JP2003212258A - Inner stopper for drink container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to drink a drink in a drink container in a good condition regardless of drinking person, place or the temperature of the drink, and to make an inner stopper of the drink container free from getting rusty even if it is washed with water. <P>SOLUTION: The inner stopper 3 of a container body 2 comprises a stopper 5 and a lid 7. The stopper 5 comprises a hinge 6 and a locking means 8 arranged to be opposed to each other, and also have a ceiling plate 5c, on the upper surface of which a cylindrical lip 5d is provided in a projected manner, and the inside of the lip 5d is a pouring outlet 16. An upper end 5f of the lip 5d is cut into a tapered shaped to make its locking means 8 side higher than the hinge 6 side. On the inner surface of a ceiling plate 7b of the lid 7, a nonmetal elastic member 14 is provided in a projected manner so that the elastic members applies energy to the lid 7 in the direction of its opening. An air hole is formed on the ceiling plate 5c of the stopper 5, and the elastic member 14 is arranged in the position where the elastic member blocks up the air hole 12 in the perpendicularly crossing direction when the lid 7 is fully closed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inner stopper of various beverage containers including portable thermos bottles, water bottles and sports drink containers, and in particular, the lid body is opened with one touch to directly drink the beverage in the container body. The present invention relates to an inner stopper of a drinkable container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a prior art for the inner stopper of a beverage container, for example, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-149236. In this prior art, a cylindrical plug body attached to the upper opening of the container body and a spout that is openably and closably connected to the plug body by a hinge and liquid-tightly covers a spout opening on the top plate of the plug body. A lid and a slide-type locking means for holding the lid in a fully closed state are provided, and it is possible to directly drink the beverage in the beverage container by putting a lip on the upper peripheral wall of the stopper with the lid opened. I am able to do it.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned stopper, since the upper peripheral wall is formed in the shape of a funnel with a downward constriction and the top plate is on the lower side thereof, when the container is tilted when drinking the beverage, Beverages flowing out of the spout will diffuse along the upper peripheral wall toward the opening edge, and the flow rate from the spout is only adjusted by adjusting the inclination of the container body. If you are a child or drink in a place where there is vibration such as a vehicle, the drink may flow out of your mouth and wet your clothes.

Further, a metal compression coil spring is incorporated in the locking means in order to keep the lid body in a fully closed state, but the inner stopper of the beverage container is removed from the container body before and after use. Since it is a part to be cleaned, it is desirable from a hygienic point of view to avoid using a metal part that may cause rust due to the adhesion of water.

As a countermeasure against this, it is conceivable to provide an elastic tube or a straw on the stopper as a mouthpiece, but these are not suitable for hot drinks because they suck the drink.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-244158 discloses an inner stopper in which a cylindrical drinking mouth is projected on a top plate of a stopper body, and a movable cap is attached to the drinking mouth so as to be movable up and down. The drinking cap opened by opening the cap is included with the movable cap in the mouth so that the drink in the container body can be drunk, but the upper end surface of this drinking mouth is provided in the direction orthogonal to the central axis of the drinking mouth. Therefore, if the container body is tilted more than horizontal in order to drink the beverage in the container body that has become particularly small, the drinker is forced to lean back and lean on the body. This is not preferable.

The present invention has been made against the background of such circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a comfortable posture regardless of the drinker in the container body, the place to drink, and the temperature of the drink. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sanitary inner container for beverages that can be drunk well and does not rust even when washed with water.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a plug body attached to an upper opening of a container body, and a plug body which is hingedly connected to the plug body. A lid for liquid-tightly covering the spout opening to the top plate of the container, and an inner stopper for a beverage container having lock means for holding the lid fully closed on the side opposite to the hinge, A cylindrical drinking mouth is provided on the upper surface of the top plate so that the inside of the drinking mouth serves as the spout, and the upper end surface of the drinking mouth is cut into a taper shape in which the locking means side is high and the hinge side is low. I am trying.

As another means of the present invention, a plug body attached to the upper opening of the container body, and a spout which is openably and closably connected to the plug body by a hinge and which opens to the top plate of the plug body is a liquid. An inner stopper of a beverage container provided with a lid body that tightly covers and a locking means that holds the lid body in a fully closed state, in which a cylindrical drinking port is rotated in the circumferential direction on the top plate of the stopper body. It may be attached so that the inside of the drinking spout serves as the spout and the upper end surface of the drinking spout may be cut in a tapered shape.

Further, one of the stopper and the lid is elastically contacted with the other when the lid is fully closed, and when the locking means is released, the lid is urged in the opening direction. A non-metallic elastic member may be projected. It is also possible to provide an air hole on the top plate of the plug body, provide an elastic member on the lid body, and further provide an elastic member at a position to close the air hole when the lid body is fully closed. It is desirable that the elastic member is further provided so as to close the air hole in the orthogonal direction. Also,
It is preferable that the inside of the elastic member is hollow so that air can freely flow in and out of the hollow portion.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an embodiment of the present invention is applied to a portable thermos.

1 to 3 show a first embodiment, a thermos bottle 1 comprises a metal container body 2 and a synthetic resin inner stopper 3 attached to an upper opening of the container body 2. Is equipped with.
The container main body 2 has a heat insulating double structure in which the upper opening edges of the inner cylinder 2a and the outer cylinder 2b are integrally joined, and the space between the inner cylinder 2a and the outer cylinder 2b serves as a vacuum heat insulating layer 4. A male screw 2c for screwing the inner plug 3 is formed on the outer periphery of the upper portion of the cylinder 2b.

The inner plug 3 is opened / closed by using a female screw 5a screwed onto the male screw 2c of the outer cylinder 2b to be attached to the upper opening of the container body 2, and a hinge 6 attached to the stopper body 5. The lid 7 is operably connected to the lid 7, and the locking means 8 holds the lid 7 in a fully closed state on the side opposite to the hinge 6.

The stopper 5 is formed in a reverse bottomed cylinder shape in which a top plate 5c for covering the upper opening of the container body 2 is provided on the upper surface of a cylindrical portion 5b surrounding the outer periphery of the upper portion of the outer cylinder 2b. Tubular part 5b
A seesaw-type lock button 10 and a locking ring 11, which are components of the locking means 8, are provided on one side of the lock mechanism 8.
Also, there is a drinking mouth 5d on one side of the top plate 5c, and the top plate 5c.
Guide ribs 5e, which are members of the hinge 6, project from the other side of the hinge 6, and air holes 12 are formed between the drinking spout 5d and the guide rib 5e.
d and the air hole 12, the guide rib 5e and the lock button 1
It is arranged on a straight line L1 connecting with 0.

The lid 7 is formed in the shape of a cylinder with an inverted bottom, which is composed of a tubular portion 7a continuous to the upper side of the tubular portion 5b of the stopper 5 and a top plate 7b closing the upper surface of the tubular portion 7a. Furthermore, the one side portion where the locking means 8 is located is high, and the other side portion where the hinge 6 is located is low. Tubular part 7a
Is a locking rib 7 that is a component of the locking means 8 on one side.
c and a locking piece 7e are projected, a bifurcated arm 7e that constitutes the hinge 6 and a claw piece 7f that holds the open state are formed on the other side, and a packing is provided inside the top plate 7b. 13 and the elastic member 14 are arranged on a straight line L1 connecting the guide rib 5e of the hinge 6 and the lock button 10 of the lock means 8.

The hinge 6 is a guide rib 5e of the plug body 5.
Is sandwiched between the forked arms 7e of the lid 7, and the hinge shaft 15
The lid 7 is openably and closably attached to the upper portion of the plug 5 by the hinge 6. The locking means 8 is composed of a lock button 10 and a locking ring 11 of the stopper 5, a locking rib 7c and a locking piece 7d of the lid 7, and the locking piece of the lid 7 rotated to the closed position. The lock button 10 is engaged with 7d, and the locking ring 11 is hooked on the locking rib 7c, whereby the fully closed state of the lid 7 is maintained. In order to open the lid 7 in the fully closed state, the locking ring 11 hooked on the locking rib 7c is removed, and the lower side of the lock button 10 is pushed to engage the lock button 10 with the locking piece 7d. By releasing, the lid 7 is urged in the opening direction by the elastic force of the elastic member 14 of the lid 7.

The drinking mouth 5d of the stopper 5 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having a thickness suitable for the drinker to include in the mouth from the top plate 5c and having a height covered by the lid 7, and the inside thereof. Beverage spout 1
6 is set. The upper end surface 5f of the drinking spout 5d is the drinking spout 5d.
Is inclined so that the hinge 6 side is lower by an angle θ1 than the line L3 orthogonal to the central axis L2 of the top plate 7b of the lid body 7.
The taper is formed at a substantially same angle as the lock means 8 side and the hinge 6 side is low. The air hole 12 is a small hole that communicates with the inside of the container body 2 and the outside of the stopper body 5, and supplies / exhausts the air in the container body 2 as the amount of the beverage increases / decreases, and the beverage satisfactorily flows through the drinking mouth 5d. I am able to do it.

The upper end surface 5f of the drinking spout 5d has a locking means 8
The highest point on the side and the lowest point on the hinge 6 side are located on the above-mentioned orthogonal direction line L3, and the further orthogonal direction line L3 coincides with the above-mentioned straight line L1 connecting the lock button 10 of the lock means 8. It is provided and with such a configuration, the drinking mouth 5
When the lid 7 is covered with d, the packing 13 of the lid 7 seals the upper end surface 5f without a gap so that the beverage does not leak.

The inclination angle θ1 of the upper end surface 5f is 5 to 5.
A range of 30 degrees is appropriate, and if it is less than 5 degrees, the drinker will feel a burden on the posture when drinking the beverage, and if it is more than 30 degrees, the upper end surface 5f has a considerably protruding shape. It is not good in appearance.

The packing 13 of the lid 7 is formed in a spherical shape having a diameter larger than the upper end surface 5f of the drinking spout 5d.
When is fully closed, it is elastically contacted with the upper end face 5f of the drinking spout 5d to seal the liquid tightly. The elastic member 14 is
It replaces the conventional metal spring that biases the lid 7 in the opening direction, and is formed of a soft synthetic resin such as silicon or a non-metal material such as rubber in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and the upper opening is a ceiling. Board 7
It is attached to the lid body 7 by fitting it into a cylindrical boss portion 7g protruding from the inner surface of b.

The length of the elastic member 14 is set so that the lower end of the elastic member 14 contacts the top plate 5c of the stopper 5 when the lid 7 is rotated slightly before the fully closed position. When 7 is fully closed, the elastic member 14 contracts in the axial direction and the lower end liquid-tightly closes the air hole 12 in the orthogonal direction. Further, when the lid 7 is released from the fully closed state by the locking means 8, the elastic member 14 extends in the axial direction and repels the lid 7 in the opening direction, and the lower end of the elastic member 14 extends from the air hole 12. Away from the air holes 12
Is released. The hollow portion 17 in the elastic member 14 communicates with the outside through a slit 18 formed on one side of the boss portion 7g so that the elastic member 14 can be expanded and contracted well when the lid 7 is opened and closed. .

A plurality of engaging ribs 5g are formed on the guide rib 5e of the stopper 5 on the outer surface on the side opposite to the locking means, and the lid 7 elastically ejected by the elastic member 14 when the locking means 8 is released. The claw piece 7f of the top plate 7b is engaged between the engaging ribs 5g to hold the lid 7 in the open position of 180 degrees or more.

The present embodiment is configured as described above, and when the lid 7 is fully closed by using the lock means 8,
The packing 13 liquid-tightly seals the upper end surface 5f of the drinking opening 5d, and the elastic member 14 liquid-tightly seals the air hole 12 (FIG. 2). Further, when the locking means 8 is released, the elastic member 14 elastically urges the lid body 7 to urge it in the opening direction around the hinge shaft 15, and the lid body 7 rotated right beside the plug body 5 becomes the claw piece 7f. It is locked by the engagement with the engagement rib 5g, and the upper portion of the plug 5 is opened (FIG. 3).

When the beverage in the container body 2 is to be drunk, the mouth of the drinking port 5d is directed to the drinking side and the lid 7 in the open state is directed to the side opposite to the drinking side. By attaching and tilting the container body 2 toward the drinker,
The drink inside flows out from the drinking opening 5d (Fig. 1).

In this embodiment, since the drinking mouth 5d is cylindrically protruded from the top plate 5c of the stopper 5, as described above,
Even when the drinker is a child with a small mouth or drinks in a place where there is vibration such as a vehicle, there is no risk that the drink will flow out of the mouth and wet the clothes. Further, since the drinking port 5d is not a suction type like a straw or a tube, it is suitable for drinking cold or hot beverages.

Further, when the upper end surface 5f of the drinking mouth 5d is on the line L3 orthogonal to the central axis L2 of the drinking mouth 5d, the beverage in the container body 2 tilted horizontally as shown in FIG. 1 is further drunk. In this case, the drinker is forced to take a posture of leaning his body with his face on his back.
In d, since the upper end surface 5f is inclined at an angle θ1 lower than the orthogonal line L3 and the hinge side is inclined lower, the drinker can further lift the bottom side of the container main body 2 by an angle θ1 without having to take an uncomfortable posture. There is a margin to allow it to flow out, and the beverage in the container body 2 can be easily drunk. Therefore, it is particularly effective when the beverage D in the container body 2 is reduced.

Further, instead of the conventional metal spring, the lid 7 is biased in the opening direction by the elastic member 14 made of non-metal such as soft synthetic resin or rubber, so that the inner plug 3 is washed. Even if it gets wet with water, it does not rust and is hygienic. Further, since the elastic member 14 is provided on the lid body 7 side, there is no unnecessary protrusion on the stopper body 5, so there is no problem such as hitting the nose when drinking. In addition, this elastic member 14
Since the air holes 12 are closed by means of, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Moreover, the elastic member 1
Since 4 is provided in the direction orthogonal to the air hole 12, the air hole 12 can be reliably closed.

Further, the elastic member 14 has a hollow portion 17 inside.
With a bottomed cylindrical shape having
Since it is possible to freely move in and out through the slit 18 of g, the elastic member 14 can be expanded and contracted satisfactorily when the lid 7 is opened and closed, and the function of urging the lid 7 in the opening direction and the air hole 12 are provided. It is possible to keep good function for a long time with the function of blocking.

Further, on the upper end surface 5f of the drinking spout 5d, a straight line L1 connecting the highest point on the lock means 8 side and the lowest point on the hinge 6 side connects the lock button 10 of the lock means 8.
Since it is positioned above, when the lid 7 is closed,
A force in the orthogonal direction acts from the packing 13 to the upper end surface 5f,
Since the upper end surface 5f is liquid-tightly sealed without a gap, there is no risk of the beverage leaking.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a drinking spout 20 having the same shape as that of the first embodiment is formed separately from the plug 5, and the drinking spout 20 of the plug 5 is formed. It is fitted to a mounting ring 5h protruding from the top plate 5c so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction.

The upper end surface 20a of the drinking spout 20 is cut at an angle θ2 from a line L5 orthogonal to the mounting ring 5h and the axis L4 of the drinking spout 20, and the upper end surface 20a of the drinker can be directed in a desired circumferential direction. I am going to be able to drink in a free style.

In the present invention, an elastic member for urging the lid in the opening direction may be provided on the plug body side. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the elastic member is configured to close the air hole of the stopper, but there are some beverage containers that do not have air holes, and even if the beverage container has air holes, it is not always necessary. It is not limited to close the air holes with the elastic member. Although it is desirable that the elastic member has a hollow inside, it does not prevent the elastic member from having a solid shape.
Further, the elastic member can be freely arranged at a place other than the straight line connecting the hinge and the locking means.

[0033]

As described above, according to the inner stopper of the beverage container of the present invention, even when the drinker is a child with a small mouth or drinks in a place where there is vibration such as a vehicle, the drink can be obtained. There is no risk of spilling out of your mouth and getting your clothes wet. Moreover, since the drinking mouth is not a suction type like a straw or a tube, it is suitable for drinking cold or hot beverages.
Furthermore, by sloping the upper end surface of the drinking spout into a tapered shape with the locking means side being high and the hinge side being low, the beverage in the container body can be easily drunk.

Further, in place of the conventional metal spring, a non-metallic elastic member such as soft synthetic resin or rubber is used to urge the lid in the opening direction, so that the inner plug is washed with water or the like. Even if it gets wet, it does not rust and is excellent in hygiene. If this elastic member is provided on the lid side, there is no unnecessary protrusion on the stopper, so there is no problem such as hitting the nose when drinking.

Further, by closing the air holes with the elastic member, it is possible to reduce the number of dedicated parts and reduce the manufacturing cost. Further, by providing the elastic member in the direction orthogonal to the air hole, the air hole can be surely closed. Further, since the inside of the elastic member is hollowed out so that the internal air can freely flow in and out, the elastic member can be expanded and contracted satisfactorily when the lid is opened and closed, and the elastic function of the lid and the function of closing the air hole are provided. Can be kept well. Further, since the drinking mouth is formed separately from the stopper and the drinking mouth is attached to the top plate of the stopper so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction, the drinker prefers the tapered upper end surface. You can drink in any style and in any direction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 3 showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the upper part of the thermos showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the lid of the thermos according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of an essential part of a thermos bottle showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Thermos bottle (beverage container of this invention), 2 ... container body, 2
a ... Inner cylinder, 2b ... Outer cylinder, 3 ... Inner plug, 4 ... Heat insulating layer, 5 ... Plug body, 5b ... Cylindrical part, 5c ... Top plate, 5d ... Drinking mouth, 5e ...
Guide ribs 5f ... Upper end surface of drinking mouth 5d, 5g ... Engaging ribs, 5 ... Mounting ring, 6 ... Hinge, 7 ... Lid, 7a ... Cylindrical part, 7b ... Top plate, 7c ... Locking rib, 7d ... Locking piece, 7
e ... Bifurcated arm, 7g ... Boss portion, 8 ... Lock means, 10 ... Lock button, 11 ... Locking ring, 12 ... Air hole, 13 ... Packing, 14 ... Elastic member, 16 ... Spout, 17 ... Hollow portion,
18 ... slit, 20 ... spout, 20a ... upper end surface of spout 20

Continued front page    F term (reference) 3E084 AA02 AA12 AA22 AB01 BA03                       CA01 CB02 CC03 DA01 DB12                       DC03 FA06 FB01 GA04 GB04                       GB06 HA03 HB04 HC03 HD01                       LB02 LD01                 4B002 AA02 BA07 BA60 CA12                 4B055 AA34 AA50 BA37 CA26 CB02                       CB05 FC01

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A stopper body attached to an upper opening of a container body, and a lid body which is connected to the stopper body by a hinge so as to be openable and closable and which liquid-tightly covers a spout opening on a top plate of the stopper body. In the inner stopper of the beverage container having lock means for holding the lid body in the fully closed state on the side opposite to the hinge, a cylindrical drinking port is provided on the upper surface of the top plate of the stopper body, An inner stopper of a beverage container, characterized in that the inside of a drinking spout serves as the spout, and an upper end surface of the drinking spout is cut into a tapered shape having a higher locking means side and a lower hinge side. 2. A plug body attached to an upper opening of a container body, and a lid body that is openably and closably connected to the plug body by a hinge and liquid-tightly covers a spout opening on a top plate of the plug body. An inner stopper of a beverage container provided with a locking means for holding the lid in a fully closed state, a cylindrical drinking port is attached to a top surface of the stopper body so as to be rotatable in a circumferential direction, An inner stopper of a beverage container, wherein the inside of the mouth serves as the spout, and the upper end surface of the mouth is tapered. 3. The lid body is elastically contacted with one of the stopper body and the lid body when the lid body is fully closed, and biases the lid body in the opening direction when the locking means is released. The inner stopper of the beverage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a non-metallic elastic member is provided in a protruding manner. 4. An air hole is provided on a top plate of the plug body, the elastic member is provided on the lid body, and the elastic member is provided at a position to close the air hole when the lid body is fully closed. The inner stopper of the beverage container according to claim 3, wherein the inner stopper is provided. 5. The inner stopper of the beverage container according to claim 4, wherein the elastic member closes the air hole in the orthogonal direction. 6. The inner stopper of the beverage container according to claim 3, wherein the elastic member has a hollow inside, and air can freely flow in and out of the hollow portion.