Patent Publication Number: US-9415906-B2

Title: Cap and container provided with same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-254954 filed Nov. 21, 2012. This application is also a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/JP2013/080854 filed Nov. 15, 2013 in Japan Patent Office as a Receiving Office. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a container formed of a plastic, such as polyethylene terephthalate, metal, or the like, and a cap used to close the mouth of the container. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-184096 and Japanese Examined Utility Model Application Publication No. S57-009240 disclose a conventional cap and container that are configured of a cap portion and a ring portion. The container has a mouth part around which are formed a thread part in the upper portion, an annular bead in the middle portion, and an annular shoulder in the lower portion. The cap portion is screwed onto the thread part of the mouth part. The ring portion is coupled to the bottom of the cap portion through a breakaway part and has elastic pieces that fold back so as to be anchored against the annular bead. The ring portion functions to indicate when the cap portion has been unscrewed (i.e., when the breakaway part has been broken). 
     Thus, twisting off the cap portion detaches the ring portion from the cap portion at the breakaway part so that the ring portion remains around the mouth part of the container. In this way, the ring portion functions as a tamper-evident band indicating when the cap&#39;s seal has been broken. 
     SUMMARY 
     However, the conventional construction described above leaves open the possibility that the cap portion could become accidentally twisted open after being capped again (a resealing state), i.e. in a condition where the cap&#39;s initial seal (a shipment state) has been once broken. This unintentional opening of the conventional cap and container presents various problems depending on the content of the container. For example, when the container accommodates a carbonated beverage, the loss of carbonation caused by a broken seal can result in a flat beverage with loss in flavor. If the container accommodates a chemical solution or liquid medicine, vaporization or leakage of the solution due to the broken seal may compromise safety for infants and the elderly. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to solve the problems. In this invention, a cap is for a container body including a mouth portion having an upper potion provided with a thread, a middle portion provided with an annular bead portion, and a lower portion provided with an annular shoulder portion. The cap includes a cap portion, a ring portion, and the locking mechanism. The cap portion is configured to be screwed with the thread. The cap portion has a lower end. The ring portion serves as a tamper-evident ring configured to be connected to the lower end of the cap portion through a breakaway part. The ring portion has an elastic piece folded and anchored on the annular bead portion. The ring portion is rotatably provided between the annular bead portion and the annular shoulder portion so that a rotational operation is performable on the ring portion. The locking mechanism is configured to be operated by the rotational operation to prevent the cap portion from being unintentionally unscrewed. The ring portion has an outer peripheral surface. The locking mechanism includes a protruding portion and an engaging protruding portion. The protruding portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface and has an end portion forming a wedge shape. The engaging protrusion portion is provided on the cap portion and is configured to be engaged with the protruding portion by the rotational operation for providing a locked state to prevent the cap portion from being unintentionally unscrewed. The engaging protrusion portion is also configured to be disengaged from the protruding portion by the rotational operation for providing an unlocked state. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The particular features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a cap portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side and sectional view of the cap portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side and sectional view of a ring portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the ring portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side and partial sectional view in an initial state according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan and sectional view of  FIG. 6  according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view during an uncapping process according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan and sectional view of  FIG. 8  according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view during the uncapping process according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a plan and sectional view of  FIG. 10  according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view in an uncapped state according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a side view during a capping process according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a plan and sectional view of  FIG. 13  according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a side view during a capping process according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 16  is a side view during the capping process according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 17  is a side view during the capping process according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18  is a side view during the capping process according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is a side view during a locking operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 20  is a plan and sectional view of  FIG. 19  according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 21  is a side view in a locked state according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 22  is a plan and sectional view of  FIG. 21  according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 23  is a partial section in side view of  FIG. 21  according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 24  is a side view during an unlocking operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 25  is a plan and sectional view of  FIG. 24  according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a cap portion according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 27  is a side view of the cap portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 28  is a plan view of the cap portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 29  is a side and sectional view according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view of a ring portion according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 31  is a side and sectional view according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A cap and a container according to a first embodiment will be described while referring to the accompanying drawings wherein like parts and components are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid duplicating description. 
     The terms “upward”, “downward”, “upper”, “lower”, “above”, “below”, “beneath”, “right”, “left”, “front”, “rear” and the like will be used throughout the description assuming that the cap is disposed in an orientation in which it is intended to be used. In use, the cap is disposed as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIGS. 1 through 31  illustrate embodiments of the present invention. 
     Of these,  FIGS. 1 through 25  illustrate a first embodiment;  FIGS. 26 through 29  illustrate a second embodiment; and  FIGS. 30 and 31  illustrate a third embodiment. 
     The cap according to the first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 through 25  primarily includes a cap portion  2  that screws over a mouth portion K of a container  1 , and a ring portion  3 . The container  1  has a male thread part  1   a  formed around the upper portion of the mouth portion K, an annular bead  1   b  formed around the middle portion of the mouth portion K, and an annular shoulder  1   c  formed around the lower portion of the mouth portion K. A female thread part  2   c  is formed in the inner circumferential surface of the cap portion  2 . The cap portion  2  is screwed onto the mouth part K, with the male thread part  1   a  of the container  1  fitted into the female thread part  2   c  of the cap portion  2 . An inner flange part  2   d  is formed on the inner surface of the top wall constituting the cap portion  2 . The ring portion  3  is coupled to the bottom of the cap portion  2  through a breakaway part S. Elastic pieces  3   a  are provided on the inner circumferential surface of the ring portion  3  so as to be freely rotatable between the annular bead  1   b  and annular shoulder  1   c . Each of the elastic pieces  3   a  has an end part that can be folded upward and rotatably anchored on the lower circumferential part of the annular bead  1   b . When the cap portion  2  is rotated in an uncapping direction L, the ring portion  3  separates from the cap portion  2  at the breakaway part S. At this time, the ring portion  3  remains around the mouth portion K of the container  1 . Thus, the ring portion  3  functions as a tamper-evident band indicating that the cap portion  2  has been unscrewed (i.e., evidence of manipulation). 
     Locking mechanisms  4  are configured to prevent unintentional rotation of the cap portion  2  in the uncapping direction L by applying a rotational operation M to the ring portion  3 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , each of the locking mechanisms  4  includes a protruding portion  5 , and an engaging protrusion portion  6 . The protruding portions  5  are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the ring portion  3  and have respective wedge-shaped end portions  5   a . The engaging protrusion portions  6  can be placed in a locked state and an unlocked state. In the locked state, the protruding portions  5  are fitted into the respective engaging protrusion portions  6  when the ring portion  3  is rotated in the rotational operation M, preventing the cap portion  2  from being unintentionally rotated in the uncapping direction L. In the unlocked state, the protruding portions  5  are detached from the corresponding engaging protrusion portions  6 , releasing the engaging protrusion portions  6  from their locked state. 
     In the first embodiment, two pairs of the protruding portions  5  and engaging protrusion portions  6  are provided, with the protruding portions  5  disposed on opposite sides of the outer circumferential surface of the ring portion  3  and the engaging protrusion portions  6  disposed on opposite sides of the outer circumferential surface of the cap portion  2 . The protruding portions  5  and engaging protrusion portions  6  are arranged alternately at four positions at even intervals around the circumference of the ring portion  3 . 
     Suspended portions  2   a  are provided in a cantilevered state on the outer circumferential surface of the cap portion  2 . An engaging hole  6   a  is formed in each suspended portion  2   a  into which the corresponding protruding portion  5  can be fitted. Thin-walled groove parts H are formed in each suspended portion  2   a , with one on each side of the engaging hole  6   a  in the circumferential direction. As shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , a sloped lower surface  6   b  is formed along the bottom of each suspended portion  2   a . The sloped lower surface  6   b  slopes gradually downward in a capping direction R in which the cap portion  2  is rotated to be screwed onto the container  1 . The degree of slope in the sloped lower surfaces  6   b  is set on the basis of the lead angle of the male thread part  1   a  relative to the rotational plane of the cap portion  2 . A sloped upper surface  5   b  is formed on the top of each protruding portion  5 . The sloped upper surfaces  5   b  slope gradually downward in the capping direction R of the cap portion  2 , and the sloped lower surfaces  6   b  slope gradually downward in the capping direction R. The sloped upper surfaces  5   b  and sloped lower surfaces  6   b  are formed so as to be capable of opposing each other by making a gap angle  8 , rather than making parallel surfaces. This gap angle θ helps to prevent the engaging protrusion portions  6  from getting stuck on the protruding portions  5 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 , restricting protrusions  7  are provided on opposite sides of the outer circumferential surface of the ring portion  3 , and contact portions  8  are respectively disposed on the inner portions of the cap portion  2 . When the cap portion  2  is rotated in the uncapping direction L, the contact portions  8  contact the restricting protrusions  7 , preventing the protruding portions  5  from being fitted into the corresponding engaging protrusion portions  6 . 
     Next, an uncapping process will be described with reference to FIGS.  6  through  12  on the basis of the structure of the first embodiment described above. In the initial state shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  (the state of the product at the time of purchase), the cap portion  2  and ring portion  3  are mounted over the mouth portion K of the container  1 . When the cap portion  2  is rotated in the uncapping direction L (counterclockwise in a plan view), the cap portion  2  rises along the male thread part  1   a  that is fitted in the female thread part  2   c  until the cap portion  2  detaches from the ring portion  3  at the breakaway part S. As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the contact portions  8  on the corresponding engaging protrusion portions  6  come into contact with the corresponding restricting protrusions  7  on the ring portion  3 , causing the ring portion  3  to begin rotating together with the cap portion  2  in the uncapping direction L. This contact prevents the protruding portions  5  from being fitted into the corresponding engaging protrusion portions  6  as the cap portion  2  is rotated in the uncapping direction L. As the cap portion  2  continues to be rotated in the uncapping direction L, the restricting protrusions  7  separate from the corresponding contact portions  8 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Subsequently, the end portion  5   a  of each protruding portion  5  contacts the side surface of the corresponding suspended portion  2   a  on the cap portion  2 , causing the ring portion  3  to once again rotate together with the cap portion  2  in the uncapping direction L. Eventually, the cap portion  2  becomes separated from the mouth portion K of the container  1 , while leaving the ring portion  3  around the mouth portion K, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , thereby completing the uncapping process. 
     Next, a capping process will be described with reference to  FIGS. 13 through 18  beginning from the completion of the uncapping process. As illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the cap portion  2  is rotated on the mouth portion K of the container  1  in the capping direction R (clockwise in a plan view) until side surfaces of the suspended portions  2   a  contact distal ends of the corresponding protruding portions  5 . At this time, the ring portion  3  begins rotating together with the cap portion  2  in the capping direction R. Here, the cap portion  2  moves downward while rotating in the capping direction R due to the lead angle of the male thread part  1   a , in a case where the engaging protrusion portions  6  and protruding portions  5  are in a noncontact state, as illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . Otherwise, if the engaging protrusion portions  6  come into contact with the protruding portions  5 , as illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the ring portion  3  would simply rotate together with the cap portion  2 , as illustrated in  FIG. 18 . Once the inner surface on the top wall of the cap portion  2  comes into contact with the top edge of the mouth portion K constituting the container  1 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the cap portion  2  and ring portion  3  will once again meet at the breakaway part S and the capping process will be complete. 
     Next, a locking process for preventing the cap portion  2  from rotating unintentionally in the uncapping direction L after completing the capping process will be described with reference to  FIGS. 19 through 25 . When the ring portion  3  is rotated by the rotational operation M (clockwise rotation in a plan view), as illustrated in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the protruding portions  5  on the ring portion  3  pass through the thin-walled groove parts H on the upstream sides of the corresponding engaging protrusion portions  6  with respect to the rotational operation M and enter the corresponding engaging holes  6   a . At this time, the upstream thin-walled groove parts H of the corresponding engaging protrusion portions  6  elastically expand, and the suspended portions  2   a  formed on the engaging protrusion portions  6  elastically warp outward owing to their cantilevered structure. Subsequently, the protruding portions  5  are fitted into the corresponding engaging protrusion portions  6 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 21, 22, and 23 , placing the engaging protrusion portions  6  (the cap portion  2 ) in the locked state. If the cap portion  2  is rotated in the uncapping direction L shown in  FIG. 8  while in this locked state, the lead angle allows the cap portion  2  to rise while rotating in the uncapping direction L. Consequently, the inner bottom surfaces of the engaging protrusion portions  6  defining the engaging holes  6   a  come into contact with the bottom surfaces of the corresponding protruding portions  5 , and the protruding portions  5  prevent the cap portion  2  from rotating in the uncapping direction L. 
     Next, the unlocking process of the cap portion  2  in the locked state described above will be described with reference to  FIGS. 24 and 25 . When the ring portion  3  is rotated in the rotational operation M (clockwise in a plan view), the protruding portions  5  pass from the engaging holes  6   a  of the corresponding engaging protrusion portions  6  through the thin-walled groove parts H on the downstream sides in the rotational operation M. At this time, the thin-walled groove parts H of the corresponding engaging protrusion portions  6  elastically expand, and the suspended portions  2   a  on which the engaging protrusion portions  6  are formed elastically warp outward owing to their cantilevered structure. As the protruding portions  5  exit the engaging protrusion portions  6 , the engaging protrusion portions  6  (the cap portion  2 ) shift from the locked state shown in  FIGS. 21, 22, and 23  to the unlocked state shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     As described above, the container  1  has the mouth portion K that includes the male thread part  1   a  formed around the upper portion, the annular bead  1   b  formed around the middle portion, and the annular shoulder  1   c  formed around the lower portion. The cap portion  2  is screwed onto the mouth portion K, with the male thread part  1   a  of the container  1  fitted in the female thread part  2   c . The ring portion  3  is coupled to the bottom edge of the cap portion  2  through the breakaway part S and has elastic pieces  3   a  that fold upward to be anchored on the annular bead  1   b . The ring portion  3  is capable of rotating freely between the annular bead  1   b  and annular shoulder  1   c , and functions to indicate whether the breakaway part S has been broken. The locking mechanisms  4  can prevent the cap portion  2  from being rotated unintentionally in the uncapping direction L if the rotational operation M has been performed on the ring portion  3 . Therefore, once the cap portion  2  is screwed onto the container  1 , the locking mechanisms  4  prevent the cap portion  2  from being accidentally rotated in the uncapping direction L. By preventing the cap portion  2  from becoming unintentionally uncapped, this configuration can maintain the quality of the beverage accommodated in the container  1  by hindering a loss in flavor caused by the carbonation escaping from the beverage. The above configuration can also prevent vaporization or leakage of the solution, thereby enhancing safety for infants and the elderly. Further, the locking operation and unlocking operation can be performed simply by rotating the ring portion  3  in the rotational operation M. Thus, the construction of the first embodiment not only improves ease of use, but also increases the versatility of the container  1  in its applications. 
     The locking mechanisms  4  include protruding portions  5  provided on the outer circumferential surface of the ring portion  3  and having wedge-shaped end portions  5   a . When the protruding portions  5  are fitted into the corresponding engaging protrusion portions  6  by rotating the ring portion  3  in the rotational operation M, the engaging protrusion portions  6  are in a locked state that prevents the cap portion  2  from being rotated unintentionally in the uncapping direction L. Further, the engaging protrusion portions  6  shift from the locked state to the unlocked state when the protruding portions  5  exit therefrom. Accordingly, this arrangement not only simplifies the structure of the locking mechanisms  4 , but also facilitates manufacturing of the same. In addition, providing two sets of the protruding portions  5  and engaging protrusion portions  6  ensures a more stable locked state for the cap portion  2  and facilitates smooth locking and unlocking operations. 
     In the embodiment described above, the engaging protrusion portions  6  are provided with respective suspended portions  2   a  that are suspended from the outer peripheral surface of the cap portion  2 . An engaging hole  6   a  is formed in each suspended portion  2   a  for being fitted with a corresponding protruding portion  5 . Accordingly, protruding portions  5  can be easily fitted into and extracted from the corresponding engaging holes  6   a , facilitating smooth locking and unlocking operations. Further, the sloped lower surfaces  6   b  formed on the bottoms of the suspended portions  2   a  slope gradually downward in the capping direction R of the cap portion  2 . The sloped upper surfaces  5   b  formed on the tops of the protruding portions  5  also slope gradually downward in the capping direction R of the cap portion  2 . Hence, the cap portion  2  can be smoothly rotated in the capping direction R, enabling the smooth capping and uncapping of the cap portion  2  by only performing such rotation. Further, the ring portion  3  is provided with the restricting protrusions  7 , while the cap portion  2  is provided with contact portions  8  that contact the restricting protrusions  7  and that prevent the protruding portions  5  from being fitted in the corresponding engaging protrusion portions  6  when the cap portion  2  is rotated in the uncapping direction L. Accordingly, contact between the restricting protrusions  7  and the corresponding contact portions  8  prevents the protruding portions  5  from entering the engaging protrusion portions  6 . This structure enables the cap portion  2  to be smoothly rotated in the uncapping direction L. 
     Next, the structure of a cap portion  2  according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 26 through 29 . In the second embodiment, the cap portion  2  described in the first embodiment further includes two suspended circumferential walls  2   b ,  2   b.    
     The suspended circumferential walls  2   b ,  2   b  are formed along the bottom circumference of the cap portion  2  in the areas between the suspended portions  2   a  so as to form a continuous annular shape with the suspended portions  2   a ,  2   a . Thus, the addition of the suspended circumferential walls  2   b , 2   b  eliminates any awkwardness felt from the overall configuration of the cap portion  2  compared to the distinctive shape of the cap portion  2  in the first embodiment in which only the suspended portions  2   a  are suspended from the cap portion  2 . This configuration can also facilitate the rotating operation of the cap portion  2  by setting the diameters of the suspended portions  2   a ,  2   a  and suspended circumferential walls  2   b ,  2   b  greater than the diameter of a main part of the cap portion  2 . 
     Next, the structures of a cap portion  2  and a ring portion  3  according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 30 and 31 . In the third embodiment, hooking portions  3   b  are formed on the ring portion  3  described in the first embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 30 and 31 , the hooking portions  3   b  are formed on opposing circumferential sides of the ring portion  3  so as to protrude upward from the same. The hooking portions  3   b  are capable of engaging with the engaging holes  6   a  of the corresponding engaging protrusion portions  6 . By latching onto the engaging holes  6   a  of the engaging protrusion portions  6 , the hooking portions  3   b  can retain the cap portion  2  when the cap portion  2  has been unscrewed, thereby preventing the cap portion  2  from being completely detached and potentially lost. This configuration can also facilitate the rotating operation for the ring portion  3  since the hooking portions  3   b  on the ring portion  3  have a larger diameter than the ring portion  3 . 
     While the invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made therein, including modifications to the material compositions and shapes of the container  1 , cap portion  2 , and ring portion  3  and to the structure of the locking mechanisms  4 . 
     As described above in the preferred embodiments, the present invention can sufficiently achieve the desired objects. 
     While the description has been made in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the above described embodiments.