HK1167248A1 - Beverage container with straw - Google Patents

Abstract

A beverage container (1) with straw is provided with an open-close valve (20) which is capable of changing the state between a close state in which the inside and the outside of a container body (2A) are disconnected and an open state in which the inside and outside of the container are connected to each other and which is moved into the open state from the close state when the valve receives a pressing force and is returned from the open state to the close state when the pressing operation is released, and a transmission member (30) which transmits the motion of the lock member (16) toward a release position from a lock position as the pressing operation to the open-close valve (20), and which moves away from the open-close valve (20) so as to release the pressing operation to the open-close valve (20) when a straw cap (9) is in an open position.

Description

Beverage container with straw

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a beverage container with a straw mounted thereto for sucking a beverage.

Background

Conventionally, a drinking container with a straw, which is assumed to be used by a user such as a baby, has been known. Such a beverage container is provided with a straw cap that hides the straw in a bent state so that the straw exposed to the outside is closed when not in use. If the straw cap is opened during use, the straw is not closed, so that the user can drink the beverage contained in the container using the straw.

However, when hot beverage such as boiled water having a temperature higher than the outside air temperature is stored in the container, the internal pressure of the sealed container increases. Therefore, when the straw cap is opened, a beverage may be discharged from the straw whose closure is released simultaneously with the opening. Therefore, an opening/closing valve for releasing internal pressure to the outside is generally provided in a beverage container with a straw.

For example, as a straw-equipped beverage container provided with such an opening/closing valve, there is known a beverage container in which a lock member for holding a straw cap in a closed state and a valve body of an opening/closing valve for opening/closing an air hole provided in the container are integrated, and when the lock of the straw cap is released by operating the lock member, the air hole is opened by the valve body, whereby the internal pressure can be released (patent document 1).

Prior art documents

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2002-321741

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

Although the beverage container of patent document 1 can release the internal pressure by operating the locking member for releasing the locking of the straw cap, when the air hole that is once opened is closed, the locking member needs to be operated again in a state where the straw cap is opened. That is, after the straw cap is opened and the beverage can be drunk, the user is forced to perform the operation of the locking member for closing the air hole. Therefore, the user may have trouble operating the lock member. Further, when the user forgets the operation of the locking member which should be performed after the straw cap is opened, the air hole is kept opened, and thus the beverage may leak from the air hole when the beverage container is used while being tilted.

In the beverage container of patent document 1, after releasing the internal pressure by releasing the straw cap from the lock, the air hole can be closed by operating the lock member again with the straw cap opened. However, in the case where the outside air temperature is high such as in summer, if the drinking straw is left in a state in which the straw cover is opened and the drinking straw is used while keeping the air hole closed, there is a problem that the beverage leaks from the straw due to the expansion of the air in the container. In order to avoid such a problem, in the beverage container of patent document 1, it is necessary to perform an operation of opening the air hole by operating the lock member in a state where the straw cap is opened. Further, when the suction pipe cover is closed and stopped from being used, it is necessary to perform an operation of operating the locking member again to close the air hole. When the beverage container disclosed in patent document 1, which does not cause leakage of the beverage, is used, the operation of the locking member may be troublesome for the user.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a beverage container with a straw, which can prevent a user from feeling troublesome to operate.

Means for solving the problems

A first beverage container with straw according to the present invention comprises: a beverage container with a straw, comprising a container body having an opening, and a straw adapter attached to the container body so as to close the opening, wherein the straw for sucking a beverage in the container body is attached to the straw adapter, the beverage container with the straw comprising: a straw cover attached to the straw joint in a state in which the straw cover is operable between a closed position in which the straw is hidden and an open position in which the straw is exposed; a lock member that is movable between a lock position for locking the straw cover at the closed position and a release position for releasing the lock; an opening/closing valve which can change its state between a closed state in which the inside and outside of the container body are closed and an open state in which the inside and outside of the container body are communicated, and which is switched from the closed state to the open state by being subjected to a predetermined operation and which is returned from the open state to the closed state by releasing the predetermined operation; a transmission member that transmits an operation of the lock member from the lock position toward the release position as the predetermined operation on the on-off valve, and is separated from the on-off valve in a state where the suction pipe cover is located at the open position to release the predetermined operation on the on-off valve.

According to this beverage container, the opening-closing valve is shifted from the closed state to the open state by the action of the lock member from the lock position toward the release position, and the opening-closing valve is returned from the open state to the closed state since the predetermined operation is released in the state where the straw cap is located at the open position. Therefore, the lock on the suction pipe cover is released, so that the internal pressure can be released, and the opening and closing valve automatically becomes the closed state after the suction pipe cover is opened. Therefore, when the straw cap is opened, the internal pressure can be released without special attention of the user, and the beverage can be prevented from leaking through the opening and closing valve after the straw cap is opened even if the locking member is not operated. This prevents the user from feeling troublesome with respect to the operation required for use.

The structure and material of the open/close valve are not particularly limited, and for example, the open/close valve has a valve body made of an elastic material that can be elastically deformed when the transmission member performs a pressing operation as the predetermined operation. The valve body may be configured to be shifted to the open state by elastic deformation caused by the pressing operation, and to be restored from the open state to the closed state by cancellation of the elastic deformation caused by release of the pressing operation. According to this aspect, even if the opening/closing valve is not formed by a plurality of members, the open state and the closed state can be changed by the elastic deformation of the valve body made of the elastic material, and therefore the number of members can be easily reduced.

In this aspect, the valve body may be configured such that a plate portion that partitions inside and outside of the container body and a cylindrical holding portion that holds the periphery of the plate portion and can receive the pressing operation are integrated, and a slit that extends in the same direction as the direction in which the pressing operation is performed and penetrates in the plate thickness direction is formed in the plate portion. At this time, since the slit is closed in a state where no external force is applied to the valve body, and the valve body is maintained in the closed state, when the holding portion of the valve body is pressed, the plate portion is deformed in accordance with the pressing operation. Since the distance between both ends of the slit will be shortened by the deformation of the plate portion, the slit will be opened to shift from the closed state to the open state. When such a pressing operation is released, the elastic deformation of the valve body is eliminated, and both the plate portion and the holding portion return to the original state, so that the slit is closed and returns to the closed state.

The shape of the plate portion may be any shape, but for example, the plate portion may be formed in a curved surface shape that is convex toward the inside of the container main body. In this case, when a pressure difference higher than the atmospheric pressure occurs in the container main body at the boundary of the plate portion, a force is applied to the valve body to deform the plate portion in a direction to close the slit. Therefore, when a pressure difference in which the internal pressure is higher than the atmospheric pressure is generated, the passage of the fluid in the direction from the inside of the container main body toward the outside is prevented. Therefore, if the valve body is held in the closed state, leakage of the beverage from the container body to the outside can be reliably prevented. On the other hand, when a pressure difference occurs between the internal pressure of the container body and the atmospheric pressure, that is, when the internal pressure becomes a negative pressure, a force that deforms the plate portion in a direction to open the slit acts on the valve body. Therefore, when a pressure difference in which the internal pressure is lower than the atmospheric pressure is generated, the fluid can be allowed to pass in the direction from the outside of the container main body toward the inside. Therefore, although the internal pressure may become a negative pressure in the process in which the amount of beverage in the container main body decreases as the beverage is sucked through the straw, in this case, if the magnitude of the negative pressure exceeds the limit at which the slit is opened, the outside air may enter the container main body through the valve body. Therefore, the user who inhales the beverage through the straw is not required to use a large suction force, and therefore the burden on the user can be reduced.

In the case of a valve body made of an elastic material, the suction pipe may have a suction port portion made of the same material as the valve body, and the suction port portion and the valve body may be integrated. In this case, the mouthpiece portion can be easily elastically deformed when the straw cover is closed. Further, since the suction port portion and the valve body are integrated, the number of parts can be reduced.

In one aspect of the beverage container according to the first aspect of the present invention, the straw cap may be rotatably attached to the straw joint via a support shaft so as to be operable between the closed position and the open position, the locking member may be provided on the straw cap in a state of being operable between the locked position and the unlocked position, and the transmission member may be provided on the locking member in a state of being movable integrally with the locking member. According to this aspect, when the locking member is operated from the locking position to the releasing position, and then the straw cap is operated from the closing position to the opening position, the locking member and the transmission member are operated in a direction away from the straw adapter together with the straw cap. Therefore, even if a special device is not provided for separating the transmission member from the on-off valve, the transmission member can be easily separated from the on-off valve by utilizing the operation of the suction pipe cover from the closed position to the open position.

A second beverage container with straw according to the present invention includes a container body having an opening, and a straw adapter attached to the container body so as to close the opening, wherein a straw for sucking a beverage in the container body is attached to the straw adapter, and the beverage container with straw includes: a straw cover attached to the straw joint in a state in which the straw cover is operable between a closed position in which the straw is hidden and an open position in which the straw is exposed; an opening/closing valve having a valve body made of an elastic material that is elastically deformable when a pressing operation is performed, the valve body being shifted from a closed state in which the inside and the outside of the container body are closed to a communication state in which the inside and the outside of the container body are communicated by elastic deformation caused by the pressing operation, and being restored from the open state to the closed state by cancellation of the elastic deformation caused by release of the pressing operation; an engaging portion provided on the straw adapter or the straw cap so as to be adjacent to the valve body; and an operation member that is displaceable between a first state in which the operation member is engaged with the engagement portion in a state in which the straw cover is located at the open position, thereby enabling a pressing operation to be performed on the valve body, and a second state in which the operation member is brought into contact with the straw cover during a process in which the straw cover is moved from the open position to the closed position, thereby releasing the engagement with the engagement portion, thereby enabling the pressing operation to be released.

According to this beverage container, since the valve body is made of an elastic material, even if the opening/closing valve is not formed by a plurality of components, the open state and the closed state can be changed by elastic deformation of the valve body, and the number of components can be easily reduced. Further, according to this beverage container, the operation member is engaged with the engaging portion in a state where the straw cap is located at the open position, whereby the valve body is pushed by the operation member. Therefore, the valve body is maintained in the open state as long as the operation member is engaged with the engagement portion. Therefore, even when the outside air temperature rises with the straw cap opened, the inside pressure can be constantly released by communicating the inside and outside of the container body, and therefore, the beverage can be prevented from leaking through the straw. When the straw cover is operated from the open position to the closed position, the engagement between the operating member and the engaging portion is released during the operation, and the pressing operation of the valve body is released, so that the valve body is automatically restored to the closed state. Therefore, the situation in which the straw cover is placed in the closed position when the valve body is in the open state can be reliably prevented. Therefore, even if the user does not pay special attention to the beverage, the beverage can be prevented from leaking through the valve body when taking the beverage by closing the straw cover. This reduces the chance of requiring the user to perform an operation as compared with the conventional art, and therefore prevents the user from feeling troublesome with respect to the operation.

The structure and material of the operation member are not particularly limited. For example, the operating member and the valve body may be formed of the same material, and the valve body and the operating member may be integrated. In this case, the valve body and the operation member can be easily formed by the same process, and the number of parts can be reduced, so that the number of assembling steps can be reduced

In the beverage container according to claim 2 of the present invention, a protrusion portion that protrudes upward from the container body and is easily lifted by a user may be formed on the operation member, the operation member may be brought into contact with the engagement portion by lifting the protrusion portion and further engaged with the engagement portion, and the protrusion portion may be brought into contact with the straw cover and pressed down during the operation of the straw cover from the open position to the closed position, thereby releasing the engagement between the operation member and the engagement portion. According to this aspect, the protruding portion that is easily lifted by the user in order to engage the operation member with the engagement portion also has a function of releasing the engagement between the operation member and the engagement portion when the straw cover is closed. Therefore, as compared with a case where a structure for realizing these various functions is separately prepared, reduction in the number of components is facilitated.

In the beverage container according to claim 2 of the present invention, the valve body may be configured such that a plate portion that partitions inside and outside of the container body and a cylindrical holding portion that holds the periphery of the plate portion and can receive the pressing operation are integrated, and a slit that extends in the same direction as the pressing operation direction and penetrates in a plate thickness direction is formed in the plate portion. At this time, since the slit is closed in a state where no external force is applied to the valve body, the valve body will be maintained in the closed state. When a pressing operation is applied to the holding portion of the valve body, the plate portion deforms in accordance with the pressing operation. Since the distance between both ends of the slit is shortened by the deformation of the plate portion, the slit is opened to shift from the closed state to the open state. When such a pressing operation is released, since the elastic deformation of the valve body will be eliminated and both the plate portion and the holding portion will return to the initial state, the slit can be closed and returned to the closed state.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view showing a beverage container with a straw according to an embodiment of the present invention in a partially cut-away state.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the beverage container shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3A is an enlarged explanatory view showing a state of the valve body of the opening/closing valve when viewed from above, and is a view showing a closed state thereof.

Fig. 3B is an enlarged explanatory view showing a state of the valve body of the opening/closing valve when viewed from above, and is a view showing an open state thereof.

Fig. 4A is a diagram showing a state during a period from when the operation of the lock member is started to when the engagement between the lock member and the restraint portion is released, and is a plan view of the state.

Fig. 4B is a side sectional view showing a state during a period from when the operation of the lock member is started to when the engagement between the lock member and the restraint portion is released.

Fig. 5A is a diagram showing a state after engagement between the lock member and the restraint portion is released, and is a plan view of the state.

Fig. 5B is a view showing a state after engagement between the lock member and the restraint portion is released, and is a side sectional view of the state.

Fig. 6 is a side sectional view showing a state where the straw cover is opened at the open position side.

Fig. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a state in which the open state of the on-off valve is released by the open state maintaining mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a state in which the open state of the opening/closing valve is held by the open state holding mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a partial side sectional view showing a state in which the straw cover is operated to the closed position from the state shown in fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an explanatory view schematically showing a modification 1.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory view schematically showing a modification example 2.

Fig. 12 is an explanatory view schematically showing a modification example 3.

Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a modification example 4.

Fig. 14 is an explanatory view schematically showing a modification example 5.

Fig. 15 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the opening/closing valve.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view showing a beverage container with a straw according to an embodiment of the present invention in a partially cut-away state. Fig. 2 is a top view of the beverage container shown in fig. 1. As shown in these figures, a beverage container with straw (hereinafter referred to as a beverage container) 1 includes a container body 2 having an opening 2a and capable of storing a beverage, and a straw adapter 3 attached to the container body 2 so as to close the opening 2 a. In order to make it easy for a user to take the beverage container 1, a handle H of a predetermined shape is integrally formed on the container body 2. A male screw 4 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper portion of the container body 2, and a female screw 5 that engages with the male screw 4 is provided on the inner periphery of the straw adapter 3. The suction attachment 3 is mounted on the container body 2 by being screwed into the container body 2 in a state where the male thread 4 and the female thread 5 are engaged with each other. A straw 6 for sucking the beverage stored in the container body 2 is attached to the straw adapter 3. The straw 6 is formed by connecting a mouthpiece 7, which is flexible and is sucked by a user, and a main body 8, which is housed in the container main body 2. The mouthpiece portion 7 and the body portion 8 are made of different materials from each other. The mouthpiece portion 7 is made of silicone resin which is easily elastically deformed, and the body portion 8 connected thereto is made of plastic.

The straw adapter 3 is attached with a straw cap 9 that can be operated between a closed position (see fig. 1) in which the straw 6 is hidden and an open position (see fig. 7) in which the straw 6 is exposed. The straw cap 9 is rotatably attached to the straw adapter 3 via a support shaft 10, and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The straw cover 9 is provided with a projection 11 for crushing and closing the straw 6 in a folded state at a closed position, and the projection 11 projects below the beverage container 1 so as to crush the straw 6 when the straw cover 9 is at the closed position.

A locking mechanism 15 for enabling the straw cap 9 to be locked in the closed position is provided on the beverage container 1. The lock mechanism 15 includes: a locking member 16 attached to the straw cover 9 in a state of being operable between a locking position (fig. 1 and 2) for locking the straw cover 9 at the closing position and a releasing position (fig. 5A and 5B) for releasing the locking; a restraint portion 17 (fig. 2) that engages the locking member 16 with the pipette tip 3 when the locking member 16 is in the locked position; and a return spring 18 that biases the lock member 16 toward the lock position.

The lock member 16 is slidable in the horizontal direction (the left-right direction in fig. 1) from the lock position to the release position. A part of the locking member 16 is exposed from an opening 9a formed in the upper surface of the straw cover 9, and an operation portion 19 that can be operated by a user is formed in the exposed part. The restricting portion 17 is formed in a groove shape extending in the same direction as the operation direction of the lock member 16, and the length of the groove has a length for releasing the engagement between the lock member 16 and the straw adapter 3 when the lock member 16 reaches the release position (see fig. 5A). The return spring 18 is made of silicone, and when the lock member 16 is operated to the release position by the user and the user releases the lock member, the lock member 16 can return to the lock position by the elastic force of the return spring 18.

In order to release the internal pressure to the outside, the beverage container 1 is provided with an on-off valve 20, and the on-off valve 20 is capable of changing between a closed state in which the inside and outside of the container body 2 are closed and an open state in which the inside and outside of the container body 2 are communicated. The opening/closing valve 20 includes a valve body 21 made of an elastic material that can be elastically deformed. The valve body 21 is attached to the suction pipe joint 3 in a state where a through hole 22 formed in the suction pipe joint 3 is sealed. In the beverage container 1, the valve body 21 is made of the same material as the mouthpiece 7 of the straw 6, i.e., silicone, and is formed integrally with the mouthpiece 7. Since the mouthpiece 7 and the valve body 21 are integrated in the beverage container 1, it is possible to contribute to reduction in the number of components.

Fig. 3A and 3B are explanatory views showing an enlarged state of the valve body 21 when viewed from above, in which fig. 3A shows a closed state thereof, and fig. 3B shows an open state thereof. As shown in fig. 3A and 3B, the valve body 21 includes a plate portion 25 that partitions the inside and outside of the container main body 2, and a cylindrical holding portion 26 that holds the periphery of the plate portion 25, and a slit 27 that penetrates in the plate thickness direction is formed in the plate portion 25. In the case shown in fig. 3A, since no external force is applied to the valve body 21, the slit 27 is closed in a sealed state and is maintained in a closed state. As shown in fig. 3B, when a predetermined operation, that is, a pressing operation is applied to the holding portion 26 of the valve body 21 in the direction indicated by the arrow, the plate portion 25 is elastically deformed in accordance with the pressing operation. The slit 27 extends in the operation direction of the pressing operation. Therefore, the distance X between both ends of the slit 27 is shortened as compared with the closed state in fig. 3A by the elastic deformation of the plate portion 25, and therefore the slit 27 is opened as shown in the drawing to shift from the closed state to the open state. When this pressing operation is released, since the elastic deformation of the valve body 21 will be eliminated and both the plate portion 25 and the holding portion 26 will return to the initial state, the slit 27 will be closed and can return to the closed state in fig. 3A.

In order to correlate the pressing operation of the valve body 21 of the on-off valve 20 with the operation of the lock member 16 of the lock mechanism 15, as shown in fig. 1, the beverage container 1 is provided with a transmission member 30 for transmitting the operation of the lock member 16 from the lock position to the release position to the on-off valve 20 as the pressing operation of the on-off valve 20. The transmission member 30 is provided integrally with the lock member 21, that is, the transmission member 30 is movable integrally with the lock member 16.

Fig. 4A to 6 illustrate the operation of each part of the beverage container 1 until the straw cap 9 is opened at the open position after the locking member 16 is operated from the state of fig. 1 and 2 to the release position side. Fig. 4A and 4B show a state from the start of the operation of the locking member 16 to the time when the engagement between the locking member 16 and the restraint portion 17 is released, in which fig. 4A is a plan view of the state and fig. 4B is a side sectional view of the state. Fig. 5A and 5B show a state in which the engagement between the lock member 16 and the restraint portion 17 is released, in which fig. 5A is a plan view of the state and fig. 5B is a side sectional view of the state. Fig. 6 is a side sectional view showing a state where the straw cover 9 is opened at the open position side.

In the state of fig. 1 and 2 in which the operation of the locking member 16 has not been performed, the transmission member 30 and the opening/closing valve 20 (valve body 21) are separated, and the valve body 21 is in a closed state, and the straw cover 9 is in a closed position to close the straw 6, so that the container body 2 is sealed. From this state, as shown in fig. 4A and 4B, the operation of the lock member 16 is started to move the lock member 16 slightly toward the release position side, so that the transmission member 30 abuts against the holding portion 26 of the valve body 21, and the valve body 21 starts to elastically deform. That is, the transmission member 30 starts to press the valve body 21, and the slit 27 starts to open. Therefore, the air in the container body 2 starts to flow in the arrow direction through the valve body 21, and the internal pressure of the beverage container 1 starts to decrease.

Then, as shown in fig. 5A and 5B, when the locking member 16 is actuated to the release position, the engagement of the locking portion 16 and the restricting portion 17 is released, and the locking of the straw cover 9 is released. At the same time, the valve body 21 is further pressed by the transmission member 30, so that the deformation of the valve body 21 is maximized, and as a result, the opening degree of the slit 27 is maximized. Thereby, the internal pressure of the beverage container 1 is completely released in a state where the straw 6 is closed. Since the restriction of the straw cover 9 is released while the lock member 16 is maintained at the release position as shown in fig. 5A and 5B, the straw cover 9 can be operated from the closed position to the open position.

As shown in fig. 6, the transmission member 30 moving together with the straw cap 9 is separated from the valve body 21 in accordance with the movement of the straw cap 9 to the open position, and therefore the pressing operation of the transmission member 30 to the valve body 21 is released. By releasing the pressing operation, the elastic deformation of the valve body 21 is eliminated and the valve body 21 returns to the original state (see fig. 3A), and the valve body 21 automatically returns to the closed state. Further, by the operation of the straw cap 9 toward the open position, the straw 6 is released from the straw cap 9, and the suction port portion 7 of the straw 6 is extended straight, whereby the straw 6 can be used.

In this way, according to the beverage container 1, the internal pressure can be reliably released in the process of opening the straw cap 9 to the open position side after the user releases the lock of the straw cap 9. Further, since the on-off valve 20 is automatically returned to the closed state in a stage where the straw cover 9 is opened and the straw 6 can be used, the user can prevent the beverage from leaking from the on-off valve 20 during use without consciously performing a special operation on the on-off valve 20. Therefore, the user can be prevented from feeling a troublesome feeling with respect to the operation required at the time of use. Further, since the transmission member 30 of the beverage container 1 is provided on the lock member 16 in a state of being movable integrally with the lock member 16 provided on the straw cap 9, even if a special device for separating the on-off valve 20 (valve body 21) from the transmission member 30 that is pressing the valve body 21 is not provided, the transmission member 30 can be easily separated from the on-off valve 20 by the movement from the closed position to the open position by the straw cap 9.

Unlike the case where the opening/closing valve 20 of the beverage container 1 is formed of a plurality of parts, the opening/closing state and the closed state can be changed by elastic deformation of the single valve body 21 made of an elastic material, and therefore the number of parts can be easily reduced. The opening and closing valve 20 has more features described below.

As shown in fig. 1, 6, and the like, the plate portion 25 of the valve body 21 of the opening/closing valve 20 is formed in a curved surface shape, more specifically, a spherical surface shape, which is convex toward the inside of the container main body 2. Therefore, when a pressure difference higher than the atmospheric pressure occurs in the container main body 2 at the boundary of the plate portion 25, a force is applied to the valve body 21 to deform the plate portion 25 in a direction to close the slit 27. Therefore, when such a pressure difference is generated, the passage of the fluid in the direction from the inside toward the outside of the container main body 2 will be prevented. Therefore, if the valve body 21 is held in the closed state, the beverage can be reliably prevented from leaking from the container body 2 to the outside. On the other hand, when a pressure difference occurs between the pressure inside the container main body 2 and the atmospheric pressure at the boundary of the plate portion 25, that is, when the internal pressure becomes a negative pressure, a force that deforms the plate portion 25 in a direction to open the slit 27 acts on the valve body 21. Therefore, when such a pressure difference is generated, the fluid can be allowed to flow in the direction from the outside to the inside of the container main body 2. Therefore, although the internal pressure becomes negative in the process in which the amount of beverage in the container main body 2 decreases as the beverage is sucked by using the straw 6, in this case, if the magnitude of the negative pressure exceeds the limit at which the slit 27 can be opened, the outside air enters the container main body 2 through the valve body 21. Therefore, since a user who inhales the beverage using the straw 6 is not required to have a large attraction force, the burden on the user can be reduced.

In order to prevent the beverage from leaking from the straw 6 in a situation where the outside air temperature is high, such as in summer, the beverage container 1 is provided with an open state holding mechanism 40 for holding the on-off valve 20 in an open state with the straw cap 9 in an open position. Fig. 7 to 9 are explanatory views for explaining the function of the open state maintaining mechanism 40. Fig. 7 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a state after the open state of the on-off valve 20 is released by the open state maintaining mechanism 40, and fig. 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing a state when the open state of the on-off valve 20 is maintained by the open state maintaining mechanism 40. Fig. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which the straw cover 9 is operated to a closed position from the state shown in fig. 8.

As shown in fig. 7, the closed state holding mechanism 40 includes: the engaging portion 41 provided in the straw adapter 3 and the operating member 42 can be switched between the pressing operation and the releasing operation of the valve body 21 by the engagement and the release of the engagement between the operating member 42 and the engaging portion 41. The engaging portion 41 is provided adjacent to the valve body 21 and configured to protrude toward the valve body 21. The operation member 42 is fixed to the outer periphery of the holding portion 26 so as to project in a direction facing the engagement portion 41. The operating member 42 is made of the same elastic material as the valve body 21, and is provided integrally with the valve body 21. Since the valve body 21 and the operating member 42 are integrated, these members can be easily formed by the same process, which contributes to reduction in the number of components, and thus, the amount of assembly work can be reduced. Further, the operating member 42 is provided with an abutting portion 42a as a protruding portion that protrudes upward from the container main body 2 and can abut against the straw cap 9.

When the user moves the upper left end portion of the tubular holding portion 26 in the left direction in fig. 7 with the straw cover 9 positioned at the open position, the operating member 42 is lifted upward by its elasticity, and the operating member 42 comes into engagement with the engaging portion 41 by touching the engaging portion 41 (fig. 8). Since the proximal end portion of the operating member 42 is fixed to the outer periphery of the holding portion 26, when the operating member 42 is lifted upward, the holding portion 26 is deformed in an inclined manner. That is, the operation member 42 is engaged with the engaging portion 41, so that the pressing operation is applied to the valve body 21, and the operation is maintained. The state of fig. 8 corresponds to the first state according to the present invention. As is clear from fig. 8, although the pressing operation is an operation in the opposite direction to the operation performed by the transmission member 30, since the slit 27 is also extended in the operation direction by the pressing operation of the operation member 42, the slit 27 is opened and the valve body 21 is opened as in the case shown in fig. 3B. Since the valve body 21 is maintained in the open state as long as the operation member 42 is engaged with the engaging portion 41, even when the outside air temperature rises in the state where the straw cap 9 is opened, the inside and the outside of the container body 2 can be communicated with each other to constantly release the internal pressure, and therefore, the beverage can be prevented from leaking through the straw 6.

When the straw cap 9 is moved from the open position to the closed position while the valve body 21 is maintained in the open state, as shown in fig. 9, the abutting portion 42a formed in the operating member 42 comes into contact with the straw cap 9, and the operating member 42 is pushed down. Thus, the engagement between the operation member 42 and the engagement portion 41 is released, and thus the pressing operation by the operation member 42 is released. The state of fig. 9 corresponds to the second state according to the present invention. Since the elastic deformation of the valve body 21 is eliminated by the release of the pressing operation and the valve body 21 is returned to the original state, the valve body 21 is restored from the open state to the closed state so that the beverage container 1 is sealed. That is, a situation in which the straw cover 9 is placed in the closed position with the valve body 21 held in the open state can be reliably prevented.

Since the beverage container 1 includes the open state holding mechanism 40, even if the user does not pay special attention to the beverage container after the valve body 21 is placed in the open state, it is possible to prevent the beverage from leaking through the valve body 21 when taking the beverage, etc., by only closing the straw cap 9. In this way, the beverage container 1 has less chance of requiring an operation by the user than the conventional art, and therefore, the user can be prevented from feeling a troublesome feeling with respect to the operation. Further, although the engaging portion 41 of the open state maintaining mechanism 40 is provided in the straw adapter 3, the engaging portion 41 may be provided in the straw cap 9. That is, if the engaging portion 41 is provided on the straw cover 9 so as to be located at the same position as that in fig. 7, the straw cover 9 is operated toward the closed position side in a state where the operating member 42 is in contact with the engaging portion 41, and the engaging portion 41 is rotated downward, so that the engagement between the operating member 42 and the engaging portion 41 can be released.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various forms within the scope of the gist of the present invention. The locking member 16 is provided on the straw cover 9 and linearly slides to operate. The transmission member 30 is provided so as to be movable integrally with the lock member 16. However, in the case of implementing the beverage container of the present invention, the installation position and operation mode of the locking member, the structure of the transmission member, and the like may be arbitrarily changed. For example, the present invention can be implemented by the 1 st to 5 th modified examples shown in fig. 10 to 14. In the following description of the respective modified examples, the same reference numerals are given to the same structures having the same functions as those shown in fig. 1 to 9 unless otherwise specified, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Fig. 10 is an explanatory view schematically showing a modification 1. As shown in the drawing, the beverage container 1A according to modification 1 is provided with a lock mechanism 15A for locking the straw cap 9A, and the lock mechanism 15A includes a lock member 16A attached to the straw adapter 3A in a state where it can slide between a lock position and a release position shown in the drawing. The lock mechanism 15A includes a restricting portion 17A that engages the lock member 16A with the straw cover 9A when the lock member 16A is at the lock position, and a return spring 18A that biases the lock member 16A toward the lock position. The lock member 16A is integrally provided with a transmission member 30A configured to project downward. Therefore, in the beverage container 1A, when the lock member 16A is operated in the arrow direction and reaches the release position, the transmission member 30A can elastically deform the valve body 21 of the opening/closing valve 20. Further, since the restriction of the straw cover 9A is released by the movement of the lock member 16A to the release position, the straw cover 9A can be moved to the open position side. In a state where the suction pipe cover 9A is positioned on the open position side, the lock member 16A is returned to the illustrated position by the return spring 18A, and therefore the transmission member 30A is separated from the opening/closing valve 20. Thus, the transmission member 30A releases the pressing operation of the valve element 21 of the opening/closing valve 20, and the opening/closing valve 20 can be automatically returned from the open state to the closed state.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory view schematically showing a modification example 2. As shown in the drawing, the beverage container 1B according to modification 2 is provided with a lock mechanism 15B for locking the straw cap 9B, and the lock mechanism 15B includes a lock member 16B attached to the straw adapter 3B in a state where it can be rotationally operated between a lock position and a release position shown in the drawing. The lock mechanism 15B includes a restricting portion 17B that engages the lock member 16B with the suction pipe cover 9B when the lock member 16B is at the lock position, and a return spring 18B that biases the lock member 16B toward the lock position. The lock member 16B is integrally provided with a transmission member 30B extending downward from the rotational center portion thereof. Therefore, in the beverage container 1B, when the lock member 16B rotates in the arrow direction to reach the release position, the transmission member 30B can elastically deform the valve body 21 of the opening/closing valve 20. Further, since the restriction of the straw cover 9B is released by the movement of the lock member 16B to the release position, the straw cover 9B can be moved to the open position side. Since the lock member 16B is returned to the illustrated position by the return spring 18B in a state where the suction pipe cover 9B is located on the open position side, the transmission member 30B is separated from the opening/closing valve 20. Thus, the transmission member 30B releases the pressing operation of the valve element 21 of the opening/closing valve 20, and the opening/closing valve 20 can be automatically returned from the open state to the closed state.

Fig. 12 is an explanatory view schematically showing a modification example 3. As shown in the drawing, the beverage container 1C according to the modified example 3 is provided with a lock mechanism 15C for locking the straw cap 9C, and the lock mechanism 15C includes a lock member 16C attached to the straw cap 9C in a state where it can be rotated between a lock position and a release position shown in the drawing. The lock mechanism 15C includes a restraint portion 17C that engages the lock member 16C with the pipette tip 3C when the lock member 16C is at the lock position, and a return spring 18C that biases the lock member 16C toward the lock position. The lock member 16C is integrally provided with a transmission member 30C extending downward from the rotational center portion thereof. Therefore, in the beverage container 1C, when the lock member 16C rotates in the arrow direction and reaches the release position, the transmission member 30C can elastically deform the valve body 21 of the opening and closing valve 20. Further, since the restriction of the straw cover 9C is released by the movement of the lock member 16C to the release position, the straw cover 9C can be moved to the open position side. Since the lock member 16C is returned to the initial position by the return spring 18C in the state where the suction pipe cover 9C is located on the open position side, the transmission member 30C is separated from the opening and closing valve 20. Thus, the transmission member 30C releases the pressing operation of the valve element 21 of the opening/closing valve 20, and the opening/closing valve 20 automatically returns from the open state to the closed state.

Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a modification example 4. The beverage container 1D according to the 4 th modified example is shown in the figure as viewed from above, and is provided with a lock mechanism 15D for locking the straw cap 9D, and the lock mechanism 15D is different from the beverage containers of the 2 nd and 3 rd modified examples in the rotation axis direction of a lock member 16D. That is, the rotational axis direction of the locking member 16D is set in the vertical direction of the beverage container 1D, and the locking member 16D is attached to the straw adapter 3D in a state in which it can be rotated from the illustrated locking position to the release position. The lock mechanism 15D includes a restraint portion 17D for engaging the lock member 16D with the straw cover 9D when the lock member 16D is at the lock position, and a return spring 18D for biasing the lock member 16D to the lock position side. The lock member 16D is integrally provided with a transmission member 30D extending rightward from the rotational center portion thereof. Therefore, in the beverage container 1D, when the lock member 16D rotates in the arrow direction to reach the release position, the transmission member 30D can elastically deform the valve body 21 of the opening/closing valve 20. Further, since the restriction of the straw cover 9D is released by the movement of the lock member 16D to the release position, the straw cover 9D can be moved to the open position side. In a state where the suction pipe cover 9D is positioned on the open position side, the lock member 16D is returned to the illustrated position by the return spring 18D, and therefore the transmission member 30D is separated from the opening/closing valve 20. Thus, the transmission member 30D releases the pressing operation of the valve element 21 of the opening/closing valve 20, and the opening/closing valve 20 automatically returns from the open state to the closed state. In this modification, the locking member 16D may be further modified so as to be provided on the suction pipe cover 9D side.

Fig. 14 is an explanatory view schematically showing a modification example 5. As shown in the drawing, the beverage container 1E according to the modification 5 is provided with a lock mechanism 15E for locking the straw cap 9E, and the lock mechanism 15E includes a lock member 16E attached to the straw adapter 3E in a state where it can slide between a lock position and a release position shown in the drawing. The lock mechanism 15E includes a restraint portion 17E for engaging the lock member 16E with the suction pipe cover 9E when the lock member 16E is at the lock position, and a return spring 18E for biasing the lock member 16E to the lock position side. Unlike the above examples, the on-off valve 20E is configured such that the valve body 21E extends long from the straw adapter 3E and is attached to the lock member 16E so as to be movable integrally with the lock member 16E. The suction pipe joint 8E is provided with a transmission member 30E that protrudes upward so as to be adjacent to the valve body 21E. Therefore, in the beverage container 1E, when the lock member 16E is operated in the arrow direction and reaches the release position, the valve body 21E moves together with the lock member 16E and collides with the transmission member 30E, and therefore, the transmission member 30E applies a pressing operation to the valve body 21E, and the valve body 21E is elastically deformed. Further, since the restriction of the straw cover 9E is released by the movement of the lock member 16E to the release position, the straw cover 9E can be moved to the open position side. In a state where the suction pipe cover 9E is positioned on the open position side, the lock member 16E is moved upward by the return spring 18E or by the lock member 16E and the suction pipe cover 9E together, and the transmission member 30E is separated from the on-off valve 20E. Thus, the transmission member 30E releases the pressing operation of the valve element 21E, and the on-off valve 20E automatically returns from the open state to the closed state.

The opening/closing valve according to the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 9 and the modified examples shown in fig. 10 to 14 includes a valve body made of an elastic material, and is configured to change a closed state and an open state by elastic deformation of the valve body. However, the present invention may be implemented by using an opening/closing valve having the structure shown in fig. 15. Fig. 15 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment of the opening/closing valve. The illustrated on-off valve 50 includes a partition plate 51 that partitions the inside and outside of the container main body 2, a movable valve body 52 that is provided in a state of being movable in the left-right direction in the drawing while being in close contact with the partition plate 51, a return spring 53 that biases the movable valve body 52 to the illustrated position side, and a stopper 54 that restricts the movement of the movable valve body 53. A through hole 51a having a size that can be closed by the movable valve body 52 is formed in the center of the partition plate 51. Further, a through hole 52a having a size larger than that of the through hole 51a of the partition plate 51 is formed in the movable valve body 52.

In the illustrated state, the through hole 51a of the partition plate 51 and the through hole 52a of the movable valve body 52 are displaced from each other, and the through hole 51a of the partition plate 51 is blocked by the movable valve body 52. Therefore, the opening/closing valve 50 is in a state of closing the inside and outside of the container main body 2. When the movable valve body 52 is pushed in the direction of the arrow from the illustrated state, the positions of the through holes 51a and 52a match, and therefore the inside and outside of the container main body 2 communicate with each other, and the state shifts from the closed state to the open state. When the pressing operation of the movable valve body 52 is released in the state of shifting to the open state, the movable valve body 52 is returned to the position shown in the figure by the return spring 53. Therefore, the opening and closing valve 50 will automatically return from the open state to the closed state simultaneously with the release of the pressing operation.

Even if the opening/closing valve according to the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 9 and the modifications shown in fig. 10 to 14 is replaced with the opening/closing valve 50 shown in fig. 15, the pressing operation as the predetermined operation can be applied to the opening/closing valve 50 by the respective transmission members. Therefore, the beverage container using the opening/closing valve 50 has the same function as the beverage container of the above-described embodiment and each modified example.

The predetermined operation applied to the opening-closing valve is an operation appropriately determined according to the structure of the opening-closing valve. Therefore, for example, in the case of employing an opening and closing valve that is shifted from a closed state to an open state by stretching some members, the stretching operation corresponds to a predetermined operation. Further, in the case of employing an opening and closing valve that is shifted from a closed state to an open state by rotating some components, the rotating operation corresponds to a predetermined operation.

When a valve body that can change its state between a closed state and an open state by elastic deformation is used, a valve body having a structure different from that of the valve body shown in the drawings may be used. The operation member does not necessarily have to be provided integrally with the valve body, and the operation member and the valve body may be implemented as separate members so that the operation member and the valve body operate independently of each other.

Claims (9)

1. A beverage container with a straw, comprising a container body having an opening, and a straw adapter attached to the container body so as to close the opening, wherein a straw for sucking a beverage in the container body is attached to the straw adapter,

and is provided with: a straw cover attached to the straw joint in a state in which the straw cover is operable between a closed position in which the straw is hidden and an open position in which the straw is exposed;

a lock member that is movable between a lock position for locking the straw cover at the closed position and a release position for releasing the lock;

an on-off valve that can change its state between a closed state in which the inside and outside of the container body are closed and an open state in which the inside and outside of the container body are communicated, the on-off valve being shifted from the closed state to the open state by being subjected to a predetermined operation, and being returned from the open state to the closed state by releasing the predetermined operation;

a transmission member that transmits an operation of the lock member from the lock position to the release position as the predetermined operation on the on-off valve, and is separated from the on-off valve in a state where the suction pipe cover is located at the open position to release the predetermined operation on the on-off valve,

the beverage container with the straw is characterized in that,

the on-off valve includes a valve body made of an elastic material that is elastically deformable when a pressing operation as the predetermined operation is performed by the transmission member, and the valve body is configured to shift to the open state by the elastic deformation caused by the pressing operation and to return from the open state to the closed state by the cancellation of the elastic deformation caused by the release of the pressing operation.

2. The beverage container of claim 1,

in the valve body, a plate portion that partitions inside and outside of the container body and a cylindrical holding portion that holds the periphery of the plate portion and can receive the pressing operation are integrated, and a slit that extends in the same direction as the operation direction of the pressing operation and penetrates in the plate thickness direction is formed in the plate portion.

3. The beverage container of claim 2,

the plate portion is formed in a curved surface shape protruding toward the inside of the container main body.

4. The beverage container of claim 1,

the suction pipe has a suction port portion made of the same material as the valve body, and the suction port portion and the valve body are integrated.

5. The beverage container according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the straw cover is rotatably attached to the straw joint via a support shaft so as to be movable between the closed position and the open position,

the locking member is provided on the straw cap in a state of being operable between the locking position and the releasing position,

the transmission member is provided on the lock member in a state of being movable integrally with the lock member.

6. A beverage container with a straw, comprising a container body having an opening, and a straw adapter attached to the container body so as to close the opening, wherein a straw for sucking a beverage in the container body is attached to the straw adapter,

and is provided with: a straw cover attached to the straw joint in a state in which the straw cover is operable between a closed position in which the straw is hidden and an open position in which the straw is exposed,

the beverage container with straw is characterized by comprising:

an opening/closing valve having a valve body made of an elastic material that is elastically deformable when a pressing operation is performed, the valve body being shifted from a closed state in which the inside and the outside of the container body are closed to an open state in which the inside and the outside of the container body are communicated by the elastic deformation caused by the pressing operation, and being restored from the open state to the closed state by the elastic deformation being cancelled by the release of the pressing operation;

an engaging portion provided on the straw adapter or the straw cap so as to be adjacent to the valve body;

and an operation member that is displaceable between a first state in which the operation member is engaged with the engagement portion in a state in which the straw cover is located at the open position, thereby enabling the pressing operation to be performed on the valve body, and a second state in which the operation member is brought into contact with the straw cover during movement of the straw cover from the open position to the closed position, thereby releasing the engagement with the engagement portion, thereby enabling the pressing operation to be released.

7. The beverage container of claim 6,

the operating member is composed of the same material as the valve body, and the valve body and the operating member are integrated.

8. The beverage container according to claim 6 or 7,

a protrusion portion that protrudes upward of the container body and is easily lifted by a user is formed on the operation member, the operation member is brought into contact with the engagement portion by lifting the protrusion portion, the operation member is engaged with the engagement portion, and the protrusion portion is brought into contact with the straw cover and pressed down during an operation of the straw cover from the open position to the closed position, so that the engagement between the operation member and the engagement portion is released.

9. The beverage container of claim 6,

in the valve body, a plate portion that partitions inside and outside of the container body and a cylindrical holding portion that holds the periphery of the plate portion and can receive the pressing operation are integrated, and a slit that extends in the same direction as the operation direction of the pressing operation and penetrates in the plate thickness direction is formed in the plate portion.