CLOSABLE CONTAINER

Abstract

Provided is a container including a container body and a cap. The container body has a mouth part defining an opening. The cap closes the opening. The cap includes a ring-shaped frame, a door lid, a gasket, and a biasing member. The frame is detachably attached to the mouth part. The door lid is coupled to the frame and rotates between a closed position to close the opening and an open position to open the opening. The gasket is attached to the frame or the door lid, is composed of an elastic material, and is interposed in a gap between the frame and the door lid so as to the gap when the door lid is at the closed position. The biasing member is composed of the same material as the gasket, is constituted integrally with the gasket, and biases the door lid toward the open position.

Claims

1. A closable container comprising: a container body having a mouth part that defines an opening; and a cap configured to close the opening, wherein the cap includes: a ring-shaped frame configured to be detachably attached to the mouth part, a door lid that is coupled to the frame in a hinged manner and is configured to rotate between a closed position at which the opening is closed and an open position at which the opening is open, a gasket that is attached to the frame or the door lid, is composed of an elastic material, and is interposed in a gap between the frame and the door lid so as to seal the gap when the door lid is at the closed position, and a biasing member that is composed of the same elastic material as the gasket, is constituted integrally with the gasket, and is configured to bias the door lid in a direction toward the open position.

2. The closable container according to claim 1, wherein the gasket is attached to the frame.

3. The closable container according to claim 2, wherein the gasket is interposed in a gap between the mouth part and the frame so as to seal the gap in a state in which the frame is attached to the mouth part.

4. The closable container according to claim 1, wherein the cap further includes a lock mechanism configured to switch between a locked state in which the door lid is kept at the closed position, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is canceled.

5. The closable container according to claim 2, wherein the cap further includes a lock mechanism configured to switch between a locked state in which the door lid is kept at the closed position, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is canceled.

6. The closable container according to claim 3, wherein the cap further includes a lock mechanism configured to switch between a locked state in which the door lid is kept at the closed position, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is canceled.

7. The closable container according to claim 4, wherein the lock mechanism includes a first extension portion that extends from the door lid, and a second extension portion that extends from the frame and is configured to engage with the first extension portion in the locked state.

8. The closable container according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is in contact with the door lid, and is folded so as to bias the door lid in the direction toward the open state using an elastic force by which the biasing member attempts to return to its original state when the door lid is at the closed position.

9. The closable container according to claim 1, wherein the elastic material is elastomer.

10. The closable container according to claim 1, wherein the elastic material is silicone rubber.

11. A closable container comprising: a container that includes a circumferential edge portion surrounding an opening; a door lid that is coupled to the circumferential edge portion in a hinged manner, and is configured to rotate between a closed position at which the opening is closed and an open position at which the opening is open; a gasket that is attached to the circumferential edge portion or the door lid, is composed of an elastic material, and is interposed in a gap between the circumferential edge portion and the door lid so as to seal the gap when the door lid is at the closed portion; and a biasing member that is composed of the same elastic material as the gasket, is constituted integrally with the gasket, and is configured to bias the door lid in a direction toward the open position.

12. The closable container according to claim 11, further comprising a lock mechanism configured to switch between a locked state in which the door lid is kept at the closed position, and an unlocked state in which the locked state is canceled.

13. The closable container according to claim 12, wherein the lock mechanism includes a first extension portion that extends from the door lid, and a second extension portion that extends from the circumferential edge portion and is configured to engage with the first extension portion in the locked state.

14. The closable container according to claim 11, wherein the biasing member is in contact with the door lid, and is folded so as to bias the door lid in the direction toward the open state using an elastic force by which the biasing member attempts to return to its original state when the door lid is at the closed position.

15. The closable container according to claim 11, wherein the elastic material is elastomer.

16. The closable container according to claim 11, wherein the elastic material is silicone rubber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a side view of a closable container in an open state according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a side view of a closable container in a closed state according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view of a container body according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cap in an open state according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cap in the open state and an upper portion of the container body, taken along line A-A in FIG. 4.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cap in the closed state and the upper portion of the container body, taken along line A-A in FIG. 4.

[0025] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cap in the open state, taken along line B-B in FIG. 4.

[0026] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the cap in the closed state, taken along line B-B in FIG. 4

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Hereinafter, a closable container according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1. Overall Configuration of Closable Container

[0028] FIGS. 1 and 2 are side views of a closable container (hereinafter referred to simply as container in some cases) 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in the drawings, the container 1 includes a container body 2 and a cap 3 that closes an opening S1 formed at the upper portion of the container body 2. FIG. 1 shows an open state in which the opening S1 is open, and FIG. 2 shows a closed state in which the opening S1 is closed. As will be described later, the container 1 is highly sealable in the closed state, and although there is no limitation on the application of the container 1, the container 1 is suitable for storing food or the like.

2. Configuration of Parts

[0029] Hereinafter, a configuration of parts will be described in detail. Note that unless otherwise stated in particular, up, down, front (front surface side), and rear (rear surface side) are defined as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and left and right mean left and right in a view from the front surface side. Also, as will be described later, although the position of the door lid 30 of the cap 3 is changed by rotation, unless stated otherwise, up, down, front (front surface side), and rear (rear surface side) are described using the closed state as a reference.

2-1. Container Body

[0030] FIG. 3 is a side view of the container body 2 alone. The container body 2 defines an inner space S2 for containing a contained item such as food. The container body 2 includes a bottom surface portion 21, a tubular body portion 22 that stands upright from the circumferential edge of the bottom surface portion 21, a shoulder portion 23 that extends inward in the radial direction from the upper end of the body portion 22, and a neck portion 24 that extends upward from the inner side end in the radial direction of the shoulder portion 23. In the present embodiment, the bottom surface portion 21 is approximately rectangular in plan view and the body portion 22 is rectangular tube-shaped. The neck portion 24 is a cylindrical shape with a smaller diameter than the body portion 22. The neck portion 24 surrounds the opening S1 of the container body 2 and forms a mouth part that defines the opening S1. Accordingly, hereinafter, the neck portion 24 is referred to as mouth part 24 in some cases. The opening S1 communicates with the inner space S2.

[0031] A rib 25 that extends along the circumferential direction is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the neck portion 24. More specifically, the rib 25 extends in a spiral shape along the central axis of the neck portion 24 and screws onto a later-described rib 45 formed on the cap 3. Accordingly, the cap 3 is detachably attached to the container body 2. The mouth part 24 is a portion to which the cap 3 is attached and is a portion that couples with the cap 3.

[0032] Although there is no particular limitation on the material of the container body 2, from the viewpoint of lightness, strength, and corrosion resistance, it is preferable that the container body 2 is formed of a hard synthetic resin with no rubber elasticity, but the container body 2 can be made of glass. In the present embodiment, the container body 2 is made of AS (acrylonitrile styrene resin). Also, in the present embodiment, the above-described portions 21 to 25 are constituted integrally.

2-2. Cap

[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cap 3 in the open state. FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of the cap 3 and the upper portion of the container body 2, taken along line A-A in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 showing an open state and FIG. 6 showing a closed state. FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of the cap 3 alone, taken along line B-B in FIG. 4, FIG. 7 showing an open state and FIG. 8 showing an open state. Hereinafter, the configuration of the cap 3 will be described in detail with reference to these drawings as well.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the cap 3 includes an approximately circular ring-shaped frame 40, and an approximately disk-shaped door lid 30 that is coupled to the frame 40 in a hinged manner. The door lid 30 rotates with respect to the frame 40, between a closed position at which the opening S1 is closed and an open position at which the opening S1 is open. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the frame 40 is detachably attached to the mouth part 24 of the container body 2. The frame 40 surrounds the mouth part 24 from the outer side in a state of being attached to the mouth part 24, and forms a circumferential edge portion that surrounds the mouth part 24 as well as the opening S1.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the door lid 30 includes an approximately disk-shaped lid body 31, and a plate member 32 that extends further toward the rear surface side from the rear portion of the lid body 31. The plate member 32 is inclined slightly downward away from the lid body 31 (see FIGS. 2 and 8). Side wall portions 33a and 33b that extend inward in the radial direction (extend downward in the closed state) in the state shown in FIG. 4 stand upright on the left and right end portions of the plate member 32. Also, columnar protrusions 34 and 34 that extend outward in the left-right direction stand upright from the outer surfaces of the side wall portions 33a and 33b. The protrusions 34 and 34 are arranged on the same axis, which extends in the left-right direction.

[0036] Although there is no particular limitation on the material of the door lid 30, from the viewpoint of lightness, strength, corrosion resistance, and the like, the material is preferably constituted by a hard synthetic resin with no rubber elasticity. In the present embodiment, the door lid 30 is made of saturated polyester. Also, in the present embodiment, the door lid 30 is formed integrally together with a later-described first extension portion 50.

[0037] On the other hand, the frame 40 includes an approximately circular ring-shaped base frame 41, and a left and right pair of side wall portions 42a and 42b that extend further toward the rear surface side from the rear portion of the base frame 41. The lower portions of the side wall portions 42a and 42b are connected via a lower surface portion 43 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) that similarly extends further toward the rear surface side from the rear portion of the base frame 41. Also, holes 44 and 44 are formed on the side wall portions 42a and 42b. The holes 44 and 44 are arranged on the same axis, which extends in the left-right direction.

[0038] Although there is no particular limitation on the material of the frame 40, from the viewpoint of lightness, strength, corrosion resistance, and the like, the material is preferably constituted by a hard synthetic resin with no rubber elasticity. In the present embodiment, the frame 40 is made of polypropylene. Also, in the present embodiment, the frame 40 is formed integrally together with a later-described second extension portion 60.

[0039] The side wall portions 33a and 33b of the door lid 30 are arranged between the side wall portions 42a and 42b such that the outer surfaces of the side wall portions 33a and 33b face the inner surfaces of the side wall portions 42a and 42b of the frame 40. Also, the protrusions 34 and 34 of the door lid 30 are inserted into the holes 44 and 44 of the side wall portions 42a and 42b. For this reason, the protrusions 34 and 34 form a rotation axis of a hinge mechanism 4 that couples the door lid 30 and the frame 40, and the holes 44 and 44 form bearings that receive the rotation axis. In other words, the hinge mechanism 4 is formed by the plate member 32, the side wall portions 33a and 33b, the protrusions 34 and 34, the side wall portions 42a and 42b, the holes 44 and 44, and the lower surface portion 43. Accordingly, the door lid 30 is coupled to the frame 40 in a hinged manner and can rotate with respect to the frame 40. The circumferential edge portion of the lid body 31 is received at the upper end portion 41b of the base frame 41 in the closed state (note that, as shown in FIG. 2, a slight gap exists between the two), and at this time, the lid body 31 covers the opening S1 from above.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the base frame 41 includes a circumferential wall portion 41a with an approximately constant thickness. A rib 45 that extends along the circumferential direction is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall portion 41a. More specifically, the rib 45 extends in the form of a spiral along the central axis of the circumferential wall portion 41a and screws onto the rib 25 that is formed on the above-described mouth part 24.

[0041] The upper end portion 41b of the base frame 41 is located above the circumferential wall portion 41a and protrudes inward with respect to the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall portion 41a. In other words, in a view from the inside of the base frame 41, a level difference is formed on the upper portion of the base frame 41. Also, a circular ring-shaped gasket 70 is attached to the base frame 41 so as to be caught on the level difference.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the gasket 70 includes a circular ring-shaped main body portion 71, and a circular ring-shaped upper portion 72 that extends upward from the vicinity of the center of the upper surface of the main body portion 71. The main body portion 71 has a vertical cross-section that is approximately rectangular. Also, the gasket 70 includes a circular ring-shaped inner-side lower portion 73 that extends downward from the inner-side end in the radial direction of the main body portion 71, and a circular ring-shaped outer-side lower portion 74 that extends downward from the outer side end in the radial direction of the main body portion 71. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the level difference formed by the main body portion 71 and the upper portion 72 (level difference facing outward in the radial direction) is arranged so as to engage with the level difference formed by the upper end portion 41b and the circumferential wall portion 41a of the base frame 41, and the engagement surfaces come into secure contact with each other. Also, the outer circumferential surfaces of the main body portion 71 and the outer-side lower portion 74 come into secure contact with the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall portion 41a. Also, with the frame 40 attached to the container body 2, the lower surface of the main body portion 71 comes into secure contact with the upper end portion of the mouth part 24 of the container body 2. In this manner, in the state in which the frame 40 is attached to the container body 2, the gasket 70 is interposed in the gap formed between the mouth part 24 and the base frame 41, fills the gap, and seals the gap.

[0043] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, when the door lid 30 is at the closed position, the gasket 70 is interposed in the gap between the base frame 41 and the door lid 30 and seals the gap. More specifically, the door lid 30 includes a circular ring-shaped leg portion 35 that hangs down from the lower surface of the lid body 31. The leg portion 35 is located slightly inward of the outer circumferential edge of the lid body 31. Also, in the closed state, the level difference formed by the main body portion 71 and the upper portion 72 (level difference facing inward in the radial direction) engages with the level difference formed by the lid body 31 and the leg portion 35 (level difference facing outward in the radial direction) and the engagement surfaces come into secure contact with each other.

[0044] The opening S1 is completely closed by the gasket 70 with the configuration above when the door lid 30 is at the closed position, and the inner space S2 of the container body 2 is sealed off from the outside. Also, in the present embodiment, one gasket 70 seals the gap between the container body 2 and the frame 40, in addition to the gap between the frame 40 and the door lid 30. Accordingly, a highly sealable container 1 that has a small number of parts and a simple configuration is achieved.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the cap 3 includes a lock mechanism 5 for keeping the door lid 30 at the closed position. The lock mechanism 5 is constituted by a first extension portion 50 that extends from the lid body 31 and a second extension portion 60 that extends from the base frame 41. The first extension portion 50 includes a protruding portion 51 that protrudes slightly toward the front surface side from the front portion of the lid body 31, and a plate member 52 that extends downward from the front surface side of the protruding portion 51. A claw 53 is formed in the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the front surface of the plate member 52. On the other hand, the second extension portion 60 includes a protruding portion 61 that protrudes slightly toward the front surface side from the front portion of the base frame 41, and a plate member 62 that extends upward from the protruding portion 61. Also, the second extension portion 60 includes a pressing button 63 that is continuous with the upper end of the plate member 62. A claw 64 is formed in the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction on the rear surface of the pressing button 63. Also, the second extension portion 60 includes a circumferential wall portion 65 that is continuous with the front portion of the base frame 41 and surrounds the above-described portions 61 to 64. The circumferential wall portion 65 is arranged at a position at which it does not interfere with the portions 61 to 64.

[0046] When the door lid 30 falls forward from the open position and approaches the closed position, the plate member 52 is inserted into the space between the plate member 62 and the base frame 41. At this time, the claw 53 pushes the claw 64, whereby the plate member 62 deforms elastically and falls slightly forward. Then, when the plate member 52 proceeds deeper from this state, the claw 53 surpasses the claw 64. At this time, the plate member 62 returns to its original position due to an elastic force, and the two claws 64 and 53 engage with each other. Accordingly, the claw 53 catches on the claw 64 and a locked state in which the door lid 30 is kept at the closed position is formed.

[0047] When a user presses the pressing button 63 in the locked state with his or her finger, the plate member 62 once again deforms elastically and falls forward. Accordingly, the locked state in which the claw 53 and the claw 64 are engaged with each other is canceled, and the unlocked state is entered. As described above, the locking mechanism 5 can switch between the locked state and the unlocked state.

[0048] When the locked state is canceled, the door lid 30 automatically rotates about the rotation axis 34 and returns to the open position. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the cap 3 further includes a biasing member 80 that cooperates with the above-described hinge mechanism 4. The biasing mechanism 80 biases the door lid 30 in the direction toward the open position. Note that in the present embodiment, the door lid 30 stands upright in the approximate vertical direction when it is at the open position.

[0049] The biasing member 80 is composed of the same material as the gasket 70 and is formed integrally with the gasket 70. The biasing member 80 and the gasket 70 are composed of elastic materials and have rubber elasticity. The biasing member 80 and the gasket 70 are typically constituted by elastomer (rubber or thermoplastic elastomer), and in the present embodiment, they are made of silicone rubber. Since the gasket 70 and the biasing member 80 are soft and deform easily, they can be removed from the other parts of the cap 2.

[0050] The biasing member 80 includes a protruding portion 81 that is continuous with the rear portion of the gasket 70 and protrudes slightly toward the rear surface side from the rear portion of the gasket 70. Note that although the upper end portion 41b of the base frame 41 and the upper portion of the circumferential wall portion 41a extend over approximately the entire circumference as shown in FIG. 4, a portion is cut out at the rear portion. The protruding portion 81 passes through this cut-out and reaches the outer side from the inner side in the radial direction of the base frame 41.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the biasing member 80 further includes a wall portion 82 that extends downward from the rear portion of the protruding portion 81 and a sheet portion 83 that bends from the lower portion of the wall portion 82 and extends rearward. The inner surface in the radial direction of the wall portion 82 comes into secure contact with the outer circumferential wall of the base frame 41. On the other hand, the outer surface of the sheet portion 83 comes into secure contact with the upper surface of the lower surface portion 43 that extends rearward from the base frame 41 and with the inner surface of the plate member 32 that extends rearward from the lid body 31. A protrusion 36 is formed on the inner surface of the plate member 32. On the other hand, the sheet portion 83 is approximately rectangular, but a cut-out for receiving the protrusion 36 is formed on the leading end thereof. Also, the position of the sheet portion 83 is fixed due to the protrusion 36 being inserted into the cut-out. In this state, the sheet portion 83 comes into secure contact with the protrusion 36.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 8, when the door lid 30 is at the closed position, the sheet portion 83 is folded and contained in the space between the plate member 32 and the lower surface portion 43. However, when the locked state is canceled, the folded sheet portion 83 presses the plate member 32 using the elastic force by which the folded sheet portion 83 attempts to return to its original flatter shape. Accordingly, the lid body 31 coupled to the plate member 32 automatically rotates in the direction of opening. As described above, the container 1 is of a one-push open type according to which the door lid 30 can be opened by merely pressing the pressing button 63, and thus the container 1 has excellent operability. Note that when the door lid 30 rotates to a predetermined angle, the side wall portions 33a and 33b of the door lid 30 come into contact with the lower surface portion 43 of the frame 40 and further rotation is restricted.

[0053] The sheet portion 83 has a flat shape in the state in which the gasket 70 and the biasing member 80 are removed from the other portions of the cap 3. Also, the sheet portion 83 curves not only when it is folded in the closed state, but in the open state as well, as shown in FIG. 7. For this reason, the biasing member 80 further applies a force to the door lid 30 in the direction of opening the door lid 30 also in the open state. Accordingly, for example, even if the container 1 is tilted or the like during use, the door lid 30 is not likely to fall over under its own weight. Accordingly, the door lid 30 does not flutter significantly during use and the container 1 has excellent user-friendliness.

[0054] Also, as shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, a thick portion 84 is partially formed on the inner surface of the sheet portion 83. The thick portion 84 can increase the elastic force with which the sheet portion 83 attempts to return to its original shape. Also, the thick portion 84 encourages the sheet portion 83 to always deform to a similar shape in the open state, the closed state, and states between the open and closed states. Accordingly, it is possible to realize an open state and a closed state that are always the same.

3. Modified Examples

[0055] Although an embodiment of the present invention was described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the following modifications are possible. Also, the gists of the following modified examples can be combined as appropriate.

3-1

[0056] In the above-described embodiment, the gasket 70 had a role of sealing both the gap between the container body 2 and the frame 40 and the gap between the frame 40 and the door lid 30, but gaskets for filling the gaps may be provided separately. In this case, the gasket that fills the gap between the frame 40 and the door lid 30 may be attached not to the base frame 41 but to the lid body 31. Also, the gasket that seals the gap between the container body 2 and the frame 40 can be omitted.

3-2

[0057] The structure for attaching the cap 3 to the container body 2 is not limited to that described above (screwing), and it is possible to employ any structure, such as a fitting-in scheme. Also, it is possible to use a configuration in which the door lid 30 is coupled to the mouth part 24 of the container body 2 directly in a hinged manner, instead of using a configuration in which the cap 3 is attached to the container body 2.

3-3

[0058] In the above-described embodiment, the mouth part 24 and the frame 40 were formed into circular ring shapes, but the mouth part 24 and the frame 40 can also be formed into rectangular ring shapes.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0059] 1 Closable container

[0060] 2 Container body

[0061] 3 Cap

[0062] 4 Hinge mechanism

[0063] 5 Lock mechanism

[0064] 24 Mouth part

[0065] 30 Door lid

[0066] 40 Frame

[0067] 50 First extension portion

[0068] 60 Second extension portion

[0069] 70 Gasket

[0070] 80 Biasing member

[0071] S1 Opening