JP7521358B2 - Outlet structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a spout structure for a packaging container.

A packaging container that has an inner plug and a cap for sealing the packaging container and that reduces the effort required to open the container has been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses a packaging container in which the cap cuts off the intended opening portion of the inner plug as the cap rotates in the closing direction.

International Publication No. 2007/126062

In the packaging container of Patent Document 1, for example, the separation part on the inner plug is separated by removing the cap to expose the opening that serves as the spout, so there are limitations to convenience, such as low freedom in designing the spout due to the ease of forming the opening.

The present invention was made in consideration of these problems, and aims to further improve the convenience of a spout structure that opens by opening part of the inner plug.

One aspect of the present invention to solve the above problem is a spout structure that includes an inner plug including a mouth portion having an external thread, a ring-shaped fitting portion that fits with the open end of the mouth portion, a partition wall inside the fitting portion, and a protrusion extending from the partition wall and having a communicating portion consisting of a notch or hole, and a cap that covers the mouth portion and the inner plug and screws into the mouth portion, including a side wall having an internal thread, a top plate having a spout, and an engaging portion that is provided on the outer periphery of the spout of the top plate and can engage with the protrusion, and that is rotated in the closing direction to open the spout by separating the partition wall and the protrusion from the fitting portion while the engaging portion is engaged with the protrusion, allowing the contents to pass through the communicating portion and the spout.

According to the present invention, the contents that pass through the opening formed in the stopper can be poured out by passing it through a notch or hole provided in the cap as a pouring outlet, which makes it easier to design the pouring speed and pouring direction, and provides various improvements in convenience.

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a spout structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mouth portion and an inner plug according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a spout structure according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a mouth portion and a cap according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a cap according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a mouth portion and a fitting portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

(Embodiment)
A longitudinal cross-sectional view of a spout structure of a packaging container according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1(a) shows the spout structure in an unopened state, and Fig. 1(b) shows the spout structure in an open state. The packaging container is not limited, but examples include molded bodies of resins such as polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyethylene terephthalate, and laminated bodies of these resins, and laminate tubes.

The spout structure includes a mouth 11 that is a part of the container body 10 and has an open end, an inner plug 20, and a cap 30. An external thread 12 is formed on the mouth 11. As an example, the inner plug 20 includes a ring-shaped fitting portion 21 that fits with the open end of the mouth 11, a partition wall 22 inside the fitting portion 21, and a protrusion 23 extending from the partition wall 22. The cap 30 includes a side wall 31 on which an internal thread 37 is formed, a top plate 32 that has a spout 36, and an engagement portion 35 that is provided on the outer periphery of the spout 36 of the top plate 32 and can engage with the protrusion 23. The cap 30 is placed over the mouth 11 and the inner plug 20 and is screwed onto the mouth 11. In the example of FIG. 1, the cap 30 further includes a hinge 33 and a lid body 34 that is connected to the hinge 33 and can open and close the spout 36. The inner plug 20 can be preferably manufactured using polyethylene (low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene), and the cap 30 can be preferably manufactured using polypropylene or polyethylene (high-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene).

As shown in FIG. 1(a), in the unopened state, the partition 22 of the inner plug 20 is connected to the fitting portion 21, and the inner plug 20 closes the mouth portion 11. By rotating the cap 30 in the closing direction, the partition 22 and the protruding portion 23 are separated from the fitting portion 21 with the engaging portion 35 engaged with the protruding portion 23, as shown in FIG. 1(b), and the cap is opened.

Figure 2(a) shows a schematic perspective view of the state in which the inner plug 20 is fitted into the open end of the mouth 11. The protrusion 23 has a communication portion 24. In this example, the communication portion 24 is a hole. Figure 2(b) shows another example of the protrusion 23. In this example, the communication portion 24 is a notch. In the state shown in Figure 1(b), the contents can pass through the communication portion 24, such as a hole or notch, and the spout 36.

In this way, the outlet 36 is provided separately from the communication part 24 of the inner plug 20, so the shape of the outlet 36 can be designed independently of the inner plug 20, making it easier to adjust the pouring speed according to the viscosity of the contents, the purpose, etc. In addition, the pouring speed can also be adjusted by the size of the communication part 24. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the pouring speed can be suppressed by making the diameter of the outlet 36 smaller than the diameter of the partition wall 22. FIG. 3 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of another example of the outlet structure. In this example, the cap 30 has an outlet attached to a pouring member 40 with a slit in a cross shape or the like, which is provided at a position offset from the central axis of the mouth part 11, so that the pouring direction can be oblique. In this way, the cap 30 can be designed in a variety of ways without being limited in its form as long as it can provide an outlet.

The partition 22 also serves to suppress the momentum of the contents moving toward the spout 36, preventing the contents from splashing. It is preferable that the partition 22 has a shape in which the central portion protrudes toward the inside of the container body 10. This makes it easier to suppress deformation of the partition 22 even if the internal pressure of the contents increases, and also allows the contents to be suitably guided along the partition 22 to the communication portion 24, preventing the contents from remaining behind.

The cap 30 can also be rotated in the opening direction to remove it from the mouth 11 and pour out the contents. In this case, the protrusion 23 and the partition wall 22 are removed together with the cap 30 because the protrusion 23 is engaged with the engagement portion 35. This makes it possible to obtain an opening larger than the pouring outlet 36, allowing a large amount of contents to be poured out in a short period of time.

The engagement structure between the protrusion 23 and the engagement portion 35 can be, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a structure in which the protrusions climb over each other and engage with each other, but is not limited to this. However, as in the example of FIG. 2(b), when the communication portion 24 is a notch and the top of the protrusion 23 is not continuous, the top is prone to movement, so it is preferable to adopt a stronger engagement structure in which the protrusion 23 is sandwiched from both the inner and outer peripheries of the top of the protrusion 23.

Figures 4(a) and (b) show the mouth portion 11 and a part of the side wall 31 and the internal thread 37 of the cap 30 in a transparent and schematic manner. The side wall 31 has a recess near the tip of the thread of the internal thread 37, where the thread height is lower than the other parts. The recess is formed, for example, by not providing a thread. The mouth portion 11 has a first rib 13 and a second rib 14 formed between the threads of the external thread 12.

In the state shown in FIG. 4(a), the recess engages with the first rib 13, restricting the rotation of the cap 30 to a certain extent. In other words, a certain amount of rotational torque is required to release this engagement. This state corresponds to the state shown in FIG. 1(a). In this state, the spout structure is in an unused state where it has not been opened, and it can be transported, sold, etc. in this state, for example.

In addition, in the state shown in FIG. 4(b), the recess engages with the second rib 14, restricting the rotation of the cap 30 to a certain degree. In other words, a certain amount of rotational torque is required to release this engagement. This state corresponds to the state shown in FIG. 1(b). In this state, the spout structure is in an open, usable state. For example, in this state, the user can continue to use the product. In this way, by restricting rotation to a certain degree in the unused state and in the used state, unintended rotation of the cap 30 can be suppressed. In addition, by restricting rotation to a certain degree in the used state, when the user rotates the cap 30 in the closing direction to open the cap, the completion of the rotation operation can be detected, and loosening of the cap in the used state can be suppressed.

The first rib 13 and the second rib 14 are preferably provided in positions where they overlap when viewed from the central axis direction of the mouth 11. This ensures that the orientation of the cap 30 relative to the container body 10 along the rotational direction is the same when displayed in a store and when in use. Therefore, if the cap 30 has a hinge 33 or an obliquely positioned spout 36, etc., and has a shape and function that is directional for ease of use, the orientation of the cap 30 in its used state can be presented to the user even when it is unused when displayed in a store, making it possible to appeal to ease of use.

Figure 4(c) shows a schematic side view of the cap 30 as seen from the direction of the arrow in Figure 4(a). In the example shown in Figure 4(c), the side wall 31 of the cap 30 is treated to have a non-slip surface at one or two locations about 90° away from the position where the recess of the internal thread 37 is formed in the rotation direction of the cap 30. This allows the user to pinch the non-slip processing location when rotating the cap 30, preventing the engagement point between the recess of the internal thread 37 and the first rib 13 or the second rib 14 from being pressed, and preventing the force required for disengagement from becoming unnecessarily large. Note that the form of the non-slip processing is not limited, and the lid 34 may also be treated to have a non-slip surface.

As shown in FIG. 5, a band 38 may be detachably provided on the end of the side wall 31 of the cap 30 opposite the top plate 32. In this case, when the cap is not opened, the band 38 abuts against the base 15 of the mouth 11 shown in FIG. 1, restricting the rotation of the cap 30 in the closing direction as an unused state that has not been opened. For example, in this state, the cap can be transported, sold, etc. When the band 38 is separated from the side wall 31, the cap 30 can be rotated in the closing direction. The cap is opened by the rotation, and the end of the cap 30 abuts against the base 15, completing the rotation in the closing direction, allowing the user to detect that the partition 22 of the inner plug 20 has been broken. For example, the user can continue using the cap by considering this state as a used state.

In this way, by restricting the movement of the cap 30 to a certain degree between the unopened and opened states, unintended breakage of the inner plug 20 and loosening of the cap 30 can be prevented. In addition, if a band 38 is provided, the fact that the band 38 is not separated can indicate that the bottle is unopened.

When the cap 30 is rotated in the closing direction, the rotation torque of the cap 30 and the pressure caused by the cap 30 approaching the mouth 11 are transmitted from the top plate 32 through the protrusion 23 between the fitting 21 and the partition 22, acting as a breaking force. By adjusting the effect of the rotation torque and the pressure by designing the shape and size of the protrusion 23, etc., the rotation torque and rotation angle required for breaking can be adjusted. For example, if the protrusion 23 is allowed to deform in the rotation direction to a large extent, the rotation angle required for breaking will increase, but the peak of the rotation torque can be suppressed, making it easy for even a user with weak strength to rotate the cap 30. The strength of the fitting 21 and the partition 22 may be weakened by providing a thin section or half cut, etc., as appropriate.

In an unused state, the engagement portion 35 and the protrusion 23 do not need to be engaged. In this case, engagement occurs as the rotation operation progresses. At this time, the user can feel the engagement, and can easily get a sense of the start and progress of opening along with the fluctuations in the force required for the subsequent rotation operation, eliminating anxiety that the opening may not have been completed.

In order to allow the rotational torque to act favorably as a breaking force, an anti-slip mechanism may be provided between the inside plug 20 and the mouth portion 11, or between the inside plug 20 and the top plate 32, or both, to more reliably suppress rotation of the fitting portion 21. An example of a cross section at the location indicated by the dotted line in FIG. 1(a) is shown in FIG. 6. In the example shown in FIG. 6, unevenness is provided on the inner circumference of the fitting portion 21 and the outer circumference of the mouth portion 11 to suppress slippage between the inside plug 20 and the mouth portion 11. In addition, to suppress slippage between the inside plug 20 and the top plate 32, unevenness may be provided on the contact surface between the engagement portion 35 and the protruding portion 23 in a similar manner. In addition, the fitting portion 21 and the mouth portion 11 may be welded.

As described above, in the spout structure according to the present invention, the contents that pass through the opening formed in the inner plug 20 can be poured out by passing it further through the spout 36 provided in the cap 30, and various improvements in convenience can be achieved, such as making it easier to design the pouring speed and pouring direction. Note that the features of the above-mentioned embodiment can be omitted, modified, or combined as appropriate. For example, when the above-mentioned band 38 is provided on the cap 30, each of the cap 30 and the mouth portion 11 can be provided with a ridge or the like that overcomes and engages with each other instead of a screw thread, and the cap can be opened and engaged by removing the band 38 and pushing the cap 30 in without rotating it.

The present invention is useful for the spout structure of a packaging container.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 container body 11 mouth 12 external thread 13 first rib 14 second rib 15 base 20 inner plug 21 fitting portion 22 partition wall 23 protrusion 24 communication portion 30 cap 31 side wall 32 top plate 33 hinge 34 lid 35 engagement portion 36 spout 37 internal thread 38 band 40 spout member

Claims (6)

a mouth portion that is a part of the container body and has an external thread formed thereon;
an inner plug including an annular fitting portion that fits into an open end of the mouth portion, a partition wall on the inside of the fitting portion, and a protrusion extending from the partition wall and having a communication portion formed of a notch or a hole;
The cap includes a side wall having an internal thread, a top plate having a pouring outlet, and an engaging portion provided on the outer periphery of the pouring outlet of the top plate and capable of engaging with the protruding portion, and the cap is placed on the mouth portion and the inner plug and is screwed onto the mouth portion;
A spout structure in which, by rotating the cap in the closing direction, the partition and the protrusion separate from the fitting portion with the engagement portion engaged with the protrusion, allowing the contents to pass through the communication portion and the spout , thereby opening the spout. The spout structure according to claim 1, wherein the cap further comprises a lid capable of opening and closing the spout. The side wall is provided with a recess in the middle of the thread of the internal screw, the height of the thread being lower than other portions,
The opening portion is provided with a first rib between the threads of the external screw, the first rib engaging with the recess when the cap is not opened and restricting rotation of the cap to a certain degree in an unused state, and a second rib engaging with the recess when the cap is opened by rotating the cap in a closing direction and restricting rotation of the cap to a certain degree in a used state,
The spout structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first rib and the second rib are provided at positions that overlap when viewed from a central axial direction of the spout portion. The mouth portion is provided with a base,
A band is provided on the side wall in a separable manner,
When the bottle is not opened, the band abuts against the base to restrict the rotation of the cap in the closing direction, thereby preventing the cap from being opened.
The spout structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein separation of the band enables rotation of the cap in the closing direction, and when the side wall abuts against the base, the rotation in the closing direction is completed and the partition breaks, thereby setting the cap in a usable state. The spout structure according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the engagement portion and the protrusion are not engaged in the unused state. The spout structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the partition has a shape such that a central portion thereof protrudes toward the inside of the container body .

Images