Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CAP FOR BEVERAGE-CONTAINER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cap for various kinds of
beverage-containers such as a portable thermos bottle, a canteen, a bottle of
sport
drink, or the like. In particular, the present invention relates to a cap for
a
beverage-container which can allow its cover to be opened through its "one-
touch
operation" when used.
Description of the Related Art
As an example of conventional technique, Japanese Unexamined Patent
Publication No. 2003-212258 discloses a cap for a beverage-container which
comprises: a plug member attached to an aperture of an upper portion of a
container body; and a cover member openably and closably connected to the plug
member via a hinge and liquid-tightly covering a liquid-passage-hole being
provided in a top panel of the plug member, wherein a lock mechanism, which
maintains the closed-condition of the cover member and releases this
closed-condition, is provided on the opposite side of the hinge.
The lock mechanism comprises: a tilting-type lock button provided on the
plug member; a latching ring; an engagement portion formed on the cover
member and engaged with the lock button; and a latching rib for locking the
latching ring. The engagement portion of the cover pivoted to a closed-
position
is engaged with the lock button, and the latching rib is hung with the
latching
ring, whereby a closed-condition of the cover member is maintained. In
contrast,
when the cover member is to be opened, the latching ring retained at the
latching
rib is released, and a lower-end side of the lock button is pushed so as to
release
the engagement of the lock button and the engagement portion, whereby the
cover member is biased toward a direction for opening by a biasing means.
In the above-described technique, however, when the cover member is to
be opened or closed, first, the latching ring is needed to be released from
the
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latching rib, or the latching rib is needed to be hung with the latching ring,
and
thus the opening or closing of the cover member takes time. Moreover, because
the latching rib and the latching ring are provided adjacent to the lock
button, a
cap has an unattractive contour. Further, the latching ring is easily to be
gotten
stuck on things around it, and thus it is likely to be released from the
latching rib
accidentally
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to solve those problems. It is,
accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a cap for a
beverage-container which can allow the opening or closing of the cover member
to
be carried out easily, have a fine design and reliably maintain the
closed-condition of the cover member.
In order to attain the above objects, according to a first aspect of the
present invention, there is provided a cap for a beverage-container which
comprises: a plug member attached to an aperture of an upper portion of a
container body; a cover member openably and closably connected to the plug
member via a hinge, the cover member liquid-tightly covering a
liquid-passage-hole, the liquid-passage-hole being provided in a top panel of
the
plug member; a locking mechanism provided on an opposite side of the hinge,
the
locking mechanism maintaining a closed-condition of the cover member and
releasing the closed-condition thereof, wherein: the lock mechanism comprises:
an engagement portion provided on a freely movable end of the cover member; a
lock button pivotably supported by an axial member so as to pivot to inward
and
outward directions of the plug member, the axial member being provided on an
outer-surface side of the plug member; a sliding-type stopper slidably
provided on
a periphery-wall of the plug member; the lock button includes: an engagement
member being able to be engaged with the engagement portion; and a first
biasing means biasing the engagement member toward a direction for the
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engagement member to be engaged with the engagement portion; the sliding-type
stopper includes: a stopper portion regulating a movement of the lock button
toward a direction for releasing a lock of the lock button upon inserted in
between a bottom portion of the lock button and the periphery-wall of the plug
member; and a latching member holding the sliding-type stopper at a position
where the stopper portion is inserted and another position where the stopper
portion is not inserted.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the lock button and
the engagement portion of the cover member is engaged with each other, the
sliding-type stopper is slid upwardly, an upper portion of the stopper is
inserted
in between the bottom portion of the lock button and the periphery-wall of the
container body, whereby the movement of the lock button is regulated, and thus
the closed-condition of the cover member can be positively maintained.
Moreover, the lock button is slid downwardly, the bottom portion of the lock
button is pushed inwardly, whereby the engagement of the lock button and the
engagement portion of the cover member is released, and thus the cover member
can be easily opened. The sliding-type stopper and the lock button can be
operated by one thumb only, and thus the cover member 6 can be easily opened
and closed. Moreover, a contour of the cap can be simple, and thus it can have
a
fine design.
Alternatively, in the above-described cap, the lock button may be tapered
so that an upper surface thereof which contacts the engagement portion
inclines
toward an inward direction of the plug member or an outward direction thereof.
Moreover, the above-described cover member may further comprise a
second biasing means biasing the cover member toward a direction for being
opened.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These objects, other objects and advantages of the present invention will
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become more apparent upon reading of the following detailed description and
the
accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view illustrating major portions of a cap
according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a condition that a
cover member of the cap is closed;
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating the major portions of the cap
of FIG. 1 in a condition that the cover member is opened;
FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating the major portions of the cap of FIG. 1
in a condition that a sliding-type stopper is slid upwardly;
FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the major portions of the cap of FIG. 1
in a condition that the sliding-type stopper is slid downwardly; and
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view illustrating major portions of a cap
according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a condition that
a
cover member of the cap is closed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments that the present invention is applied to a portable
thermos bottle will now be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying
drawings. FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention,
while a thermos bottle 1 comprises a container body 2 made from metal, and a
synthetic-resin-made cap 3 attached to an aperture of an upper portion of the
container body 2. The cap 3 comprises: a plug member 4; a cover member 6
openably and closably connected to the plug member 4 via a hinge 5, and
liquid-tightly covering a liquid-passage-hole 4b being provided in a top panel
4a
of the plug member 4. A lock mechanism 7, which maintains the
closed-condition of the cover member 6 and releases this condition, is
provided on
an opposite side of the hinge 5. The container body 2 employs a heat-
insulating
double-walled structure that edges of apertures of upper portions of an
internal
cylinder 2a and an external cylinder 2b are connected with each other into a
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single piece, while an evacuated heat-insulating layer 2c is defined in
between
the internal and external cylinders 2a, 2b. On the periphery of the upper
portion of the external cylinder 2b, a male thread 2d for fitting the plug
member
4 in a screwing manner, is formed.
The lock mechanism 7 comprises: an engagement portion 8 provided on
an outer surface of a freely movable end of the cover member 6 relative to and
end connected to the hinge 5; a tilting-type lock button 10 whose intermediate
portion is pivotably supported by an axial member 9 provided on a periphery
portion of the plug member 4 so as to pivot toward an inward or outward
direction of the plug member 4; and a sliding-type stopper 11 slidably
provided on
an periphery-wall of the plug member 4.
An inner surface of an upper portion of the lock button 10 is formed with
an engagement groove 12, while the engagement portion 8 can be engaged with
the engagement groove 12. An upper-end surface l0a is tapered so as to incline
toward the inward direction of the plug member 4. Moreover, a spring 13 ( a
first biasing means) biasing the engagement groove 12 toward a direction for
the
engagement portion 8 to be engaged therewith is compressed and provided in
between a rear surface of the lock button 10 downward of the axial member 9
and
the plug member 4.
The sliding-type stopper 11 is provided in a manner that it enables to
slide upwardly and downwardly while guided by a guide rib 14 provide on a
periphery of the plug member 4 in a protrusion manner. The stopper 11 has a
stopper portion lla, while the stopper portion 11a regulates a movement of the
lock button 10 toward a direction for releasing a locking thereof when it is
inserted in between a bottom portion of the lock button 10 and the periphery-
wall
of the plug member 4. A knob llb is provided on a periphery of the stopper 11
in
a protrusion manner. On a rear surface of the sliding-type stopper 11, a
protrusion portion llc (latching member) is provided so as to hold the stopper
at
a position where the stopper portion 11a is inserted and another position
where
the stopper portion lla is not inserted.
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The plug member 4 is formed in a reversed cylindrical shape with a
bottom that the top panel 4a covering the upper aperture of the container body
2
is provided on an upper surface of a cylindrical portion 4c surrounding a
periphery of an upper portion of the external cylinder 2b. A female thread 4d
for
fitting the male thread 2d in a screwing manner is formed on an inner surface
of
the cylindrical portion 4c. On one side of the cylindrical portion 4c, the
guide rib
14 is provided in a protrusion manner. The plug member 4 has an upper
protrusion portion 4e and bottom protrusion portion 4f respectively holding
the
stopper 11 at the position where the stopper portion 11 is inserted and
another
position where the stopper 11 is not inserted with the protrusion portion 11c
engaged. On one side of the top panel 4a, a nipple 15 is formed, while on the
other side of the top panel 4a, a hinging rib 16 as a structure portion of the
hinge
is provided in a protrusion manner. The nipple 15 has a proper diameter that
a user can put the nipple 15 into his/her mouth from the top panel 4a, and it
is
formed in a substantial circular cylinder shape in a protrusion manner having
a
height to be covered with the cover member 6. An interior thereof works as the
liquid-passage-hole 4b.
The cover member 6 comprises: a cylindrical portion 6a consequtively
arranged on an upward of the cylindrical portion 4c of the plug member 4; and
a
top panel 6b closing an upper surface of the cylindrical portion 6a, and thus
its is
formed in a reversed cylindrical shape with a bottom. One side thereof where
the lock mechanism 7 is located is taller than the other side thereof, while
the
other side where the hinge 5 is located is formed in a shorter, inclined
shape. In
the cylindrical portion 6a, the engagement portion 8 as one structure portion
of
the lock mechanism 7 is provided on a periphery-side of a bottom surface of
the
freely movable end thereof in a protrusion manner. A bottom surface of a
leading-edge-side of the engagement portion 8 is tapered so that a periphery-
side
thereof rises. On the other side of the cover member 6, a pair of arms as one
structure portion of the hinge 5, and a tooth 6c for maintaining the
opened-condition of the cover member 6, are formed. On an inner side of the
top
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panel 6b, a packing 17 and an elastic member (a second biasing means) are
provided. The packing 17 is formed in a spherical surface shape having larger
diameter than that of the nipple 15, while it elastically contacts an upper-
end
surface of the nipple 15 so as to liquid-tightly plug the nipple 15 when the
cover
member 6 is closed. The elastic member 18 is made of, for instance, a soft
synthetic resin such as silicon, a non-metallic material such as rubber or the
like,
while it is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom. The elastic member 18
is
attached to the cover member 6 by fitting its aperture portion into a
cylindrical
boss formed on an inner surface of the top panel 6b in a protrusion manner. A
length of the elastic member 18 is designed so that a bottom end thereof
contacts
the top panel 4a of the plug member 4 when the cover member 6 is at a position
slightly higher than a position where the cover member 6 is closed. When the
cover member 6 is closed, the elastic member 18 is compressed in its axial
direction. Moreover, when the closed-condition of the cover member 6 is
released by the lock mechanism 7, the elastic member 18 expands in its axial
direction so as to push the cover member 6 in a direction for being opened.
The hinge 5 is structured that the hinging rib 16 of the plug member 4 is
sandwiched by the pair of arms of the cover member 6 and a hinge shaft 19 is
passed through them, while the cover member 6 is openably and closably
attached to an upper portion of the plug member 4 via the hinge 5. On a
periphery of the hinging rib 16, an engagement rib 16a is provided, while the
tooth portion 6c of the top panel 6b is engaged with the engagement rib 16c,
whereby the cover member 6 can be held at an opened-position where the cover
member 6 is opened greater than or equal to 180 degree.
Next, operation of the thermos bottle 1 structured as described above will
now be explained in detail.
When the cover member 6 in the opened-condition is pushed toward a
direction for being closed, the engagement portion 8 of the cover member 6
comes
down with its tapered leading-edge-side bottom surface 8a guided by the
tapered
upper-end surface 10a of the lock button 10. Accordingly, an upper portion of
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the lock button 10 is pivoted toward an outside of the plug member 4, the
engagement portion 8 is engaged with the engagement groove 12, and the upper
portion of the lock button 10 is biased toward the inside of the plug member 4
by
the spring 13, whereby the engagement of the engagement portion 8 and the
engagement groove 12 can be held, and thus the cover member 6 can be easily
closed.
Next, the sliding-type stopper 11 is slid upwardly, the stopper portion lla
is inserted in between the bottom portion of the lock button 10 and the
periphery-wall of the container body 2, while the protrusion portion llc is
engaged with the upper protrusion portion 4e formed on the cylindrical portion
4c.
Accordingly, the pivot movement of the lock button 10 is regulated, while the
engagement condition of the engagement portion 8 and the engagement groove
12 can be reliably maintained since the position where the stopper portion 11a
is
inserted is maintained by the engagement of the protrusion portion llc and the
upper protrusion portion 4e. Therefore, the cover member 6 does not open
accidentally
In a case that a user drinks liquids with the cover member 6 opened, the
stopper 11 is slid downwardly, the stopper portion lla is released from the
bottom portion of the lock button 10 and the periphery-wall of the container
body
2, while the stopper portion lla is positioned at the downward of the bottom
protrusion portion 4f. The bottom portion of the lock button 10 is pressed
inwardly against an elastic force of the spring 13, while the upper portion of
the
lock button 10 is pivoted outwardly so as to release the engagement of the
engagement portion 8 and the engagement groove 12. Accordingly, the cover
member 6 is biased toward the direction for being opened by an elastic force
of
the elastic member 18, thereby being opened. The cover member 6 is locked by
the engagement of the tooth 6c and the engagement rib 16a, and thus the upward
of the plug member 4 can be opened. The stopper 11 can be slid by, for
instance,
moving the knob llb upwardly or downwardly with a thumb of a user, while the
pressing of the lock button 10 can be carried out by the thumb only, whereby
the
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cover member 6 can be easily opened.
Moreover, since a latching ring is not provided as the conventional
technique, the cover member 6 can be easily and reliably opened or closed
through its one-touch operation, while a contour of the cap 3 can be simple,
and
thus it can have a fine design.
FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention. The
same reference numbers will denote the same structure portions as those of the
first embodiment, while detailed explanations thereof will be omitted. A lock
mechanism 20 according to the second embodiment comprises: an engagement
portion 21 provided on the inner surface of the freely movable end of the
cover
member 6; a tilting-type lock button 23 whose bottom portion is pivotably
supported by an axial member 22 provided on a periphery portion of the plug
member 4 so as to pivot toward the inward or outward direction of the plug
member 4; and a sliding-type stopper 24 slidably provided on the periphery-
wall
of the plug member 4.
The engagement portion 21 is provided on the inner surface of the freely
movable end in a protrusion manner, while a bottom surface of a
leading-edge-side 21a thereof is tapered so that a periphery-side thereof
falls.
The lock button 23 has an outer surface of its upper portion formed with an
engagement member 25 in a protrusion manner, while the engagement portion
21 can be engaged with the engagement member 25 or released therefrom. An
upper end surface 25a of the engagement member 25 is tapered so as to fall
outwardly Moreover, on a bottom of the engagement member 25, an inclined
surface 25b is formed so that the engagement portion 21 is accommodated
without protruding from the periphery of the container body 2. A spring 26
biasing the engagement member 25 toward a direction for the engagement
portion 21 to be engaged therewith is compressed and provided in between a
rear
surface of the lock button 23 upward of the axial member 22 and the plug
member 4.
The sliding-type stopper 24 is provided in a manner that it enables to
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slide upwardly and downwardly while guided by a guide rib 14 provide on the
periphery of the plug member 4 in a protrusion manner. The stopper 24 has a
stopper portion 24a, while the stopper portion 24a regulates a movement of the
lock button 23 toward a direction for releasing a locking thereof when it is
inserted in between a bottom portion of the lock button 23 and the periphery-
wall
of the plug member 4. A knob 24b is provided on a periphery of the stopper 24
in a protrusion manner. On a rear surface of the sliding-type stopper 24, a
protrusion portion 24c is provided so as to hold the stopper 24 at a position
where
the stopper portion 24a is inserted and a position where the stopper portion
24a
is not inserted.
In the above-described lock mechanism 20, when the cover member 6 in
the opened-condition is pushed toward a direction for being closed, the
engagement portion 21 of the cover member 6 comes down with its tapered
leading-edge-side bottom surface 21a guided by the tapered upper-end surface
25a of the lock button 23. Accordingly, an upper portion of the lock button 23
is
pivoted toward the inside of the plug member 4, the leading-edge-side bottom
surface 21a and the inclined surface 25b come in contact with each other, the
engagement portion2l is engaged with the engagement member 25, and the
upper portion of the lock button 23 is biased toward the outside of the plug
member 4 by the spring 26, whereby the engagement of the engagement portion
21 and the engagement member 25 can be held, and thus the cover member 6 can
be easily closed.
Next, the sliding-type stopper 24 is slid upwardly, the stopper portion 24a
is inserted in between the bottom portion of the lock button 23 and the
periphery-wall of the container body 2, while the protrusion portion 24c is
engaged with the upper protrusion portion 4e formed on the cylindrical portion
4c.
Accordingly, the pivot movement of the lock button 23 is regulated, while the
engagement-condition of the engagement portion 21 and the engagement member
25 can be reliably maintained since the position where the stopper portion 24a
is
inserted is maintained by the engagement of the protrusion portion 24c and the
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upper protrusion portion 4e. Therefore, the cover member 6 does not open
accidentally
In a case that a user drinks liquids with the cover member 6 opened, the
stopper 24 is slid downwardly, the stopper portion 24a is released from the
bottom portion of the lock button 23 and the periphery-wall of the container
body
2, and the protrusion portion 24c is positioned at the downward of the bottom
protrusion portion 4~ A portion of the lock button 23 slightly above the axial
member 22 is pressed inwardly against an elastic force of the spring 26, while
the
upper portion of the lock button 23 is pivoted inwardly so as to release the
engagement of the engagement portion 21 and the engagement 25.
Various embodiments and changes may be made thereonto without
departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present invention. The
above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the present invention,
not to limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present
invention is shown by the attached claims rather than the embodiments.
Various modifications made within the meaning of an equivalent of the claims
of
the present invention and within the claims are to be regarded to be in the
scope
of the present invention.
For instance, in the above-described embodiments, the present invention
is applied to a portable thermos bottle, but it may be applied to all kinds of
beverage-containers except one that a user can directly drink liquids.
