JP2591842Y2 - Air valve structure for food containers such as lunch boxes - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air valve structure for a food container such as a lunch box.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a hot rice or the like is put in a food container such as a lunch box and the lid is sealed, when the lid cools, the internal pressure drops and the lid cannot be opened. As means for preventing this, for example, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication No. 3-102462 discloses a method in which a flexible valve element is engaged with an opening formed in a lid for sealing a container body, and the lid communicates with the opening. A small hole for exhaust is provided around the concave groove for intake and the opening, which is normally closed by an outer flange portion and an inner flange portion of the valve body, but when the internal pressure becomes higher than a predetermined value. A configuration is disclosed in which a small hole for exhaust is opened by deformation of an outer flange portion of a valve body, and when an internal pressure becomes lower than a predetermined value, a concave groove for intake is opened by deformation of an inner flange portion of the valve body. .
Thereby, heating and thawing can be performed with the lid attached, and the lid can be easily opened even when the lid is cooled.

[0003]

The above-mentioned valve element is liable to become dirty and unsanitary because it is constantly placed in a wet state, and it is easy for mold and the like to adhere to it. is there. Nevertheless, the above-described configuration has a structure in which it is difficult to remove or attach the valve body. The present invention aims to remedy the above inconvenience.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a food container lid having a hollow with a through hole formed in the center thereof, and an air valve mounted through the through hole. The valve forms a large gap A between the thick flange-shaped head 5 whose concave side in which the diametrical groove is formed fits into the recess 2 of the lid 1 and the through hole 3 of the lid 1. A shaft stem 7 and a highly flexible bowl-shaped valve portion 8 whose peripheral edge is in contact with the back surface of the lid 1 are provided. The concave groove 6 has an outside air outside and the inside has a gap A inside. It is characterized by being connected to each other.

[0005]

[Operation] When the bowl-shaped valve body portion is placed on the front side of the mounting hole formed in the lid and pressed down with a finger, the bowl-shaped valve body portion, which is rich in flexibility, curves and passes through the inside of the mounting hole. After the passage, the elastic member returns to its original shape due to its own elasticity, and the peripheral portion of the bowl-shaped valve body comes into close contact with the back surface of the lid to close the valve, and the valve body is attached.

[0006] During use, when the pressure inside the container decreases, the peripheral portion of the bowl-shaped valve body curves inward to create a gap with the back surface of the lid, thereby forming a communication passage with the outside air. Equalize the pressure inside and outside. By pressing the attached valve from the back side of the lid, the valve can be easily removed upward from the attachment hole.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a lid of a container body (not shown). The surface of the lid 1 has a through hole 3 at the center.
Is formed. As shown in the figure, the recess 2 accommodates the flanged head 5 of the air valve 4 so that a relatively large gap A is formed between the through hole 3 and the stem 7 of the air valve 4. The air valve 4 serves as a seat for preventing the air valve 4 from moving freely in the front-rear and left-right directions.

After the air valve 4 is attached, the size of the through hole 3
The size should be small enough not to move freely. The air valve 4 has a flange-shaped head 5, a stem 7 and a bowl-shaped valve 8 integrally formed of an elastic material such as silicone rubber. However, as shown in FIG. Shaft stem 7 including flange-shaped head 5 made of synthetic resin such as EVA, and integrated with silicone rubber bowl-shaped valve portion 8 by bonding, or as shown in FIG. 3, has a certain degree of elasticity. The flange-shaped heads 5 and 9 may be formed on the upper and lower portions of the stem 7 with synthetic resin, and the silicone rubber bowl-shaped valve 8 may be integrated by fitting.

[0009]

According to the structure of the present invention, the recess formed in the lid is used as the position regulating means of the air valve.
Even if the distance A with the through hole is widened, the air valve cannot be moved without permission. On the other hand, the air valve has a large distance with the through hole so that the air valve can be removed. Even if you attach it, it became possible to make it easier. In addition, the air valve has a simple shape that is easy to wash, so it can be removed and washed frequently to keep it always clean, and even if the thin bowl-shaped valve part frequently rubs with the through-hole due to frequent removal, The wear caused by the above is almost negligible and does not cause any trouble. Further, even if the thick flange-shaped head of the air valve is pressed during use, the air valve does not come off inside.
Even if pressure is applied from the inside, it does not come off unless you press it with your finger because it is stretched in a bowl shape and held with high elasticity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a food container such as a lunch box according to the present invention in which an air valve is mounted on a lid.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the air valve.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment in which an air valve is mounted on a lid.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Food container lid 2 Depression 3 Through-hole 4 Air valve 5, 9 Flange-shaped head 6 Depressed groove 7 Shaft 8 Cup-shaped valve part A Clearance

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yasuko Hayashi 5-2-7 Koishikawa Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Rec. Co., Ltd. (56) References Japanese Utility Model 1983-183353 (JP, U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B65D 81/26 B65D 85/50

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A food container lid 1 having a depression 2 in which a through hole 3 is formed at the center thereof, and an air valve 4 mounted through the through hole 3. The air valve 4 has a concave groove. A flange-shaped head 5 having a rear surface 6 formed in the diametric direction and fitted into the recess 2 of the lid 1, a shaft stem 7 forming a large gap A between the through hole 3 of the lid 1, It is composed of a bowl-shaped valve portion 8 having high flexibility, a peripheral portion of which is in contact with the back surface of the lid 1, and the concave groove 6 is connected to outside air on the outside and the gap A on the inside. Features air valve structure for food containers such as lunch boxes.