JP7820279B2 - Hanging cap - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hanging cap that can be attached to the neck of a tube container or the like that contains contents such as facial cleanser.

Tube containers have traditionally been widely used as containers for storing contents such as facial cleansers, shampoos, and conditioners (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Many of these tube containers have a flat top surface on the cap that is attached to the opening of the container body so that they can be stored in an inverted position with the discharge spout facing downwards.

JP 2022-81931 A

Typically, tube containers are often used in wet areas such as bathrooms and washrooms for products such as facial cleansers and shampoos. When the tube container is stored upside down with the lid facing downwards, as described above, or when the body of the tube container is squeezed and deformed, water droplets on the outer surface of the tube container flow toward the cap, allowing water to seep in through the gap between the shoulder of the tube container and the cap. The water that accumulates inside the cap can lead to the growth of mold and bacteria.

For this reason, various cap structures have been developed to prevent water from seeping in through the gap between the shoulder of the tube container and the cap, even if water droplets adhering to the tube container run down the body. However, there is a demand for the development of a cap that can more reliably prevent water from seeping in.

In particular, in recent years, the proportion of consumers who only take showers has been increasing, creating a demand for caps that can better prevent water from seeping inside the cap when using a shower. There is also a demand for products that can be hung on towel racks or similar in the bathroom, so that facial cleanser, shampoo, conditioner, etc. can be stored within reach when standing.

The present invention was made in consideration of these problems, and aims to provide a hanging cap that can be attached to the neck of a tube container or the like, effectively prevents water from entering the cap, and is configured to allow it to be hung on a towel rack or the like.

The hanging cap of the present invention, which has been developed to achieve the above object, comprises a cap body that has a discharge nozzle for discharging the contents filled in the container and is attached to the mouth and neck of the container; a lid body that is supported on the cap body via a hinge so as to be able to open and close, and that closes the discharge outlet of the discharge nozzle when held in a closed position to prevent the contents from being discharged, and opens the discharge outlet of the discharge nozzle when held in an open position to allow the contents to be discharged; and a hanging member that is attached to the lid body and can hang the cap body together with the container,
the hanging member is rotatably supported on the lid body via a hinge, and has an annular body that hangs the cap body together with the container by inserting a hanging rod-shaped body into a through-hole;
The annular body is characterized by having an opening through which the hanging rod-shaped body is introduced into the through opening through the open end, and a movable piece that is cantilevered on one side wall of the open end and is positioned between the open end and the other side wall to close the opening, but that can be tilted from the cantilevered support part to open the opening.

In the hanging cap of the present invention, it is preferable that the movable piece has a weakened portion at its free end that connects the free end to the other side wall and can be broken by tilting starting from the cantilever support portion.

Furthermore, in the hanging cap of the present invention, it is preferable that the cantilever support portion has a recessed portion on the radially outer side of the annular body that is recessed toward the through opening, and a smooth portion on the radially inner side of the annular body.

Furthermore, in the hanging cap of the present invention, the lid body preferably comprises a top plate equipped with a plug that fits over the discharge nozzle to close the discharge outlet of the discharge nozzle, and a peripheral wall suspended from the outer edge of the top plate, the lower end of which abuts against the upper surface of the cap body to hold the lid body in a closed position, and the top plate preferably has a top central wall portion that can be detachably fitted into the through opening of the annular body by rotating it toward the lid body, and an annular top inclined wall portion that is connected to the base end of the outer edge of the top central wall portion and has a downward slope that extends radially outward from the lid body.

The hanging cap of the present invention has a lid supported on the cap body via a hinge so that it can be opened and closed. A ring-shaped hanging member is attached to the lid, which can be rotated via the hinge. By inserting a hanging rod, such as a towel rack, into the through opening of the ring, the hanging member can be used as a hook to hang the hanging cap (and container) for storage in a bathroom, etc., preventing water droplets from entering the cap body and preventing the growth of mold and bacteria.

When using the container, the lid can be opened while it is still hanging from the hanging rod, exposing the discharge outlet in the cap body and allowing the contents to be removed, allowing the consumer to use the container while standing.

Furthermore, according to the hanging cap of the present invention, the hanging member has a movable piece cantilevered from one side wall at the open end of the opening for introducing the hanging rod into the through-opening, and the movable piece is configured to close or open the opening. Therefore, when the hanging member is hooked onto the hanging rod and hung, the movable piece functions to close the opening, preventing the hanging member from easily falling off the hanging rod and allowing for safe use.

Furthermore, with the hanging cap of the present invention, the top plate of the lid body is composed of a central top wall portion and an annular top inclined wall portion that is connected to the base end of the outer edge of the central top wall portion and has a downward slope toward the radially outward direction of the lid body. Therefore, even if water droplets from a shower or the like hit the lid body while it is hanging from a hanging rod, the water droplets run down along the inclined top wall portion and do not accumulate inside the lid body or cap body, thereby inhibiting the growth of mold and bacteria.

Furthermore, according to the hanging cap of the present invention, the central wall portion of the top surface is configured to detachably fit with the through opening and opening of the hanging member. Therefore, when the hanging cap is not being used by hanging it from a hanging rod, the hanging member can be rotated toward the lid body to fit the through opening and opening into the central wall portion of the top surface, preventing the hanging member from wobbling. Furthermore, the top surface of the hanging cap becomes flat, allowing the container to be stored in an inverted position.

1A and 1B are diagrams showing a state in which a hanging cap according to the present invention is attached to a container body, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a front view. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2A to 2C are diagrams showing the state in which the hanging member of the hanging cap of FIG. 1 is rotated via a hinge and pulled up, where FIG. 2A is a plan view, FIG. 2B is a front view, and FIG. 2C is a right side view. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 3A, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the lid body has been pulled upward via the hinge to open the outlet of the discharge nozzle. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a state in which a hanging cap is hung from a hanging rod, in which (a) shows a state in which the lid body is closed, and (b) shows a state in which the lid body is open. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the contents are discharged from the discharge nozzle while the hanging cap is hung from the hanging rod-shaped body. FIG.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Figure 1 is a diagram showing a hanging cap according to the present invention attached to a tube container, (a) being a plan view and (b) being a front view, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in Figure 1(a), Figure 3 is a diagram showing the hanging cap of Figure 1 in a state where the hanging member has been rotated via a hinge and pulled upward, (a) being a plan view, (b) being a front view and (c) being a right side view, Figure 4(a) being a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in Figure 3(a), and (b) being a cross-sectional view showing the state where the lid body has been pulled upward via a hinge to open the outlet of the discharge nozzle.

In Figures 1 to 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a tube container that contains the contents, and reference numeral 2 denotes a hanging cap that is screwed onto the neck of tube container 1 to keep the inside of tube container 1 sealed.

The tube container 1 is made of a material such as synthetic resin, and is composed of a container body 11 whose bottom end is sealed by welding or the like and has a filling space inside for the contents, and a head 12 which is fixed by welding or the like to the top end of the container body 11. The container body 11 is made of a flexible material so that the body can be pressed to push the contents out of the discharge nozzle, while the head 12 is made of a rigid material to form the neck portion to which the hanging cap 2 is attached.
In this embodiment, the tube container 1 is shown as an example of the container, but any container may be used as long as the hanging cap 2 can be attached to the neck portion.

The head 12 comprises a circular wall 12a, an inclined wall 12b that extends from the upper end of the circular wall 12a at an angle upward toward the axis O of the container body 11, and a cylindrical neck portion 12c that extends upward from the inner end of the inclined wall 12b. The outer peripheral wall of the neck portion 12c is provided with a male thread portion 12d for attaching the hanging cap 2 described below. In addition, the lower end of the neck portion 12c (the connection with the inclined wall 12b) is provided with two spaced apart protrusions (not shown) that act as a stopper for the attached hanging cap 2.

The hanging cap 2 is composed of a cap body 3 that is attached to the neck portion 12c of the head 12, a lid body 4 that is supported on the cap body 3 via a hinge 6 so that it can be opened and closed, and a hanging member 5 that is supported on the lid body 4 via a hinge 7 so that it can rotate. In this embodiment, the cap body 3, lid body 4, hanging member 5, and hinges 6 and 7 that make up the hanging cap 2 are integrally formed as a single member to reduce the number of parts, but they may also be formed from different materials.

The cap body 3 has an inner tube 31 and an outer tube 32, which are integrally formed via a top wall 33 provided at the upper end. A plate-shaped anti-rotation rib 34 is provided between the inner tube 31 and the outer tube 32.

The inner tube 31 has a female thread 31a on its inner peripheral wall, which threads into a male thread 12d on the outer peripheral wall of the neck portion 12c of the head 12. In addition, by using an undercut fit, the hanging cap 2 can be detachably attached to the neck portion 12c of the tube container 1. In this embodiment, when the female thread 31a and the male thread 12d are threaded together, if the hanging cap 2 is rotated all the way, the anti-rotation rib 34 is sandwiched between the two large and small protrusions mentioned above, preventing the hanging cap 2 from accidentally rotating and coming off.

The top wall 33 is provided with a cylindrical discharge nozzle 35 that rises from the top surface. In addition, a seal ring 36 that fits along the inner peripheral wall of the neck portion 12c and seals the container body 11 is suspended from the back surface of the top wall 33.

The cap body 3 can be manufactured using a material such as synthetic resin, but the material is not particularly limited. In addition, in this embodiment, a cylindrical shape is shown as an example, but the shape is not limited to the one shown in the figure.

The lid 4 is supported openably and closably on the peripheral edge of the top wall 33 of the cap body 3 via a hinge 6, and the discharge nozzle 35 can be sealed and opened by opening and closing the lid 4 as shown in Figure 4(b). The lid 4 is composed of a top plate 41 and a peripheral wall 42 suspended from the outer edge of the top plate 41. When the lid 4 is in the closed position shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lower edge of the peripheral wall 42 removably fits into an undercut recess 33a provided on the outer peripheral edge of the top wall 33 of the cap body 3, maintaining the lid 4 in the closed position.

The top plate 41 has a top central wall portion 41a and an annular top inclined wall portion 41b that is connected to the base end of the outer edge of the top central wall portion 41a and has a downward slope toward the radial outside of the lid body 4.

The outer peripheral shape of the top central wall portion 41a is approximately the same as the inner peripheral shape of the through opening 52 and opening 53 provided in the annular body 51 of the hanging member 5 (described below). When the hanging member 5 is rotated toward the lid body 4 around the hinge 7 as a fulcrum and pushed downward, the outer peripheral edge of the top central wall portion 41a and the inner peripheral edge of the through opening 52 and opening 53 form an undercut fit.

A circular closure plug 43 is attached to the back surface of the central top wall 41a, with a seal ring 44 hanging down from the inside of the closure plug 43. When the lid 4 is closed as shown in Figure 2, the discharge nozzle 35 is inserted into the closure plug 43, the inner peripheral wall of the closure plug 43 fits into the outer peripheral wall of the discharge nozzle 35, and the seal ring 44 fits along the inner peripheral wall of the discharge port 35a of the discharge nozzle 35, sealing the discharge port 35a.

The peripheral wall 42 has a hinge 6 on its outer periphery that connects the cap body 3 and the lid body 4, and a hinge 7 that connects the lid body 4 and the hanging member 5 (described below). The hinges 6 and 7 are located opposite each other across the axis O of the container body 11. The hinge 7 also functions as a finger grip that allows the user to push up and down the lid body 4 when opening and closing it.

The hanging member 5 is rotatably supported on the cover 4 via a hinge 7. The hanging member 5 has an annular body 51 with a through opening 52 and a peripheral wall 56 suspended from the outer periphery of the annular body 51. The annular body 51 has an opening 53 connected to the through opening 52 and a movable piece 54 provided at the open end of the opening 53.

The annular body 51 has a protrusion 55 that protrudes radially outward on its outer periphery, facing the hinge 7. The protrusion 55 can be used as a fingerhold to rotate the hanging member 5 via the hinge 7, allowing it to be changed between an upright position and a reclined position.

The hanging member 5 is fitted to the lid 4 (top central wall 41a), so it does not wobble before use or when the lid 4 is opened as shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, the container can be held upside down with the hanging member 5 (and top central wall 41a) as the base.

The hanging member 5 serves as a hook for hanging a container from a hanging rod 8 such as a towel rack. When in use, the ring-shaped body 51 is raised upward using the protrusion 55 as a finger hook to hold it in an upright position, and the hanging rod 8 is inserted into the through-opening 52 through the opening 53.

One end of the movable piece 54 is cantilevered on one side wall 53a1 of the open end 53a of the opening 53 (cantilever support portion 54a), and the other end forms a free end 54b. The movable piece 54 extends to the other side wall 53a2 of the open end 53a, positioning it so as to close the opening 53. However, the opening 53 can be opened by tilting it from the cantilever support portion 54a. Therefore, when inserting the hanging rod 8 into the through opening 52 as described above, the movable piece 54 is first tilted radially inward of the annular body 51 to open the opening 53, and the hanging rod 8 is inserted through the opening 53. Then, the movable valve 54 is returned to its original closed position, effectively preventing the hanging rod 8 from falling out of the through opening 52.

It is preferable that the free end 54b of the movable valve 54 be connected to the other side wall 53a2 of the open end 53a by a weakened portion formed by thinning the wall until use begins, and then, at the start of use, the movable valve 54 is tilted starting from the cantilever support portion 54a to break the weakened portion and allow the valve to be used.

In addition, the cantilever support portion 54a has a recess 54c on the radially outer side of the annular body 51 that is recessed toward the through opening 52, while the radially inner side of the annular body 51 is smooth. This makes it easier for the movable valve 54 to tilt radially inward from the cantilever support portion 54a, while preventing deformation radially outward.

Furthermore, the opening 53 is oriented so as to intersect with a straight line L (see Figure 1) that connects the widthwise center of the hinge 6 connecting the cap body 3 and the lid body 4 and the widthwise center of the hinge 7 connecting the annular body 51 and the lid body 4. As a result, when the hanging member 5 is raised to an upright position, the opening 53 is positioned on the side of the annular body 51, making it easier to insert the hanging rod 8 through the opening 53.

Figure 5 shows the hanging cap 2 hanging from a hanging rod 8 such as a towel rack, with (a) showing the lid 4 in a closed position and (b) showing the lid 4 in an open position. Figure 6 shows the contents being dispensed from the dispense nozzle 35 with the hanging cap 2 hanging from the hanging rod 8.

As shown in Figure 5, even if water from a shower or the like splashes on the hanging cap 2 while it is hanging from the hanging rod 8, the water droplets W run down along the top inclined wall portion 41b of the lid body 4, so the water droplets W do not accumulate on the surface of the lid body 4 or inside the cap body 3, thereby suppressing the growth of mold and bacteria.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the lid 4 can be opened while the container is still hanging from the hanging rod 8 to discharge the contents from the discharge nozzle 35, allowing the consumer to use the container while standing.

The hanging cap of the present invention can be suitably used as a cap for containers filled with creamy or viscous cosmetics, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, detergents, etc.

1 Tube container 11 Container body 12 Head 12a Annular wall 12b Inclined wall 12c Mouth neck portion 12d Male screw 12e Large protrusion 12f Small protrusion 2 Hanging cap 3 Cap body 31 Inner tube 31a Female screw portion 32 Outer tube 33 Top wall 33a Recess 34 Anti-rotation rib 35 Discharge nozzle 35a Discharge port 36 Seal ring 4 Lid body 41 Top plate 41a Top surface central wall portion 41b Top surface inclined wall portion 42 Peripheral wall 43 Block plug 44 Seal ring 5 Hanging member 51 Annular body 52 Through opening 53 Opening 53a Open end 53a1 Side wall 53a2 Side wall 54 Movable piece 54a Cantilever support portion 54b Free end 54c Recess 55 Protrusion portion 56 Peripheral wall 6, 7 Hinge 8 Hanging rod-shaped body W Water droplet

Claims (4)

A hanging cap includes a cap body having a discharge nozzle for discharging contents filled in the container and attached to the mouth and neck of the container, a lid body supported on the cap body via a hinge so as to be openable and closable, and which closes the discharge outlet of the discharge nozzle when held in a closed position to prevent the contents from being discharged, and opens the discharge outlet of the discharge nozzle when held in an open position to allow the contents to be discharged, and a hanging member attached to the lid body and capable of hanging the cap body together with the container,
the hanging member is rotatably supported on the lid body via a hinge, and has an annular body that hangs the cap body together with the container by inserting a hanging rod-shaped body into a through-hole;
The annular body has an opening through which the hanging rod-shaped body is introduced into the through opening through the open end, and a movable piece that is cantilevered on one side wall of the open end and is positioned between the opening and the other side wall to close the opening, but that can be tilted from the cantilevered support part to open the opening. A hanging cap as described in claim 1, characterized in that the movable piece has a weakened portion at its free end that connects the free end to the other side wall but can be broken by tilting starting from the cantilever support portion. A hanging cap as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cantilever support portion has a recessed portion on the radially outer side of the annular body that is recessed toward the through opening, and a smooth portion on the radially inner side of the annular body. the lid body comprises a top plate provided with a plug that fits over the discharge nozzle to close the discharge outlet of the discharge nozzle, and a peripheral wall that hangs down from the outer edge of the top plate and has a lower end that abuts against the upper surface of the cap body to hold the lid body in a closed position;
A hanging cap as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the top plate has a top central wall portion that can be freely attached and detached to the through opening by rotating the annular body toward the lid body, and a top inclined wall portion that is connected to the base end of the outer edge of the top central wall portion and has a downward slope toward the radially outer side of the lid body.