Patent Publication Number: US-2013240533-A1

Title: Container stopper having separated additive accomodation tube

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates, in general, to a container cap having a separated additive storage tube and, more particularly, to a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, which includes a lower cap which is coupled to a mouth of a container and which has a stopper whose central portion is formed so as to protrude upward from a bottom of an extension tube extending into the mouth of the container and open discharge holes formed in a circumference of the stopper, a storage tube whose open lower end is openably coupled to an edge of the stopper of the lower cap, in which an additive is contained, whose upper end lateral surface has a shoulder increased in diameter, and whose upper end surface is closed, and an upper cap whose inner surface has a ridge supporting the shoulder so as to allow the storage tube to move up or down, and which is coupled with the storage tube together with the lower cap, and which causes the storage tube to be separated from the stopper when separated from the mouth of the container, so that the additive is discharged through a lower portion of the storage tube and the discharge holes. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, additive storage caps capable of adding an additive into a container have been known as functional caps. One of the additive storage caps is given as an example in Korean Patent No. 10-0597216. The additive storage cap includes: 
     a lower cap as a storage member which is fixed to a mouth of a container by screwing or hooking, which has discharge holes formed in a bottom edge of an injection tube extending into the mouth of the container at regular intervals, and to a bottom of which a bottom stopper is fixed; and 
     an upper cap as an opening member which is separably coupled to an upper portion of the lower cap, which has an additive storage tube extending downward from an inner surface of an upper portion thereof in one body, and which causes the storage tube to be separated from the bottom stopper so that the additive is discharged to the discharge holes when moving up. In this case, the stopper may be hooked or integrally formed with the injection tube of the lower cap. 
     However, in this method, the stopper should be separately provided. To secure sealability in the event of assembly, the upper cap having the storage tube should be assembled with the stopper by torque coupling. As such, there is a problem in that, when torque occurs, the stopper is damaged or the storage tube is twisted, so that the sealability cannot be maintained. To address this problem, a separate packing ring is added to a joint portion, which is responsible for an increase in cost. 
     Meanwhile, another additive storage cap known from Korean Utility Model Application Registration No. 20-0363704 includes: 
     a lower cap as a packing member which has an injection tube fixed in a mouth of a container and a bottom stopper protruding from a bottom of the injection tube, and several discharge holes between a circumference of the bottom stopper and a lower end of the injection tube; and 
     an upper cap as a cover which encloses and fixes an upper portion of the lower cap and the container, and which has a storage tube coupled with an upper inner surface of the upper cap and the bottom stopper and causing an additive in the storage tube to be added into the container when moving up. 
     This technical structure is a two-piece structure of the upper and lower caps, and has an advantage in that it contributes to cost saving and has good assemblability. However, due to two pieces, to store the additive and to secure sealability, a lower end of the storage tube and the bottom stopper should be assembled by torque coupling. In the event of the torque coupling, the storage tube is twisted, and ribs formed between the bottom stopper and the injection tube so as to form discharge slots are damaged. Thus, there is a problem in which the sealability cannot be maintained. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been made while keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and is intended to provide a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, which includes a lower cap that has a stopper at a bottom of an extension tube fixed to an inner wall of a mouth of a container and an upper cap that has a storage tube sealing coupled with the stopper and stores and discharges an additive, wherein the storage tube is sealing coupled with the stopper only by downward movement rather than rotation when the upper cap is coupled to the mouth of the container, and the storage tube is separated from the stopper when moving upward so as to add an additive without being twisted. 
     The present invention is intended to provide a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, which includes a lower cap that has a stopper, which is allowed to be opened/closed by a hinge, at a bottom of an extension tube fixed to an inner wall of a mouth of a container and an upper cap that has a storage tube sealing coupled with the stopper and stores and discharges an additive, wherein the storage tube is kept sealed with the stopper only by downward movement rather than rotation when the upper cap is coupled to the mouth of the container, and the storage tube is separated from the stopper when moving upward to add an additive in the storage tube so as to add the additive into the container without being twisted. 
     The present invention is intended to provide a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, in which an upper cap is separated from a storage tube, in which the storage tube is configured so that an upper end thereof is closed by an upper end face and so that a lateral surface thereof has a shoulder supported on the upper cap, and in which at least one of the upper end face of the storage tube and the corresponding upper cap is provided with a protrusion rail reducing friction, wherein the storage tube is fixed and only the upper cap is allowed to be turned so that the storage tube moves up or down without causing torque. 
     The present invention is intended to provide a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, in which an extension tube of a lower cap which extends along an inner wall of a mouth of a container and a corresponding inner wall of the mouth are configured to enable profile coupling so as to have fixability and sealability. 
     Technical Solution 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, which includes: 
     a lower cap which is coupled to an upper end of a mouth of a container by a catching flange and which has a stopper whose central portion is formed so as to protrude upward from a bottom of an extension tube extending downward from the catching flange into the mouth of the container, and open discharge holes formed in a circumference of the stopper; 
     a storage tube whose open lower end is sealing coupled to an edge of the stopper of the lower cap, in which an additive is contained, whose upper end outer surface has a shoulder increased in diameter, and whose upper end surface is closed; and 
     an upper cap whose inner surface has a ridge supporting the shoulder so as to prevent rotation of the storage tube, which is coupled with the storage tube together with the lower cap, and which causes the storage tube to perform only downward movement when coupled to the lower cap, 
     wherein, when the upper cap is separated from the container, the sealing coupling of the stopper and the storage tube is released only by upward movement rather than the rotation of the storage tube so that the additive is discharged through a lower portion of the storage tube and the discharge holes. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, which includes: 
     a lower cap that is coupled to an upper end of a mouth of a container by a catching flange and that has a stopper whose central portion is formed so as to protrude upward from a bottom of an extension tube extending downward from the catching flange into the mouth of the container and which is integrally formed with the extension tube by a hinge, 
     a storage tube whose open lower end is sealing coupled to an edge of the stopper of the lower cap, in which an additive is contained, whose upper end outer surface has a shoulder increased in diameter, and whose upper end surface is closed, and 
     an upper cap whose inner surface has a ridge supporting the shoulder so as to prevent rotation of the storage tube, which is coupled with the storage tube together with the lower cap so that the stopper of the lower cap is hinged to a lower end of the storage tube around the hinge, and which causes the storage tube to perform only downward movement when coupled to the lower cap, 
     wherein, when the upper cap is separated from the container, the sealing coupling of the stopper and the storage tube is released only by upward movement rather than the rotation of the storage tube, and the stopper and the storage tube are opened on the basis of the hinge so that the additive is discharged through a lower portion of the opened storage tube. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     The present invention provides a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, which includes a lower cap that has a stopper at a bottom of an extension tube fixed to an inner wall of a mouth of a container and an upper cap that has a storage tube sealing coupled with the stopper and stores and discharges an additive, wherein the storage tube is sealing coupled with the stopper only by downward movement rather than rotation when the upper cap is coupled to the mouth of the container, and the storage tube is separated from the stopper when moving upward so as to add an additive without being twisted. 
     The present invention provides a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, which includes a lower cap that has a stopper, which is allowed to be opened/closed by a hinge, at a bottom of an extension tube fixed to an inner wall of a mouth of a container and an upper cap that has a storage tube sealing coupled with the stopper and stores and discharges an additive, wherein the storage tube is kept sealed with the stopper only by downward movement rather than rotation when the upper cap is coupled to the mouth of the container, and the storage tube is separated from the stopper when moving upward to add an additive in the storage tube so as to add the additive into the container without being twisted. 
     The present invention provides a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, in which an upper cap is separated from a storage tube, in which the storage tube is configured so that an upper end thereof is closed by an upper end face and so that a lateral surface thereof has a shoulder supported on the upper cap, and in which at least one of the upper end face of the storage tube and the corresponding upper cap is provided with a protrusion rail reducing friction, wherein the storage tube is fixed and only the upper cap is allowed to be turned so that the storage tube moves up or down without causing torque. 
     The present invention provides a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, in which an extension tube of a lower cap which extends along an inner wall of a mouth of a container and a corresponding inner wall of the mouth are configured to enable profile coupling so as to have fixability and sealability. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view showing an assembled state of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view showing a process in which a storage tube of the present invention is separated. 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled state cross-sectional view showing another example of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a storage tube of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an essential part enlarged view showing another example of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a coupling relation between an extension tube of a lower cap and an inner wall of a mouth of a container in the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows a case of coupling an upper cap and a storage tube and injecting an additive in the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  showing a state in which a lower cap is coupled to an assembly of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  showing a state in which an assembly of  FIG. 8  is turned upside down and coupled to a container. 
         FIG. 10  shows an example of a real design of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  shows an example of a real design of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a storage tube of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a coupled state of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a lower cap showing another example of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a photograph of a state in which the present invention using  FIG. 14  is coupled to a container. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE 
     The present invention provides a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, which includes: 
     a lower cap which is coupled to an upper end of a mouth of a container by a catching flange and which has a stopper whose central portion is formed so as to protrude upward from a bottom of an extension tube extending downward from the catching flange into the mouth of the container, and open discharge holes formed in a circumference of the stopper; 
     a storage tube whose open lower end is sealing coupled to an edge of the stopper of the lower cap, in which an additive is contained, whose upper end outer surface has a shoulder increased in diameter, and whose upper end surface is closed; and 
     an upper cap whose inner surface has a ridge supporting the shoulder so as to prevent rotation of the storage tube, which is coupled with the storage tube together with the lower cap, and which causes the storage tube to perform only downward movement when coupled to the lower cap, 
     wherein, when the upper cap is separated from the container, the sealing coupling of the stopper and the storage tube is released only by upward movement rather than the rotation of the storage tube so that the additive is discharged through a lower portion of the storage tube and the discharge holes. 
     The present invention provides a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, which includes: 
     a lower cap that is coupled to an upper end of a mouth of a container by a catching flange and that has a stopper whose central portion is formed so as to protrude upward from a bottom of an extension tube extending downward from the catching flange into the mouth of the container and which is integrally formed with the extension tube by a hinge, 
     a storage tube whose open lower end is sealing coupled to an edge of the stopper of the lower cap, in which an additive is contained, whose upper end outer surface has a shoulder increased in diameter, and whose upper end surface is closed, and 
     an upper cap whose inner surface has a ridge supporting the shoulder so as to prevent rotation of the storage tube, which is coupled with the storage tube together with the lower cap so that the stopper of the lower cap is hinged to a lower end of the storage tube around the hinge, and which causes the storage tube to perform only downward movement when coupled to the lower cap, 
     wherein, when the upper cap is separated from the container, the sealing coupling of the stopper and the storage tube is released only by upward movement rather than the rotation of the storage tube, and the stopper and the storage tube are opened on the basis of the hinge so that the additive is discharged through a lower portion of the opened storage tube. 
     MODE FOR INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in greater detail to an exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     The present invention provides a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, which includes a lower cap  100  that is coupled to an upper end of a mouth  2  of a container  1  by a catching flange  110  and has a stopper  130  whose central portion is formed so as to protrude upward from a bottom of an extension tube  120  extending downward from the catching flange  110  into the mouth of the container  1  and open discharge holes  140  formed in a circumference of the stopper  130 , 
     a storage tube  200  whose open lower end is sealing coupled to an edge of the stopper  130  of the lower cap  100 , in which an additive is contained, whose upper end outer surface has a shoulder  210  increased in diameter, and whose upper end surface  220  is closed, and 
     an upper cap  300  whose inner surface has a ridge supporting the shoulder  210  so as to prevent rotation of the storage tube  200 , which is coupled with the storage tube  200  together with the lower cap  100 , and which causes the storage tube  200  to perform only downward movement when coupled to the lower cap  100 , 
     wherein, when the upper cap  300  is separated from the container  1 , the sealing coupling of the stopper  130  and the storage tube  200  is released only by upward movement rather than the rotation of the storage tube  200  so that the additive is discharged through a lower portion of the storage tube  200  and the discharge holes. 
     Further, the present invention provides a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, which includes a lower cap  100  that is coupled to an upper end of a mouth  2  of a container  1  by a catching flange  110  and has a stopper  130  whose central portion is formed so as to protrude upward from a bottom of an extension tube  120  extending downward from the catching flange  110  into the mouth of the container  1  and which is integrally formed with the extension tube  120  by a hinge  150 , 
     a storage tube  200  whose open lower end is sealing coupled to an edge of the stopper  130  of the lower cap  100 , in which an additive is contained, whose upper end outer surface has a shoulder  210  increased in diameter, and whose upper end surface  220  is closed, and 
     an upper cap  300  whose inner surface has a ridge supporting the shoulder  210  so as to prevent rotation of the storage tube  200 , which is coupled with the storage tube  200  together with the lower cap  100  so that the stopper  130  of the lower cap is hinged to a lower end of the storage tube  200  around the hinge  150 , and which causes the storage tube  200  to perform only downward movement when coupled to the lower cap  100 , 
     wherein, when the upper cap  300  is separated from the container  1 , the sealing coupling of the stopper  130  and the storage tube  200  is released only by upward movement rather than the rotation of the storage tube  200 , and the stopper  130  and the storage tube  200  are opened on the basis of the hinge  150  so that the additive is discharged through a lower portion of the opened storage tube  200 . 
     An auxiliary discharge hole  230  may be formed in a lower end edge excluding a portion of the hinge  150  of the extension tube  120 . 
     An outer wall of the extension tube  120  and an inner wall of the mouth  2  of the container  1  are configured to enable profile coupling to provide mutual sealability. 
     The upper cap  300  is made up of an outer cap  310  having a bent inner step  312  so that a shoulder of the upper cap  300  is radially reduced to press and seal the catching flange  110  of the lower cap when coupled with the lower cap  100 , and 
     a protrusion cap  320  directed upward from the inner step  312  in a vertical direction. 
     The shoulder  210  of the storage tube  200  is fitted to an inner sidewall of the protrusion cap  320 . The ridge  322  providing an upward/downward movement force of the storage tube  200  is formed on the inner sidewall of the protrusion cap  320 . 
     Any one of the closed upper end face  220  of the storage tube  200  and an inner surface of the protrusion cap  320  which corresponds to the closed upper end face is formed with a protrusion rail R reducing friction between them. 
     The upper cap  300  is made up of an outer cap  310  having a bent inner step  312  so that a shoulder of the upper cap  300  is radially reduced to press and seal the catching flange  110  of the lower cap when coupled with the lower cap  100 , and 
     a protrusion cap  320  directed upward from the inner step  312  in a vertical direction, and is configured so that 
     the shoulder  210  of the storage tube  200  is fitted to an inner sidewall of the protrusion cap  320 . The ridge  322  guiding upward/downward movement of the storage tube  200  is formed on the inner sidewall of the protrusion cap  320 , and 
     the inner step  312  presses and seal the shoulder  210  and the catching flange  110  at the same time. 
     Any one of the closed upper end face  220  of the storage tube  200  and an inner surface of the protrusion cap  320  which corresponds to the closed upper end face is formed with a protrusion rail R reducing friction between them. 
     The present invention configured in this way is configured to turn the upper cap  300  and the storage tube  200  upside down as shown in  FIG. 7 , mutually couple the ridge  322  and the shoulder  210  shown in  FIG. 1 , and put the additive into the storage tube  200  in an arrow direction. Then, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the lower cap  100  is coupled so that the stopper  130  presses and closes the open end of the storage tube  200 . 
     Subsequently, the coupled upper cap is turned upside down as shown in  FIG. 9 , and is capped to the mouth of the container  1  filled with a content using a capping means (not shown) as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     When used, the upper cap  300  is loosened in an unscrewing direction. Then, the shoulder  210  extending from the closed upper end face  220  is supported on the ridge  322  of the upper cap  300 , and the upper end face  220  and the inner surface of the protrusion cap  320  of the upper cap  300  are in point contact with the rail R. Accordingly, even when the upper cap  300  is turned in the unscrewing direction, the storage tube  200  merely performs upward movement, and thus functions to be coupled with and separated from the extension tube  120  and the stopper  130  without being twisted. Due to this operation, when the upper cap  300  and the storage tube  200  are separated together as shown in  FIG. 2 , a user can drink the content to which the additive is added. In this case, the lower cap  100  may be separated along with the upper cap  300 , or may be kept fixed to the inner wall of the mouth of the container. 
     In the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the stopper  130  may be integrally formed with the extension tube  120 , and has the several discharge holes in the circumference thereof. As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  11 , the stopper  130  may be configured to be opened/closed by the hinge  150 . 
     In the present invention, the shoulder  210  may be configured to be horizontal with respect to the upper end face  220 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the shoulder  210  may be configured to receive a pressing force of the inner step  312  of the upper cap  300 . 
     The means for fixing the lower cap  100  to the inner wall of the mouth of the container can be variously realized in the present invention. However, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the means may be realized by an uneven configuration based on a convex and a concave, but is not limited to this configuration. 
     The stopper  130  integrally formed with the extension tube  120  of the lower cap  100  of the present invention may be configured as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . The hinge  150  may be integrally formed with a hinge connector  154  between hinge slots  152 , which are formed by partly cutting the lower end of the extension tube  120 , in a lengthwise direction. The hinge  150  may be configured to have a length enough to have an elastic force when folded. 
     One or more auxiliary discharge holes  153  may be formed at a portion excluding the hinge slots  152 . 
     Since this embodiment is similar to the operation as described above, only the hinge will be described. This structure is not a structure in which the hinge  150  extends from the end of the extension tube  120 , but the hinge  150  is integrally formed with the hinge connector  154  between hinge slots  152 , which are formed by partly cutting the lower end of the extension tube  120  at a short length. As such, the hinge  150  functions to allow the stopper  130  to be closed with an elastic force without being folded when the stopper  130  is opened/closed. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 4 , when the stopper  130  is opened, the hinge  150  functions to allow the stopper  130  to be instantly opened with an elastic recovery force. Thereby, the additive is easily added into the container, and the remaining of the additive is not left in the storage tube  200 , so that reliability on the container cap is improved. Furthermore, if necessary, the additive is induced to be instantly discharged into the container in a lateral direction through the auxiliary discharge hole  153 . 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention provides a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, which includes a lower cap that has a stopper at a bottom of an extension tube fixed to an inner wall of a mouth of a container and an upper cap that has a storage tube sealing coupled with the stopper and stores and discharges an additive, wherein the storage tube is sealing coupled with the stopper only by downward movement rather than rotation when the upper cap is coupled to the mouth of the container, and the storage tube is separated from the stopper when moving upward so as to add an additive without being twisted. 
     The present invention provides a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, which includes a lower cap that has a stopper, which is allowed to be opened/closed by a hinge, at a bottom of an extension tube fixed to an inner wall of a mouth of a container and an upper cap that has a storage tube sealing coupled with the stopper and stores and discharges an additive, wherein the storage tube is kept sealed with the stopper only by downward movement rather than rotation when the upper cap is coupled to the mouth of the container, and the storage tube is separated from the stopper when moving upward to add an additive in the storage tube so as to add the additive into the container without being twisted. 
     The present invention provides a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, in which an upper cap is separated from a storage tube, in which the storage tube is configured so that an upper end thereof is closed by an upper end face and so that a lateral surface thereof has a shoulder supported on the upper cap, and in which at least one of the upper end face of the storage tube and the corresponding upper cap is provided with a protrusion rail reducing friction, wherein the storage tube is fixed and only the upper cap is allowed to be turned so that the storage tube moves up or down without causing torque. 
     The present invention provides a container cap having a separated additive storage tube, in which an extension tube of a lower cap which extends along an inner wall of a mouth of a container and a corresponding inner wall of the mouth are configured to enable profile coupling so as to have fixability and sealability.