CONTAINER CAP INCLUDING TWO-WAY DUCKBILL VALVE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container cap including a two-way duckbill valve by modifying a valve shaped like the beak of a duck to be applied to a container cap, and more particularly, a container cap including a two-way duckbill valve wherein a two-way duckbill valve is secured to a container cap, enabling the content contained in a container to be easily controlled to be discharged in a desired amount, without using a measuring cup or a separable measuring cap.

Claims

1. A container cap comprising: a duckbill valve (10) having a structure which gradually narrows from a cylindrical shape to a flattened shape and including a first channel (14) in a straight line shape and a second channel (15) in an arc shape, wherein when a pressing force is simultaneously applied to the first channel (14) and the second channel (15), the first channel (14) and the second channel (15) are separately opened and closed opposite to each other such that when the first channel 14 is opened, the second channel is closed, and vice versa; an inner cap (20) connected to the inside of a container neck (51) to discharge in use content (52) contained in a container (50), wherein the two-way duckbill valve (10) is positioned at the bottom of the inner cap (20) and a certain amount of the content (52) is stored in the inner cap (20); a valve holder (30) connected to the lower part of the inner cap (20), to secure the two-way duckbill valve (10); and a cover cap (40) threadedly engaging a container neck (51), wherein the upper end of the inner cap (20) fits into the cover cap (40).

2. The container cap according to claim 1, wherein the two-way duckbill valve (10) in the structure which gradually narrows from the cylindrical shape to the flattened shape comprises: a valve body (11) in which the first channel (14) is formed at the upper end of the flattened shape; a valve base (12) in a ring shape which is secured by the valve holder (30) and which the valve body (11) fits into; and a bottom valve seat (13) which is the lower end of the valve body (11), wherein the second channel (15) is formed between the bottom valve seat (13) and the inner circumferential surface of the valve base (12), and when a pressing force is simultaneously applied to the first channel (14) and the second channel (15), the valve body (11) and the bottom valve seat (13) are structured to separately open and close the first channel (14) and the second channel (15) opposite to each other.

3. The container cap according to claim 1, wherein the inner cap (20) comprises: a body (21) in a cylindrical shape which fits into the inside of the container neck (51) and in which the content (52) is stored; a flange (22) which extends outwardly from the top end of the body (21) so as to be placed on the top end of the container neck (51); a lower support (23) formed at the bottom end of the body (21) such that the valve base (12) of the two-way duckbill valve (10) is seated; an internal threaded part (24) formed in the lower inside circumferential surface of the body (21) to secure the valve holder (30); and a sealing (25) positioned between the flange (22) and the top end of the container neck (51).

4. The container cap according to claim 1, wherein the valve holder (30) comprises: an external threaded part (31) formed on the outer circumferential surface of the valve holder (30); and two or more tool connection holes (32) formed on the top side of the valve holder (30).

5. The container cap according to claim 4, wherein the valve holder (30) further comprises a pressing protrusion (33) formed along the lower inside edge of the valve holder (30), to press the top side of the valve base (12) forming the two-way duckbill valve (10).

6. The container cap according to claim 1, wherein the cover cap (40) comprises: an external connection part (41) threadedly engaging the outer circumferential surface of the container neck (51), to be sealed; and an internal connection part (42) protruding downwardly from the inside of the top of the cover cap (40) so that the inner cap (20) fits into the cover cap (40).

7. The container cap according to claim 6, wherein the cover cap (40) further comprises: a sealing member (43) connected to the outside of the internal connection part (42), to press the top end of the inner cap (20) so as to be sealed.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiment(s), taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 is a whole cut perspective view of a container cap according to the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the contain cap;

[0035] FIG. 3 is a cut exploded perspective view of a two-way duckbill valve, an inner cap and a valve holder;

[0036] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the container cap;

[0037] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the container in which the content is stored;

[0038] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the container which is upside down;

[0039] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the content moved into the inner cap by pressing the container;

[0040] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the content stored in the inner cap;

[0041] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a cover cap which is separated for the user to drink the content or to discharge the content; and

[0042] FIG. 10 is a sectional view that the content which is over a predetermined amount returns into the container by opening the cover cap.

DESCRIPTION OF NUMBERS AND CONSTITUENTS IN DRAWINGS

[0043] 10: two-way duckbill valve [0044] 11: valve body [0045] 12: valve base [0046] 13: bottom valve seat [0047] 20: inner cap [0048] 21: body [0049] 22: flange [0050] 23: lower support [0051] 24: internal threaded part [0052] 25: sealing [0053] 30: valve holder [0054] 31: external threaded part [0055] 32: tool connection hole [0056] 33: pressing protrusion [0057] 40: cover cap [0058] 41: outer connection part [0059] 42: inner connection part [0060] 43: sealing member [0061] 50: container [0062] 51: container neck [0063] 52: content

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0064] It will be understood that terms are used herein by selecting, as far as possible, general terms commonly used. However, some terms are selected based on the applicant's own discretion and in such cases, the terms should be interpreted by considering their meaning that is described or used in the specific content to carry out the invention and will not be interpreted in a sense of the meaning of simple terms.

[0065] The technical constitution of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0066] To this end, the present invention will be described based on FIG. 1 in which a container stands upright in a normal manner, unless a direction is specifically defined as shown in the drawings.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 10, a container cap including a two-way duckbill valve according to the present invention comprises: a duckbill valve 10, an inner cap 20, a valve holder 30 and a cover cap 40. The duckbill valve 10 in a structure that gradually narrows from a cylindrical shape to a flattened shape comprises a first channel 14 in a straight-line shape and a second channel 15 in an arc shape. When a pressing force is simultaneously applied to the first channel 14 and the second channel 15, the first channel 14 and the second channel 15 are separately opened and closed opposite to each other. The inner cap 20 is connected to the inside of a container neck 51 to discharge a content 52 contained in a container 50. The two-way duckbill valve 10 is positioned at the bottom of the inner cap 20 and a certain amount of the content 52 is stored in the inner cap 20. The valve holder 30 is connected to the lower part of the inner cap 20, to secure the two-way duckbill valve 10. The cover cap 40 threadedly engages the container neck 51, wherein the upper end of the inner cap 20 fits into the cover cap 40.

[0068] Usually, a duckbill valve as a one-way valve made of rubber has the structure that gradually narrows from a cylindrical shape to a flattened shape. This duckbill valve is a kind of a one-way valve in which a discharge hole is formed at the part in the flattened shape, allowing an outflow from the part in the cylindrical shape into the discharge hole at the part in the flattened shape but preventing an inflow from the part in the flatten shape to the part into the cylindrical shape. However, the present applicant has verified that it is possible to control an inflow and an outflow in two ways by modifying the structure of such a duckbill valve.

[0069] Specifically, the two-way duckbill valve 10 in the structure that gradually narrows from the cylindrical shape to the flattened shape comprises: a valve body 11 in which the first channel 14 is formed at the upper end of the flattened shape, a valve base 12 in a ring shape which is secured by the valve holder 30 and which the valve body 11 fits into, and a bottom valve seat 13 which is the lower end of the valve body 11, wherein the second channel 15 is formed between the bottom valve seat 13 and the inner circumferential surface of the valve base 12. When a pressing force is simultaneously applied to the first channel 14 and the second channel 15, the valve body 11 and the bottom valve seat 13 are structured to separately open and close the first channel 14 and the second channel 15 opposite to each other such that when the first channel 14 is opened, the second channel is closed, and vice versa.

[0070] Accordingly, during the content 52 is transferred from the container 50 into the inner cap 20 through the first channel 14 of the valve body 11, the bottom valve seat 13 is stuck to the valve base 12 so that the second channel 15 is closed. During the content 52 in the inner cap 20 returns into the container 50, the first channel 14 of the valve body 11 is closed and the bottom valve seat 13 is separated from the valve base 12 so that the second channel 15 is opened.

[0071] That is, the bottom valve seat 13 is changed or restored in shape based on the internal pressure of the inner cap 20, thereby opening or closing the second channel 15. The internal pressure is the total pressure of the weight of the content 52 stored in the inner cap and atmospheric pressure. Only when the content 52 in the inner cap 20 is above a predetermined amount and the cover cap 40 is opened so that the atmospheric pressure is applied, the bottom valve seat 13 is changed in shape, controlling the second channel to be opened.

[0072] Specifically, if the internal pressure of the inner cap 20 is more than the total pressure of the quantitative content and atmospheric pressure, the bottom valve seat 13 is separated from the valve base 12 and changed inwardly, to open the second channel 15. Of course, when the content 52 in the inner cap 20 is less than the total pressure, the bottom valve seat 13 does not change to keep its shape, so that the second channel 15 is kept the closed state. Accordingly, the bottom valve seat 13 is able to control the capacity of the inner cap 20 by using the change of the pressure and to discharge the content 52 quantitatively.

[0073] The inner cap 20 comprises: a body 21 in a cylindrical shape which fits into the inside of the container neck 51 and where the content 52 is stored, a flange 22 which extends outwardly from the top end of the body 21 so as to be placed on the top end of the container neck 51, a lower support 23 formed at the bottom end of the body 21 such that the valve base 12 of the two-way duckbill valve 10 is seated, an internal threaded part 24 formed in the lower inside circumferential surface of the body 21 to secure the valve holder 30, and a sealing 25 positioned between the flange 22 and the top end of the container neck 51.

[0074] The height of the body 21 is determined by considering the capacity of the content 52 to be stored in the inner cap 20. That is, when the capacity of the content 52 to be stored is small, the height of the body 21 is to be low, and when the capacity of the content 52 to be stored is great, the height of the body 21 is to be high. But, even if the height of the body 21 is high, the entire body 21 is to be positioned inside the container neck 52. This is because it is possible to completely discharge the content 52 contained in the container 50 only if the lower part of the body 21 is positioned to be higher than the lower end of the container neck 51. Therefore, the higher the height of the body 21 is, the longer the length of the container neck 51 is.

[0075] As the body 21 of the inner cap 20 fits into the inside of the container neck 51 and the sealing 52 is positioned between the flange 22 formed on the top end of the body 21 and the top end of the container neck 51, the content 52 contained in the container 50 is prevented from leaking into the gap between the flange 22 and the container neck 51.

[0076] The two-way duckbill valve 10 is mounted on the lower support 23 of the inner cap 20. The valve holder 30 is used to secure the two-way duckbill valve 10 so as not to move. The valve holder 30 includes an external threaded part 31 and two or more tool connection holes 32. The external threaded part 31 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the valve holder 30 so as to threadedly engage the internal threaded part 24 formed on the lower inside circumferential surface of the inner cap 20. The tool connection holes 32 are formed on the top side of the valve holder 30.

[0077] Accordingly, the valve holder 30 is secured to the internal threaded part 24 formed on the lower inside of the inner cap 20 by connecting a tool to the tool connection holes 32, so that the two-way duckbill valve 20 positioned on the lower support 23 is firmly secured.

[0078] The valve holder 30 further includes a pressing protrusion 33 formed along the lower inside edge of the valve holder 30, preferably to press the top side of the valve base 12 forming the two-way duckbill valve 10. The pressing protrusion 33 presses the top side of the valve base 12, thereby changing an opening of the second channel 15 which is formed between the valve base 12 and the bottom valve seat 13. In the case where the opening of the second channel 15 is changed, since the internal pressure of the inner cap 20 when the content 52 inside the inner cap 20 returns to the container 50 is also changed, it is possible to control the internal pressure of the inner cap 20 for returning the content 52 through the second channel 15 by tightening the valve holder 30.

[0079] The cover cap 40 includes an external connection part 41, an internal connection part 42 and a sealing member 43 in a ring shape. The external connection part 41 threadedly engages the outer circumferential surface of the container neck 51, to be sealed. The internal connection part 42 protrudes downwardly from the inside of the top of the cover cap 40 so that the inner cap 20 is connected to the cover cap 40. The sealing member 43 is connected to the outside of the internal connection part 42, to press the top end of the inner cap 20 so as to be sealed.

[0080] Since the internal connection part 42 is connected into the inside of the top end of the inner cap 20 and the sealing member 43 is positioned between the inside of the top of the external connection part 41 and the flange 22 of the body 21, the content 52 inside the inner cap 20 is prevented from leaking to the outside.

[0081] A process of discharging or drinking the quantitative content by using the container cap including the two-way duckbill valve according to the present invention will be described below:

[0082] First, the two-way duckbill valve 10 is inserted into the inner cap 20 so that the valve base 12 of the two-way duckbill valve 10 is positioned on the lower support 23 of the inner cap 20 and then the valve holder 30 inserted into the inner cap 20 is fastened to the internal threaded part 24 formed at the upper side of the lower support 23. The two-way duckbill valve 10 uses the strain pressure of the bottom valve seat 13 to be determined by considering the set storage amount of the inner cap 20, and the valve holder 30 is to be fastened based on a predetermined tightening force of the valve holder 30.

[0083] Subsequently, after the content 52 is poured into the container 50, the inner cap 20 is pressed in by positioning the sealing 25 at the container neck 51, to prevent the content 52 inside the container 50 from leaking through the container neck 51. Then, the cover cap 40 is connected to the container neck 51 by positioning the sealing member 43 to prevent the inner cap 20 from separating and to prevent the content 52 inside the inner cap 20 from leaking.

[0084] In the case where the container 50 with the cover cap 40 closed is upside down to quantitatively discharge the content 52 of the container 50, since the pressure taken on the inside and the outside of the two-way duckbill valve 10 is substantially equal in the state when any additional pressure is not applied, the content 52 of the container 50 does not flow out into the inner cap 20 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0085] In the same case that the container 50 is upside down as described above, if pressure is applied to the container 20, the pressure acts to the inside of the two-way duckbill valve 10 through the content 52 as shown in FIG. 7. Accordingly, the first channel 14 formed at the top end of the valve body 11 of the two-way duckbill valve 10 is opened and the second channel 15 formed between the bottom valve seat 13 and the valve base 12 is kept closed, so that the content 52 of the container 50 moves through the first channel 14, to be stored in the inner cap 20.

[0086] After the content 52 is stored in the inner cap 20, even though the container 50 is positioned upright again, the content 52 inside the inner cap 20 is maintained as it is as shown in FIG. 8.

[0087] That is, since the pressure applied to the inside and the outside of the two-way duckbill valve 10 is kept equally, the first channel 14 and the second channel 15 are both kept closed and therefore the content 52 inside the inner cap 20 does not flow into the container 50.

[0088] However, when the cover cap 40 is open and removed, the atmospheric pressure is additionally applied to the content 52 inside the inner cap 20 as shown in FIG. 9. In this case, since the pressure acting on the outside of the valve body 11 of the two-way duckbill valve 10 increases, the first channel 14 is kept in the closed state. Further, the second channel 15 is opened by the pressure applied on the outside of the bottom valve seat 13 formed at the lower position of the valve body 11.

[0089] That is, the second channel 15 between the bottom valve seat 13 and the valve base 12 is opened or closed, based on the weight of the content 52 inside the inner cap 20 and the action of the atmospheric pressure. When the second channel 15 is opened, since the first channel 14 formed at the top/upper end of the valve body 11 is kept in the closed state, the content 52 inside the inner cap 20 returns into the container 50 through the second channel 15.

[0090] When some of the content 52 inside the inner cap 20 returns into the container 50 and the quantitative content 52 is remained, the bottom valve seat 12 restores by elasticity, thereby closing the second channel 15. When the content 52 inside the inner cap 20 is less than a desired amount, the second channel 15 is kept in the closed state even though the atmospheric pressure acts.

[0091] Accordingly, the content 52 in a desired amount is discharged by positioning the container 50 containing the content 52 upside down to opening the first channel 14 so that the content 52 of the container 50 in a sufficient amount is stored inside the inner cap 20 and then by opening the cover cap 40 so that an excess of the content 52, which is stored in more than the desired amount in the inner cap 20, returns to the container 50 and only the quantitative content 52 is discharged.

[0092] The invention has been described using preferred exemplary embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the scope of the invention is intended to include various modifications and alternative arrangements within the capabilities of persons skilled in the art using presently known or future technologies and equivalents. The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.