engaged with a groove.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a reversing position of the elastic member according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the spring hinge cap according to the present embodiment is closed.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the spring hinge cap according to the present embodiment is closed.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional spring hinge cap and a container.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional spring hinge cap.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a conventional spring hinge cap is opened.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an elastic member of a conventional spring hinge cap is incorporated into a main body.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a conventional spring hinge cap is closed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs 30 Engagement part 32 Rib 34 Elastic member 36 Groove part

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A main body having an opening attached to a discharge port of a container and having an opening through which contents are discharged, a lid for opening and closing the opening, and a hinge portion rotatably connecting the lid to the main body. A rib formed on the main body, which is provided on the back of the lid, and is located between the hinge portion and the rib in a process of closing the lid, and is provided on the hinge portion when the lid is closed. An elastic member that is covered and deformed when the tip slides on the rib, and urges the lid in a closing direction or an opening direction according to an opening / closing angle of the lid; and a groove formed in the elastic member. A spring hinge cap formed on the main body and located on a movement trajectory of the elastic member, the engaging portion being an elastic body that engages with the groove when the lid is closed.