US20120000880A1

US20120000880A1 - Container cap

Info

Publication number: US20120000880A1
Application number: US13/203,890
Authority: US
Inventors: Hyo Bin Im
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-03-03
Filing date: 2010-03-02
Publication date: 2012-01-05
Also published as: KR20100101025A; WO2010101389A2; WO2010101389A3; JP2012519631A; CN102361804A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container cap comprising an inner cap and an outer cap. The inner cap has a second cylindrical portion and a joint portion. The second cylindrical portion has an open top, and a lower side end which is to be inserted into a neck, and which has a plurality of outlet ports for discharging additives. The joint portion protrudes from the outer circumference of the top of the second cylindrical portion and is detachably joined to a stopper protrusion of the neck. The outer cap has a first cylindrical portion and a threaded portion. The first cylindrical portion is slidably coupled to the inner surface of the second cylindrical portion from the inner surface of an upper plate in a surface-contacting manner, and the lower end thereof extends axially to close the plurality of outlet ports. The threaded portion extends axially from the outer surface of the upper plate to be fastened to the outer surface of the neck. When the outer cap is partially opened, said outlet ports are opened to introduce the additives from a receiving space into the main body of a container. When the outer cap is fully opened, the inner cap is separated from the main body of the container together with the outer cap.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cap for a container, and more particularly to a container cap that inputs an addictive that is isolated and accommodated in the container cap into a container body when an outer cap is partially opened at a first step, and an inner cap is separated from the container body together with the outer cap when the outer cap is completely opened at a second step, to thereby maintain convenience of use.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a container for containing drinking water or cosmetics includes: a container body having an receiving space that can accommodate contents mixed with various raw materials; and a container cap or stopper for airtight sealing up entrance of the container body.
Functional drinks or cosmetics are recently appearing. Accordingly, containers having a structure capable of mixing different contents at a point in time when consumers use functional drinks or cosmetics are being needed.
That is to say, most drinks are mixed beforehand and then sold. For example, vitamins such as vitamin C are destroyed relatively fast by heat or ultraviolet rays or by union with water. Therefore, it is desirable that sensitive vitamins should be added in a drink just before a consumer consumes the drink. In most cases, transparent or translucent containers or moisture transmissible containers are not appropriate for long-term storage of vitamin drinks for equal reason.
Accordingly, a drink container that enables a consumer to easily add a sensitive vitality additive directly to a basic drink contained in the drink container just before the consumer consumes the basic drink has been developed. Usually, a conventional container cap includes a partitioning member for partitioning different contents or an inner cap. As a result, when a cap or stopper that seals up a container is opened, the partitioning member or the inner cap is led in to an receiving space of a container body.
If the partitioning member exists with contents in the receiving space, there is a problem that disturbs withdrawal of contents when a consumer drinks the contents. It is difficult for the partitioning member to be submerged onto the bottom of the container, in the case of sol-type contents, to resultantly cause a drink withdrawing path to be blocked. Further, when a consumer drinks a drink contained in a container, the partitioning member having entered the receiving space may be led into a user's mouth together with the drink.
Meanwhile, a Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2005-69397 discloses a container cap including: a container body having a filler opening on the outer circumference of which a male screw is formed; a storage member that is separably inserted into an inner side of the filler opening; and an opening member that is combined with the male screw of the filler opening and is interfered with the storage member if a screw combining portion is loosened by a certain length, to thereby separate the storage member from the filler opening.
According to the Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2005-69397, if the opening member of the container cap is made to rotate, a female screw and an outer stopper protrusion of a main cap are spirally and axially moved along the male screw of the filler opening and a male screw of an accommodation unit. If an inner stopper protrusion rubs and slidably moves along an inner surface of the accommodation unit, a lower end of a slider is seceded from the bottom of the accommodation unit and thus an outlet port is opened. Accordingly, the additive is input into the inside of the container body and the opening member starts to rise up. Simultaneously, since an end plate is separated from a flange, an communication hole is opened and external air is applied into the additive receiving space, to thus discharge the additive.
In addition, if a rising action of the opening member continues, the outer stopper protrusion contacts an outer protrusion, and simultaneously the inner stopper protrusion contacts an inner protrusion. Accordingly, the container body maintains an excellent seal function to thus prevent a mixture from leaking. If the opening member is made to rotate continuously, an outer ratchet that is formed at the leading end of the inner circumference of the outer stopper protrusion is interfered with an inner ratchet of the accommodation unit, to thus restrict relative rotation between the opening member and the storage member and to thereby accompany rotation of the storage member. If the opening member is made to rotate further at this state, the female screw of the main cap is departed from the male screw of the filler opening. If a user pulls the opening member in the axial direction while making the opening member rotate at this state, the storage member is rotated together with the opening member and is separated from the filler opening.
As described above, the conventional container cap is configured so that the flange of the accommodation unit is separated from the end plate at the rising time of the opening member to thus open the communication hole of the end plate and apply external air applied to the additive receiving space, and to thereby discharge the additive.
For this, the conventional container cap includes: a space portion that is formed between the end plate with the communication hole and a finish plate; and another space portion that is formed between the end plate and both the outer stopper protrusion and the inner stopper protrusion. It is not nearly possible to manufacture the conventional container cap having a number of the space portions with an injection molding method using resin. Thus, in order to realize the conventional container cap having a number of the space portions, at least two parts should be manufactured and then the two parts should be mutually united, to thus cause a manufacturing cost to increase.
In addition, in the case of the conventional container cap, the end plate that is bent at right angle on the leading end of the accommodation unit should be inserted and assembled through a narrow annular space between the outer stopper protrusion and the inner stopper protrusion. However, it is desirable that the end plate is formed in greater width than that of the annular space, to thus make the end plate seal the annular space at a first rise of the main cap for discharging and mixing the additive. As a result, there is a problem that the end plate of the accommodation unit may not be easily inserted into and assembled with the inside of the annular space. Also, when the end plate is inserted and assembled through the narrow annular space between the outer stopper protrusion and the inner stopper protrusion, the outer stopper protrusion is threadedly combined with an outer male screw of the accommodation unit to thus induce rotary assembly between the end plate and the outer stopper protrusion. Accordingly, the conventional container cap has a structure hard to achieve assembly automation of products.
Further, it is not so easy to wash the conventional container cap for re-use after it has been used, because it is hard to dismantle and assemble the conventional container cap having a complex multistage space portion structure. Thus, there is a problem that a processing cost for re-use increases.
Moreover, if the opening member is made to rotate continuously after the first-step partial opening in the conventional container cap, an outer ratchet is formed at the leading end of the outer stopper protrusion in order to separate the opening member from the container body together with the storage member, and an inner ratchet is formed at the lower side of the end plate of the accommodation unit, to thereby cause an interference to occur between the outer ratchet and the inner ratchet, to thus restrict relative rotation between the opening member and the storage member and to thereby accompany rotation of the storage member. However, it makes it very difficult to perform an injection molding design to form the outer ratchet in the inner circumference of the outer stopper protrusion that is positioned in a narrow annular space. It also requires for a precision molding process to form the outer ratchet in the inner circumference of the outer stopper protrusion, to thereby cause a manufacturing cost for molding.
Further, since the end plate does not seal the annular space sufficiently when a user does not execute a first-step partial opening perfectly in the conventional container cap, the mixture may be leaked from the inside of the container.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

To solve the above problems or defects, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container cap that inputs an addictive that is isolated and accommodated in the container cap into a container body so as to be mixed with a content contained in the container body, when an outer cap is partially opened at a first step, and an inner cap is separated from the container body together with the outer cap when the outer cap is completely opened at a second step, to thereby maintain convenience of use.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a container cap that is sealed persistently at any stage before and after the first-step partial opening of the outer cap, to thereby avoid a mixture contained in a container body from leaking.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a container cap that interrupts external air from being inhaled into the inside of an additive receiving space since an inner pressure of the additive receiving space that is formed when an outer cap is combined with an inner cap is set higher than an inner pressure of a container body and a pressure of the external air, to thereby enable an additive to be conserved on a long-term basis.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a container cap that makes a coupling and sealing structure of an outer cap and an inner cap have an easy injection molding structure, as well as that enables the outer cap and the inner cap to be easily assembled with each other, in a one-time pushing action instead of a screw-coupling type assembly.
It is yet still another object of the present invention to provide a container cap in which it is so easy to wash the container cap for re-use after it has been used, because it is easy to dismantle and assemble the container cap, to thereby enable an economic re-use.

Technical Solution

To accomplish the above and other objects of the present invention, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container cap that is detachably combined with a neck that is extended from a container body containing a content and at the uppermost portion of which a neck stopper protrusion is protrudingly formed in which an additive is accommodated in an internal receiving space of the container cap, the container cap comprising:
an inner cap having a second cylindrical portion whose upper portion is opened in which a number of outlet ports through which the additive is discharged are formed at the lower side end of the second cylindrical portion that is inserted into the inside of the neck, and a joint portion that is protrudingly formed from an outer circumference of an upper end of the second cylindrical portion and that is detachably combined with the neck stopper protrusion of the neck; and
an outer cap having a first cylindrical portion that is slidably combined on an inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical portion from an inner side of an upper plate in a surface-contacting manner and whose lower end is axially extended to block the number of the outlet ports, and a threaded portion that is extended axially from an outer circumference of the upper plate to be screw-engaged with the outer circumference of the neck,
wherein the number of the outlet ports are opened and thus the additive of the receiving space is input into the inside of the container body, at the time of partially opening the outer cap, and the outer cap is separated from the container body together with the inner cap, at the time of completely opening the outer cap.
Preferably but not necessarily, the joint portion of the inner cap comprises:
a first stopper protrusion that is stop-coupled with a threaded portion stopper protrusion that is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the upper side of the threaded portion on the outer circumferential surface of the joint portion, at the time of completely opening the outer cap; and
a second stopper protrusion that is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the leading end of the joint portion so as to be detachably combined with the neck stopper protrusion of the neck.
Preferably but not necessarily, the second cylindrical portion further comprises:
a number of connecting portions that are extended at intervals at a lower end of the second cylindrical portion to form the number of the outlet ports;
a slant bottom portion whose central portion is protruded into the inside of the receiving space; and
a cylindrical extension portion that is extended axially from the slant bottom portion and is selectively fitted with the lower end of the first cylindrical portion and whose lower end is connected to the lower end of the number of the connecting portions.
Preferably but not necessarily, a coupling force between the neck stopper protrusion and the second stopper protrusion is set larger than that between the cylindrical extension portion of the slant bottom portion and the first cylindrical portion, at the time of partially opening the outer cap, and an upward pressure that is applied to the first stopper protrusion by the threaded portion stopper protrusion is set larger than the coupling force between the neck stopper protrusion and the second stopper protrusion, at the time of completely opening the outer cap.
Preferably but not necessarily, when the lower end of the first cylindrical portion is fitted with the cylindrical extension portion, the receiving space in which the additive is accommodated is formed and the receiving space is established in a sealed form.
Preferably but not necessarily, the container cap further comprises a first annular small protrusion that is protrudingly formed on the inner circumference of the second cylindrical portion in an annular form and forms a sealing structure between the first and second cylindrical portions; a second annular small protrusion that is protrudingly formed on the upper surface of the joint portion and forms a sealing structure when the second annular small protrusion contacts the lower surface of the upper plate.
Preferably but not necessarily, the inner cap is formed with a material whose elastic strain is larger than that of the outer cap.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container cap that is detachably combined with a neck that is extended from a container body containing a content and at the uppermost portion of which an annular neck stopper protrusion is protrudingly formed, the container cap comprising:
an inner cap having a second cylindrical portion whose upper portion is opened in which a number of outlet ports through which the additive contained in an internal receiving space is discharged are formed at the lower side end of the second cylindrical portion that is inserted into the inside of the neck, and a joint portion that is protrudingly formed from an outer circumference of an upper end of the second cylindrical portion and that is detachably combined with the neck stopper protrusion of the neck, in which a first stopper protrusion is protrudingly formed on the outer circumferential surface of the joint portion, at the time of completely opening the outer cap and a second stopper protrusion is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the leading end of the joint portion so as to be detachably combined with the neck stopper protrusion of the neck; and
an outer cap having a first cylindrical portion that is slidably combined on an inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical portion from an inner side of an upper plate in a surface-contacting manner and whose lower end is axially extended to block the number of the outlet ports, to thus selectively establishing the receiving space in a sealed form when the first cylindrical portion is coupled with the second cylindrical portion, and a threaded portion that is extended axially from an outer circumference of the upper plate to be screw-engaged with the outer circumference of the neck, in which a threaded portion stopper protrusion that is fitted with the first stopper protrusion of the inner cap is disposed on the inner circumference of the upper side of the threaded portion, so that the outer cap is separated from the container body together with the inner cap, at the time of completely opening the container cap, wherein the number of the outlet ports are opened when the outer cap is partially opened and thus the additive of the receiving space is discharged into the container body.
Preferably but not necessarily, the second cylindrical portion further comprises:
a number of connecting portions that are extended at intervals at a lower end of the second cylindrical portion to form the number of the outlet ports;
a slant bottom portion whose central portion is protruded into the inside of the receiving space; and
a cylindrical extension portion that is extended axially from the slant bottom portion and is selectively fitted with the lower end of the first cylindrical portion and whose lower end is connected to the lower end of the number of the connecting portions.
Preferably but not necessarily, a coupling force between the neck stopper protrusion and the second stopper protrusion is set larger than that between the cylindrical extension portion of the slant bottom portion and the first cylindrical portion, at the time of partially opening the outer cap, and an upward pressure that is applied to the first stopper protrusion by the threaded portion stopper protrusion is set larger than a coupling force between the lower surface of the neck stopper protrusion and the second stopper protrusion, at the time of completely opening the outer cap.
Preferably but not necessarily, the container cap further comprises: a first annular small protrusion that is protrudingly formed on at least one of the outer circumference of the cylindrical extension portion and the inner circumference of the lower end of the first cylindrical portion that is fitted with the outer circumference of the cylindrical extension portion and forms a sealing structure; a second annular stopper protrusion that is protrudingly formed on the inner circumference of the second cylindrical portion in an annular form and forms a sealing structure between the first and second cylindrical portions; and a third annular small protrusion that is protrudingly formed on the upper surface of the joint portion and forms a sealing structure when the second annular small protrusion contacts the lower surface of the upper plate.
Preferably but not necessarily, the container cap further comprises: a skirt that is integrally formed at the lowermost side of the threaded portion and on the inner circumference of which a number of protrusions are formed at intervals, to thus be separated from the container cap at the time of opening the container cap to then remain in the neck, wherein the neck preferably comprises an annular interception protrusion that is disposed at the lower side of the male screw thread that is screw-engaged with the threaded portion to thus be snap-engaged with the protrusions of the skirt and that separates the skirt from the container cap at the time of opening the container cap to then remain in the neck.
Preferably but not necessarily, the neck comprises a male screw thread that is disposed at the lower side of the neck stopper protrusion and that is screw-engaged with the threaded portion, and wherein the neck stopper protrusion is formed of an outer diameter smaller than that of the male screw thread to prevent mutual collision between the joint portion of the inner cap and the threaded portion of the outer cap, when the threaded portion of the outer cap is screw-engaged with the male screw thread at a state where the joint portion of the inner cap is coupled with the neck stopper protrusion.
Preferably but not necessarily, a slope surface or curved surface is formed on an upper surface of the first stopper protrusion of the joint portion so as to be snap coupled with the threaded portion stopper protrusion when the outer cap and the inner cap are coupled with each other,
in which a lower surface of the first stopper protrusion of the joint portion is perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface of the joint portion so as to be stop-coupled with the threaded portion stopper protrusion at the time of completely opening the outer cap, and
wherein a slope surface or curved surface is formed on the lower surface of the threaded portion stopper protrusion so as to be snap coupled with the first stopper protrusion of the joint portion when the outer cap and the inner cap are coupled with each other,
in which the upper surface of the threaded portion stopper protrusion is perpendicular to the inner circumferential surface of the threaded portion so as to be stop-coupled with the first stopper protrusion of the joint portion at the time of completely opening the outer cap.
Preferably but not necessarily, the container cap further comprises a hemispherical ring-shaped protrusion that is disposed at the upper portion of the threaded portion stopper protrusion in order to form a groove that is snap-coupled with the first stopper protrusion that is formed in the joint portion, at the time of partially opening the outer cap.
Preferably but not necessarily, an inclined angle between a contact surface on which the lower surface of the stopper protrusion contacts the upper surface of the second stopper protrusion and a horizontal plane is established taking an elastic force of the second stopper protrusion into consideration.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container cap that is detachably combined with a neck at the uppermost portion of which an annular neck stopper protrusion is protrudingly formed in which a male screw thread is disposed at the lower side of the neck stopper protrusion, and that comprises an inner cap and an outer cap that make an additive contained in an internal receiving space input into a container body, at the time of partially opening the outer cap, and that are separated together from the container body, at the time of completely opening the outer cap, wherein the inner cap comprises:
a second cylindrical portion whose upper portion is opened in which a number of outlet ports through which the additive is discharged are formed at the lower side end of the second cylindrical portion that is inserted into the inside of the neck;
a number of connecting portions that are extended at intervals at a lower end of the second cylindrical portion to form the number of the outlet ports;
a slant bottom portion whose central portion is protruded into the inside of the receiving space and that comprises a cylindrical extension portion whose outer circumference of which is extended axially and whose lower end is connected to the lower end of the number of the connecting portions; and
a joint portion that is protrudingly formed from an outer circumference of an upper end of the second cylindrical portion and that is detachably combined with the neck stopper protrusion of the neck, in which a first stopper protrusion is formed in an annular form on the outer circumference of the inner cap and a second stopper protrusion is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the leading end of the joint portion so as to be detachably combined with the neck stopper protrusion of the neck,
wherein the outer cap comprises:
a circular upper plate;
a first cylindrical portion that is slidably combined on an inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical portion from an inner side of the upper plate in a surface-contacting manner and whose lower end is axially extended to block the number of the outlet ports, so as to be coupled with the cylindrical extension portion, to thereby selectively establish the receiving space in a sealed form; and
a threaded portion that is extended axially from an outer circumference of the upper plate to be screw-engaged with the male screw thread of the neck, in which a threaded portion stopper protrusion is disposed on the inner circumference of the upper side of the threaded portion so as to be stop-coupled with the first stopper protrusion of the inner cap, at the time of completely opening the outer cap.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container cap that is detachably combined with a neck that is extended from a container body containing a content and at the inner circumference of which a stop groove is formed, the container cap comprising: an inner cap; and an outer cap,
wherein the inner cap comprises:
a second cylindrical portion whose upper portion is opened in which a number of outlet ports through which the additive contained in an internal receiving space is discharged are formed at the lower side end of the second cylindrical portion that is inserted into the inside of the neck, and a first stopper protrusion that is snap-coupled with the stop groove is formed at the outer circumference of the upper side of the second cylindrical portion;
a slant bottom portion whose central portion is protruded into the inside of the receiving space and that comprises a cylindrical extension portion whose outer circumference of which is extended axially and whose lower end is connected to the lower end of the second cylindrical portion; and
a joint portion that is extended along the upper portion of the neck from an outer circumference of an upper end of the first stopper protrusion in the second cylindrical portion and at the leading end of which a second stopper protrusion is protrudingly formed, and
wherein the outer cap comprises:
a first cylindrical portion that is slidably combined on an inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical portion from an inner side of an upper plate in a surface-contacting manner and whose lower end is axially extended to block the number of the outlet ports, to thus selectively establishing the receiving space in a sealed form when the first cylindrical portion is coupled with the slant bottom portion; and
a threaded portion that is extended axially from an outer circumference of the upper plate to be screw-engaged with the outer circumference of the neck, in which a threaded portion stopper protrusion that is fitted with the second stopper protrusion of the inner cap is disposed on the inner circumference of the upper side of the threaded portion, so that the outer cap is separated from the container body together with the inner cap, at the time of completely opening the container cap, and
wherein the number of the outlet ports are opened when the outer cap is partially opened and thus the additive of the receiving space is discharged into the container body.
In this case, the receiving space formed by the first and second cylindrical portions are established at higher pressure than those of the inside and outside of the container body.

Advantageous Effects

A container cap according to the present invention enables a coupling and sealing structure of an outer cap and an inner cap to be easily manufactured, as well as that enables the outer cap and the inner cap to be easily assembled with each other, in a one-time pushing action instead of a screw-coupling type assembly, and enables it easy to wash the container cap for re-use after it has been used, because it is easy to dismantle and assemble the container cap, to thereby enable an economic re-use.
A container cap according to the present invention enables an additive that is accommodated in the container cap into a container body, when an outer cap is partially opened at a first step, and enables an inner cap to be separated from the container body together with the outer cap when the outer cap is completely opened at a second step, to thereby maintain convenience of use.
A container cap according to the present invention is sealed persistently at any stage even before and after the first-step partial opening of the outer cap, to thereby avoid a mixture contained in a container body from leaking, and interrupts external air from being inhaled into the inside of an additive receiving space since an inner pressure of the additive receiving space that is formed when an outer cap is combined with an inner cap is set higher than an inner pressure of a container body and a pressure of the external air, to thereby enable an additive to be conserved on a long-term basis.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container cap according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are exploded perspective views for sequentially explaining actions for use of the container cap according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 are axial cross-sectional views for sequentially explaining actions for use of the container cap according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively, respectively, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a sealing structure between a first cylindrical portion and a slant bottom portion according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views illustrating a process of wrapping an additive in the container cap according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in stepwise, respectively.

FIGS. 11 to 13 are axial cross-sectional views for sequentially explaining actions for use of the container cap according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a container cap according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

The above and/or other objects and/or advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by the following description. Hereinbelow, a container cap according to a respective embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container cap according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2 to 4 are exploded perspective views for sequentially explaining actions for use of the container cap according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively. FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 are axial cross-sectional views for sequentially explaining actions for use of the container cap according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively, respectively, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a sealing structure between a first cylindrical portion and a slant bottom portion according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views illustrating a process of wrapping an additive in the container cap according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in stepwise, respectively.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, a container cap 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention greatly includes: an outer cap 10 that is screw-engaged with a neck 6 of a container body 5 and that receives a user's actuating force; and an inner cap 20 that is combined with the inside of the outer cap 10 and forms an receiving space la containing an additive “A” in the inside of the inner cap 20 together with the outer cap 10.
As shown in FIG. 5, it is also preferable that a skirt 10 a that is integrally formed with the outer cap 10 at the lowermost side of the outer cap 10 but is separated from the outer cap 10 at the time of opening the container cap 1 to then remain in the neck 6. A number of protrusions are formed at intervals on the inner circumference of the skirt 10 a so as to be snap-engaged with an annular interception protrusion 6 c that is formed in the neck 6 to be described later.
It is well-known technology that the skirt 10 a is used for identifying whether or not products manufactured by a manufacture are not damaged but kept as its original form during circulation when the products manufactured by the manufacturer, that is, goods containing a liquid-phase content in a container for example are sold by sellers.
In FIGS. 1 to 4, the skirt 10 a has not been illustrated for conveniences of explanation.
First, any of a cylindrical or rectangular vessel is applicable as a container body 5 if it can contain liquid-phase content therein. A screw thread is formed in the cylindrical neck 6 at the upper side of which an entrance is formed and with the outer circumference of which the container cap 1 is screw-engaged. In addition, the content accommodated in the inside of the container body 5 may be a gel-type or sol-type content other than a liquid-phase content in the case that the container body 5 is used to contain a cosmetics or commodities.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the annular interception protrusion 6 c that separates the skirt 10 a from the outer cap 10 at the time of opening the container cap 1 to then remain in the neck 6 is disposed in the neck 6. In addition, a support 6 d that is used at the time of assembling the container cap 1 is formed at the lower side of the annular interception protrusion 6 c. The skirt 10 a is inserted into a groove formed between the interception projection 6 c and the support 6 d in a snap coupling manner.
A male screw thread 6 a of one line or a multi-line of two lines or more is arranged at the upper side of the annular interception projection 6 c. An annular stopper protrusion 6 b is protruded at the uppermost side of the neck 6 so as to be combined with the joint portion 22 of the inner cap 20. The neck stopper protrusion 6 b is formed of an outer diameter smaller than that of the male screw thread 6 a to prevent mutual collision between the joint portion of the inner cap and the threaded portion of the outer cap, when the threaded portion of the outer cap 10 is screw-engaged with the male screw thread 6 a at a state where the joint portion 22 of the inner cap 20 is coupled with the neck stopper protrusion 6 b.
It is desirable that a right angle is formed between the lower surface of the interception projection 6 c and the outer circumference of the neck 6. An angle that is achieved by the lower surface of the stopper protrusion 6 b and the outer circumference of the neck 6 is involved with an opening structure of the container cap 1, which will be described in more detail when a coupling structure of the joint portion 22 of the inner cap 20.
The container cap 1 is combined with the neck 6 of the container body 5 to thus maintain an air-tight state so as to prevent a content contained in the container body 5 from being leaking, and simultaneously to make an additive “A” that is separately contained in an receiving space la of the inside of the container cap 1 input into the inside of the container body 5 to then be mixed with the content contained in the container body 5 at a first step of partially opening the outer cap 10, and to make the inner cap 20 separated from the container body 5 together with the outer cap 10 at a second step of completely opening the outer cap 10, for drinking the content mixed with the additive.
The outer cap 10 of the container cap 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes: a circular upper plate 12 in which a two-stage bent step portion 12 a is formed so that the central portion of the upper surface of the circular upper plate 12 is protruded from the periphery of the central portion thereof; a threaded portion 11 that is extended axially from an outer circumference of the upper plate to be screw-engaged with the neck 6; and a first cylindrical portion 13 that is axially extended from the inner side of the step portion 12 a of the upper plate 12 in parallel with and at a distance from the threaded portion 11 preferably, to thus form an receiving space la containing an additive “A” together with the inner cap 20.
An annular groove 12 b is formed between the outer circumference of the first cylindrical portion 13 and the inner circumference of the step portion 12 a of the upper plate 12. The function of the groove 12 b will be described later.
The threaded portion 11 preferably includes: a number of anti-skid projections 11 a for anti-skid when a user's actuating force is applied, that are protrudingly formed on the outer circumference thereof; and a female screw thread 11 b formed of one line or a multi-line of two lines or more and that is formed at the inner circumference thereof so as to be screw-engaged with the male screw thread 6 a of the neck 6. In this case, it is possible that a number of anti-skid grooves are formed on the outer circumference of the threaded portion 11 instead of a number of the projections 11 a.
In addition, a hemispherical ring-shaped protrusion 11 e whose cross-section is substantially hemispherical and a stopper protrusion 11 c that is disposed adjacent to the ring-shaped protrusion 11 e and whose upper surface is protruded to form a right angle with respect to the inner circumference of the threaded portion 11 so as to be locked with a first stopper protrusion 22 a of the joint portion 22, are formed on the inner circumference of the upper side of the female screw thread 11 b, in order to form a groove 11 d that is snap-engaged with the first stopper protrusion 22 a formed in the joint portion 22 of the inner cap 20 to be described later at the time of opening the container cap 1.
Meanwhile, the inner cap 20 of the container cap 1 comprises: a slant bottom portion 21 whose central portion is protruded at the lower side thereof; a second cylindrical extension portion 23 that is extended axially from the slant bottom portion 21 and whose inner circumference slidably contacts the outer circumference of the first cylindrical portion 13 in a surface-contacting manner; and a joint portion 22 that is primarily extended circumferentially from the upper side of the second cylindrical portion 23 and then secondarily extended axially, to thus be bent in a two-stage form.
It is desirable that an inner diameter of the upper end of the second cylindrical portion 23 is formed relatively larger than that of the lower end thereof, and an outer diameter of the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 13 is formed relatively smaller than that of the upper end thereof, so that the first cylindrical portion 13 can be easily combined with the inside of the second cylindrical portion 23. It is also desirable that a gap is formed between the inner circumference of the neck and the outer circumference of the second cylindrical portion 23 so as to achieve an elastic deformation when the first cylindrical portion 13 is combined with the inside of the second cylindrical portion 23.
It is desirable that the slant bottom portion 21 is formed as a conical shape, but any cross-sectional shape of a semicircular shape, a round style shape, and a truncated conical shape is applicable if a cross-sectional shape of the slant bottom portion 21 may make an additive “A” of a powder form easily move to the lateral surface of the slant bottom portion 21 by gravity.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, a number of outlet ports 24 are formed at equal intervals at the lower side of the second cylindrical portion 23. In the case that lower end of the first cylindrical portion 13 moves to the upper level of the outlet ports 24 according to the first-step partial opening of the outer cap 10, the additive “A” accommodated in the receiving space la through the number of the outlet ports 24 is input into the inside of the container body 5. In this case, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, a number of connection portions 24 a for connecting the second cylindrical portion 23 and the slant bottom portion 21 are disposed between the number of the outlet ports 24.
In addition, a number of grooves 25 into which the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 13 can be inserted are partially formed along the outer circumference of the slant bottom portion 21, between the slant bottom portion 21 and the number of the connection portions 24 a of the second cylindrical portion 23.
Moreover, the slant bottom portion 21 includes a cylindrical extension portion 21 a that is primarily bent and extended axially at the outer circumference thereof, so as to establish the inside of the receiving space 1 in a sealed state while blocking the number of the outlet ports 24, when the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 13 is combined with the slant bottom portion 21, in which the cylindrical extension portion 21 a is mutually connected with the number of the connection portions 24 a of the second cylindrical portion 23, to thus form a number of grooves 25.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, in order to reinforce a sealing performance when the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 13 is fitted with the outer circumference the cylindrical extension portion 21 a, at least one sealing annular small protrusion 21 a is formed on the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion 21 a, or at least one annular small protrusion 13 a is formed on the inner circumference of the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 13. Otherwise, the annular small protrusions 21 b and 13 a may be formed on both the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion 21 a and the inner circumference of the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 13, respectively. It is desirable that at least one annular small protrusion 13 a is formed only on the inner circumference of the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 13. In the case of a large-diameter container cap, it is desirable to form a sealing annular small protrusion, but in the case of a small-diameter container cap, it may be justified even to omit a sealing annular small protrusion.
In this case, a number of radial reinforcement frames may be formed on the cylindrical extension portion 21 a and the lower surface of the slant bottom portion 21 in order to strengthen a support intensity of the cylindrical extension portion 21 a and the slant bottom portion 21 when the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 13 is fitted with the outer circumference on the cylindrical extension portion 21 a.
Moreover, an annular small protrusion 23 b is formed on the inner circumference of the second cylindrical portion 23 in order to reinforce a sealing performance when the inner circumference of the second cylindrical portion 23 contact the outer circumference of the first cylindrical portion 13 in a surface-contacting manner, or an annular small protrusion 22 c is formed on the upper surface of the joint portion 22 in order to reinforce a sealing performance when the upper surface of the joint portion 22 contacts the lower surface of the upper plate 12 in surface-contacting manner.
In addition, a sealing extension portion 23 a is formed at the uppermost portion of the second cylindrical portion 23, and the sealing extension portion 23 a is fitted into an annular groove 12 b that is formed on the lower surface of the first cylindrical portion 13 when the inner cap 20 and the outer cap 10 are completely combined, to thereby achieve a sealing performance.
Meanwhile, an annular groove 22 d is formed at the lower side of the joint portion 22 that is bent and extended in a two-stage form the upper side of the second cylindrical portion 23, so as to surround an annular stopper protrusion 6 b that is formed at the uppermost side of the neck 6 when the container cap 1 is not open, that is, when the container cap 1 is initially assembled with the neck 6 of the container body 5. When the container cap 1 is initially assembled with the neck 6 of the container body 5, it is desirable that the annular groove 22 d has a structure corresponding to the shape of the uppermost side of the neck 6 in which the stopper protrusion 6 b has been formed so that a sealing function is attained between the lower surface of the joint portion 22 and the upper portion of the neck 6.
A second stopper protrusion 22 b that is snap-engaged with the stopper protrusion 6 b during assembly is formed on the inner circumference of the leading end of the joint portion 22. A first stopper protrusion 22 a that is snap-engaged with a groove 11 d of the threaded portion 11 at the time of the first-step partial opening of the container cap 1 and is stop-engaged with the stopper protrusion 11 c at the time of the second-stop complete opening of the container cap 1 is formed on the outer circumference of the joint portion 22.
The snap-engagement of the first stopper protrusion 22 a and the groove 11 d and the temporary stop of the container cap 1 can make a user recognize intuitively when the container cap 1 reaches the first-step partially opened state by rotation of the container cap 1, to thereby make the user recognize that an additive “A” accommodated in the receiving space la is being input into the inside of the container body 5 and thus make him or her shake the container body 5 to thus derive the additive “A” to be mixed with the content contained in the container body 5.
As shown in FIG. 7, a setting position of the first stopper protrusion 22 a and the groove 11 d that are mutually snap-engaged is disposed so as to coincide with when the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 13 moves to the upper side of the outlet ports 24 and thus reaches a time when the outlet ports 24 is opened, that is, when the first-step partial opening of the outer cap, that is, the container cap 1.
Meanwhile, as shown in an enlarged view of FIG. 7, it is desirable that a slope or curved surface is formed on the upper surface of the first stopper protrusion 22 a of the joint portion 22 so as to be snap-engaged with the stopper protrusion 11 c of the threaded portion 11 at the time of assembling the outer cap 10 and the inner cap 20, and the lower surface of the first stopper protrusion 22 a of the joint portion 22 is formed perpendicularly to the outer circumferential surface of the joint portion 22 so as to be stop-engaged with the stopper protrusion 11 c of the threaded portion 11 at the time of completely opening the container cap 1. In addition, it is desirable that a slope or curved surface is formed on the lower surface of the stopper protrusion 11 c of the threaded portion 11 so as to be snap-engaged with the first stopper protrusion 22 a of the joint portion 22 at the time of assembling the outer cap 10 and the inner cap 20, and the upper surface of the stopper protrusion 11 c of the threaded portion 11 is formed perpendicularly to the inner circumferential surface of the threaded portion 11 so as to be stop-engaged with the first stopper protrusion 22 a of the joint portion 22 at the time of completely opening the container cap 1.
In addition, it is desirable that an angle that is formed between a contacting surface on which the lower surface of the stopper protrusion 6 b contacts the upper surface of the second stopper protrusion 22 b and the horizontal plane is set as a sloped angle greater than zero (0), so that a coupling relationship can be easily released between the stopper protrusion 6 b of the neck 6 and the second stopper protrusion 22 b that is snap-engaged with the stopper protrusion 6 b of the neck 6 when the stopper protrusion 11 c applies an upward pressure to the first stopper protrusion 22 a, according to the second-step complete opening of the container cap 1. The sloped angle is preferably set according to an elastic force and a stiffness or rigidity of the inner cap 20 that is integrally formed with the second stopper protrusion 22 b and those of the outer cap 10 that is integrally formed with the stopper protrusion 11 c.
Considering this, the outer cap 10 of the present invention is made of a synthetic resin material whose stiffness is high and elastic force is low, and the inner cap 20 is made of an elastic material whose stiffness is relatively low and elastic force is high, for example, rubber, soft plastics, elastomer, etc.
In the case that the outer cap 10 and the inner cap 20 are made of materials whose elastic forces are respectively different as described above, an angle that is formed between a contacting plane on which the lower surface of the stopper protrusion 6 b contacts the upper surface of the second stopper protrusion 22 b and the horizontal plane is established considering the elastic forces. An upward pressure that is applied to the first stopper protrusion 22 a by the stopper protrusion 11 c according to the second-step complete opening of the container cap 1 is set larger than the coupling force formed between the lower surface of the stopper protrusion 6 b and the second stopper protrusion 22 b.
Moreover, the coupling force formed between the lower surface of the stopper protrusion 6 b and the second stopper protrusion 22 b should be set larger than that of the first cylindrical portion 13 that is fitted into the cylindrical extension portion 21 a of the slant bottom portion 21. This is because the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 13 is released from the cylindrical extension portion 21 a of the slant bottom portion 21 while maintaining a state where the joint portion 22 of the inner cap 20 is combined with the stopper protrusion 6 b of the neck 6 until the first-step partial opening of the outer cap 10.
Hereinbelow, operation of the container cap 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will follow.
First, an additive “A” is contained in the inside of the first cylindrical portion 13 of the outer cap 10, in the container cap 1 of this invention. Then, if the inner cap 20 is simply pushed into the inside of the outer cap 10 at the FIG. 9 state, an elastic deformation is attained between the inner cap 20 and the outer cap 10. Here, if the sealing extension portion 23 a of the second cylindrical portion 23 of the inner cap 20 is pushed and inserted into the groove 12 b of the outer cap 10 while passing through a state of FIG. 10 that the first stopper protrusion 22 a of the inner cap 20 is combined into the groove 11 d of the outer cap 10, the lower end of the second cylindrical portion 23 is fitted with the cylindrical extension portion 21 a of the slant bottom portion 21, to thus achieve a perfect sealing coupling structure to thereby complete an assembly of the container cap 1 at a time.
The container cap 1 assembled as mentioned above does not leak the additive “A” since the outlet ports 24 are shielded by the first and second cylindrical portions 13 and 23 and the internal receiving space la keeps a sealing state.
Then, when the container cap 1 is made to rotate for example in the right-hand screw direction and thus screw-engaged with the neck 6 of the container body 5 in which a liquid-phase content is accommodated, the second stopper protrusion 22 b of the joint portion 22 of the inner cap 20 is snap-engaged with the stopper protrusion 6 b of the neck 6, and the skirt 10 a is also snap-engaged with the groove formed between the interception protrusion 6 c and the support 6 d, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.
If the lower end of the second cylindrical portion 23 is fitted with the a sealing groove 25 of the inner cap 20, the internal pressure of the receiving space la that is formed by the first and second cylindrical portions 13 and 23 is set higher than the internal pressure of the container body 5 and the atmosphere. Therefore, this pressure state can prevent the internal air, moisture, or content in the container from being mixedly input into the inside of the receiving space 1 a, to thus enable a long-term protection of the additive “A” accommodated in the receiving space 1 a.
Meanwhile, if products that are assembled as described above and are delivered to users through a circulation process, users open the container cap 1 in order to drink the internal content of the container body 5.
In this case, if a user rotates the outer cap 10 for example in the left-hand screw direction, the outer cap 10 and the skirt 10 a are separated by the interception protrusion 6 c. Thereafter, if the user rotates the outer cap 10 continuously, the first stopper protrusion 22 a is snap-engaged with the groove 11 d of the threaded portion 11 a while passing through the hemispherical ring-shaped protrusion 11 e and is stopped by the stopper protrusion 11 c to then be temporarily stopped and be set the first-step partial opening state, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7.
If the first stopper protrusion 22 a reaches the first-step partial opening state, the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 13 moves to the upper side of the outlet ports 24. Accordingly, the additive “A” accommodated in the receiving space la of the container cap 1 is input into the inside of the container body 5.
Thereafter, the user shakes the container to mix the additive “A” with the internal content of the container.
If the container cap 1 is rotated in the left-hand screw direction in order to separate the container cap 1 from the neck 6 of the container body 5 so that the internal mixture of the container body 5 can be drunken, the stopper protrusion 11 c applies an upward pressure to the first stopper protrusion 22 a to then be rotated. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8, the free end of the joint portion 22 is lifted and thus the second stopper protrusion 22 b is released from the stopper protrusion 6 b of the neck 6.
Thereafter, if the container cap 1 is taken out from the neck 6 of the container body 5, the container cap 1 is completely separated from the container body 5 as shown in FIG. 4, to thus achieve the second-step complete opening state. Therefore, a user can drink the internal mixture of the container body 5.
As described above, the container cap 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is coupled with the neck 6 of the container body 5 to thus maintain an air-tight state to prevent the content from leaking, and to simultaneously make the additive “A” that has been isolated and accommodated in the receiving space la of the container cap 1 input into the container body 5, at the time of the first-step partial opening of the outer cap 10 and then be mixed with the content contained in the container body 5, and make the inner cap 20 separated from the container body 5 together with the outer cap 10 at the time of the second-step complete opening of the outer cap 10.
Therefore, if the container cap 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is employed in a container body 5 by a manufacturer, an additive “A” can be simply contained in the outer cap 10 and then the inner cap 20 can be simply assembled with the outer cap 10 so as to make the assembled outer and inner cap assembly easily assembled with the container body 5.
In addition, after a user has purchased a product employing the container cap according to the present invention, he or she can input the additive “A” into the container body 5 naturally through the first-step partial opening and the second-step complete opening to then be mixed with the content contained in the container body 5. The container cap 1 is separated from the container body 5 at the state where the inner cap 20 has been assembled with the outer cap 10, to thus maintain convenience and safety in use.
Since the internal pressure of the additive “A” contained in the receiving space 1 a and formed at the time of coupling the outer cap 10 and the inner cap 20 is set higher than those of the inside and outside of the container body 5 in the present invention, external air or moisture can be fundamentally prevented from being input into the inside of the receiving space 1 a, to thereby enable the additive “A” to be conserved on a long-term basis.
A content contained in the container body 5 can be prevented from permeating from the container body 5 into the inside of the receiving space 1 a or leaking from the receiving space 1 a into the container body 5 by sealing the internal receiving space 1 a of the container cap 1 by the leading end of the first and second cylindrical portions 12 and 23 when the inner cap 20 is combined with the outer cap 10 in this invention. Besides, a variety of multiple sealing structures may be employed in order to prevent a leakage between the container body 5 and the outer cap 10.
A number of the annular small protrusions 23 b and 22 c are provided on the inner circumference of the second cylindrical portion 23 of the inner cap 20 or the upper surface of the joint portion 22 of the inner cap 20, to thus reinforce a sealing performance. That is, the annular small protrusions 23 b play a role of sealing between the first and second cylindrical portions 12 and 23 at the time of the first-step partial opening of FIG. 7 as well as before having opened the container cap 1. In addition, the annular small protrusions 22 c prevent external air or moisture from permeating into the inside of the container cap 1 at a state where the first-step partial opening has not been performed.
Moreover, in the case that the joint portion 22 of the inner cap 20, especially the second stopper protrusion 22 b has been assembled with the neck 6, the former is engaged with the stopper protrusion 6 b of the latter, to thus prevent external air or moisture from permeating into the inside of the container body 5.
Therefore, the container cap 1 according to the present invention maintains a sealing performance even at any step before and after the first-step partial opening, to thus prevent a leakage from occurring in the container body or the receiving space 1 a, and to thereby keep safety.
In addition, the container cap 1 according to this invention can be easily disassembled or assembled even at re-use after it has been used, to thereby make it possible to wash or clean it to then re-use it. In the case that part of the mixture in which the additive “A” has been mixed is taken and then the other part thereof is left, the container cap 1 is screw-engaged with the container body 5 in a reverse order with respect to the process of separating the container cap 1 from the container body 5. In this case, the container cap 1 is set as shown in FIG. 2, to thereby maintain a sealing performance in the inside of the container body 5.
Moreover, the container cap 1 according to this invention employs a coupling structure and a sealing structure among the neck 6 of the container body 5, the outer cap 10 and the inner cap 20 in a simple manner. Accordingly, the neck 6 of the container body 5 and the outer cap 10 may be easily formed of a synthetic material for example, and the inner cap 20 may be easily formed of an elastic material such as elastomer.
In addition, as an assembly of the outer cap 10 and the inner cap 20 and an assembly and a separation of the container cap 1 with respect to the neck 6 of the container body 5 can be very simply and easily achieved.
A container cap according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13.
Since the second embodiment equals the first embodiment in view of its basic structure that function, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components. The detailed description of the same components between the first and second embodiments will be omitted.
In the case of the container cap 1 according to the first embodiment, a groove 12 b into which the sealing extension portion 23 a of the second cylindrical portion 23 of inner cap 20 is combined is formed on the lower surface of the outer cap 10, but in the case of the container cap 1 according to the second embodiment, a step portion 12 c of the upper plate 12 is formed on the outer circumference of the first cylindrical portion 13 so as to remove the groove formed on the lower surface of the outer cap 10, to then remove the sealing extension portion of the second cylindrical portion 23.
In addition, in the case of the container cap 1 according to the first embodiment, the hemispherical ring-shaped protrusion 11 e and the groove 11 d that are snap-engaged with the first stopper protrusion 22 a of the joint portion 22 are formed at the upper side of the stopper protrusion 11 c, but in the case of the container cap 1 according to the second embodiment, the hemispherical ring-shaped protrusion 11 e has been removed and accordingly the groove 11 d formed at the upper side of the stopper protrusion 11 c has been removed.
First, a modified structure of the second embodiment includes a sealing structure of the receiving space 1 a. However, even though the sealing structure of the receiving space 1 a is removed, the receiving space 1 a can be sufficiently sealed by the other sealing structures. Instead, the coupling structures of the outer cap 10 and the inner cap 20 is simplified more simply, to thus provide a merit of easily manufacturing the container cap 1.
Moreover, even though the groove 11 d that is snap-engaged with the first stopper protrusion 22 a during opening and closing the container cap 1 is removed, a temporary stop operation is achieved by the stopper protrusion 11 c, to thereby cause an operational problem to happen.
Therefore, the container cap 1 according to the second embodiment is assembled with the neck 6 of the container body 5 at a state where the additive “A” has been accommodated in the receiving space la as shown in FIG. 11, and then is sold to users. The user shakes the container body 5 after the first-step partial opening as shown in FIG. 12, to thus make the additive “A” mixed with the content contained in the container body 5, and then performs the second-step complete opening as shown in FIG. 13 to thus make the user drink the internal mixture of the container body 5.
In addition, the second embodiment has the substantially same function as that of the first embodiment, and thus has the same characteristics and advantages as those of the first embodiment.
The container caps 1 of the first and second embodiments of the present invention are applied to for example drink containers such as sports drinks, and designed by using a heat resistant material so as to have a structure of pouring contents into the container body and then enduring a sterilization process at 87 to 93° C. for 15 to 20 minutes.
By the way, if a material such as PET (polyethylen terephthalate) is used for a container body, it is thermally deformed at 60° C. or so when a high is executed. Accordingly, in the case that a groove is provided in the inside of the neck of the container body, the groove is also deformed. As a result, in the case of using the heat resistant PET material, it is required to heighten a heat resistant temperature of the material through a secondary process, that is, a crystallization process.
By the way, in the case that spring water that is distributed at normal temperature is contained in the container body or an aseptic content is filled in the container body, there is no need to execute a high temperature sterilization process. Even if a groove is formed in the inside of the neck of the container body using a general resin material such as PET (polyethylen terephthalate), any secondary process is not required for.
Hereinbelow, a container cap according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The container cap according to the third embodiment of the present invention, can be applied when a drink container body for containing a drink that is distributed at normal temperature or filling an aseptic content in the inside of the container body is manufactured using general resin material such as PET (polyethylen terephthalate), or a material whose heat-resistant temperature is raised through the secondary process.
The container cap according to the third embodiment is equal to that of the first embodiment in view of a basic structure and function. Thus, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components. The detailed description of the same components between the first and third embodiments will be omitted.
The container cap 1 according to the first embodiment includes the annular stopper protrusion 6 b that is protrudingly formed on the outer circumference of the leading end of the neck 6, but the container cap 1 according to the third embodiment has no stopper protrusion 6 b but instead includes a stop groove 6 e formed on the inner circumference thereof, and a third stopper protrusion 23 c formed on the outer circumference of the second cylindrical portion 23 corresponding to the stop groove 6 e. The joint portion 22 has no second stopper protrusion 22 b since there is no stopper protrusion 6 b, in the third embodiment of the present invention, although the second stopper protrusion 22 b is coupled with the stopper protrusion 6 b in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment of the present invention, only the first stopper protrusion 22 a is left on the leading end thereof.
In the third embodiment, the coupling force formed between the stop groove 6 e and the third stopper protrusion 23 c should be set larger than that of the first cylindrical portion 13 that is fitted into the cylindrical extension portion 21 a of the slant bottom portion 21. This is because the lower end of the first cylindrical portion 13 is released from the cylindrical extension portion 21 a of the slant bottom portion 21 while maintaining a state where the third stopper protrusion 23 c of the inner cap 20 is combined with the stop groove 6 e of the neck 6 until the first-step partial opening of the outer cap 10.
In addition, the coupling force formed between the stop groove 6 e and the third stopper protrusion 23 c is set smaller than an upward pressure that is applied to the first stopper protrusion 22 a by the stopper protrusion 11 c according to the second-step complete opening of the container cap 1, in a manner that the inner cap 20 can be detached from the neck 6 of the container body 5 together with the outer cap 10, at the time of the second-step complete opening of the container cap 1.
Therefore, the container cap 1 according to the third embodiment is assembled with the neck 6 of the container body 5 at a state where the additive “A” has been accommodated in the receiving space la in the same manner as that of the first embodiment, and then is sold to users. The user shakes the container body 5 after the first-step partial opening as shown in FIG. 14, to thus make the additive “A” mixed with the content contained in the container body 5, and then performs the second-step complete opening to thus make the user drink the internal mixture of the container body 5.
In other words, at the first-step partial opening time of the outer cap 10, the state where the inner cap 20 has been combined with the neck 6 is maintained by a coupling force that is formed by being snap-engaged between the stop groove 6 e and the third stopper protrusion 23 c. If the outer cap 10 is made to rotated in the left-hand screw direction continuously for the second-step complete opening, the stopper protrusion 11 c applies an upward pressure to the first stopper protrusion 22 a to then be rotated. As a result, the free end of the joint portion 22 is lifted, to thus make the third stopper protrusion 23 c released from the neck 6 of the stop groove 6 e.
Thereafter, if the outer cap 10, that is, the container cap 1 is withdrawn from the neck 6 of the container body 5, the container cap 1 and the container body 5 are perfectly separated from each other, to thus achieve the second-step complete opening state. Therefore, a user can drink the internal mixture contained in the container body 5 safely.
The structure of the third embodiment is modified in a manner that the state where the inner cap 20 has been combined with the neck 6 is maintained until the first-step partial opening of the outer cap 10. The modified structure of the third embodiment has the joint portion 22 of a more simplified structure than that of the first embodiment structure, to thus make it easy to manufacture it.
Since the third embodiment also has the substantially same function as that of the first embodiment, and thus has the same characteristics and advantages as those of the first embodiment.
The step portion that is bent in a two-stage form so that the central portion of the upper plate of the outer cap is uplifted in comparison with the peripheral portions is formed in the first and second embodiments, but it is possible to form no step portion.
Meanwhile, the additive contained in the container cap may be made of a powder form. However, it is possible to use the additive contained in the container cap of a particle form by increasing size of the outlet ports.
Meanwhile, various kinds of additives are accommodated and kept in custody in the container cap in this invention. Consumers choose a container cap that contains a desired additive according to their taste and conveniently replace an existing container cap with the chosen one to drink it. Accordingly, functionality of drinking products and consumers' satisfaction can be heightened.
As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to particularly preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is possible for one who has an ordinary skill in the art to make various modifications and variations, without departing off the spirit of the present invention. Thus, the protective scope of the present invention is not defined within the detailed description thereof but is defined by the claims to be described later and the technical spirit of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

This invention provides a container cap whose components are easily manufactured and simply assembled, and that employs a sealing structure that can be re-used. The container cap according to the present invention can be applied for drink containers in which the container cap is opened stepwise, to thus make an additive contained in the container cap mixed with a content contained in a container body at a first-step partial opening state, and then make consumers drink and use the mixture of the additive and the content conveniently.

Claims

1. A container cap that is detachably combined with a neck that is extended from a container body containing a content and at the uppermost portion of which a neck stopper protrusion is protrudingly formed in which an additive is accommodated in an internal receiving space of the container cap, the container cap comprising:

an inner cap having a second cylindrical portion whose upper portion is opened in which a number of outlet ports through which the additive is discharged are formed at the lower side end of the second cylindrical portion that is inserted into the inside of the neck, and a joint portion that is protrudingly formed from an outer circumference of an upper end of the second cylindrical portion to surround the neck stopper protrusion of the neck and that is detachably combined with the neck stopper protrusion of the neck; and

an outer cap having a first cylindrical portion that is slidably combined on an inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical portion from an inner side of an upper plate in a surface-contacting manner and whose lower end is axially extended to block the number of the outlet ports, and a threaded portion that is extended axially from an outer circumference of the upper plate to be screw-engaged with the outer circumference of the neck,

wherein the joint portion of the inner cap comprises;

a first stopper protrusion that is formed on the outer circumference of the inner cap and engaged with a threaded portion stopper protrusion that is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the leading end of the threaded portion at the time of completely opening the outer cap; and

a second stopper protrusion that is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the leading end of the joint portion and that is detachably combined with the neck stopper protrusion of the neck, and

wherein the number of the outlet ports are opened and thus the additive of the receiving space is input into the inside of the container body, at the time of partially opening the outer cap, and the outer cap is separated from the container body together with the inner cap, at the time of completely opening the outer cap.

2. The container cap according to claim 1, wherein the second cylindrical portion further comprises:

a number of connecting portions that are extended at intervals at a lower end of the second cylindrical portion to form the number of the outlet ports;

a slant bottom portion whose central portion is protruded into the inside of the receiving space; and

a cylindrical extension portion that is extended axially from the slant bottom portion and is selectively fitted with the lower end of the first cylindrical portion and whose lower end is connected to the lower end of the number of the connecting portions.

3. The container cap according to claim 1, wherein a coupling force between the neck stopper protrusion and the second stopper protrusion is set larger than that between the cylindrical extension portion of the slant bottom portion and the first cylindrical portion, at the time of partially opening the outer cap, and an upward pressure that is applied to the first stopper protrusion by the threaded portion stopper protrusion is set larger than the coupling force between the neck stopper protrusion and the second stopper protrusion, at the time of completely opening the outer cap.

4. The container cap according to claim 1, further comprising an annular small protrusion that is protrudingly formed on the upper surface of the joint portion in order to seal between the upper surface of the joint portion and the lower surface of the upper plate.

5. The container cap according to claim 1, further comprising a sealing extension portion that is extended at the uppermost portion of the second cylindrical portion, and an annular groove that is formed on the lower surface of the first cylindrical portion and into which the sealing extension portion is fitted when the inner cap is completely coupled with the outer cap.

6. The container cap according to claim 1, wherein the inner cap is made of a material of an elastic strain relatively larger than that of the outer cap.

7. The container cap according to claim 1, further comprising an annular small protrusion that is protrudingly formed on the inner circumference of the second cylindrical portion in an annular form and forms a sealing structure between the first and second cylindrical portions.

8. The container cap according to claim 1, further comprising an annular small protrusion that is protrudingly formed on at least one of the outer circumference of the cylindrical extension portion and the inner circumference of the lower end of the first cylindrical portion that is fitted with the outer circumference of the cylindrical extension portion in an annular form, to thus form a sealing structure.

9. The container cap according to claim 1, wherein the neck comprises a male screw thread that is disposed at the lower side of the neck stopper protrusion and that is screw-engaged with the threaded portion, and wherein the neck stopper protrusion is formed of an outer diameter smaller than that of the male screw thread to prevent mutual collision between the joint portion of the inner cap and the threaded portion of the outer cap, when the threaded portion of the outer cap is screw-engaged with the male screw thread at a state where the joint portion of the inner cap is coupled with the neck stopper protrusion.

10. The container cap according to claim 1, further comprising a hemispherical ring-shaped protrusion that is disposed at the upper portion of the threaded portion stopper protrusion in order to form a groove that is snap-coupled with the first stopper protrusion that is formed in the joint portion, at the time of partially opening the outer cap.

11. The container cap according to claim 1, wherein a slope surface or curved surface is formed on an upper surface of the first stopper protrusion of the joint portion so as to be snap coupled with the threaded portion stopper protrusion when the outer cap and the inner cap are coupled with each other, in which a lower surface of the first stopper protrusion of the joint portion is perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface of the joint portion so as to be stop-coupled with the threaded portion stopper protrusion at the time of completely opening the outer cap, and

wherein a slope surface or curved surface is formed on the lower surface of the threaded portion stopper protrusion so as to be snap coupled with the first stopper protrusion of the joint portion when the outer cap and the inner cap are coupled with each other,

in which the upper surface of the threaded portion stopper protrusion is perpendicular to the inner circumferential surface of the threaded portion so as to be stop-coupled with the first stopper protrusion of the joint portion at the time of completely opening the outer cap.

12. A container cap that is detachably combined with a neck at the uppermost portion of which an annular neck stopper protrusion is protrudingly formed in which a male screw thread is disposed at the lower side of the neck stopper protrusion, and that comprises an inner cap and an outer cap that make an additive contained in an internal receiving space input into a container body, at the time of partially opening the outer cap, and that are separated together from the container body, at the time of completely opening the outer cap,

wherein the inner cap comprises:

a second cylindrical portion whose upper portion is opened in which a number of outlet ports through which the additive is discharged are formed at the lower side end of the second cylindrical portion that is inserted into the inside of the neck;

a slant bottom portion whose central portion is protruded into the inside of the receiving space and that comprises a cylindrical extension portion whose outer circumference of which is extended axially and whose lower end is connected to the lower end of the number of the connecting portions; and

a joint portion that is protrudingly formed from an outer circumference of an upper end of the second cylindrical portion to surround the neck stopper protrusion of the neck and that is detachably combined with the neck stopper protrusion of the neck, in which a first stopper protrusion is formed in an annular form on the outer circumference of the inner cap and a second stopper protrusion is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the leading end of the joint portion so as to be detachably combined with the neck stopper protrusion of the neck,

wherein the outer cap comprises:

a circular upper plate;

a first cylindrical portion that is slidably combined on an inner circumferential surface of the second cylindrical portion from an inner side of the upper plate in a surface-contacting manner and whose lower end is axially extended to block the number of the outlet ports, so as to be coupled with the cylindrical extension portion, to thereby selectively establish the receiving space in a sealed form; and

a threaded portion that is extended axially from an outer circumference of the upper plate to be screw-engaged with the male screw thread of the neck, in which a threaded portion stopper protrusion is disposed on the inner circumference of the upper side of the threaded portion so as to be stop-coupled with the first stopper protrusion of the inner cap, at the time of completely opening the outer cap.

13. The container cap according to claim 12, wherein an upward pressure that is applied to the first stopper protrusion by the threaded portion stopper protrusion is set larger than a coupling force between the lower surface of the neck stopper protrusion and the second stopper protrusion, at the time of completely opening the outer cap.

14. The container cap according to claim 12, wherein a coupling force between the neck stopper protrusion and the second stopper protrusion is set larger than that between the cylindrical extension portion of the slant bottom portion and the first cylindrical portion, at the time of partially opening the outer cap.

15. The container cap according to claim 12, further comprising an annular small protrusion that is protrudingly formed on the inner circumference of the second cylindrical portion in an annular form and forms a sealing structure between the first and second cylindrical portions.