US20180237190A1 - Closable container - Google Patents

Closable container Download PDF

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Publication number
US20180237190A1
US20180237190A1 US15/842,287 US201715842287A US2018237190A1 US 20180237190 A1 US20180237190 A1 US 20180237190A1 US 201715842287 A US201715842287 A US 201715842287A US 2018237190 A1 US2018237190 A1 US 2018237190A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
door lid
frame
gasket
closable container
container according
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US15/842,287
Inventor
Yoshihisa Iwasaki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Iwasaki Industry Inc
Original Assignee
Iwasaki Industry Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Iwasaki Industry Inc filed Critical Iwasaki Industry Inc
Assigned to IWASAKI INDUSTRY INC. reassignment IWASAKI INDUSTRY INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: IWASAKI, YOSHIHISA
Publication of US20180237190A1 publication Critical patent/US20180237190A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D47/00Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/06Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
    • B65D47/08Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
    • B65D47/0804Closures 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
    • B65D47/0833Hinges without elastic bias
    • B65D47/0838Hinges without elastic bias located at an edge of the base element
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D47/00Closures with filling and discharging, or with discharging, devices
    • B65D47/04Closures with discharging devices other than pumps
    • B65D47/06Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages
    • B65D47/08Closures with discharging devices other than pumps with pouring spouts or tubes; with discharge nozzles or passages having articulated or hinged closures
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D43/00Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D43/14Non-removable lids or covers
    • B65D43/16Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement
    • B65D43/163Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement the container and the lid being made separately
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D43/00Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D43/14Non-removable lids or covers
    • B65D43/16Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement
    • B65D43/163Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement the container and the lid being made separately
    • B65D43/169Non-removable lids or covers hinged for upward or downward movement the container and the lid being made separately the lid, the hinge and the element connecting them to the container being made of one piece
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D43/00Lids or covers for rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D43/14Non-removable lids or covers
    • B65D43/22Devices for holding in closed position, e.g. clips
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D53/00Sealing or packing elements; Sealings formed by liquid or plastics material
    • B65D53/02Collars or rings
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D55/00Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D55/16Devices preventing loss of removable closure members

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a closable container, and more specifically relates to a closable container that is highly sealable and is suitable for storing food or the like.
  • JP 2007-204104A and JP 2007-261670A each disclose a container that includes a container body and a cap as this type of container.
  • the cap includes a ring-shaped frame that is attached so as to surround a mouth part that defines an opening of the container body, and a door lid that is attached to the frame in a hinged manner and closes the opening.
  • a gasket is disposed at a position of closing a gap between the frame and the door lid when the door lid is closed, and the sealability of the container is ensured by this gasket.
  • JP 2007-204104A and JP 2007-261670A are examples of related art.
  • the container of JP 2007-204104A needs to be moved by hand so as to rotate the door lid about the axis of the hinge.
  • a coil spring for biasing in the direction of opening the door lid is attached to the hinge portion coupling the door lid and the frame. Accordingly, the door lid opens automatically when the door lid is unlocked from the frame.
  • the container disclosed in JP 2007-261670A requires the coil spring, the number of parts increases, the structure is more complex, and the cost increases.
  • the present invention aims to provide a highly-sealable closable container that has a simple configuration and has a door lid that can open automatically.
  • a closable container includes a container body having a mouth part that defines an opening and a cap that closes the opening.
  • the cap includes a ring-shaped frame, a door lid, a gasket, and a biasing member.
  • the frame is detachably attached to the mouth part.
  • the door lid is coupled to the frame in a hinged manner and rotates between a closed position at which the opening is closed and an open position at which the opening is open.
  • the gasket is attached to the frame or the door lid, is composed of an elastic material, and is interposed in a gap between the frame and the door lid so as to seal the gap when the door lid is at the closed position.
  • the biasing member is composed of the same elastic material as the gasket, is constituted integrally with the gasket, and biases the door lid in a direction toward the open position.
  • a closable container according to a second aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to the first aspect, in which the gasket is attached to the frame.
  • a closable container according to a third aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to the second aspect, in which the gasket is interposed in the gap between the mouth part and the frame so as to seal the gap in a state in which the frame is attached to the mouth part.
  • a closable container according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to any of the first aspect to the third aspect, in which the cap further includes a lock mechanism that switches between a locked state in which the door lid is kept at the closed position, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is canceled.
  • a closable container according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to the fourth aspect, in which the lock mechanism includes a first extension portion that extends from the door lid, and a second extension portion that extends from the frame and engages with the first extension portion in the locked state.
  • a closable container includes a container, a door lid, a gasket, and a biasing member.
  • the container includes a circumferential edge portion that surrounds an opening.
  • the door lid is coupled to the edge portion in a hinged manner and rotates between a closed position at which the opening is closed and an open position at which the opening is open.
  • the gasket is attached to the edge portion or the door lid, is composed of an elastic material, and is interposed in a gap between the edge portion and the door lid so as to seal the gap when the door lid is at the closed portion.
  • the biasing member is composed of the same elastic material as the gasket, is constituted integrally with the gasket, and biases the door lid in a direction toward the open position.
  • a closable container according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to the sixth aspect, further including a lock mechanism configured to switch between a locked state in which the door lid is kept at the closed position, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is canceled.
  • a closable container according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to the seventh aspect, in which the lock mechanism includes a first extension portion that extends from the door lid, and a second extension portion that extends from the circumferential edge portion and engages with the first extension portion in the locked state.
  • a closable container according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to any of the first aspect to the eighth aspect, in which the biasing member is in contact with the door lid, and is folded so as to bias the door lid in the direction toward the open state using an elastic force by which the biasing member attempts to return to its original state when the door lid is at the closed position.
  • a closable container according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to any of the first aspect to the ninth aspect, in which the elastic material is elastomer.
  • a closable container according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to any of the first aspect to the tenth aspect, in which the elastic material is silicone rubber.
  • the gasket that seals the gap between the part defining the opening of the container (the circumferential edge portion or the frame) and the door lid, and the biasing member that biases the door lid in the direction of opening are integrally constituted by the same elastic material. Accordingly, a highly-sealable closable container that has a small number of parts, a simple structure, and a door lid that can automatically open is provided.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a closable container in an open state according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of a closable container in a closed state according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of a container body according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cap in an open state according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cap in the open state and an upper portion of the container body, taken along line A-A in FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cap in the closed state and the upper portion of the container body, taken along line A-A in FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cap in the open state, taken along line B-B in FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cap in the closed state, taken along line B-B in FIG. 4
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 are side views of a closable container (hereinafter referred to simply as “container” in some cases) 1 according to the present embodiment.
  • the container 1 includes a container body 2 and a cap 3 that closes an opening S 1 formed at the upper portion of the container body 2 .
  • FIG. 1 shows an open state in which the opening S 1 is open
  • FIG. 2 shows a closed state in which the opening S 1 is closed.
  • the container 1 is highly sealable in the closed state, and although there is no limitation on the application of the container 1 , the container 1 is suitable for storing food or the like.
  • up, down, front (front surface side), and rear (rear surface side) are defined as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , and left and right mean left and right in a view from the front surface side.
  • left and right mean left and right in a view from the front surface side.
  • up, down, front (front surface side), and rear (rear surface side) are described using the closed state as a reference.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the container body 2 alone.
  • the container body 2 defines an inner space S 2 for containing a contained item such as food.
  • the container body 2 includes a bottom surface portion 21 , a tubular body portion 22 that stands upright from the circumferential edge of the bottom surface portion 21 , a shoulder portion 23 that extends inward in the radial direction from the upper end of the body portion 22 , and a neck portion 24 that extends upward from the inner side end in the radial direction of the shoulder portion 23 .
  • the bottom surface portion 21 is approximately rectangular in plan view and the body portion 22 is rectangular tube-shaped.
  • the neck portion 24 is a cylindrical shape with a smaller diameter than the body portion 22 .
  • the neck portion 24 surrounds the opening S 1 of the container body 2 and forms a mouth part that defines the opening S 1 . Accordingly, hereinafter, the neck portion 24 is referred to as “mouth part 24 ” in some cases.
  • the opening S 1 communicates with the inner space S 2 .
  • a rib 25 that extends along the circumferential direction is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the neck portion 24 . More specifically, the rib 25 extends in a spiral shape along the central axis of the neck portion 24 and screws onto a later-described rib 45 formed on the cap 3 . Accordingly, the cap 3 is detachably attached to the container body 2 .
  • the mouth part 24 is a portion to which the cap 3 is attached and is a portion that couples with the cap 3 .
  • the container body 2 is formed of a hard synthetic resin with no rubber elasticity, but the container body 2 can be made of glass.
  • the container body 2 is made of AS (acrylonitrile styrene resin). Also, in the present embodiment, the above-described portions 21 to 25 are constituted integrally.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cap 3 in the open state.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of the cap 3 and the upper portion of the container body 2 , taken along line A-A in FIG. 4 , FIG. 5 showing an open state and FIG. 6 showing a closed state.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of the cap 3 alone, taken along line B-B in FIG. 4 , FIG. 7 showing an open state and FIG. 8 showing an open state.
  • the configuration of the cap 3 will be described in detail with reference to these drawings as well.
  • the cap 3 includes an approximately circular ring-shaped frame 40 , and an approximately disk-shaped door lid 30 that is coupled to the frame 40 in a hinged manner.
  • the door lid 30 rotates with respect to the frame 40 , between a closed position at which the opening S 1 is closed and an open position at which the opening S 1 is open.
  • the frame 40 is detachably attached to the mouth part 24 of the container body 2 .
  • the frame 40 surrounds the mouth part 24 from the outer side in a state of being attached to the mouth part 24 , and forms a circumferential edge portion that surrounds the mouth part 24 as well as the opening S 1 .
  • the door lid 30 includes an approximately disk-shaped lid body 31 , and a plate member 32 that extends further toward the rear surface side from the rear portion of the lid body 31 .
  • the plate member 32 is inclined slightly downward away from the lid body 31 (see FIGS. 2 and 8 ).
  • Side wall portions 33 a and 33 b that extend inward in the radial direction (extend downward in the closed state) in the state shown in FIG. 4 stand upright on the left and right end portions of the plate member 32 .
  • columnar protrusions 34 and 34 that extend outward in the left-right direction stand upright from the outer surfaces of the side wall portions 33 a and 33 b.
  • the protrusions 34 and 34 are arranged on the same axis, which extends in the left-right direction.
  • the material of the door lid 30 is preferably constituted by a hard synthetic resin with no rubber elasticity.
  • the door lid 30 is made of saturated polyester. Also, in the present embodiment, the door lid 30 is formed integrally together with a later-described first extension portion 50 .
  • the frame 40 includes an approximately circular ring-shaped base frame 41 , and a left and right pair of side wall portions 42 a and 42 b that extend further toward the rear surface side from the rear portion of the base frame 41 .
  • the lower portions of the side wall portions 42 a and 42 b are connected via a lower surface portion 43 (see FIGS. 7 and 8 ) that similarly extends further toward the rear surface side from the rear portion of the base frame 41 .
  • holes 44 and 44 are formed on the side wall portions 42 a and 42 b. The holes 44 and 44 are arranged on the same axis, which extends in the left-right direction.
  • the material of the frame 40 is preferably constituted by a hard synthetic resin with no rubber elasticity.
  • the frame 40 is made of polypropylene. Also, in the present embodiment, the frame 40 is formed integrally together with a later-described second extension portion 60 .
  • the side wall portions 33 a and 33 b of the door lid 30 are arranged between the side wall portions 42 a and 42 b such that the outer surfaces of the side wall portions 33 a and 33 b face the inner surfaces of the side wall portions 42 a and 42 b of the frame 40 .
  • the protrusions 34 and 34 of the door lid 30 are inserted into the holes 44 and 44 of the side wall portions 42 a and 42 b. For this reason, the protrusions 34 and 34 form a rotation axis of a hinge mechanism 4 that couples the door lid 30 and the frame 40 , and the holes 44 and 44 form bearings that receive the rotation axis.
  • the hinge mechanism 4 is formed by the plate member 32 , the side wall portions 33 a and 33 b, the protrusions 34 and 34 , the side wall portions 42 a and 42 b, the holes 44 and 44 , and the lower surface portion 43 . Accordingly, the door lid 30 is coupled to the frame 40 in a hinged manner and can rotate with respect to the frame 40 .
  • the circumferential edge portion of the lid body 31 is received at the upper end portion 41 b of the base frame 41 in the closed state (note that, as shown in FIG. 2 , a slight gap exists between the two), and at this time, the lid body 31 covers the opening S 1 from above.
  • the base frame 41 includes a circumferential wall portion 41 a with an approximately constant thickness.
  • a rib 45 that extends along the circumferential direction is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall portion 41 a. More specifically, the rib 45 extends in the form of a spiral along the central axis of the circumferential wall portion 41 a and screws onto the rib 25 that is formed on the above-described mouth part 24 .
  • the upper end portion 41 b of the base frame 41 is located above the circumferential wall portion 41 a and protrudes inward with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall portion 41 a.
  • a level difference is formed on the upper portion of the base frame 41 .
  • a circular ring-shaped gasket 70 is attached to the base frame 41 so as to be caught on the level difference.
  • the gasket 70 includes a circular ring-shaped main body portion 71 , and a circular ring-shaped upper portion 72 that extends upward from the vicinity of the center of the upper surface of the main body portion 71 .
  • the main body portion 71 has a vertical cross-section that is approximately rectangular.
  • the gasket 70 includes a circular ring-shaped inner-side lower portion 73 that extends downward from the inner-side end in the radial direction of the main body portion 71 , and a circular ring-shaped outer-side lower portion 74 that extends downward from the outer side end in the radial direction of the main body portion 71 . As shown in FIGS.
  • the level difference formed by the main body portion 71 and the upper portion 72 (level difference facing outward in the radial direction) is arranged so as to engage with the level difference formed by the upper end portion 41 b and the circumferential wall portion 41 a of the base frame 41 , and the engagement surfaces come into secure contact with each other.
  • the outer circumferential surfaces of the main body portion 71 and the outer-side lower portion 74 come into secure contact with the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall portion 41 a.
  • the lower surface of the main body portion 71 comes into secure contact with the upper end portion of the mouth part 24 of the container body 2 . In this manner, in the state in which the frame 40 is attached to the container body 2 , the gasket 70 is interposed in the gap formed between the mouth part 24 and the base frame 41 , fills the gap, and seals the gap.
  • the door lid 30 when the door lid 30 is at the closed position, the gasket 70 is interposed in the gap between the base frame 41 and the door lid 30 and seals the gap. More specifically, the door lid 30 includes a circular ring-shaped leg portion 35 that hangs down from the lower surface of the lid body 31 . The leg portion 35 is located slightly inward of the outer circumferential edge of the lid body 31 . Also, in the closed state, the level difference formed by the main body portion 71 and the upper portion 72 (level difference facing inward in the radial direction) engages with the level difference formed by the lid body 31 and the leg portion 35 (level difference facing outward in the radial direction) and the engagement surfaces come into secure contact with each other.
  • the opening S 1 is completely closed by the gasket 70 with the configuration above when the door lid 30 is at the closed position, and the inner space S 2 of the container body 2 is sealed off from the outside.
  • one gasket 70 seals the gap between the container body 2 and the frame 40 , in addition to the gap between the frame 40 and the door lid 30 . Accordingly, a highly sealable container 1 that has a small number of parts and a simple configuration is achieved.
  • the cap 3 includes a lock mechanism 5 for keeping the door lid 30 at the closed position.
  • the lock mechanism 5 is constituted by a first extension portion 50 that extends from the lid body 31 and a second extension portion 60 that extends from the base frame 41 .
  • the first extension portion 50 includes a protruding portion 51 that protrudes slightly toward the front surface side from the front portion of the lid body 31 , and a plate member 52 that extends downward from the front surface side of the protruding portion 51 .
  • a claw 53 is formed in the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the plate member 52 .
  • the second extension portion 60 includes a protruding portion 61 that protrudes slightly toward the front surface side from the front portion of the base frame 41 , and a plate member 62 that extends upward from the protruding portion 61 .
  • the second extension portion 60 includes a pressing button 63 that is continuous with the upper end of the plate member 62 .
  • a claw 64 is formed in the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the rear surface of the pressing button 63 .
  • the second extension portion 60 includes a circumferential wall portion 65 that is continuous with the front portion of the base frame 41 and surrounds the above-described portions 61 to 64 . The circumferential wall portion 65 is arranged at a position at which it does not interfere with the portions 61 to 64 .
  • the plate member 52 When the door lid 30 falls forward from the open position and approaches the closed position, the plate member 52 is inserted into the space between the plate member 62 and the base frame 41 . At this time, the claw 53 pushes the claw 64 , whereby the plate member 62 deforms elastically and falls slightly forward. Then, when the plate member 52 proceeds deeper from this state, the claw 53 surpasses the claw 64 . At this time, the plate member 62 returns to its original position due to an elastic force, and the two claws 64 and 53 engage with each other. Accordingly, the claw 53 catches on the claw 64 and a locked state in which the door lid 30 is kept at the closed position is formed.
  • the plate member 62 When a user presses the pressing button 63 in the locked state with his or her finger, the plate member 62 once again deforms elastically and falls forward. Accordingly, the locked state in which the claw 53 and the claw 64 are engaged with each other is canceled, and the unlocked state is entered. As described above, the locking mechanism 5 can switch between the locked state and the unlocked state.
  • the cap 3 further includes a biasing member 80 that cooperates with the above-described hinge mechanism 4 .
  • the biasing mechanism 80 biases the door lid 30 in the direction toward the open position. Note that in the present embodiment, the door lid 30 stands upright in the approximate vertical direction when it is at the open position.
  • the biasing member 80 is composed of the same material as the gasket 70 and is formed integrally with the gasket 70 .
  • the biasing member 80 and the gasket 70 are composed of elastic materials and have rubber elasticity.
  • the biasing member 80 and the gasket 70 are typically constituted by elastomer (rubber or thermoplastic elastomer), and in the present embodiment, they are made of silicone rubber. Since the gasket 70 and the biasing member 80 are soft and deform easily, they can be removed from the other parts of the cap 2 .
  • the biasing member 80 includes a protruding portion 81 that is continuous with the rear portion of the gasket 70 and protrudes slightly toward the rear surface side from the rear portion of the gasket 70 . Note that although the upper end portion 41 b of the base frame 41 and the upper portion of the circumferential wall portion 41 a extend over approximately the entire circumference as shown in FIG. 4 , a portion is cut out at the rear portion. The protruding portion 81 passes through this cut-out and reaches the outer side from the inner side in the radial direction of the base frame 41 .
  • the biasing member 80 further includes a wall portion 82 that extends downward from the rear portion of the protruding portion 81 and a sheet portion 83 that bends from the lower portion of the wall portion 82 and extends rearward.
  • the inner surface in the radial direction of the wall portion 82 comes into secure contact with the outer circumferential wall of the base frame 41 .
  • the outer surface of the sheet portion 83 comes into secure contact with the upper surface of the lower surface portion 43 that extends rearward from the base frame 41 and with the inner surface of the plate member 32 that extends rearward from the lid body 31 .
  • a protrusion 36 is formed on the inner surface of the plate member 32 .
  • the sheet portion 83 is approximately rectangular, but a cut-out for receiving the protrusion 36 is formed on the leading end thereof. Also, the position of the sheet portion 83 is fixed due to the protrusion 36 being inserted into the cut-out. In this state, the sheet portion 83 comes into secure contact with the protrusion 36 .
  • the container 1 is of a one-push open type according to which the door lid 30 can be opened by merely pressing the pressing button 63 , and thus the container 1 has excellent operability. Note that when the door lid 30 rotates to a predetermined angle, the side wall portions 33 a and 33 b of the door lid 30 come into contact with the lower surface portion 43 of the frame 40 and further rotation is restricted.
  • the sheet portion 83 has a flat shape in the state in which the gasket 70 and the biasing member 80 are removed from the other portions of the cap 3 . Also, the sheet portion 83 curves not only when it is folded in the closed state, but in the open state as well, as shown in FIG. 7 . For this reason, the biasing member 80 further applies a force to the door lid 30 in the direction of opening the door lid 30 also in the open state. Accordingly, for example, even if the container 1 is tilted or the like during use, the door lid 30 is not likely to fall over under its own weight. Accordingly, the door lid 30 does not flutter significantly during use and the container 1 has excellent user-friendliness.
  • a thick portion 84 is partially formed on the inner surface of the sheet portion 83 .
  • the thick portion 84 can increase the elastic force with which the sheet portion 83 attempts to return to its original shape.
  • the thick portion 84 encourages the sheet portion 83 to always deform to a similar shape in the open state, the closed state, and states between the open and closed states. Accordingly, it is possible to realize an open state and a closed state that are always the same.
  • the gasket 70 had a role of sealing both the gap between the container body 2 and the frame 40 and the gap between the frame 40 and the door lid 30 , but gaskets for filling the gaps may be provided separately.
  • the gasket that fills the gap between the frame 40 and the door lid 30 may be attached not to the base frame 41 but to the lid body 31 .
  • the gasket that seals the gap between the container body 2 and the frame 40 can be omitted.
  • the structure for attaching the cap 3 to the container body 2 is not limited to that described above (screwing), and it is possible to employ any structure, such as a fitting-in scheme. Also, it is possible to use a configuration in which the door lid 30 is coupled to the mouth part 24 of the container body 2 directly in a hinged manner, instead of using a configuration in which the cap 3 is attached to the container body 2 .
  • the mouth part 24 and the frame 40 were formed into circular ring shapes, but the mouth part 24 and the frame 40 can also be formed into rectangular ring shapes.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

Provided is a container including a container body and a cap. The container body has a mouth part defining an opening. The cap closes the opening. The cap includes a ring-shaped frame, a door lid, a gasket, and a biasing member. The frame is detachably attached to the mouth part. The door lid is coupled to the frame and rotates between a closed position to close the opening and an open position to open the opening. The gasket is attached to the frame or the door lid, is composed of an elastic material, and is interposed in a gap between the frame and the door lid so as to the gap when the door lid is at the closed position. The biasing member is composed of the same material as the gasket, is constituted integrally with the gasket, and biases the door lid toward the open position.

Description

    CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
  • This application claims a priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-029471 filed on Feb. 20, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
  • FIELD OF INVENTION
  • The present invention relates to a closable container, and more specifically relates to a closable container that is highly sealable and is suitable for storing food or the like.
  • BACKGROUND ART
  • Heretofore, various highly-sealable closable containers have been known. JP 2007-204104A and JP 2007-261670A each disclose a container that includes a container body and a cap as this type of container. The cap includes a ring-shaped frame that is attached so as to surround a mouth part that defines an opening of the container body, and a door lid that is attached to the frame in a hinged manner and closes the opening. Also, in the frame, a gasket is disposed at a position of closing a gap between the frame and the door lid when the door lid is closed, and the sealability of the container is ensured by this gasket.
  • JP 2007-204104A and JP 2007-261670A are examples of related art.
  • After locking is canceled when the door lid is to be opened, the container of JP 2007-204104A needs to be moved by hand so as to rotate the door lid about the axis of the hinge. In this respect, in the container disclosed in JP 2007-261670A, a coil spring for biasing in the direction of opening the door lid is attached to the hinge portion coupling the door lid and the frame. Accordingly, the door lid opens automatically when the door lid is unlocked from the frame. However, since the container disclosed in JP 2007-261670A requires the coil spring, the number of parts increases, the structure is more complex, and the cost increases.
  • The present invention aims to provide a highly-sealable closable container that has a simple configuration and has a door lid that can open automatically.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • A closable container according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a container body having a mouth part that defines an opening and a cap that closes the opening. The cap includes a ring-shaped frame, a door lid, a gasket, and a biasing member. The frame is detachably attached to the mouth part. The door lid is coupled to the frame in a hinged manner and rotates between a closed position at which the opening is closed and an open position at which the opening is open. The gasket is attached to the frame or the door lid, is composed of an elastic material, and is interposed in a gap between the frame and the door lid so as to seal the gap when the door lid is at the closed position. The biasing member is composed of the same elastic material as the gasket, is constituted integrally with the gasket, and biases the door lid in a direction toward the open position.
  • A closable container according to a second aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to the first aspect, in which the gasket is attached to the frame.
  • A closable container according to a third aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to the second aspect, in which the gasket is interposed in the gap between the mouth part and the frame so as to seal the gap in a state in which the frame is attached to the mouth part.
  • A closable container according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to any of the first aspect to the third aspect, in which the cap further includes a lock mechanism that switches between a locked state in which the door lid is kept at the closed position, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is canceled.
  • A closable container according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to the fourth aspect, in which the lock mechanism includes a first extension portion that extends from the door lid, and a second extension portion that extends from the frame and engages with the first extension portion in the locked state.
  • A closable container according to a sixth aspect of the present invention includes a container, a door lid, a gasket, and a biasing member. The container includes a circumferential edge portion that surrounds an opening. The door lid is coupled to the edge portion in a hinged manner and rotates between a closed position at which the opening is closed and an open position at which the opening is open. The gasket is attached to the edge portion or the door lid, is composed of an elastic material, and is interposed in a gap between the edge portion and the door lid so as to seal the gap when the door lid is at the closed portion. The biasing member is composed of the same elastic material as the gasket, is constituted integrally with the gasket, and biases the door lid in a direction toward the open position.
  • A closable container according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to the sixth aspect, further including a lock mechanism configured to switch between a locked state in which the door lid is kept at the closed position, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is canceled.
  • A closable container according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to the seventh aspect, in which the lock mechanism includes a first extension portion that extends from the door lid, and a second extension portion that extends from the circumferential edge portion and engages with the first extension portion in the locked state.
  • A closable container according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to any of the first aspect to the eighth aspect, in which the biasing member is in contact with the door lid, and is folded so as to bias the door lid in the direction toward the open state using an elastic force by which the biasing member attempts to return to its original state when the door lid is at the closed position.
  • A closable container according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to any of the first aspect to the ninth aspect, in which the elastic material is elastomer.
  • A closable container according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is the closable container according to any of the first aspect to the tenth aspect, in which the elastic material is silicone rubber.
  • According to the present invention, the gasket that seals the gap between the part defining the opening of the container (the circumferential edge portion or the frame) and the door lid, and the biasing member that biases the door lid in the direction of opening are integrally constituted by the same elastic material. Accordingly, a highly-sealable closable container that has a small number of parts, a simple structure, and a door lid that can automatically open is provided.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a closable container in an open state according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of a closable container in a closed state according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of a container body according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cap in an open state according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cap in the open state and an upper portion of the container body, taken along line A-A in FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cap in the closed state and the upper portion of the container body, taken along line A-A in FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cap in the open state, taken along line B-B in FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cap in the closed state, taken along line B-B in FIG. 4
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
  • Hereinafter, a closable container according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
  • 1. Overall Configuration of Closable Container
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 are side views of a closable container (hereinafter referred to simply as “container” in some cases) 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the drawings, the container 1 includes a container body 2 and a cap 3 that closes an opening S1 formed at the upper portion of the container body 2. FIG. 1 shows an open state in which the opening S1 is open, and FIG. 2 shows a closed state in which the opening S1 is closed. As will be described later, the container 1 is highly sealable in the closed state, and although there is no limitation on the application of the container 1, the container 1 is suitable for storing food or the like.
  • 2. Configuration of Parts
  • Hereinafter, a configuration of parts will be described in detail. Note that unless otherwise stated in particular, up, down, front (front surface side), and rear (rear surface side) are defined as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and left and right mean left and right in a view from the front surface side. Also, as will be described later, although the position of the door lid 30 of the cap 3 is changed by rotation, unless stated otherwise, up, down, front (front surface side), and rear (rear surface side) are described using the closed state as a reference.
  • 2-1. Container Body
  • FIG. 3 is a side view of the container body 2 alone. The container body 2 defines an inner space S2 for containing a contained item such as food. The container body 2 includes a bottom surface portion 21, a tubular body portion 22 that stands upright from the circumferential edge of the bottom surface portion 21, a shoulder portion 23 that extends inward in the radial direction from the upper end of the body portion 22, and a neck portion 24 that extends upward from the inner side end in the radial direction of the shoulder portion 23. In the present embodiment, the bottom surface portion 21 is approximately rectangular in plan view and the body portion 22 is rectangular tube-shaped. The neck portion 24 is a cylindrical shape with a smaller diameter than the body portion 22. The neck portion 24 surrounds the opening S1 of the container body 2 and forms a mouth part that defines the opening S1. Accordingly, hereinafter, the neck portion 24 is referred to as “mouth part 24” in some cases. The opening S1 communicates with the inner space S2.
  • A rib 25 that extends along the circumferential direction is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the neck portion 24. More specifically, the rib 25 extends in a spiral shape along the central axis of the neck portion 24 and screws onto a later-described rib 45 formed on the cap 3. Accordingly, the cap 3 is detachably attached to the container body 2. The mouth part 24 is a portion to which the cap 3 is attached and is a portion that couples with the cap 3.
  • Although there is no particular limitation on the material of the container body 2, from the viewpoint of lightness, strength, and corrosion resistance, it is preferable that the container body 2 is formed of a hard synthetic resin with no rubber elasticity, but the container body 2 can be made of glass. In the present embodiment, the container body 2 is made of AS (acrylonitrile styrene resin). Also, in the present embodiment, the above-described portions 21 to 25 are constituted integrally.
  • 2-2. Cap
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cap 3 in the open state. FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of the cap 3 and the upper portion of the container body 2, taken along line A-A in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 showing an open state and FIG. 6 showing a closed state. FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of the cap 3 alone, taken along line B-B in FIG. 4, FIG. 7 showing an open state and FIG. 8 showing an open state. Hereinafter, the configuration of the cap 3 will be described in detail with reference to these drawings as well.
  • As shown in FIG. 4, the cap 3 includes an approximately circular ring-shaped frame 40, and an approximately disk-shaped door lid 30 that is coupled to the frame 40 in a hinged manner. The door lid 30 rotates with respect to the frame 40, between a closed position at which the opening S1 is closed and an open position at which the opening S1 is open. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the frame 40 is detachably attached to the mouth part 24 of the container body 2. The frame 40 surrounds the mouth part 24 from the outer side in a state of being attached to the mouth part 24, and forms a circumferential edge portion that surrounds the mouth part 24 as well as the opening S1.
  • As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the door lid 30 includes an approximately disk-shaped lid body 31, and a plate member 32 that extends further toward the rear surface side from the rear portion of the lid body 31. The plate member 32 is inclined slightly downward away from the lid body 31 (see FIGS. 2 and 8). Side wall portions 33 a and 33 b that extend inward in the radial direction (extend downward in the closed state) in the state shown in FIG. 4 stand upright on the left and right end portions of the plate member 32. Also, columnar protrusions 34 and 34 that extend outward in the left-right direction stand upright from the outer surfaces of the side wall portions 33 a and 33 b. The protrusions 34 and 34 are arranged on the same axis, which extends in the left-right direction.
  • Although there is no particular limitation on the material of the door lid 30, from the viewpoint of lightness, strength, corrosion resistance, and the like, the material is preferably constituted by a hard synthetic resin with no rubber elasticity. In the present embodiment, the door lid 30 is made of saturated polyester. Also, in the present embodiment, the door lid 30 is formed integrally together with a later-described first extension portion 50.
  • On the other hand, the frame 40 includes an approximately circular ring-shaped base frame 41, and a left and right pair of side wall portions 42 a and 42 b that extend further toward the rear surface side from the rear portion of the base frame 41. The lower portions of the side wall portions 42 a and 42 b are connected via a lower surface portion 43 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) that similarly extends further toward the rear surface side from the rear portion of the base frame 41. Also, holes 44 and 44 are formed on the side wall portions 42 a and 42 b. The holes 44 and 44 are arranged on the same axis, which extends in the left-right direction.
  • Although there is no particular limitation on the material of the frame 40, from the viewpoint of lightness, strength, corrosion resistance, and the like, the material is preferably constituted by a hard synthetic resin with no rubber elasticity. In the present embodiment, the frame 40 is made of polypropylene. Also, in the present embodiment, the frame 40 is formed integrally together with a later-described second extension portion 60.
  • The side wall portions 33 a and 33 b of the door lid 30 are arranged between the side wall portions 42 a and 42 b such that the outer surfaces of the side wall portions 33 a and 33 b face the inner surfaces of the side wall portions 42 a and 42 b of the frame 40. Also, the protrusions 34 and 34 of the door lid 30 are inserted into the holes 44 and 44 of the side wall portions 42 a and 42 b. For this reason, the protrusions 34 and 34 form a rotation axis of a hinge mechanism 4 that couples the door lid 30 and the frame 40, and the holes 44 and 44 form bearings that receive the rotation axis. In other words, the hinge mechanism 4 is formed by the plate member 32, the side wall portions 33 a and 33 b, the protrusions 34 and 34, the side wall portions 42 a and 42 b, the holes 44 and 44, and the lower surface portion 43. Accordingly, the door lid 30 is coupled to the frame 40 in a hinged manner and can rotate with respect to the frame 40. The circumferential edge portion of the lid body 31 is received at the upper end portion 41 b of the base frame 41 in the closed state (note that, as shown in FIG. 2, a slight gap exists between the two), and at this time, the lid body 31 covers the opening S1 from above.
  • As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the base frame 41 includes a circumferential wall portion 41 a with an approximately constant thickness. A rib 45 that extends along the circumferential direction is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall portion 41 a. More specifically, the rib 45 extends in the form of a spiral along the central axis of the circumferential wall portion 41 a and screws onto the rib 25 that is formed on the above-described mouth part 24.
  • The upper end portion 41 b of the base frame 41 is located above the circumferential wall portion 41 a and protrudes inward with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall portion 41 a. In other words, in a view from the inside of the base frame 41, a level difference is formed on the upper portion of the base frame 41. Also, a circular ring-shaped gasket 70 is attached to the base frame 41 so as to be caught on the level difference.
  • As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the gasket 70 includes a circular ring-shaped main body portion 71, and a circular ring-shaped upper portion 72 that extends upward from the vicinity of the center of the upper surface of the main body portion 71. The main body portion 71 has a vertical cross-section that is approximately rectangular. Also, the gasket 70 includes a circular ring-shaped inner-side lower portion 73 that extends downward from the inner-side end in the radial direction of the main body portion 71, and a circular ring-shaped outer-side lower portion 74 that extends downward from the outer side end in the radial direction of the main body portion 71. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the level difference formed by the main body portion 71 and the upper portion 72 (level difference facing outward in the radial direction) is arranged so as to engage with the level difference formed by the upper end portion 41 b and the circumferential wall portion 41 a of the base frame 41, and the engagement surfaces come into secure contact with each other. Also, the outer circumferential surfaces of the main body portion 71 and the outer-side lower portion 74 come into secure contact with the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall portion 41 a. Also, with the frame 40 attached to the container body 2, the lower surface of the main body portion 71 comes into secure contact with the upper end portion of the mouth part 24 of the container body 2. In this manner, in the state in which the frame 40 is attached to the container body 2, the gasket 70 is interposed in the gap formed between the mouth part 24 and the base frame 41, fills the gap, and seals the gap.
  • Also, as shown in FIG. 6, when the door lid 30 is at the closed position, the gasket 70 is interposed in the gap between the base frame 41 and the door lid 30 and seals the gap. More specifically, the door lid 30 includes a circular ring-shaped leg portion 35 that hangs down from the lower surface of the lid body 31. The leg portion 35 is located slightly inward of the outer circumferential edge of the lid body 31. Also, in the closed state, the level difference formed by the main body portion 71 and the upper portion 72 (level difference facing inward in the radial direction) engages with the level difference formed by the lid body 31 and the leg portion 35 (level difference facing outward in the radial direction) and the engagement surfaces come into secure contact with each other.
  • The opening S1 is completely closed by the gasket 70 with the configuration above when the door lid 30 is at the closed position, and the inner space S2 of the container body 2 is sealed off from the outside. Also, in the present embodiment, one gasket 70 seals the gap between the container body 2 and the frame 40, in addition to the gap between the frame 40 and the door lid 30. Accordingly, a highly sealable container 1 that has a small number of parts and a simple configuration is achieved.
  • As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the cap 3 includes a lock mechanism 5 for keeping the door lid 30 at the closed position. The lock mechanism 5 is constituted by a first extension portion 50 that extends from the lid body 31 and a second extension portion 60 that extends from the base frame 41. The first extension portion 50 includes a protruding portion 51 that protrudes slightly toward the front surface side from the front portion of the lid body 31, and a plate member 52 that extends downward from the front surface side of the protruding portion 51. A claw 53 is formed in the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the plate member 52. On the other hand, the second extension portion 60 includes a protruding portion 61 that protrudes slightly toward the front surface side from the front portion of the base frame 41, and a plate member 62 that extends upward from the protruding portion 61. Also, the second extension portion 60 includes a pressing button 63 that is continuous with the upper end of the plate member 62. A claw 64 is formed in the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the rear surface of the pressing button 63. Also, the second extension portion 60 includes a circumferential wall portion 65 that is continuous with the front portion of the base frame 41 and surrounds the above-described portions 61 to 64. The circumferential wall portion 65 is arranged at a position at which it does not interfere with the portions 61 to 64.
  • When the door lid 30 falls forward from the open position and approaches the closed position, the plate member 52 is inserted into the space between the plate member 62 and the base frame 41. At this time, the claw 53 pushes the claw 64, whereby the plate member 62 deforms elastically and falls slightly forward. Then, when the plate member 52 proceeds deeper from this state, the claw 53 surpasses the claw 64. At this time, the plate member 62 returns to its original position due to an elastic force, and the two claws 64 and 53 engage with each other. Accordingly, the claw 53 catches on the claw 64 and a locked state in which the door lid 30 is kept at the closed position is formed.
  • When a user presses the pressing button 63 in the locked state with his or her finger, the plate member 62 once again deforms elastically and falls forward. Accordingly, the locked state in which the claw 53 and the claw 64 are engaged with each other is canceled, and the unlocked state is entered. As described above, the locking mechanism 5 can switch between the locked state and the unlocked state.
  • When the locked state is canceled, the door lid 30 automatically rotates about the rotation axis 34 and returns to the open position. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the cap 3 further includes a biasing member 80 that cooperates with the above-described hinge mechanism 4. The biasing mechanism 80 biases the door lid 30 in the direction toward the open position. Note that in the present embodiment, the door lid 30 stands upright in the approximate vertical direction when it is at the open position.
  • The biasing member 80 is composed of the same material as the gasket 70 and is formed integrally with the gasket 70. The biasing member 80 and the gasket 70 are composed of elastic materials and have rubber elasticity. The biasing member 80 and the gasket 70 are typically constituted by elastomer (rubber or thermoplastic elastomer), and in the present embodiment, they are made of silicone rubber. Since the gasket 70 and the biasing member 80 are soft and deform easily, they can be removed from the other parts of the cap 2.
  • The biasing member 80 includes a protruding portion 81 that is continuous with the rear portion of the gasket 70 and protrudes slightly toward the rear surface side from the rear portion of the gasket 70. Note that although the upper end portion 41 b of the base frame 41 and the upper portion of the circumferential wall portion 41 a extend over approximately the entire circumference as shown in FIG. 4, a portion is cut out at the rear portion. The protruding portion 81 passes through this cut-out and reaches the outer side from the inner side in the radial direction of the base frame 41.
  • As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the biasing member 80 further includes a wall portion 82 that extends downward from the rear portion of the protruding portion 81 and a sheet portion 83 that bends from the lower portion of the wall portion 82 and extends rearward. The inner surface in the radial direction of the wall portion 82 comes into secure contact with the outer circumferential wall of the base frame 41. On the other hand, the outer surface of the sheet portion 83 comes into secure contact with the upper surface of the lower surface portion 43 that extends rearward from the base frame 41 and with the inner surface of the plate member 32 that extends rearward from the lid body 31. A protrusion 36 is formed on the inner surface of the plate member 32. On the other hand, the sheet portion 83 is approximately rectangular, but a cut-out for receiving the protrusion 36 is formed on the leading end thereof. Also, the position of the sheet portion 83 is fixed due to the protrusion 36 being inserted into the cut-out. In this state, the sheet portion 83 comes into secure contact with the protrusion 36.
  • As shown in FIG. 8, when the door lid 30 is at the closed position, the sheet portion 83 is folded and contained in the space between the plate member 32 and the lower surface portion 43. However, when the locked state is canceled, the folded sheet portion 83 presses the plate member 32 using the elastic force by which the folded sheet portion 83 attempts to return to its original flatter shape. Accordingly, the lid body 31 coupled to the plate member 32 automatically rotates in the direction of opening. As described above, the container 1 is of a one-push open type according to which the door lid 30 can be opened by merely pressing the pressing button 63, and thus the container 1 has excellent operability. Note that when the door lid 30 rotates to a predetermined angle, the side wall portions 33 a and 33 b of the door lid 30 come into contact with the lower surface portion 43 of the frame 40 and further rotation is restricted.
  • The sheet portion 83 has a flat shape in the state in which the gasket 70 and the biasing member 80 are removed from the other portions of the cap 3. Also, the sheet portion 83 curves not only when it is folded in the closed state, but in the open state as well, as shown in FIG. 7. For this reason, the biasing member 80 further applies a force to the door lid 30 in the direction of opening the door lid 30 also in the open state. Accordingly, for example, even if the container 1 is tilted or the like during use, the door lid 30 is not likely to fall over under its own weight. Accordingly, the door lid 30 does not flutter significantly during use and the container 1 has excellent user-friendliness.
  • Also, as shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, a thick portion 84 is partially formed on the inner surface of the sheet portion 83. The thick portion 84 can increase the elastic force with which the sheet portion 83 attempts to return to its original shape. Also, the thick portion 84 encourages the sheet portion 83 to always deform to a similar shape in the open state, the closed state, and states between the open and closed states. Accordingly, it is possible to realize an open state and a closed state that are always the same.
  • 3. Modified Examples
  • Although an embodiment of the present invention was described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible. Also, the gists of the following modified examples can be combined as appropriate.
  • 3-1
  • In the above-described embodiment, the gasket 70 had a role of sealing both the gap between the container body 2 and the frame 40 and the gap between the frame 40 and the door lid 30, but gaskets for filling the gaps may be provided separately. In this case, the gasket that fills the gap between the frame 40 and the door lid 30 may be attached not to the base frame 41 but to the lid body 31. Also, the gasket that seals the gap between the container body 2 and the frame 40 can be omitted.
  • 3-2
  • The structure for attaching the cap 3 to the container body 2 is not limited to that described above (screwing), and it is possible to employ any structure, such as a fitting-in scheme. Also, it is possible to use a configuration in which the door lid 30 is coupled to the mouth part 24 of the container body 2 directly in a hinged manner, instead of using a configuration in which the cap 3 is attached to the container body 2.
  • 3-3
  • In the above-described embodiment, the mouth part 24 and the frame 40 were formed into circular ring shapes, but the mouth part 24 and the frame 40 can also be formed into rectangular ring shapes.
  • LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
  • 1 Closable container
  • 2 Container body
  • 3 Cap
  • 4 Hinge mechanism
  • 5 Lock mechanism
  • 24 Mouth part
  • 30 Door lid
  • 40 Frame
  • 50 First extension portion
  • 60 Second extension portion
  • 70 Gasket
  • 80 Biasing member
  • S1 Opening

Claims (16)

What is claimed is:
1. A closable container comprising:
a container body having a mouth part that defines an opening; and
a cap configured to close the opening,
wherein the cap includes:
a ring-shaped frame configured to be detachably attached to the mouth part,
a door lid that is coupled to the frame in a hinged manner and is configured to rotate between a closed position at which the opening is closed and an open position at which the opening is open,
a gasket that is attached to the frame or the door lid, is composed of an elastic material, and is interposed in a gap between the frame and the door lid so as to seal the gap when the door lid is at the closed position, and
a biasing member that is composed of the same elastic material as the gasket, is constituted integrally with the gasket, and is configured to bias the door lid in a direction toward the open position.
2. The closable container according to claim 1,
wherein the gasket is attached to the frame.
3. The closable container according to claim 2,
wherein the gasket is interposed in a gap between the mouth part and the frame so as to seal the gap in a state in which the frame is attached to the mouth part.
4. The closable container according to claim 1,
wherein the cap further includes a lock mechanism configured to switch between a locked state in which the door lid is kept at the closed position, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is canceled.
5. The closable container according to claim 2,
wherein the cap further includes a lock mechanism configured to switch between a locked state in which the door lid is kept at the closed position, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is canceled.
6. The closable container according to claim 3,
wherein the cap further includes a lock mechanism configured to switch between a locked state in which the door lid is kept at the closed position, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is canceled.
7. The closable container according to claim 4,
wherein the lock mechanism includes a first extension portion that extends from the door lid, and a second extension portion that extends from the frame and is configured to engage with the first extension portion in the locked state.
8. The closable container according to claim 1,
wherein the biasing member is in contact with the door lid, and is folded so as to bias the door lid in the direction toward the open state using an elastic force by which the biasing member attempts to return to its original state when the door lid is at the closed position.
9. The closable container according to claim 1,
wherein the elastic material is elastomer.
10. The closable container according to claim 1,
wherein the elastic material is silicone rubber.
11. A closable container comprising:
a container that includes a circumferential edge portion surrounding an opening;
a door lid that is coupled to the circumferential edge portion in a hinged manner, and is configured to rotate between a closed position at which the opening is closed and an open position at which the opening is open;
a gasket that is attached to the circumferential edge portion or the door lid, is composed of an elastic material, and is interposed in a gap between the circumferential edge portion and the door lid so as to seal the gap when the door lid is at the closed portion; and
a biasing member that is composed of the same elastic material as the gasket, is constituted integrally with the gasket, and is configured to bias the door lid in a direction toward the open position.
12. The closable container according to claim 11, further comprising
a lock mechanism configured to switch between a locked state in which the door lid is kept at the closed position, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is canceled.
13. The closable container according to claim 12,
wherein the lock mechanism includes a first extension portion that extends from the door lid, and a second extension portion that extends from the circumferential edge portion and is configured to engage with the first extension portion in the locked state.
14. The closable container according to claim 11,
wherein the biasing member is in contact with the door lid, and is folded so as to bias the door lid in the direction toward the open state using an elastic force by which the biasing member attempts to return to its original state when the door lid is at the closed position.
15. The closable container according to claim 11,
wherein the elastic material is elastomer.
16. The closable container according to claim 11,
wherein the elastic material is silicone rubber.
US15/842,287 2017-02-20 2017-12-14 Closable container Abandoned US20180237190A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2017029471A JP6935859B2 (en) 2017-02-20 2017-02-20 Retractable container
JP2017-029471 2017-02-20

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20180237190A1 true US20180237190A1 (en) 2018-08-23

Family

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US (1) US20180237190A1 (en)
JP (1) JP6935859B2 (en)
KR (1) KR20180096471A (en)

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US20210353867A1 (en) * 2018-01-26 2021-11-18 Becton, Dickerson and Company Flush Syringe With Flip Cap
USD949689S1 (en) * 2017-06-02 2022-04-26 Pact Group Holdings (Nz) Ltd. Lid for a container
US11396410B2 (en) * 2019-08-20 2022-07-26 Thermos L.L.C. Lid for food container
CN115402623A (en) * 2022-07-25 2022-11-29 深圳市大满包装有限公司 Can cover, can manufacturing method, can cover and can
US11517131B2 (en) * 2017-10-06 2022-12-06 Iwasaki Industry Inc. Cover, and beverage container comprising same
US11857753B2 (en) 2019-12-23 2024-01-02 Becton, Dickinson And Company Disinfecting syringe tip
US11890446B2 (en) 2020-04-17 2024-02-06 Becton, Dickinson And Company Cap for male and female threaded fittings
US11890445B2 (en) 2019-12-23 2024-02-06 Becton, Dickinson And Company Universal disinfection cap
US11969572B2 (en) 2020-04-17 2024-04-30 Becton, Dickinson And Company Disinfection cap
US11975168B2 (en) 2019-11-18 2024-05-07 Becton, Dickinson And Company Disinfectant cap
US12005223B2 (en) 2020-04-17 2024-06-11 Becton, Dickinson And Company Disinfection cap
US12029828B2 (en) 2020-03-05 2024-07-09 Becton, Dickinson And Company Disinfection cap
US12076522B2 (en) 2018-04-10 2024-09-03 Becton, Dickinson And Company Universal single-use cap for male and female connectors

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USD949689S1 (en) * 2017-06-02 2022-04-26 Pact Group Holdings (Nz) Ltd. Lid for a container
US11517131B2 (en) * 2017-10-06 2022-12-06 Iwasaki Industry Inc. Cover, and beverage container comprising same
US11944792B2 (en) * 2018-01-26 2024-04-02 Becton, Dickinson And Company Flush syringe with flip cap
US20210353867A1 (en) * 2018-01-26 2021-11-18 Becton, Dickerson and Company Flush Syringe With Flip Cap
US12076522B2 (en) 2018-04-10 2024-09-03 Becton, Dickinson And Company Universal single-use cap for male and female connectors
US11396410B2 (en) * 2019-08-20 2022-07-26 Thermos L.L.C. Lid for food container
US11975168B2 (en) 2019-11-18 2024-05-07 Becton, Dickinson And Company Disinfectant cap
US11857753B2 (en) 2019-12-23 2024-01-02 Becton, Dickinson And Company Disinfecting syringe tip
US11890445B2 (en) 2019-12-23 2024-02-06 Becton, Dickinson And Company Universal disinfection cap
US12029828B2 (en) 2020-03-05 2024-07-09 Becton, Dickinson And Company Disinfection cap
US11969572B2 (en) 2020-04-17 2024-04-30 Becton, Dickinson And Company Disinfection cap
US12005223B2 (en) 2020-04-17 2024-06-11 Becton, Dickinson And Company Disinfection cap
US11890446B2 (en) 2020-04-17 2024-02-06 Becton, Dickinson And Company Cap for male and female threaded fittings
CN115402623A (en) * 2022-07-25 2022-11-29 深圳市大满包装有限公司 Can cover, can manufacturing method, can cover and can

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