SEALING CAP AND DETACHING METHOD OF SEALING CAP

Abstract

Provided is a sealing cap including: a body having a cylindrical part and a sealing part; an annular part having the inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical part; a first coupling part coupling the cylindrical part and the annular part to each other at a first coupling position; and a second coupling part coupling the cylindrical part and the annular part to each other at a second coupling position. A pair of first grooves are formed in the cylindrical part, a pair of second grooves are formed in the sealing part so as to extend in a second direction and interpose an axis, the pair of first grooves are connected to the pair of second grooves, the first coupling position is a position interposed between the pair of first grooves, and the second coupling position is another position not interposed between the pair of first grooves.

Claims

1. A sealing cap for sealing a plug attached to an opening of a liquid container, the sealing cap comprising: a body having a cylindrical part and a sealing part, the cylindrical part being formed cylindrically along an axis, and the sealing part sealing a top end of the cylindrical part, being arranged along a plane orthogonal to the axis, and being circular in planar view; an annular part formed annularly about the axis and having an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical part; a first coupling part coupling the cylindrical part and the annular part to each other at a first coupling position in a circumferential direction about the axis; and a second coupling part coupling the cylindrical part and the annular part to each other at a second coupling position in the circumferential direction, the second coupling position being different from the first coupling position, wherein the body, the first coupling part, and the second coupling part are integrally formed with a resin material, wherein a pair of first grooves extending in a first direction along the axis are formed in an outer circumferential face of the cylindrical part, wherein a pair of second grooves are formed in an outer circumferential face of the sealing part so as to extend in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and interpose the axis, wherein the pair of first grooves are connected to the pair of second grooves, wherein the first coupling position is a position interposed between the pair of first grooves, and wherein the second coupling position is another position not interposed between the pair of first grooves.

2. The sealing cap according to claim 1, wherein the annular part includes an annular member coupled to the cylindrical part by the first coupling part and arranged at a first position in the first direction, a grip member arranged at a second position in the first direction, and a pair of connecting members connecting the annular member and the grip member to each other, and wherein the second position is a position closer to a plane than the first position, the sealing part being arranged on the plane.

3. The sealing cap according to claim 2, wherein in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, the length of the grip member is longer than the length of a region of the sealing part, the region being interposed between the pair of second grooves.

4. The sealing cap according to claim 1 further comprising a third coupling part coupling the cylindrical part and the annular part to each other at a third coupling position different from the first coupling position in the circumferential direction, wherein the second coupling position and the third coupling position are the same positions in the second direction and different positions in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

5. The sealing cap according to claim 2, wherein in the first direction, the first grooves are formed upward from a third position to a position connected to the second grooves, the third position being above the first position, and wherein in the first direction, a pair of cutouts connected to the pair of first grooves are formed in the cylindrical part downward from the third position to the bottom end of the cylindrical part.

6. The sealing cap according to claim 1, wherein a protruding part configured to be secured to the plug is formed to an inner circumferential face of the cylindrical part.

7. A detaching method of a sealing cap used for sealing a plug attached to an opening of a liquid container, wherein the sealing cap comprises a body having a cylindrical part and a sealing part, the cylindrical part being formed cylindrically along an axis, and the sealing part sealing a top end of the cylindrical part, being arranged along a plane orthogonal to the axis, and being circular in planar view, an annular part formed annularly about the axis and having an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical part, a first coupling part coupling the cylindrical part and the annular part to each other at a first coupling position in a circumferential direction about the axis, and a second coupling part coupling the cylindrical part and the annular part to each other at a second coupling position in the circumferential direction, the second coupling position being different from the first coupling position, wherein the body, the first coupling part, and the second coupling part are integrally formed with a resin material, wherein a pair of first grooves extending in a first direction along the axis are formed in an outer circumferential face of the cylindrical part, wherein a pair of second grooves are formed in the sealing part so as to extend in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and interpose the axis, wherein the pair of first grooves are connected to the pair of second grooves, wherein the first coupling position is a position interposed between the pair of first grooves, and wherein the second coupling position is another position not interposed between the pair of first grooves, the detaching method comprising: gripping an end in the second direction of the annular part and rotating the annular part about the first coupling position in a direction away from the sealing part to release a coupled state of the second coupling part; and gripping the end in the second direction of the annular part and moving the annular part so as to cause cracks to occur in the pair of first grooves and the pair of second grooves to release a state where the sealing cap seals the opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a state where a sealing cap according to one aspect of the present disclosure has been attached to a plug.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a state where the sealing cap has been detached from the plug illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sealing cap illustrated in FIG. 1 when viewed from above.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a front view of the sealing cap illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sealing cap illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0034] FIG. 6 is an arrow A-A sectional view of the sealing cap illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0035] FIG. 7 is an arrow B-B sectional view of the sealing cap illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a partial enlarged view of a part C of the sealing cap illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged view of a part D of the sealing cap illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0038] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the sealing cap when viewed from above and illustrates a state where coupled states of a second coupling part and a third coupling part have been released.

[0039] FIG. 11 is a front view of the sealing cap illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0040] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the sealing cap illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0041] FIG. 13 is a plan view of the sealing cap when viewed from above and illustrates a state where cracks have been caused to occur in a pair of first grooves and a pair of second grooves.

[0042] FIG. 14 is a front view of the sealing cap illustrated in FIG. 13.

[0043] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the sealing cap illustrated in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] A sealing cap 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a state where the sealing cap 100 according to one aspect of the present disclosure has been attached to a plug 200. FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a state where the sealing cap 100 has been detached from the plug 200 illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the plug 200 is a device attached to an opening 310 formed in a top face 301 of a liquid container 300. The opening 310 is formed cylindrically about an axis X extending in a first direction DR1, which is the vertical direction. In the inner circumferential face of the opening 310, an internal thread 310a engaged with an external thread 210a described later of the plug 200 is formed.

[0046] The plug 200 has a plug body 210, a siphon tube 220 coupled to the plug body 210, a cover member 230, a valve 240, a spring 250, and a spring fixing member 260. The plug body 210 is a member formed cylindrically about the axis X, and in the outer circumferential face thereof, the external thread 210a engaged with the internal thread 310a of the opening 310 is formed. The plug body 210 is attached to the opening 310 of the liquid container 300 by engagement of the external thread 210a with the internal thread 310a.

[0047] The siphon tube 220 is a member formed tubularly about the axis X and is coupled to the bottom end of the plug body 210 at the top end of the member in the first direction DR1.

[0048] The cover member 230 is a cylindrical member attached for dust-proofing of the end of a liquid channel 211 or the valve 240 of the plug body 210 communicating with the siphon tube 220.

[0049] The valve 240 is a member abutted against the plug body 210 so as to close the top end of the liquid channel 211 of the plug body 210 by the pushing force generated by the spring 250. When a socket (not illustrated) is attached to the plug 200, pushing force against the pushing force of the spring 250 is applied to the valve 240, and the valve 240 is spaced apart from the plug body 210 into a state where a liquid flows through between the socket and the plug 200. The position of the bottom end in the first direction DR1 of the spring 250 is fixed by the spring fixing member 260.

[0050] Next, the sealing cap 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 8. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sealing cap 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 when viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a front view of the sealing cap 100 illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sealing cap 100 illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an arrow A-A sectional view of the sealing cap 100 illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is an arrow B-B sectional view of the sealing cap 100 illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is a partial enlarged view of a part C of the sealing cap 100 illustrated in FIG. 6.

[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the sealing cap 100 includes a body 10, an annular part 20, a first coupling part 30, a second coupling part 40, and a third coupling part 50 and is a member made by integrally forming these components with a resin material (for example, polyethylene, polypropylene).

[0052] The body 10 has a cylindrical part 11 formed cylindrically along the axis X and a sealing part 12 sealing the top end of the cylindrical part 11 and arranged along a plane orthogonal to the axis X. The sealing part 12 is formed circularly in planar view. The top end of the cylindrical part 11 and the outer edge of the sealing part 12 are coupled to each other over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction about the axis X.

[0053] At the bottom end of the cylindrical part 11, a recess 11d that can accommodate the top end of the plug body 210 therein is formed. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the inner diameter of the cylindrical part 11 is D1, and the outer diameter of the cylindrical part 11 is D2. The outer diameter of the sealing part 12 is D2.

[0054] As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, in the outer circumferential face of the cylindrical part 11, a pair of first grooves 11a extending in the first direction DR1 along the axis X are formed. In the outer circumferential face of the sealing part 12, a pair of second grooves 12a are formed so as to extend in a second direction DR2, which is orthogonal to the first direction DR1 along the axis X, and interpose the axis X therebetween. Each top end in the first direction DR1 of the pair of first grooves 11a and each end in the second direction DR2 of the pair of second grooves 12a are connected so as to form a continuous groove.

[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 8, for example, the thickness t2 of the sealing part 12 in a region where the second grooves 12a are formed is set to satisfy the following equation (1) with respect to the thickness t1 of the sealing part 12 in a region where the second grooves 12a are not formed.

0.2t1t20.5t1(1)

[0056] Note that equation (1) expresses the relationship between the thickness t1 of the sealing part 12 in the region where the second grooves 12a are not formed and the thickness t2 of the sealing part 12 in the region where the second grooves 12a are formed, and the same applies to the cylindrical part 11.

[0057] The annular part 20 is a member formed annularly in the circumferential direction CD about the axis X. As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the annular part 20 has an inner diameter D3 that is larger than the outer diameter D2 of the cylindrical part 11. The annular part 20 has an annular member 21, a grip member 22, and a pair of connecting members 23. The annular member 21, the grip member 22, and the pair of connecting members 23 are formed integrally with a resin material.

[0058] The annular member 21 is a member coupled to the cylindrical part 11 by the first coupling part 30 and arranged at a first position X1 (see FIG. 4) in the first direction DR1. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the annular member 21 is formed annularly in a range of an angle from the position P4 to the position P5 in the circumferential direction CD about the axis X. For example, the angle is set in a range of 180 degrees or greater and 300 degrees or less about a first coupling position P1.

[0059] The grip member 22 is a member configured to be gripped by the operator by its fingers when the sealing cap 100 is detached from the plug 200, and this member is arranged at a second position X2 in the first direction DR1. The second position X2 is a position closer to a plane on which the sealing part 12 is arranged than the first position X1. For example, the second position X2 is the same as the position where the plane on which the sealing part 12 is arranged is arranged. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the grip member 22 is such that, in the third direction DR3, the length L1 of the grip member 22 is longer than the length L2 of the region of the sealing part 12 interposed between the pair of second grooves 12a.

[0060] The pair of connecting members 23 are members connecting the position P4 and the position P5 of the annular member 21 to both ends in the third direction of the grip member 22. The connecting members 23 are arranged in regions from the first position X1 to the second position X2 so as to connect the annular member 21 arranged at the first position X1 in the first direction DR1 to the grip member 22 arranged at the second position X2 in the first direction DR1.

[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first coupling part 30 is a member coupling the cylindrical part 11 and the annular part 20 to each other at the first coupling position P1 in the circumferential direction CD about the axis X. The first coupling position P1 is a position interposed between the pair of first grooves 11a in the third direction DR3, which is orthogonal to the first direction DR1 and the second direction DR2.

[0062] The second coupling part 40 is a member coupling the cylindrical part 11 and the annular part 20 to each other at a second coupling position P2, which is different from the first coupling position P1, in the circumferential direction CD. The second coupling position P2 is another position not interposed between the pair of first grooves 11a in the third direction DR3.

[0063] The third coupling part 50 is a member coupling the cylindrical part 11 and the annular part 20 to each other at a third coupling position P3, which is different from the first coupling position P1, in the circumferential direction CD. The third coupling position P3 is another position not interposed between the pair of first grooves 11a in the third direction DR3. The second coupling position P2 and the third coupling position P3 are the same positions in the second direction DR2 and are different positions arranged so as to interpose the position of the axis X in the third direction DR3.

[0064] For example, the second coupling position P2 and the third coupling position P3 are set at any positions in a range of 60 degrees or greater and 120 degrees or less in the circumferential direction CD from the first coupling position P1. As illustrated in FIG. 3, it is particularly preferable that the second coupling position P2 and the third coupling position P3 be the positions away from the first coupling position P1 by 90 degrees in the circumferential direction CD.

[0065] When the second coupling position P2 and the third coupling position P3 are positions away from the first coupling position P1 by an angle greater than 90 degrees, the position in the first direction DR1 at which the grip member 22 is arranged can be reliably held at the same position as the sealing part 12 on the cylindrical part 11. On the other hand, since this results in shorter distances to the second coupling part 40 and the third coupling part 50 from the grip member 22 in the circumferential direction CD, larger force is required for the operator to release coupled states of the second coupling part 40 and the third coupling part 50.

[0066] Further, when the second coupling position P2 and the third coupling position P3 are positions away from the first coupling position P1 by an angle less than 90 degrees, this results in longer distances to the second coupling part 40 and the third coupling part 50 from the grip member 22 in the circumferential direction CD. Thus, force required for the operator to release the coupled states of the second coupling part 40 and the third coupling part 50 can be reduced.

[0067] Therefore, by setting the second coupling position P2 and the third coupling position P3 to the positions away from the first coupling position P1 by 90 degrees in the circumferential direction CD, it is possible to prevent excessively larger force from being required as the force required for the operator to release the coupled states of the second coupling part 40 and the third coupling part 50 while allowing the position in the first direction DR1 at which the grip member 22 is arranged to be held at the same position as the sealing part 12 on the cylindrical part 11.

[0068] Next, a pair of cutouts 11b formed in the cylindrical part 11 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The pair of cutouts 11b are formed for facilitating cracks to occur in the pair of first grooves 11a by the operator gripping the grip member 22 and causing force to act on the first coupling part 30.

[0069] As illustrated in FIG. 7, in the first direction DR1, the pair of first grooves 11a are formed upward from a third position X3, which is above the first position X1, to a position connected to the pair of second grooves 12a. In the first direction DR1, the pair of cutouts 11b connected to the pair of first grooves 11a are formed in the cylindrical part 11 downward from the third position X3 to the bottom end of the cylindrical part 11. Thus, the operator is able to easily cause cracks to occur in the pair of first grooves 11a connected to the pair of cutouts 11b by transferring the force applied to the annular part 20 to the first coupling part 30.

[0070] Next, a protruding part 11c formed to the cylindrical part 11 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged view of a part D of the sealing cap 100 illustrated in FIG. 6. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the protruding part 11c to be secured to the plug 200 is formed to the inner circumferential face of the cylindrical part 11. The protruding part 11c is formed in the entire region or a partial region in the circumferential direction CD about the axis X.

[0071] When the operator attaches the sealing cap 100 to the plug 200, the protruding part 11c comes into contact with the plug 200, thereby the cylindrical part 11 is elastically deformed outward in the radial direction (the second direction DR2 illustrated in FIG. 9) about the axis X, and the shape of the cylindrical part 11 is then restored into a state where the protruding part 11c is engaged with the plug 200 (see FIG. 1).

[0072] When the sealing cap 100 is attached to the plug 200, if the cylindrical part 11 is elastically deformed and this elastic deformation causes cracks to occur in the pair of first grooves 11a, the function of the sealing cap 100 to seal the plug 200 will be compromised. The pair of cutouts 11b described previously have a function of preventing cracks from occurring in the pair of first grooves 11a when the sealing cap 100 is attached to the plug 200. By allowing the elastic deformation occurring in the cylindrical part 11 to be concentrated in the pair of cutouts 11b when the sealing cap 100 is attached to the plug 200, it is possible to prevent the elastic deformation occurring in the cylindrical part 11 from being transferred to the pair of first grooves 11a and causing cracks to occur.

[0073] Next, a method of detaching the sealing cap 100 attached to the plug 200 from the plug 200 will be described.

[0074] The operator grips the grip member 22 of the sealing cap 100 attached to the plug 200 and releases the coupled state where the annular member 21 of the annular part 20 has been coupled to the cylindrical part 11 by the second coupling part 40 and the third coupling part 50. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the operator grips the grip member 22 arranged at the end in the second direction DR2 of the annular part 20 and rotates the annular part 20 about the first coupling position P1 in a fourth direction DR4 to release the coupled states of the second coupling part 40 and the third coupling part 50.

[0075] Once the force in a direction applied by the operator to move the grip member 22 in the fourth direction DR4 acts on the second coupling part 40 and the third coupling part 50 and exceeds the force that can break the second coupling part 40 and the third coupling part 50, the coupled states of the second coupling part 40 and the third coupling part 50 are released into the state illustrated from FIG. 10 to FIG. 12. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the sealing cap 100 when viewed from above and illustrates a state where coupled states of the second coupling part 40 and the third coupling part 50 are released. FIG. 11 is a front view of the sealing cap 100 illustrated in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the sealing cap 100 illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0076] After the sealing cap 100 has been in the state illustrated from FIG. 10 to FIG. 12, the operator grips the grip member 22 of the end in the second direction DR2 of the annular part 20, moves the annular part 20 so as to cause cracks to occur in the pair of first grooves 11a and the pair of second grooves 12a and thereby releases the state where the sealing cap 100 seals the opening 310 of the liquid container 300. For example, the operator causes cracks to occur in the pair of first grooves 11a by moving the grip member 22 above in the first direction DR1 from the state illustrated in FIG. 10 to FIG. 12.

[0077] Further, after causing cracks to occur in the pair of first grooves 11a, the operator moves the grip member 22 away from the first coupling position P1 (from the right to the left in FIG. 11) in the second direction DR2 and thereby causes cracks to occur in the pair of second grooves 12a to obtain the state illustrated in FIG. 13 to FIG. 15. As illustrated in FIG. 13 to FIG. 15, once the cracks occur in the pair of first grooves 11a and the pair of second grooves 12a, a region interposed between the pair of second grooves 12a is separated from the sealing part 12, and a state where a space is formed in a part of the sealing part 12 is obtained. Once the state illustrated in FIG. 13 to FIG. 15 is obtained, the state where the protruding part 11c is engaged with the plug 200 is released.

[0078] According to the sealing cap 100 of the present embodiment described above, the following effects and advantages are achieved.

[0079] According to the sealing cap 100 of the present embodiment, the operator is able to release the coupled state of the second coupling part 40 by gripping the end in the second direction DR2 of the annular part 20 and rotating the annular part 20 about the first coupling position P1 in the direction away from the sealing part 12. Further, in the state where the coupled states of the second coupling part 40 and the third coupling part 50 have been released, the operator is able to release the state where the sealing cap 100 seals the opening 310 by gripping the end in the second direction DR2 of the annular part 20 and moving the annular part 20 so as to cause cracks to occur in the pair of first grooves 11a and the pair of second grooves 12a.

[0080] Once cracks occur in the pair of first grooves 11a and the pair of second grooves 12a, a part of the sealing part 12 is divided, and the state where the sealing cap 100 seals the plug 200 is released. The sealing cap 100 with a part of the sealing part 12 divided is unable to be reused to re-seal the plug 200. Thus, the operator is able to easily determine that a sealed state of the plug 200 attached to the opening 310 of the liquid container 300 has been released. Further, the operator is able to easily cause cracks to occur in the pair of first grooves 11a and the pair of second grooves 12a by applying sufficient force while gripping the annular part 20 by the hand in a state where the coupled state of the second coupling part 40 has been released. Thus, the workability of operation to release a sealed state of the plug 200 can be improved.

[0081] According to the sealing cap 100 of the present embodiment, in the first direction DR1 along the axis X, the second position X2 where the grip member 22 is gripped is a position closer to the plane on which the sealing part 12 is arranged than the first position X1 where the annular member 21 is arranged. Thus, the operator is able to easily perform operation to rotate the annular part 20 about the first coupling position P1 in the direction away from the sealing part 12 to release a coupled state of the second coupling part 40 by gripping the grip member 22.

[0082] According to the sealing cap 100 of the present embodiment, the operator is able to easily grip the grip member 22 that is longer than the length L2 of the region of the sealing part 12 interposed between the pair of second grooves 12a. Thus, the workability of operation to release the state where the plug 200 is sealed by the sealing cap 100 is improved.

[0083] According to the sealing cap 100 of the present embodiment, since the second coupling position P2 and the third coupling position P3 are the same positions in the second direction DR2, force applied to the annular part 20 via the grip member 22 by the operator acts evenly on the second coupling position P2 and the third coupling position P3. Since both the coupled state of the second coupling part 40 and the coupled state of the third coupling part 50 are released at substantially the same timing, the workability of operation to release the state where the plug 200 is sealed by the sealing cap 100 is improved.

[0084] According to the sealing cap 100 of the present embodiment, in the first direction DR1, the pair of cutouts 11b connected to the pair of first grooves 11a are formed in the cylindrical part 11 downward from the third position X3, which is above the first position X1, to the bottom end of the cylindrical part 11. Thus, the operator is able to easily cause cracks to occur in the pair of first grooves 11a connected to the pair of cutouts 11b by transferring the force applied to the annular part 20 to the first coupling part 30. Thus, the workability of operation to release the state where the plug 200 is sealed by the sealing cap 100 is improved.

[0085] According to the sealing cap 100 of the present embodiment, in a state where no crack has occurred in the pair of first grooves 11a, the state where the plug 200 is sealed can be suitably maintained because the protruding part 11c formed to the inner circumferential face of the cylindrical part 11 has been secured to the plug 200. Further, in a state where cracks have been occurred in the pair of first grooves 11a, the state where the plug 200 is sealed can be suitably released because the protruding part 11c is no longer secured to the plug 200.