WO2005019057A1

WO2005019057A1 - Vessel cap

Info

Publication number: WO2005019057A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/011896
Authority: WO
Inventors: Masao Horike
Original assignee: Masao Horike
Priority date: 2003-08-20
Filing date: 2004-08-19
Publication date: 2005-03-03
Also published as: DE112004002812T5; JPWO2005019057A1; EP1726531A1; BRPI0413687A; US20070012646A1; CN1839073A

Abstract

A plurality of display pieces (18S, 18F, 18S’) extending from the lower edge of a crown-like cap main body (14) to be threadedly fitted to the vessel (12) are joined through a bridge (20). A part of one display piece (18F) is folded back to form a flap (22) which is locked by a ridge lock (12P) below the neck (12N) of the vessel (12). The flap (22) is removed together with the cap main body (14) from the vessel (12) across the ridge lock (12P) without being left in the neck (12N) of the vessel (12) after opening. When the flap (22) moves across the ridge lock (12P), the flap-equipped display piece (18F) is outwardly displaced to break the bridge (20) joined to the adjoining display pieces (18S, 18S’) whereby the history of opening is displayed. When the flap (22) moves across the ridge lock (12P), the flap is locked by a flap presser (26) disposed at the adjoining display pieces (18S, 18S’) which are unfolded with respect to the display piece (18F) so that the front end of the flap (22) will not project beyond the inner peripheral surface of the cap main body (14).

Description

Specification

Container cap

Technical field

The present invention relates to, for example, a cap for closing a mouth of a container such as a PET bottle, and more particularly to an improvement of a container cap provided with an opening history display means for displaying an opening history. .

Background art

[0002] In general, a cap for a container is required to display the opening by breaking deformation or the like from the state before the opening of the cap so that the opening history is proved. Such an opening history display means usually comprises an annular band connected via a bridge to the lower edge of a crown-shaped cap body screwed to the mouth of the container, and a number of the inner forces of the annular band also extend. A flap locks into a lower lock on the neck of the container.

[0003] When the cap body is opened, the cap body is released from the force of the container by breaking the bridge while the annular band is hooked on the lower locking portion of the neck of the container, so that only the annular band is attached to the neck of the container. Is left behind and the opening history is displayed.

[0004] For example, taking a plastic bottle composed of a resin container and a resin cap as an example, the hermetic sealing of the cap and the screw of the neck of the container is ensured, and the cap is opened and closed smoothly. To be able to do this, the cap and the container are made of resin of different hardness. However, as described above, if the annular band for displaying the history of opening remains on the neck of the container after opening, the bottle band must also remove the annular force when collecting and recycling the bottles. This was an obstacle to container recycling.

[0005] Therefore, conventionally, there has been proposed a cap capable of removing an annular band for displaying an unplugging history remaining on a bolt (see Patent Document 1). In this cap, a split is provided on the annular band, and after opening the cap, the annular band left on the neck of the container can be picked with a finger to remove the annular band. However, since this cap is based on the premise that the annular band is left behind, it is necessary to remove the annular band at the time of recycling the container, which makes it impossible to perform the physical cyclo-work efficiently. There was a point.

[0006] On the other hand, the present applicant has previously proposed a cap which can be removed together with the cap body without removing the annular band when opening the cap (see Patent Document 2).

[0007] The cap has a crown-shaped cap body having a plurality of skirt pieces formed independently from each other in the circumferential direction by cutting the lower part, and a plurality of band splits integrally extending from each skirt piece of the cap body. The adjacent band segments are connected to each other by a bridge, and each band segment has a flap extending upwardly from the inside thereof. It comes to be locked by a convex annular locking portion provided below the outer surface of the neck of the container!

[0008] Since the cap of this structure is opened to open the container, when the cap body is turned to unscrew the cap body and the container body and the cap body is raised, the flaps of the band split pieces are convex. In order to be displaced horizontally along the annular locking part, the band pieces of the annular band are spread apart from each other in the circumferential direction, thereby connecting the band pieces to each other. As the bridge breaks and the cap body rises further, the flaps hang down over the anchors and the band pieces of the annular band are removed from the container while remaining integral with the cap body.

[0009] In the cap having this structure, the annular band is removed from the container together with the cap body, so that it is not necessary to remove the annular band when collecting and recycling the container. It can be carried out.

[0010] However, after the cap is opened, the flap, which has lost its container strength after climbing over the ridge-shaped annular locking portion of the container, hangs down at the opening of the cap body and remains idle, and the inner diameter of the cap body The flap prevents the cap from being screwed into the neck of the container when the container is reclosed using the cap. For this reason, there has been a drawback that the operation of closing the cap is troublesome because it is necessary to screw the flap to the neck of the container while pressing the flap against the inner surface of the corresponding band split piece by hand.

[0011] In addition, the cap of this structure has a large number of bands so as to form an annular band along the entire periphery of the lower edge of the cap body, similarly to the annular band of the prior art cap left on the neck of the container. Because of the splits, a large amount of material must be used and There was a disadvantage that the pump was expensive.

Patent Document 1: JP-A-2002-114245

Patent Document 2: JP 2003-200951 A

[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a container cap that can easily perform the operation of closing the cap to the container after opening, so that the flap does not become an obstacle when the container is closed again after opening. Is to do.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a container cap that can be manufactured at a lower cost by saving material used for a portion constituting the opening history means.

Disclosure of the invention

According to the present invention, a crown-shaped cap main body to be screwed to the container, and an opening provided on the lower edge of the cap main body so as not to leave any parts on the neck of the container after opening. In a container cap provided with stopper history display means, the opening history display means comprises a plurality of display pieces extending from the lower edge of the cap body, and adjacent display pieces which are joined together when the cap is opened. And a flap which is provided on at least one part of the adjacent display pieces so as to be freely bent and whose leading end is locked in a convex ridge locking portion below the neck of the container. The display piece adjacent to the display piece having the flap has a flap restrainer that prevents the flap unfolded by opening from protruding from the inner surface of the cap body. Sa That.

[0016] In the container cap of the present invention, the flap suppress is preferably configured to suppress the tip of the flap.

In the container cap of the present invention, the display piece having the flap and the display piece adjacent to the display piece having the flap constitute one display means unit, and the adjacent display means unit is It is desirable to be provided at intervals in the circumferential direction.

Further, the display piece adjacent to the display piece having the flap of the display means unit is preferably

Are arranged on both sides of the display piece having the flap.

[0019] The flap restraint can be formed by narrowing portions formed on the opposing surfaces of the display pieces on both sides of the display piece having the flap toward the direction approaching each other. [0020] Further, the narrow flap-suppressing portion may be in the form of a thin-walled piece that extends integrally from the opposite inner surfaces of the display pieces on both sides.

[0021] Further, the narrow flap suppressing portion has an inclined surface which is inclined downward and outward.

Preferably, the corresponding flap has a slope that slides along the slope of the flap restraint.

[0022] The display piece having the flap has a concave portion into which the flap is inserted so that the flap does not protrude inside the inner peripheral surface of the cap body when the flap is superimposed on the corresponding display piece in a bent state. It can be in the form.

[0023] As described above, the cap opening history display means is such that the bridge connecting the adjacent display pieces of the plurality of display pieces extending from the lower edge of the cap body spreads the adjacent display pieces when the cap is opened. The opening history can be displayed, and since these pieces are not left behind on the neck of the container, the parts of the opening history display means are removed when recycling the container. There is no need for work.

[0024] Flaps which are provided on at least one of the display pieces adjacent to each other so as to be freely bent and locked in a bent state at the locking portion below the neck portion of the container are adjacent to each other after opening. The flaps provided below the display piece do not hang down so that they protrude inward from the inner peripheral surface of the cap body. The closing operation of the cap can be facilitated without making it difficult to close the container with the cap.

[0025] In particular, when the display means unit including the display piece having the flap and the display piece adjacent to the display piece is provided at intervals in the circumferential direction, the material of the opening history display means is saved. Therefore, the cost can be reduced, and the cap can be provided at a low cost.

[0026] When display pieces adjacent to the display piece having the flap are provided on both sides of the display piece having the flap, the hanging of the flap after opening is prevented by the flap restraints provided on the display pieces on both sides. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the flap from playing in the inner diameter direction of the cap body.

[0027] Furthermore, if the flap restraint is formed by a narrow forming partial force extending in a direction approaching the opposing surfaces below the display pieces on both sides of the display piece having the flap, the flap restraint is provided. First, since the middle portion is open, when the plug is opened, the movement of the flap extending over the locking portion and engaging with the flap tip holder is easily performed with little resistance.

[0028] In particular, if the narrow portion forming the flap restrainer has a slope inclined downward and outward, and the corresponding flap has a slope that slides along the slope of the flap restraint, the flap becomes Is easily guided to the engagement surface of the flap restrainer, so that it can be surely engaged with the flap restrainer of the flap.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a front view of a container cap according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the container cap of FIG. 1.

[FIG. 3] An enlarged view of one display means unit. FIG. 3 (A) is a rear view thereof, and FIG. 3 (B) is a bridge connecting a display piece with a flap and one display piece adjacent thereto. FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a main part, showing a relation between the cap and the container before the cap is opened, cut and enlarged at a peripheral wall portion of the cap body.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a main part in a state where the cap is started to be opened at the same cross-sectional position as that of FIG. 4 and the bridge is broken at the same time.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a main part in a state in which the flap of the opening history display means is further removed from the container together with the cap main body further from the state of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a main part in a state where the flaps of the opening history display means are further engaged to hold down the flaps.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the container cap after opening.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a container cap according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a container cap according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0030] The container cap according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. The container cap 10 is screwed to a container 12 (see Figs. 4 to 7). A cap-shaped cap body 14 to be sealed, and an opening history display means 16 provided on the lower edge of the cap body 14 and configured so as not to leave any parts on the neck 12N of the container 12 after opening. Preparation ing. The cap 10 is formed integrally by injection molding or compression molding of a plastic such as high-density polyethylene or polypropylene.

As shown in FIG. 2, the crown-shaped cap main body 14 has a female screw 14T which is screwed to a male screw 12T (see FIGS. 4 to 7) provided on the neck 12N of the container 12 on the inner peripheral surface.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening history display means 16 also includes a plurality of display means units 16U extending downward from the lower edge of the cap body 14, and in the illustrated embodiment, four display means units are provided. 16U are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0033] Each display means unit 16U includes a plurality of display pieces 18 extending downward from the lower edge 14E of the cap body 14, and adjacent display pieces 18 in a small area, and the adjacent display pieces 18 are relatively opened when the cap is opened. The bridge 20 (see FIG. 3), which is displaced and fractured, and a protruding ridge below the neck 12N of the container 12 that is foldably provided on at least a part of at least one display piece 18F of the adjacent display piece 18 The flap 22 is engaged with the stop portion 12P (see FIGS. 4 to 7) in a bent state. The flap 22 has a width slightly smaller than the width of the display piece 18F that follows the flap 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the display piece 18 extends downward from the annular inclined connecting portion 24 that also inclines diagonally outwardly at the lower edge 14E of the cap body 14, so that the opening history display means 16 It is located outside the cap body 14 in the radial direction. This is because, as described later, when the flap 22 is folded and folded so as to overlap the corresponding display piece 18F, the flap 22 projects more inward than the inner peripheral surface of the cap body 14. Helps to ensure that there is no Note that the inclined connecting portion 24 may be provided independently for each display piece which does not have to be annular.

As shown in FIG. 2, the display piece 18F having the flap 22 is connected to the flap 22 at a thin portion 18FT where the thickness gradually decreases downward from the inclined connection portion 24 and becomes the smallest. The thickness of the flap 22 gradually increases upward from the thin portion 18FT. The flap 22 extends upward so as to be folded back near the thin portion 18FT of the display piece 18F! /

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the change in the thickness from the upper edge of the display piece 18F to the thin portion 18FT is obtained by folding the flap 22 on the inner surface of the display piece 18F so as to overlap the display piece 18F. A recess 18R in which the wrap 22 is stored is formed. This recess 18R is In cooperation, when the flap 22 is folded so as to overlap the corresponding display piece 18F in a bent state, the flap 22 does not protrude inward from the inner peripheral surface of the cap body 14. To ensure.

[0037] The opening history display means 16 displays the flap 22 inside the cap body 14 when the flap 22 is also folded to the display pieces 18S and 18S 'adjacent to the display piece 18F with the flap (see FIG. 7). It has a flap holder 26 that keeps it from protruding beyond the peripheral surface.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, the flap restraint 26 is a narrow forming portion that extends in a direction approaching the opposing surfaces below the display pieces 18S and 18S 'on both sides of the display piece 18F with flaps. 28, 28 '. As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 4 to 7, the narrow forming portions 28 and 28 ′ are formed on the inner edge (in the radial direction of the cap body 14) of the opposing surfaces of the display pieces 18 S and 18 S ′ on both sides. And are formed by thin pieces 28P and 28'P extending integrally from each other so as to approach each other.

Further, the thin pieces 28 28, 28 ′ P of the flap restrainer 26 have inclined surfaces 28 PS, 28, PS inclined downward and outward, while the corresponding flap 22 is provided with the flap restrainer 26. Inclined surface 22PS, Includes inclined surface 22S that slides along 28'PS.

[0040] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the container cap 10 of the present invention is a force produced by plastic molding as a single product having the above configuration. When the flap 22 extending upward from the lower part of the display piece 18F is put on the neck 12N of the container 12 with the above, the male screw 12T of the neck 12N of the container 12 restrains the flap 22 so that it is folded so as to overlap the corresponding display piece 18F. . Therefore, when the cap body 14 is rotated, the female screw 14T is screwed into the male screw 12T of the neck 12N of the container 12, the cap body 14 closes the mouth of the neck 12N of the container 12, and the container 12 is sealed.

When the cap 10 is completely fastened to the container 12 in this manner, as shown in FIG. 4, the flap 22 of the display piece with a flap 18F is provided below the male screw 12T of the neck 12N of the container 12. The flap 22 is located below the annular protrusion 12P. It is displaced so as to spread, and is engaged with the lower surface of the convex strip-shaped locking portion 12P. In this state, when the container 12 is opened by turning it by hand so as to unscrew the cap 10, the cap body 14 gradually rises with respect to the neck 12 N of the container 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the flap 22 is held down by the annular locking portion 12P of the container 12, so that as the cap body 14 is raised, the flap 22 is moved downward from the lower surface of the annular locking portion 12P and the container While being pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the neck 12N, the flap 22 is displaced so as to spread the corresponding display piece 18F outward. At this time, the display pieces 18S and 18S 'on both sides of the display piece 18F are not displaced by the spread by the flap 22, so that they are relatively displaced inward and outward in the radial direction, and accordingly, the display piece 18F and the display on both sides thereof are displayed. The bridge 20 in the small area connecting the pieces 18S, 18S 'is broken, and the breaking of the bridge 20 indicates (certifies) the opening history.

When the cap body 14 is further raised, as shown in FIG. 6, the flap 22 is pressed by the close contact between the outer peripheral surface of the annular locking portion 12 P and the thin pieces 28 P, 28 ′ P of the flap holder 26. The thin flaps 28P, 28'P are unfolded while being guided to the outside, and the flap 22 is held down by the flap restraint 26 so as not to protrude inside the cap body 14 (see the dotted line in FIG. 3 (A)). . In this way, the flap 22 does not become an obstacle when the cap 10 is closed to the container 12, and the flap 22 can be easily seen from the outside of the adjacent display pieces 18S, 18S ', so that the line history Is more clearly displayed.

In this way, the display piece 18 and the flap 22 are raised together with the cap body 14 with the flap 22 deployed, and the cap 10 is removed from the container 12 without leaving anything on the neck 12N of the container 12. It is. FIG. 8 shows the cap 10 removed from the container 12 in this state.

After the cap is opened, the cap 10 can be put on the container 12 again and screwed together to close the mouth of the container 12. In this case, the flap 22 of the display piece 18F with the flap removed from the container 12 together with the cap body 14 is restrained by the flap restrainer 26 so that the flap 22 does not hang down while playing inside the cap body 14. When the cap body 14 is screwed into the container 12, the flap 22 does not interfere. Therefore, the cap 10 can be easily fastened to the container 12.

In the above illustrated embodiment, the flap retainer 26 is provided below the display pieces 18S and 18'S on both sides so as to suppress the tip 22L of the flap 22. If possible, force to hold down only the edges on both sides of flap 22 Both the edges at the tip and both edges May be configured to suppress

[0047] Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 9. In this embodiment, the outer display piece 18S constituting one unit 16U of the adjacent display means unit 16U and the other unit 16U correspond to each other. 1 to 8 except that the outer display piece 18S 'is connected to the upper edge 18UE so as to form an arched notch.

[0048] Still another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 10, in which display pieces 18S and 18S 'on the opposite sides of the adjacent display means unit 16U are continuous with each other at the wall 18W. 1 to 8 and 9 except for the fact that the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 8 and 9 has the same effect as that of the embodiment of FIGS. Is the same as

Industrial applicability

[0049] According to the container cap of the present invention, the opening history display means does not leave anything on the neck of the container after opening, so that when the container is collected and recycled, the opening history displaying means is displayed from the container. Since there is no need to remove the residue from the step, the recycling operation is easy, and the flaps that are removed from the container together with the cap body after opening are prevented from jumping out of the cap body. Thus, industrial applicability is improved without hindering the subsequent attachment of the cap to the container.

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Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A cap-shaped cap body 14 to be screwed to the container 12 and an opening history provided at the lower edge of the cap body so that no parts remain on the neck of the container after opening. In the container cap provided with the means 16, the opening history display means comprises a plurality of display pieces 18 extending from a lower edge of the cap main body and an adjacent display piece, and the display pieces adjacent to each other are opened when the cap is opened. The bridge 20 which is broken by the relative displacement, and the tip end of which is provided on a part of at least one display piece of the adjacent display piece so as to be freely bent and which is provided on the convex strip locking portion 12P below the neck of the container. The display piece adjacent to the display piece having the flap has a flap restraint 26 for preventing the flap unfolded by opening from protruding from the inner surface of the cap body. thing Container cap characterized by the following.

[2] The container cap according to claim 1, wherein the flap restrainer is configured to restrain a front end of the flap.

[3] The container cap according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display piece having the flap and the display piece adjacent to the display piece having the flap constitute one display means unit 16U. A container cap, wherein adjacent display means units are provided at intervals in a circumferential direction.

[4] The container cap according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the display pieces adjacent to the display piece having the flap are arranged on both sides of the display piece having the flap. And container cap.

[5] The container cap according to [4], wherein the flap restraint is a width formed in a direction approaching mutually opposing surfaces of the display pieces on both sides of the display piece having the flap. A container cap characterized in that it has a narrow forming portion force.

[6] The container cap according to claim 5, wherein the narrow flap restraining portion is formed of a thin piece force extending integrally from inner surfaces of the display pieces on both sides opposite to each other. Cap for container to be featured.

[7] The container cap according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the narrow flap restraining portion has an inclined surface inclined downward and outward, and the corresponding flap includes the flap restraint. A container cap having an inclined surface that slides along the inclined surface of the container.

[8] The container cap according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the display piece having the flap is formed inside the cap body when the flap is superimposed on a corresponding display piece in a bent state. A container cap having a recess for accommodating the flap so as not to protrude inward from a peripheral surface.