JP3704186B2 - Ratchet tamper evidence cap - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ratchet-type tamper-evident cap, and in particular, a ratchet-type tamper-evident band remaining in a container mouth does not fall off when the contents of a container are poured out, and has excellent tamper-evidence characteristics. It relates to the tamper evident cap.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A plastic cap having a tamper-evident characteristic, that is, a tamper-evidence function, may be referred to as a circumferential tamper-evidence band (hereinafter simply referred to as a “TE band”) via a brittle portion that can be broken at the bottom of the cap body. And is widely used in various applications from the standpoint of preventing unauthorized use.
[0003]
As a typical example, the TE band is fixed when the cap is opened by engaging a plurality of ratchet pieces provided on the inner peripheral surface of the TE band and ratchet claws provided on the outer peripheral surface of the neck of the container. A ratchet type cap is known (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-131362). That is, in this ratchet type cap, the plurality of ratchet pieces formed on the inner peripheral surface of the TE band are oriented in the cap opening direction, and when the cap is opened, the circumferential tip of the ratchet piece is the container. It is in contact with and engages with the ratchet pawl on the outer peripheral surface of the neck. As a result, the TE band is prevented from turning in the direction of opening, and only the upper cap body is turned. As a result, the bridging part connecting the TE band immediately breaks, and the cap is separated from the TE band. Removed from the neck. Therefore, this ratchet cap has very excellent tamper evidence (TE) characteristics.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the ratchet type cap has an unexpected defect because the TE band is always separated from the cap body by opening the cap. That is, when the cap is opened and the cap body is removed from the container neck, the TE band remains on the container neck. In general, a general user tilts the container as it is to pour out the contents. Therefore, at the same time as the contents are poured out, a trouble occurs that the TE band remaining in the container neck also drops off. Such a trouble is very undesirable from a hygienic point of view, particularly when the contents are foods and beverages.
[0005]
Such a trouble can be easily solved by forming a circumferential projection on the outer peripheral surface of the container neck and providing a projection serving as a stopper on the inner surface of the TE band. That is, when the container is tilted, the stopper provided on the TE band engages with the circumferential projection on the outer peripheral surface of the container neck, thereby preventing the TE band from falling off the container neck.
[0006]
However, if a stopper is provided on the inner surface of the TE band, dropping of the TE band separated from the cap body on the container neck may be restricted. This is because the stopper on the inner surface of the TE band gets on the ratchet claw of the container neck. In addition, when the TE band is restricted from falling, if the cap once opened is reattached, the gap between the cap body and the TE band becomes very small, and it is determined whether the cap has been opened once. It becomes difficult. That is, the deterioration of the tamper evidence characteristic is inevitable. Of course, such an inconvenience can be easily solved by increasing the height of the container neck or the height of the cap, but it is not appropriate in terms of an increase in the amount of resin and high cost.
[0007]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to effectively prevent the tamper-evident band remaining on the neck of the container from being dropped when the contents of the container are poured out without reducing the tamper-evidence characteristics in the ratchet-type tamper-evident cap. To provide a cap.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the present invention, a cap body composed of a top plate portion and a skirt-like side wall hanging from the peripheral portion thereof, and a tamper evidence band connected to the lower end of the skirt-like side wall via a breakable bridging portion. In the ratchet type tamper evidence cap, wherein a plurality of ratchet pieces that can be engaged with ratchet claws of the container neck are formed on the inner surface of the tamper evidence band at intervals in the circumferential direction. A locking projection that can be engaged with a projection formed on the outer periphery of the container neck above the ratchet claw protrudes in a radial direction at an upper portion of the inner surface of the band, and the locking projection is formed on the ratchet piece. is and circumferentially arranged base portion to the upper portion in the vicinity of the ratchet piece a cap plug opening direction upstream side relative to the circumferential direction tip Tamper evident cap, wherein the door is provided.
[0010]
In the present invention, by disposing a locking protrusion for preventing the tamper evidence band (TE band) that is separated from the cap body and remains in the container neck from falling off the container neck, at the above position, The TE band separated from the cap main body always falls to the same position as when the locking projection is not provided.
[0011]
That is, when the TE band is separated from the cap body, the TE band ratchet piece is in contact with the ratchet claw provided on the neck of the container. This contact prevents rotation of the TE band at the time of opening, only the cap body turns up, and the bridge between the cap body and the TE band breaks. However, the fact that the tip end portion of the TE ratchet in the TE band is in contact with the ratchet pawl means that the upper portion of the upstream position in the opening direction with respect to the tip end portion of the ratchet tip in the opening direction is not extremely upstream. Means that they are in a non-overlapping position. Therefore, when the TE band is separated from the cap main body and falls on the container neck, the locking protrusions arranged at such positions slip through the plurality of ratchet claws provided on the container neck. .
[0012]
Thus, according to the present invention, the separated TE band falls on the container neck as in the case where the locking projection is not provided, and is attached when the cap body is attached to the container neck again. A certain gap is ensured between the cap body and the remaining TE band, and excellent tamper evidence characteristics are maintained.
[0013]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on specific examples shown in the accompanying drawings.
1 is a side sectional view of the plastic cap of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a bottom sectional plan view of the cap of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the cap of FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side sectional view showing a state in which the cap of FIG. 1 is fastened to the container neck.
[0014]
With particular reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the cap comprises a cap body 1 and a tamper evidence band (TE band) 2.
The cap body 1 is composed of a top plate portion 5 and a skirt-like side wall 6 that hangs down from the peripheral portion of the top plate portion 5. A donut-shaped annular protrusion 7 is provided on the inner surface of the top plate portion 5, and the upper end of the container neck is fitted into the annular protrusion 7 so as to ensure a sealing property. Further, instead of providing the annular protrusion 7, a sealing property can be secured by providing a liner material or packing on the inner surface of the top plate portion 5.
Further, a thread 8 is provided on the inner surface of the skirt-shaped side wall 6 so that the cap is fastened to the container neck by screw engagement.
[0015]
The TE band 2 is disposed on the lower side of the skirt-like side wall 6, and a plurality of the upper end surface of the TE band 2 and the lower end surface of the skirt-like side wall 6 are provided at appropriate intervals in the circumferential direction. They are connected via a bridge 9.
As is well shown in FIG. 1, the TE band 2 is located on the extended line of the lower end of the skirt-like side wall 6 at the upper end where the bridging portion 9 is connected. Horizontal step portions 2a and 2b are formed on the peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface, and hang down in a state of spreading outward.
As is clear from FIG. 2, a plurality of ratchet pieces 10 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the TE band 2 at appropriate intervals, and these ratchet pieces 10 are in the turning direction when the cap is opened. (Indicated by arrow A in FIG. 2). The ratchet piece 10 has an upper end fixed to the horizontal stepped portion 2a (see FIG. 1), and the root is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the TE band 2 as shown in FIG. Yes. As long as the TE band 2 has an appropriate strength and an inner space in which the ratchet piece 10 is formed, it is not necessary to form the horizontal step portion 2b on the outer peripheral surface of the TE band 2, for example, the outer peripheral surface of the TE band 2 May hang downward in a substantially straight shape from the upper end.
[0016]
In FIG. 4 in which the cap is shown together with the container neck, the container neck 50 has a screw thread 51 above the outer peripheral surface thereof, and a support ring 52 formed further below. That is, the cap is fastened to the container neck by screw engagement between the thread 51 and the thread 8 formed on the inner surface of the skirt-like side wall 6.
[0017]
The container neck 50 is provided with a plurality of ratchet claws 53 on the upper surface of the base portion of the support ring 52 at an appropriate interval. Further, a circumferential projection 54 is formed above the support ring 52 to lock the TE band 2 and prevent the TE band 2 from falling off the neck portion 50. The protrusions 54 do not necessarily have to be circumferentially continuous as long as the separated TE band 2 can be effectively prevented from falling off from the container neck 50. For example, the protrusions 54 are formed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. It may be like that.
[0018]
The positional relationship between the TE band 2 and the container neck when the cap is opened is shown in the partial cross section of FIG. That is, when the cap is opened, the circumferential tip of the ratchet piece 10 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the TE band 2 comes into contact with and engages with the ratchet pawl 53 of the container neck, whereby the TE band 2 is There is no further turning. On the other hand, since the cap body 1 turns and rises as it is in the opening direction, the bridging portion 9 between the TE band 2 and the cap body 1 is broken. Accordingly, the TE band 2 is separated from the cap body 1 and remains on the container neck 50, and the cap body 1 is removed from the container neck 50.
[0019]
Returning to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, according to the present invention, the locking protrusion 20 protruding radially inward is provided on the inner peripheral surface side horizontal step portion 2 a of the TE band 2. As will be understood with reference to FIG. 4 as well, the locking protrusion 20 is engaged with a circumferential protrusion 54 formed on the container neck 50. That is, when the cap is opened, the cap body 1 is removed from the container neck 50 as described above, but the TE band 2 is separated from the cap body 1 and remains on the container neck 50. If the container is tilted in this state, the remaining TE band 2 easily falls off. However, since the locking projection 20 engages with the circumferential projection 54, the dropping is effectively prevented. .
[0020]
In the present invention, as apparent from FIG. 2, the locking protrusion 20 is a position biased upstream in the opening direction with respect to the circumferential tip of the ratchet piece 10 and does not overlap the ratchet pawl 53. It is important to arrange in such a position.
That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the cap is opened and the TE band 2 is separated from the cap body 1, the circumferential tip of the ratchet piece 10 contacts the ratchet pawl 53 of the container neck. It is in close contact. Therefore, a position that does not overlap with the ratchet pawl 53 can be easily set on the basis of the circumferential tip position of the ratchet piece 10. For example, in the cap of the example shown in FIG. 2, the locking protrusion 20 is provided at the base portion of the ratchet piece 10 or in the vicinity thereof, and the ratchet pawl 53 does not overlap at such a position. Become. As a result, the TE band 2 separated from the cap body 1 falls in the same manner as in the case where the locking projection 20 is not provided.
[0021]
FIGS. 6A and 6B show the dropping position of the PP band 2 separated from the cap body 1.
As shown in FIG. 6 (A), if the locking projection 20 falls without riding on the ratchet claw 53, the TE band 2 has its inner peripheral surface horizontal stepped portion 2a abutted against the ratchet claw 53. Fall until touching. Therefore, in this case, when the cap main body 1 once opened is attached again, the distance between the upper end surface of the TE band 2 and the lower end surface of the skirt-like side wall 6 is indicated by p in the figure.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6 (B), when the locking projection 20 gets on the ratchet claw 53, the height of the locking projection 20 is set to q, and the skirt-shaped side wall mounted again. The distance between the lower end surface of 6 and the upper end surface of the TE band 2 is pq.
[0022]
Therefore, when the separated TE band 2 falls, if the locking projection 20 gets on the ratchet claw 53, the remaining TE band 2 separated from the reattached cap body 1 and The interval of becomes narrow. As described above, if this interval is narrow, it cannot be immediately determined whether or not the cap has been opened, and a decrease in tamper evidence is inevitable.
However, according to the present invention, the separated TE band 2 is always in the state shown in FIG. 6A, so that a sufficient interval between the reattached cap body 1 and the separated TE band 2 is ensured. The evidence is not impaired.
[0023]
The above-described locking projection 20 is provided to prevent the separated TE band 2 from easily falling off the container neck 50 when the container is tilted. It is desirable to provide a plurality with a certain interval. Thereby, even if the container neck 50 is tilted in any direction, the separated TE band 2 can be prevented from falling off.
[0024]
Further, in the cap of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, two upper protrusions 30 are provided on the upper end surface of the TE band 2 at a small interval, and these upper protrusions 30 are It is desirable to form a recess 31 having a shape along the outer shape of the protrusion 30 on the lower end surface of the skirt-like side wall 6 corresponding to the formed portion.
By forming the upper protrusion 30 and the recess 31 in this manner, it is possible to effectively prevent the bridging portion 9 from being broken when the virgin cap is attached to the container neck 50, and the cap can be opened. It can be done smoothly.
[0025]
In FIG. 7, which shows an enlarged view of the portions where these protrusions 30 and recesses 31 are formed, the upper protrusion 30 formed on the upper end surface 40 of the TE band 2 stands upright on the rising surface 30a on the plug opening direction side. It is preferable that the rising surface 30b on the plugging direction side is an inclined surface and the protrusion tip portion 30c is a horizontal surface. Therefore, the shape of the concave portion 31 formed on the lower end surface 41 of the skirt-like side wall 6 is also such a shape. It is set so as to correspond to the shape of the protrusion 30.
[0026]
That is, in order to attach (cap) the virgin cap to the container neck 50, when turning the cap and pushing the cap onto the container neck 50, the inner peripheral surface of the TE band 2 is first provided on the container neck 50. Get over the ratchet pawl 53 that has been. For this reason, a resistance force acts on the TE band 2, but no resistance force acts on the cap body 1, and this resistance force concentrates on the bridging portion 9 and easily breaks. However, if the upper protrusion 30 and the concave portion 31 are formed, the corresponding surface of the concave portion 31 of the cap body 1 collides with the upright surface 30a of the upper protrusion 30, thereby forcing the TE band 2 in the closing direction. Can be swiveled. That is, the resistance force concentrated on the bridge portion 9 can be relaxed, and the breakage of the bridge portion 9 can be prevented.
[0027]
Further, when capping, an axial load is applied to the cap, and the bridging portion 9 is easily broken by this axial load. However, when the upper protrusion tip 30c abuts against the lower end surface of the skirt-like side wall 6, such an axial load can be relieved and the breakage of the bridging portion 9 can be effectively prevented.
[0028]
Further, when the cap is opened, the upper protrusion inclined surface 30 b is pushed downward by contact with the corresponding surface of the recess 31. Therefore, the cap can be easily opened, that is, the bridge portion 9 can be smoothly broken, and the cap can be easily opened.
[0029]
In addition, it is preferable that the upper end surface 40 of the TE band 2 and the lower end surface 41 of the skirt-like side wall 6 are connected to such an extent that they can be easily broken at an intermediate portion between the pair of upper protrusions 30, 30. Thereby, for example, when the cap is closed or opened, the upper protrusion 30 and the recess 31 are effectively prevented from being displaced due to the outward expansion of the upper protrusion 30, and the action of the combination of the protrusion 30 and the recess 31 described above is prevented. Is stably expressed.
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the locking projection for preventing the TE band remaining on the container neck from falling off is upstream of the cap opening direction with respect to the circumferential tip of the ratchet piece and does not overlap the ratchet claw. By forming in the portion, the separated PP band always falls to the same position as the case where the locking projection is not provided. Therefore, when the cap body that has been opened once is attached to the neck of the container again, a sufficient distance is ensured between the separated TE band and the cap body, and the excellent tamper evidence of the ratchet tamper evidence cap Characteristics can be maintained. In particular, since excellent tamper evidence characteristics can be secured without increasing the height of the container neck or cap, the present invention is extremely advantageous in terms of cost and the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a plastic cap of the present invention.
2 is a bottom cross-sectional plan view of the cap of FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a side view of the cap of FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is an enlarged side sectional view showing a state in which the cap of FIG. 1 is fastened to the container neck.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the TE band and the container neck when the cap is opened.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a drop position of a TE band separated from a cap body.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a protrusion formed on an upper end surface of a TE band.
[Explanation of symbols]
2 TE band 9 Bridge 10 Ratchet piece 20 Locking projection 53 Ratchet claw

Claims (2)

A cap body composed of a top plate portion and a skirt-like side wall hanging from the peripheral portion thereof, and a tamper-evident band connected to the lower end of the skirt-like side wall via a breakable bridging portion. A ratchet tamper-evidence cap in which a plurality of ratchet pieces that can engage with ratchet claws on the neck of the container are formed on the inner surface of the dent band at intervals in the circumferential direction. Has a locking projection that can engage with a projection formed on the outer periphery of the container neck above the ratchet pawl, and the locking projection is based on the circumferential tip of the ratchet piece. characterized in that it is and placed on top of the circumferential root portion or its vicinity of the ratchet piece a cap plug opening upstream side as Emissions Per-evident cap.   The tamper-evident cap according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the locking protrusions are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction.

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