JP2007008553A - Container cap - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To give a good operating feeling to the operator and enhance user friendliness. <P>SOLUTION: The container cap is integrally formed of a cap main body 10, and a cover body 20 for opening/closing an upper surface of the cap main body 10 via hinges 31, 31. Then an operating piece 17 of the cap main body 10 has an engaging hook 18 formed thereon, which engaging hook has inside inclined surface 18a and an outside inclined surface 18b formed on a top surface thereof. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cap of a container for storing various liquids such as chemical liquid, glue, mayonnaise, oil, and viscous liquid, and can be conveniently opened with one hand.

  A cap of a container with a lid that opens and closes via a hinge is known (Patent Document 1).

This is configured by integrally forming a lid body that opens and closes via a hinge with respect to a cap body with a screw. On the outer periphery of the cap body, an upward operation piece is formed at a position opposite to the hinge, and when the operation piece is pushed and elastically deformed inward at the upper part, the upper end of the operation piece is a lid in the closed position. Since a finger hook is formed to enter underneath and open the lid body upward, the lid body can be opened upward by pushing up the finger hook. In the closed position, the cover body is fitted with an engagement rib on the upper end of the cap body from the outside, and an engagement protrusion formed intermittently on the outer periphery of the fitting rib is formed on the engagement recess on the inner periphery of the cover body. By engaging the groove, it is locked in the closed position.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-338260

  When such a prior art is used, the lid in the closed position is locked by engaging the engagement protrusion on the outer periphery of the fitting rib on the cap body side with the engagement groove on the inner periphery of the cover, When releasing upward, the plurality of engaging protrusions are sequentially detached from the engaging grooves, and cannot be released all at once, resulting in a problem that a good operational feeling cannot be obtained. In addition, the operation piece merely forms a finger hook for opening the lid, and there is a problem that the added value is not high when a complicated mold is used.

  Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to increase the added value of the operation piece and to improve the operation by concentrating and mounting the auxiliary function at the time of closing and opening the cover body in addition to the lock function of the cover body. An object of the present invention is to provide a cap of a container that can realize a comfortable operation feeling and can improve usability.

  In order to achieve this object, the structure of the present invention is formed by integrally forming a cap body and a lid body that opens and closes the upper surface of the cap body via a hinge. An upward operation piece that elastically deforms inward is formed at a position facing the hinge, and an outward engagement hook that locks the lid in the closed position is provided at the upper end of the operation piece. Forming an inner slope that pushes up the lid in the closed position by pushing the operating piece, and an outer slope that elastically deforms the upper part of the manipulation piece inward by pushing the lid down to the closed position. The gist.

  The lid body can be provided with a push-up piece that overhangs above the operation piece, and can be provided with a positioning rib that regulates the relative position with the cap body.

  However, in the present invention, the inner side and the outer side refer to the radial direction of the cap body and the side closer to the axis of the cap body and the far side. The inward and outward directions are also the same.

  According to the configuration of this invention, the outward locking hook at the upper end of the operation piece locks the lid body in the closed position, but the operation piece is operated by pushing the operation piece to elastically deform the upper part inward. At the same time, the lid can be unlocked by moving inward. Therefore, the lid can be opened upward at once by moving the finger, for example, the thumb, which has been operated to push the operation piece, as it is, and a light operation feeling can be realized by one-hand operation.

  When the lid is opened, if the operating piece is pushed and elastically deformed, the lid is locked by the locking hook, and at the same time, the lid is opened via the slope inside the top surface of the locking hook. Since the body is pushed upward, there is no risk that the lock of the lid will be inadvertently restored. On the other hand, the slope on the outer side of the top surface of the locking hook elastically deforms the upper part of the operation piece inward when the cover is pushed down to the closed position and temporarily locks the lock by the locking hook. To. Therefore, even if the opening / closing operation of the lid is repeated, there is no possibility that the locking hook is worn or deformed, and the locking function by the locking hook can be maintained normally. That is, the slope on the top surface of the locking hook has an auxiliary function during opening and closing operations that pushes up the lid and temporarily disables the locking by the locking hook at the time of opening and closing the lid. Sharing.

  The push-up piece provided on the lid body overhangs above the operation piece of the cap body at a position facing the hinge that opens and closes the lid body. Then, if the finger which pushed the operation piece is moved upward, the finger is directly applied to the push-up piece, and the lid can be opened more easily. In addition, the positioning rib provided on the lid body correctly regulates the relative positional relationship between the lid body and the cap body when the lid body is closed at the closed position. The lid can be guided so that the nozzle is properly closed, and the strength of the hinge can be substantially reinforced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The cap of the container is formed by integrally molding the cap body 10 and the lid 20 (FIGS. 1 and 2). However, the lid 20 is connected to the cap body 10 via the left and right thin hinges 31, 31 and can open and close the upper surface of the cap body 10.

  The cap body 10 includes a downward outer cylinder 11, an intermediate cylinder 12, and an inner cylinder 13 that are arranged concentrically via a top plate 14. On the inner surface of the intermediate cylinder 12 shorter than the outer cylinder 11, a female screw 12a is formed that matches the male thread Y2 of the mouth Y1 of the container Y. The inner cylinder 13 shorter than the intermediate cylinder 12 is connected to the mouth Y1 of the container Y. It can be inserted. Therefore, the cap body 10 can be attached to the mouth Y1 of the container Y via the female screw 12a and the male screw Y2, and the mouth Y1 can be sealed tightly via the inner cylinder 13. A ratchet Y3 for preventing the cap body 10 from returning is formed below the male screw Y2.

  The top plate 14 is cut out as a substantially arcuate opening 15 between the outer cylinder 11 and the intermediate cylinder 12 on the opposite side of the hinges 31, 31 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The outer cylinder 11 and the intermediate cylinder 12 except for the portion 15 are connected via a plurality of reinforcing plates 12b, 12b,. Further, detent pawls 12c, 12c of the cap body 10 that engage with the ratchet Y3 on the container Y side are provided on the outer periphery of the lower end of the intermediate cylinder 12. On the top surface of the intermediate cylinder 12, a ring-shaped seal 12d that abuts against the upper end surface of the mouth Y1 of the container Y is formed.

  An upward rib 14a is formed around the top plate 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2). On the top plate 14, a pouring nozzle 16 is erected at an eccentric position near the opening 15, and the nozzle hole 16 a of the pouring nozzle 16 is narrowed to a small diameter and opened on the top surface of the inner cylinder 13. There is a hole. The upper end surface 11a of the outer cylinder 11 is formed in a ring shape on the outer side of the rib 14a, and the upper half of the outer cylinder 11 is thicker on the inner side via a downward step 11b.

  An upward operation piece 17 is formed at a position facing the hinges 31, 31 of the outer cylinder 11 through upward slits 17 a, 17 a that cut the outer cylinder 11 parallel to each other toward the hinges 31, 31. . A bulging portion 17 b that smoothly bulges outward is formed at the upper end portion of the operation piece 17, and an outward locking hook 18 is formed at the upper end of the operation piece 17. The locking hook 18 is formed so as to partially protrude toward the opening 15, and an inner slope 18 a and an outer slope 18 b are formed on the top surface of the locking hook 18. . The locking hook 18 is formed concentrically with the outer periphery of the outer cylinder 11.

  The lid 20 is formed in a low dome shape that bulges upward. The lid 20 is formed to have the same diameter as the outer diameter of the outer cylinder 11 of the cap body 10 as a whole.

  On the top surface of the lid 20, a plug body 21 with a plug 21 a that is fitted to the dispensing nozzle 16 of the cap body 10 and closes the nozzle hole 16 a is suspended. In addition, a locking hole 22 corresponding to the locking hook 18 of the cap body 10 is opened in the lid body 20 in a radial direction horizontally at a position facing the hinges 31, 31, and below the locking hole 22. An outward push-up piece 23 is formed. An arc-shaped rib 23 a is formed on the lower surface of the tip of the push-up piece 23, and a slope 23 b corresponding to the slope 18 b on the locking hook 18 of the cap body 10 is formed on the inner end face of the push-up piece 23. ing. A pair of triangular plate-like locking pieces 24, 24 are suspended from the top so as to correspond to the locking hooks 18 of the cap body 10 immediately inside the locking holes 22. Further, positioning ribs 25, 25 parallel to each other toward the hinges 31, 31 are formed on both sides of the locking pieces 24, 24. The outer peripheral portion of the lower surface of the lid 20 is a ring-shaped landing surface 26 corresponding to the upper end surface 11 a of the outer cylinder 11.

  The hinges 31 and 31 are formed between the bases 31a and 31a on the cap body 10 side and the lid body 20 side, respectively. A band plate 32 is disposed between the hinges 31. Both ends of the band plate 32 are connected to the cap body 10 and the lid body 20 through thin auxiliary hinges 32a and 32a. However, the lid 20 is formed with a notch 32 b for accommodating the band plate 32. Therefore, the lid 20 can open and close the upper surface of the cap body 10 via the hinges 31, 31 (solid line, two-dot chain line in FIG. 2), and the maximum opening angle of the lid 20 due to the elasticity of the band plate 32. The lid body 20 having an opening angle θ <θ2 can be urged in the closing direction, and the lid body 20 having an opening angle θ> θ2 can be urged in the opening direction. be able to. However, θ2 is a dead center angle, and is preferably set to about 40 ° ≦ θ2 ≦ 60 °.

  In the closed position of the opening angle θ = 0 ° (two-dot chain line in FIG. 2), the lid body 20 lands on the upper end surface 11 a of the outer cylinder 11, and the positioning ribs 25, 25 are on the hinges 31, 31 side. By engaging the front end surface with the outer surface of the rib 14a, the relative position with the cap body 10 can be correctly regulated. The lid 20 in the closed position closes the nozzle hole 16a of the dispensing nozzle 16 through the plug 21 with the plug 21a, and the locking hook 18 is elastically engaged with the locking hole 22 from the inside. By combining, it is locked so that it cannot be opened. Further, the push-up piece 23 overhangs above the operation piece 17.

  When the lid 20 is closed, the slope 23b of the lid 20 is engaged from above with the slope 18b on the outer side of the locking hook 18 on the cap body 10 side immediately before the closing position (FIG. 4). Therefore, when the lid 20 is pushed down to the closed position (K1 direction in the figure), the upper part of the operation piece 17 is elastically deformed inward (K2 direction in the figure) via the inclined surfaces 23b and 18b, and the locking hook 18 Move in the same direction, the lid 20 can be smoothly closed at the closed position. When the lid 20 reaches the closed position, the slope 23b is disengaged below the slope 18b, the upper portion of the operation piece 17 is elastically returned to the original position, and the locking hook 18 is engaged with the locking hole 22. Then, the lid 20 is locked. That is, the slope 18b can temporarily disable the locking of the lid 20 by the locking hook 18 together with the slope 23b. When the lid 20 is closed at an opening angle θ <θ 2, it is urged in the closing direction via the band plate 32, so that even if the inclined surface 23 b is engaged with the inclined surface 18 b, it does not always stop and is stopped at once. It is also possible to close to the closed position.

  When opening the lid 20 in the closed position, the container Y is grasped with one hand (FIG. 5), and the operation piece 17 is pushed and operated with the thumb to elastically deform the upper part of the operation piece 17 inward (FIG. 5). 6 arrow K3 direction). When the operating piece 17 is elastically deformed inward, the locking hook 18 is disengaged inward from the locking hole 22, and at the same time, the inner slope 18a on the locking hook 18 is engaged with the locking pieces 24, 24 on the lid 20 side. Then, the lid 20 is pushed upward (in the direction of arrow K4 in the figure). When the operation piece 17 is pushed, the maximum amount of elastic deformation is defined by the back surface of the locking hook 18 coming into contact with the outer surface of the rib 14a, and the operation piece 17 is not further deformed. Further, even if the pressing force on the operation piece 17 is removed and the operation piece 17 is elastically restored to its original shape, the locking hook 18 that is detached from the locking hole 22 is positioned below the locking hole 22. Thus, it does not re-engage with the locking hole 22. Therefore, the lid body 20 waits on the cap body 10 with the slope 23b partially engaged with the slope 18b while the lock of the locking hook 18 is released by the elasticity of the band plate 32.

  Then, the thumb 20 is moved upward as it is, the push-up piece 23 of the lid 20 is pushed up (in the direction of arrow K5 in FIG. 5), and the lid 20 is opened up to the opening angle θ> θ2. The opening automatically opens to the opening angle θ = θ1 due to elasticity, and at the same time, the nozzle hole 16a of the dispensing nozzle 16 is opened. Therefore, for example, the container Y may be deformed by being crushed, and the content may be poured out through the nozzle hole 16a. When the push-up piece 23 is pushed up in this way, the bulging portion 17b at the upper end of the operation piece 17 causes the upper end of the operation piece 17 to be perceived by the belly of the thumb, and the rib 23a on the lower surface of the push-up piece 23 is Therefore, in combination with the automatic opening operation after the dead center angle θ2 by the band plate 32, a very good operational feeling can be obtained.

  Further, when closing the lid 20 in the open state, the lid 20 may be pushed in the closing direction (in the direction of arrow K6 in FIG. 2) and driven to an opening angle θ <θ2. Thereafter, the lid 20 automatically closes to the closed position at once due to the elasticity of the band plate 32, recloses the nozzle hole 16a of the dispensing nozzle 16 through the stopper 21a and the stopper 21, and It is locked in the closed position via a hook 18.

  In the above description, the locking piece 24 of the lid 20 may be only one piece instead of providing a pair (FIG. 7). Further, the cap body 10 may be mounted by any other screwless mounting method instead of mounting the cap body 10 on the mouth Y1 of the container Y via the female screw 12a and the male screw Y2. In addition, the cap main body 10, the lid body 20, and the belt plate 32 are integrally formed of a chemical-resistant plastic material having appropriate elasticity such as polypropylene and high-density polyethylene.

Overall configuration perspective view Overall configuration vertical section explanatory drawing Bottom view with lid closed Main part enlarged operation diagram (1) Usage diagram Main part enlarged operation diagram (2) The principal part perspective view which shows other embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Cap body 17 ... Operation piece 18 ... Locking hook 18a, 18b ... Slope 20 ... Lid body 23 ... Push-up piece 25 ... Positioning rib 31 ... Hinge

Patent Applicant Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Shingo Chemical Co., Ltd.
Attorney Tadaaki Matsuda, Attorney

Claims (3)

  A cap body and a lid body that opens and closes the upper surface of the cap body via a hinge are integrally formed, and on the outer periphery of the cap body, an upward operation piece that elastically deforms the upper part by a pressing operation is provided. It is formed at a position facing the hinge, and an outward locking hook for locking the lid in the closed position is provided at the upper end of the operating piece, and the operating piece is pushed onto the top surface of the locking hook. An inner slope that pushes up the lid in the closed position by operating and an outer slope that elastically deforms the upper part of the operation piece inward by pushing down the lid to the closed position are formed. Container cap.   The container cap according to claim 1, wherein a push-up piece overhanging the operation piece is provided on the lid. The cap of the container according to claim 1, wherein the lid is provided with a positioning rib that regulates a relative position with the cap body.

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