JP4172873B2

JP4172873B2 - Can container with cap for resealing

Info

Publication number: JP4172873B2
Application number: JP10519499A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 義彦松川; 和義江成; 利夫山本
Original assignee: Daiwa Can Co Ltd
Current assignee: Daiwa Can Co Ltd
Priority date: 1999-04-13
Filing date: 1999-04-13
Publication date: 2008-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-13
Also published as: JP2000296866A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、開口容易缶蓋（イージーオープンエンド）を備えた金属製の缶容器に対して缶蓋に開口された注出口を再封鎖するための樹脂製キャップを予め組み付けた再封鎖用キャップ付きの缶容器に関し、特に、再封鎖用のキャップが缶蓋を開封（弱化部を破断して注出口を最初に開口）するときの開封具を兼ねているような再封鎖用キャップ付きの缶容器に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
飲料を内容物とする飲料缶詰に使用される開口容易缶蓋（イージーオープンエンド）を備えた金属製の缶容器として、缶胴の上端開口部に周辺が巻締め固着される缶蓋の中央に、周辺の巻締部よりも上方に突出するように、中央パネル部により閉鎖された口部が一体的に成形され、口部の上端面に囲まれて該上端面よりも下方に凹んだ中央パネル部に、ヒンジ部分となる一部分を除いて破断可能な略円形の弱化部（スコア）が形成されていると共に、該弱化部が、注出口となる部分に沿って中央パネル部を三重に折り畳んだ環状の重層部の最下層に形成され、且つ、缶蓋内面側から樹脂で被覆されているような構造のものが従来から公知となっている（例えば、米国特許第４９７６３６８号明細書等参照）。
【０００３】
そのような缶容器を用いた飲料缶詰では、中央パネル部の弱化部で囲まれた部分を指で強く押圧することにより、指の押圧作用で弱化部を破断しつつ弱化部で囲まれた部分を開口片として缶体内に押し下げ、該開口片をヒンジ部分で折り曲げて缶体内に吊り下げ状態とすることで、缶蓋を開封（缶蓋の口部の内側の中央パネル部に注出口を最初に開口）しているが、そのような缶蓋の開封操作に際して、消費者の指が缶体内に入って内容物である飲料が指に付着する可能性があり、特に、缶体内に収容されているのが炭酸含有飲料の場合には、注出口の開口時に飲料が噴き出ることがあるので、飲料が指に付着し易い。
【０００４】
また、上記のような缶容器によれば、弱化部で囲まれる開口片の部分が比較的大径であるため、指の力が弱い人にとっては、指で押圧して缶蓋を開封するのが容易でないことがあり、指で容易に缶蓋を開封操作できる人にとっても、開封操作を慎重に行わないと、環状重層部の形成により注出口の周縁部の側での破断端に対する安全性が考慮されてはいるものの、開口片の側の破断端によって指や爪を負傷する可能性がある。
【０００５】
さらに、弱化部を破断して缶蓋を開封することで注出口を一旦開口させてしまうと、中身の飲料を一度に飲みきれずに残したような場合に、開口された注出口を密封状態に再封鎖することができないため、飲料を衛生的に保管した状態で持ち運んだりすることができず、特に、飲料が炭酸ガスを含むようなものでは、すぐに気が抜けて品質が低下してしまうこととなる。
【０００６】
一方、そのような問題を解消するために、缶蓋の中央に口部を突出させた開口容易缶蓋を備えた缶容器に対して、開封後の缶蓋の注出口を密封状態に再封鎖できるように、樹脂製の再封鎖用キャップを予め缶蓋の口部に冠着して組み付けておくと共に、この再封鎖用キャップを、缶蓋を上から押圧して弱化部を破断しつつ開口片を押し下げるときの開封具として機能するような構造のものとすることで、指を直接缶蓋に触れることなく、キャップを介して缶蓋を開封できるようにするということが既に提案され従来公知となっている（特開平１０−２６４９３１号公報参照）。
【０００７】
すなわち、特開平１０−２６４９３１号公報に記載されている従来公知のリシールキャップ付飲料缶（再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器）では、リシールキャップ（再封鎖用キャップ）の全体が、飲料缶の頭部（缶蓋の口部）に嵌合されるキャップ本体と、このキャップ本体の外周に嵌合される補強リングとからなり、キャップ本体の中心（頂壁の中央部）には、当接片を下端に有する押圧部が上下動可能に形成されている。
【０００８】
そして、缶蓋を開封する際には、先ず、補強リングをキャップ本体から外して、キャップ本体の押圧部の上面を指で強く押圧することにより、押圧部の下面側の当接片の先端が、スコアによって切り離される蓋体（缶蓋）の押下げタブ（開口片）の上面に当接してこれを押し下げ、それによりスコアが破断され押下げタブ（開口片）が下方に下がって、蓋体（缶蓋）の注出口が開口される。その後、キャップ本体と補強リングからなるリシールキャップ（再封鎖用キャップ）を蓋体（缶蓋）から取り外して缶容器（飲料缶）の内容液を飲用する。
【０００９】
次に、飲料を飲み残して注出口を再シールする場合には、飲料缶の頭部（缶蓋の口部）のキャップ嵌合部にキャップ本体を弾発的に冠着することで、キャップ本体の内面に装着されているパッキンを、飲料缶の頭部の天面（缶蓋の口部上端面）に圧接させて、注出口を密閉すると共に、それに加えて、更に、キャップ本体の外周に補強リングを嵌合させることで、キャップ本体を堅固に蓋体（缶蓋の口部）の外周に当接させて、それによりキャップ本体による注出口のシール性を更に強化するようにしている。
【００１０】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ところで、上記のような従来公知の再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器（リシールキャップ付飲料缶）では、缶蓋の口部（飲料缶の頭部）にキャップを取り付ける場合に、先ず、キャップ本体を缶蓋の口部（飲料缶の頭部）に冠着してから、更に、補強リングをキャップ本体の上から嵌合する必要があり、また、缶蓋の口部（飲料缶の頭部）からキャップを取り外す場合にも、先ず、補強リングをキャップ本体から取り外してから、更に、キャツプ本体を缶蓋の口部（飲料缶の頭部）から取り外す必要があることから、キャップの缶容器（飲料缶）に対する着脱操作が面倒なものとなっている。
【００１１】
また、開封操作のための押圧部を形成することでキャップ本体の頂壁自体が弾性変形し易くなっていることから、補強リングを嵌合してキャップ本体の外周を強く締め付けると、その反動でキャップ本体の頂壁が上方へ持ち上がる傾向があり、そのため、缶蓋の口部上端面（飲料缶の頭部の天面）とキャップ本体の頂壁内面との密着状態が緩んでその隙間から飲料が漏れる危険性があって、キャップ本体の頂壁内面にパッキンを装着したとしても、缶容器が転倒したりすると缶蓋とキャップ本体の隙間から飲料の漏れる可能性がある。
【００１２】
一方、キャップ本体の頂壁自体に開封操作のための押圧部を形成していることから、該押圧部を強く押圧してもその上下方向での可動範囲が小さく、しかも、該押圧部の下面の中央の一点を当接片として、この当接片により缶蓋の開口片（押下げタブ）の中央の一点を押し下げるようにしているため、指の押圧力がスコアを破断しつつ開口片（押下げタブ）を押し下げる力として効果的に働き難くなっており、その結果、キャップ本体を介することで開封操作に大きな力を要することとなる。
【００１３】
すなわち、キャップ本体の頂壁自体に押圧部を形成していることで、押圧部をできるだけ弾性変形し易く可動範囲の大きなものにすればする程、キャップ本体の頂壁内面と缶蓋の口部上端面（飲料缶の頭部の天面）との密着状態が悪くなって飲料の漏れる可能性が大きくなり、逆に、キャップ本体の頂壁内面と缶蓋の口部上端面（飲料缶の頭部の天面）との密着状態をより確実にしようとすると、キャップ本体の押圧部が弾性変形し難いものとなって注出口を開口するのに大きな力を要することとなる。
【００１４】
本発明は、上記のような問題の解消を課題とするものであり、具体的には、開封具と再封鎖具を兼用するキャップが付設された缶容器について、缶蓋に対するキャップの着脱が簡単であり、また、キャップを用いた缶蓋の開封操作を小さな力で容易に行なうことができて、しかも、缶蓋の開封により開口された注出口の再封鎖をキャップによって密封性良く行なうことができるようにすることを課題とするものである。
【００１５】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は、上記のような課題を解決するために、缶胴の上端に巻締め固着される缶蓋に、上方に突出して中央パネル部により閉鎖された口部が一体的に成形され、口部の上端面に囲まれて該上端面よりも下方に凹んだ中央パネル部に、ヒンジ部分となる一部分を除いて略環状に破断可能な弱化部が形成されている金属製の缶容器に対して、弱化部を破断しつつ弱化部で囲まれた部分を缶体内に押し下げることで注出口を開封すると共に、開口された注出口を再封鎖するための樹脂製のキャップが、缶蓋の口部に着脱自在に冠着されている再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器において、
キャップが、口部の上端面と密着する部分を有する環状のフランジ部と、フランジ部から下方に延びてその内周面に口部との係合部が形成された第一円筒部と、フランジ部から上方に延びる第二円筒部と、第二円筒部よりも内方で該円筒部とは間隔を隔てて同心的に設けられる円筒台状の押し釦部と、押し釦部の下端近傍から外方且つ上方に延びる栓部と、栓部の上端と第二円筒部の内周面を連結する薄い環状円錐板の可動連結部とを一体成形したものであり、
缶蓋の口部にキャップが冠着されることで固定される第二円筒部に対して、可動連結部の弾性変形による上下方向での反転により、押し釦部と栓部が上方位置と下方位置の何れかに一体的に変位するように形成されていて、
缶蓋の口部にキャップを冠着したときに、押し釦部と栓部が上方位置にある状態では、押し釦部の円筒下端部が、中央パネル部の弱化部で囲まれた部分の上方に位置し、また、押し釦部と栓部が下方位置にある状態では、栓部のテーパー状外周面が、開口された注出口の周縁部と密着するように構成されていることを特徴とするものである。
【００１６】
上記のような再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器によれば、缶蓋の口部とキャップの第一円筒部を係合させたり、その係合を解くだけでキャップを簡単に着脱させることができると共に、缶蓋を開封するに際しては、そのままの状態で缶蓋の口部に冠着されたキャップの押し釦部を上方から指で押圧することにより、缶蓋の口部上端面と密着するフランジ部の剛性が高くても、それとは関係なく小さな力で可動連結部を弾性変形させて押し釦部と栓部だけを下方に大きく変位させることができ、押し釦部の円筒下端部による缶蓋の開封操作を容易に行なうことができる。
【００１７】
また、缶蓋の開封操作により開口された注出口をキャップにより再封鎖する際には、缶蓋の口部に冠着したキャップを、可動連結部を弾性変形により死点を超えて下方に反転させ、第二円筒部に対して押し釦部と栓部が下方位置にある状態としておくことで、キャップのフランジ部が缶蓋の口部上端面に確実に密着し、且つ、開口された注出口の周縁部に栓部のテーパー状外周面が密着した状態で、栓部が上方に浮き上がることのないように固定されることから、注出口のキャップによる再封鎖が極めて密封性良く行なわれる。
【００１８】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器の実施形態について、図面に基づいて詳細に説明する。
【００１９】
図１は、本発明の再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器の一実施形態について、キャップを付設した状態で未開封の飲料缶詰の缶容器の上部を断面図により示すものである。
【００２０】
再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器は、金属製の缶容器１の缶蓋２の部分に樹脂製のキャップ３を着脱自在に冠着させたものであって、開封後に開口される注出口を再封鎖するための再封鎖用キャップ３は、未開封の缶蓋２の中央部に形成されている開口予定部分を覆うように、缶蓋２に形成された口部１４に対してスナップ係合により着脱自在に冠着されている。
【００２１】
開口容易缶蓋（イージーオープンエンド）を備えた缶容器１については、基本的には従来から知られた構造のものであって、底板と缶胴が一体的に成形された２ピース缶であっても、或いは、円筒状の缶胴の下端に底蓋が巻締め固着される３ピース缶であっても良いが、缶胴４の上端に巻締め固着される缶蓋２には、上方に突出するように口部１４が形成されており、この口部１４の内側に開口予定部分が形成されている。
【００２２】
缶容器１の缶蓋２については、一方の表面に樹脂塗料または樹脂フィルムによる樹脂製の内面被膜層が設けられたアルミニウム合金などの金属平板からプレス成形されているものであり、円筒状で上部にネック加工とフランジ加工が施された缶胴４の上端フランジ部に、缶蓋２の外周に形成されたフランジ部が巻締めにより固着されていて、この缶蓋２の巻締部１１から半径方向内方に、断面Ｕ字形の外周溝１２が巻締部１１よりも下方で環状に形成されている。
【００２３】
また、この外周溝１２の内側から缶蓋の中央部に向かって、上方に行くにしたがって径が小さくなるネック部分１３が巻締部１１よりも上方にまで隆起しており、このネック部分１３の上端部が環状の口部１４となっていて、口部１４の上端は所定幅の環状の平坦面（上端面）１４ａとして形成され、口部１４の外周面にはキャップ係合用の凹部１４ｂが形成され、口部１４の内側は、口部上端面よりも下方に凹んだ中央パネル部１５によって閉鎖されている。
【００２４】
口部１４の内側を閉鎖する中央パネル部１５には、注出口として開口される予定の部分に沿って、中央パネル部１５の金属板を三重に折り畳んだ重層部１６が環状に形成されており、この環状重層部１６の最下層の下面側に、破断可能な弱化部となるスコア１７が、ヒンジ部分となる一部分を除いた略環状に刻設されていて、環状重層部１６の外側の折曲部による段部とスコア１７を共に覆うように、缶蓋下面側にプラスチゾル１８が環状に塗布されている。
【００２５】
なお、環状重層部１６の内側の折曲部は、スコア１７とプラスチゾル１８の破断によって開口される注出口の周縁部になる部分であり、スコア１７を下側から覆うプラスチゾル１８は、缶体の内圧の変化によってスコア１７が破断することを防ぐと共に、スコア１７を形成することによる内面被膜層の損傷を補修し、缶体内の内容液が内面被膜層の損傷部分に侵入することによる缶蓋の腐食を防ぐためのものである。
【００２６】
そのようにスコア１７を下側から覆うようにプラスチゾル１８を塗布することによって、略環状にスコア溝として刻設されたスコア１７が一部で完全に切断されていても、内容液の漏洩を防止することができ、そのため、本実施形態では略環状のスコア１７を全線にわたって残厚部分を有するようにスコア溝として刻設しているが、開蓋性を良くするためにスコアの一部を最初から完全に切断しておくようにして実施することも可能となる。
【００２７】
破断可能なスコア１７によって囲まれ、注出口の開口時にヒンジ部分（スコアの途切れた部分）で折り曲げられて缶体内に押し下げられる中央パネル部１５の開口片となる部分には、環状重層部１６やスコア１７に近接して環状の凸部１９が形成されていると共に、該環状凸部１９と所定の間隔を隔てて、上方に膨出した中央膨出部２０が形成されており、環状凸部１９と中央膨出部２０の間は浅い環状の溝部となっている。
【００２８】
上記のような缶蓋２の口部１４の部分に冠着されるキャップ３については、ポリエチレン樹脂やポリプロピレン樹脂等の合成樹脂材を射出成形等により一体成形したものであり、缶蓋２の口部１４の上端面１４ａと密着する部分を有する環状のフランジ部３２と、フランジ部３２から下方に延びる第一円筒部３１と、フランジ部３２から上方に延びる第二円筒部３３と、第二円筒部３３よりも内方で該円筒部３３とは間隔を隔てて同心的に設けられる円筒台状の押し釦部３６と、押し釦部３６の外周面の下端近傍から外方且つ上方に延びる栓部３５と、栓部３５の上端と第二円筒部３３の内周面を連結する環状円錐板の可動連結部３４とからなるものである。
【００２９】
キャップ３の第一円筒部３１には、その内周面の下端部に、缶蓋２の口部１４の外周面に形成された凹部１４ｂとスナップ係合するように、半径方向内方に突出する凸部３１ａが円周方向に間隔を置いて複数個形成されており、第一円筒部３１の上端に連結されるフランジ部３２は、キャップ３と缶蓋２の口部１４がスナップ係合した状態で、フランジ部３２の下面が缶蓋２の口部１４の上端面１４ａに密着するようになっていて、フランジ部３２の外縁は、第一円筒部３１よりも半径方向外方にまで延びて、缶蓋２の口部１４にキャップ３を着脱する時に把持するための把持部３７となっている。
【００３０】
第二円筒部３３と間隔を隔てて設けられる栓部３５は、水平方向からの傾斜角の大きい上方テーパー部分３５ａと、水平方向からの傾斜角の小さい下方テーパー部分３５ｂとからなり、上方テーパー部分３５ａの上端は可動連結部３４の内周縁に連結され、下方テーパー部分３５ｂは押し釦部３６の円筒外周面の下端近傍に連結されていて、上方テーパー部分３５ａのテーパー状外周面には、該外周面の軸線方向の中間部で該外周面の円周方向に沿って、半径方向外方に膨出する突起部３５ｃが、円周方向に等間隔で複数個（例えば４個）形成されている。
【００３１】
なお、栓部３５の径については、その基端部である上方テーパー部分３５ａの上端付近の外径が、注出口の周縁部（環状重層部１６の内側の折曲部）の内径より大きく、且つ、上方テーパー部分３５ａの下端（下方テーパー部分３５ｂの上端）の外径が、注出口の周縁部の内径よりも小さくなっている。
【００３２】
また、突起部３５ｃは、上方テーパー部分３５ａのテーパー状外周面の外径が注出口の周縁部の内径よりも僅かに小さい箇所で、円周方向で等間隔に形成されていて、その箇所のテーパー状外周面から膨出した突起部３５ｃの最大外径は、注出口の周縁部の内径よりも大きなものとなっている。
【００３３】
そして、栓部３５の下方テーパー部分３５ｂの下端から下方に続く押し釦部３６の円筒下端部３６ａは、その内径および外径が、缶蓋２の中央パネル部１５の開口片の部分に形成された環状凸部１９と中央膨出部２０の間の浅い環状の溝部内に入るようなものとなっている。
【００３４】
キャップ３の各部の肉厚については、第一円筒部３１は口部１４とのスナップ係合に適した弾性と剛性を有する肉厚に形成され、フランジ部３２と第二円筒部３３と押し釦部３６とは殆ど弾性変形しない剛性の高い肉厚（厚肉部）に形成され、栓部３５は、突起部３５ｃが注出口の周縁部を強制的に乗り越えられる程度に僅かに変形可能な弾性と剛性を有する肉厚に形成されているのに対して、第二円筒部３３の内周面から栓部３５の上端に延びる環状円錐板の可動連結部３４は、その形状を一応は維持でき且つ容易に弾性変形し易いような比較的薄い肉厚（薄肉部）に形成されている。
【００３５】
それにより、第二円筒部３３に対して押し釦部３６と栓部３５を一体的に上下方向に移動させることで、第二円筒部３３の内周面と栓部３５の上端を連結する可動連結部３４は、栓部３５の上下方向の移動に連れ、第二円筒部３３側の連結部分と栓部３５側の連結部分とが同じ高さとなる位置を死点として、この死点を超えることで反転して、第二円筒部３３の内周面から斜め上方に延びる山裾状の環状円錐形と、第二円筒部３３の内周面から斜め下方に延びる擂鉢状の環状円錐形との何れかに形状に変位するようになっている。
【００３６】
なお、可動連結部３４が上方に反転して第二円筒部３３の内周面から斜め上方に延び、押し釦部３６と栓部３５が上方位置にある状態において、押し釦部３６と栓部３５のそれぞれの上端は、何れも第二円筒部３３の上端よりも低くなっており、第二円筒部３３よりも上方に突出しないようになっている。この押し釦部３６と栓部３５の各上端の高さについては、第二円筒部３３の上端と同じ高さであってもよいが、図示したように、第二円筒部３３の上端よりも低くしておくことが望ましい。
【００３７】
図２（Ａ）（Ｂ）は、上記のような缶蓋２とキャップ３を備えた本実施形態の再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器の使用状態を示すものであり、また、図３（Ａ）（Ｂ）は、図２（Ａ）（Ｂ）に示した各使用状態の要部をそれぞれ拡大して示すものであって、何れも、（Ａ）は開封前（注出口が未開口）の状態を示し、（Ｂ）は開封後（開口された注出口がキャップにより再封鎖）の状態を示している。
【００３８】
使用前の再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器については、図２（Ａ）および図３（Ａ）に示すように、未開封の状態の缶蓋２に対して、可動連結部３４が第二円筒部３３から斜め上方に延びて押し釦部３６と栓部３５が上方位置にある状態とされたキャップ３が、第一円筒部３１の内周面に形成された係合用凸部３１ａと口部１４の外周面に形成された凹部１４ｂとのスナップ係合により、缶蓋２の口部１４に着脱可能に冠着されている。
【００３９】
なお、そのような再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器による飲料缶詰に対して、商品として店頭陳列時中にキャップ３に埃が付着したり、勝手にキャップ３を取り外したりして悪戯されないように、キャップ３を含む缶容器の一部または全体を、透明または不透明な熱収縮性のプラスチツクフィルム等によってシユリンク包装しておいても良い。
【００４０】
この状態では、キャップ３のフランジ部３２の下面が缶蓋２の口部１４の上端面に密接するようになっており、キャップ３の押し釦部３６の円筒下端部３６ａは、缶蓋２の口部１４の内側で、中央パネル部１５の開口片の部分に形成された環状凸部１９と中央膨出部２０の間の浅い環状の溝部の上方に位置して、中央パネル部１５の上面に軽く接触している。
【００４１】
そのような未使用（未開封）の状態から、缶蓋２を開封して注出口を最初に開口させるには、シユリンク包装されている場合には先ずその包装を取り除いてから、単にそのままキャップ３の押し釦部３６を上方から指で押圧して押し下げるだけで、中央パネル部１５のスコア１７で囲まれた開口片の部分が、押し釦部３６の円筒下端部３６ａにより下方に押し下げられ、図２（Ｂ）および図３（Ｂ）に示すように、スコア１７が破断されプラスチゾル１８が引きちぎられて、開口片の部分が缶体内に押し下げられる。
【００４２】
その際、スコア１７がヒンジ部分となる一部分を除いて略環状に形成されている（即ち、スコア１７による環状の一部分にスコア１７を形成していない部分がある）ことから、その一部分がヒンジ部分となって中央パネル部１５から下方に押し下げられた開口片の部分が、図２（Ｂ）に示すように、ヒンジ部分によって缶体内に吊り下げられた状態になる。
【００４３】
そのように、スコア１７やプラスチゾル１８が破断され、中央パネル部１５の開口片の部分が押し下げ吊り下げられることで、中央パネル部１５のスコア１７で囲まれた部分が注出口として開口され、スコア１７よりも僅かに内側に張り出した環状重層部１６の内側の折曲部が注出口の周縁部となる。
【００４４】
なお、キャップ３の押し釦部３６の押圧により、可動連結部３４が死点を超えて下方に反転し、押し釦部３６と栓部３５が下方位置に変位している状態では、開口された注出口は、図３（Ｂ）に示すように、キャップ３のフランジ部３２と口部１４の上端面１４ａとが密着し、また、栓部３５の上方テーパー部分３５ａのテーパー状外周面と缶蓋２の環状重層部１６の内側折曲部とが密着していることで、既に再封鎖された状態となっており、キャップ３を缶蓋２の口部１４から取り外すことで、注出口の再封鎖が解除され、消費者は開口された注出口を通して缶蓋２の口部１４から中身の飲料を飲むことができる。
【００４５】
その後、缶容器１内に飲料を飲み残した状態で注出口を再封鎖する場合には、キャップ３をスナップ係合により缶蓋２の口部１４に冠着してから、栓部３５の突起部３５ｃが環状重層部１６の内側折曲部を乗り越えるように、念のために押し釦部３６を軽く指で下方に押圧して、図３（Ｂ）に示すように、可動連結部３４が下方に反転し、突起部３５ｃが環状重層部１６の内側折曲部に下側から係合して、押し釦部３６と栓部３５が確実に下方位置に変位した状態としておく。
【００４６】
上記のような本実施形態の再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器によれば、缶蓋２の口部１４に対してキャップ３を着脱する場合には、何れの場合でも、缶蓋２の口部１４の外周面に形成された凹部１４ｂとキャップ３の第一円筒部３１の内周面に形成された係合用凸部３１ａとによるスナップ係合のみによって、キャップ３の着脱をワンタッチで簡単に行なうことができる。
【００４７】
また、缶蓋２の開封操作時には、缶蓋２の口部１４に既に冠着されているキャップ３を取り外すことなく、そのままの状態でキャップ３の押し釦部３６を上方から指で押圧することにより、押し釦部３６の円筒下端部３６ａを小さな力で下方に大きく移動させることができて、スコア１７を破断しつつ開口片を下方に押し下げる動作をキャップ３を介して容易に行なうことができ、中身の飲料で指を汚したり、スコア１７の破断端で指や爪を負傷したりすることなく、缶蓋２を開封して注出口を開口させることができる。
【００４８】
そして、缶蓋２の開封後に、缶蓋２の口部１４からキャップ３を取り外して缶容器１の中身の飲料を飲む場合には、缶蓋２の口部１４が上方に突出したものであることから、缶蓋の巻締部よりも下方に注出部が形成される通常のイージーオープン缶蓋を備えた缶容器と比べて、缶容器に直接口をつけて飲むときに、飲む人の鼻が巻締部や蓋板面にぶつかったり飲料をこぼしたりすることなく容易に飲むことができ、また、コップ等に入れて飲むときにも、飲料をコップ等に注ぎ出す際にこぼすことなく容易に注ぎ出すことができる。
【００４９】
また、飲料を飲み残してキャップ３により缶蓋２の口部１４を再封鎖する場合には、口部１４の上端面とキャップのフランジ部３２との密着と、栓部３５（上方テーパー部分３５ａ）のテーパー状外周面と注出口の周縁部（環状重層部１６の内側折曲部）との密着とによって二重に密封することができ、特に、栓部３５や押し釦部３６が上下方向に大きく移動できるように構成されているにもかかわらずフランジ部３２は剛性が高く弾性変形し難いものとなっていることから、フランジ部３２の変形により飲料が漏れるようなことがなく、フランジ部３２の下面と缶蓋２の口部１４の上端面との密着による密封状態は確実に維持されることとなる。
【００５０】
さらに、可動連結部３４の下方への反転により栓部３５が下方位置に変位していることで、栓部３５が浮き上がって注出口の周縁部（環状重層部１６の内側折曲部）と栓部３５（上方テーパー部分３５ａのテーパー状外周面）の密着が緩むようなことが殆どなく、栓部３５のテーパー状外周面と注出口の周縁部との密着による密封状態も確実に維持されるため、フランジ部３２と栓部３５の２箇所での二重の密封のそれぞれが確実に行なわれ、キャップ３による再封鎖を極めて密封性良く行なうことができる。
【００５１】
なお、本実施形態では、栓部３５（上方テーパー部分３５ａ）のテーパー状外周面に突起部３５ｃが一体的に形成され、栓部３５を下方位置に変位させてそのテーパー状外周面を缶蓋２の注出口の周縁部（環状重層部１６の内側折曲部）と密着させたときに、該突起部３５ｃが注出口の周縁部を乗り越えて該周縁部に下側から係合するようになっていることから、飲み残した飲料が炭酸ガスを含むようなものであって、再封鎖された缶容器の缶内圧が高くなったような場合でも、缶内圧により栓部３５が上方に浮き上がって密着状態が緩むというようなことが確実に防止される。
【００５２】
さらに、本実施形態では、缶蓋２の弱化部であるスコア１７が、中央パネル部１５の環状重層部１６の最下層に形成され、該重層部１６の内側折曲部が、スコア１７よりも内側に張り出して、スコア１７の破断により開口される注出口の周縁部となることから、消費者の指等が注出口の周縁部に触れても、スコア１７の破断端により負傷することはない。
【００５３】
また、本実施形態では、スコア１７が缶蓋内面側からプラスチゾル１８により被覆されていることで、缶体の内圧の変化によりスコア１７が破断するのを防止でき、また、スコア１７の形成に際して生じた内面被膜層の損傷が補修されて、缶体内の飲料が内面被膜層の損傷部分に侵入することによる缶蓋の腐食を防止できると共に、略環状に刻設されたスコア１７が一部で完全に切断されていても、該切断部分から飲料が漏洩するのを防止することができる。
【００５４】
また、本実施形態では、キャップ３の押し釦部３６と栓部３５が上方位置にある状態でも、それらの上端が第二円筒部３３の上端よりも上方に突出しない高さとなっている（第二円筒部３３の上端よりも低くなっている）ことから、例えば、商品の店頭陳列中等において未開封の缶容器１の缶蓋２に冠着されたキャップ３の上から他の缶詰等が不用意に積み重ねられたような場合でも、第二円筒部３３の上端がその荷重を受け止めることで押し釦部３６や栓部３５に直接荷重がかかることを防止することができ、その結果、意図しない缶蓋２の開封を防止することができる。
【００５５】
また、本実施形態では、中央パネル部１５の開口片となる部分に、環状重層部１６に近接した略環状の凸部１９と、該環状凸部１９と所定の間隔を隔てて膨出した中央膨出部２０とが形成されていることで、開口片となる部分の剛性が高められ、缶蓋２の開封操作の際に、押し釦部３６の円筒下端部３６ａによる押圧力を開口片を囲むスコア１７に効果的に伝達して、缶蓋２の開封時におけるスコア１７の切断と開口片の押し下げを確実に行なうことができる。
【００５６】
以上、本発明の再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器の一実施形態について説明したが、本発明は、上記のような実施形態に限られるものではなく、例えば、キャップの第二円筒部については、フランジ部から上方に延びていれば、その位置は、第一円筒部の延長線上にあっても、第一円筒部よりも外方であっても良く、また、キャップの第一円筒部と缶蓋の口部の係合についても、上記の実施形態に示したような口部の凹部とキャップの係合用凸部とによるスナップ係合に限らず、例えば、口部の外周面に傾斜した凸条を等間隔で複数個設け、一方、第一円筒部の内周面には凸部又は傾斜した凸条を設けることで、キャップを缶蓋の口部に載せて回動することで両者をネジ係合するようにしても良い。
【００５７】
また、開口片を区画するための弱化部については、上記の実施形態では全線にわたって残厚部分を有するようなスコア溝としているが、樹脂（プラスチゾル）等の密封剤を塗布しておくことで、開蓋性を良くするためにスコア溝の一部を最初から完全に切断しておくようにして実施することも可能であり、更には、ヒンジ部分となる部分を残して所定形状に金属板を一旦切断してから樹脂（プラスチゾル）等の密封剤で切断部分を接合・封鎖して弱化部を形成することで実施することも可能である等、適宜設計変更可能なものであることはいうまでもない。
【００５８】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したような本発明の再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器によれば、缶蓋に対するキャップの着脱をキャップの第一円筒部内周面と缶蓋の口部外周面との係合により簡単に行なうことができ、また、缶蓋を開封するに際しては、缶蓋に冠着されたキャップの押し釦部をそのまま上方から指で押圧するだけで、内容液で指を汚したり開口時の切断端で指や爪を負傷したりすることなく、比較的小さな力でキャップを介して容易に開封操作を行なうことができると共に、注出口が開口された缶蓋の口部をキャップにより再封鎖するに際しては、缶蓋の口部上端面とキャップのフランジ部との密着が確実なものとされ、且つ、缶蓋の注出口とキャップの栓部との密着が確実なものとされていることで、極めて密封性良くキャップによる再封鎖を行なうことができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器の一実施形態について、キャップを取り付けた未開封の缶容器の上部を示す断面図。
【図２】図１に示した再封鎖用キャップ付き缶容器の使用状態について、（Ａ）使用前で注出口が未開封の状態、および（Ｂ）開封された注出口がキャップにより再封鎖されている状態をそれぞれ示す断面図。
【図３】図２に示した各使用状態（Ａ）（Ｂ）のそれぞれについて、要部を部分的に拡大して示す拡大断面図。
【符号の説明】
１缶容器
２缶蓋
３キャップ
４缶胴
１５（缶蓋の）中央パネル部
１４（缶蓋の）口部
１６（中央パネル部の）環状重層部
１７スコア（弱化部）
１８プラスチゾル（樹脂）
１９（中央パネル部の）環状の凸部
２０（中央パネル部の）中央膨出部
３１（キャップの）第一円筒部
３２（キャップの）フランジ部
３３（キャップの）第二円筒部
３４（キャップの）可動連結部
３５（キャップの）栓部
３５ｃ（栓部の）突起部
３６（キャップの）押し釦部
３６ａ（押し釦部の）円筒下端部[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a re-sealing cap in which a resin cap for re-sealing a spout opened in a can lid is attached to a metal can container having an easy-to-open can lid (easy open end). In particular, a can container with a reseal cap that also serves as an opening tool when the cap for resealing opens the can lid (breaks the weakened part and opens the spout first). About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a metal can container equipped with an easy-to-open can lid (easy open end) used for beverage cans containing beverages, it is placed in the center of the can lid, the periphery of which is fastened to the upper end opening of the can body The mouth closed by the central panel is integrally formed so as to protrude upward from the peripheral winding part, and the center is surrounded by the upper end surface of the mouth and recessed below the upper end surface. The panel portion is formed with a substantially circular weakened portion (score) that can be broken except for a portion that becomes a hinge portion, and the weakened portion folds the central panel portion in triple along the portion that becomes the spout A structure that is formed in the lowermost layer of an elliptical multi-layered portion and is covered with resin from the inner surface of the can lid has been known (see, for example, US Pat. No. 4,976,368). ).
[0003]
In beverage canning using such a can container, the portion surrounded by the weakened portion while breaking the weakened portion by the pressing action of the finger by strongly pressing the portion surrounded by the weakened portion of the central panel portion with the finger Is opened into the body of the can as an opening piece, and the opening piece is bent at the hinge to hang it in the body of the can to open the can lid (the first spout is placed in the central panel inside the mouth of the can lid) However, when opening the can lid, there is a possibility that the consumer's finger enters the can and the beverage as the contents adheres to the finger. In the case of a carbonated beverage, the beverage may be ejected when the spout is opened, so that the beverage is likely to adhere to the finger.
[0004]
Moreover, according to the above can container, since the part of the opening piece enclosed by the weakened part is comparatively large diameter, for a person with weak finger strength, the can lid is opened by pressing with a finger. Even for those who can easily open the can lid with their fingers, if the opening operation is not done carefully, the formation of the annular multi-layered part will ensure safety against the broken end on the peripheral edge side of the spout However, there is a possibility that the finger or nail may be injured by the broken end on the side of the opening piece.
[0005]
In addition, once the spout is opened by breaking the weakened part and opening the can lid, the opened spout is sealed in the case where the contents of the beverage cannot be fully consumed at one time. The beverage cannot be carried in a hygienic state, especially if the beverage contains carbon dioxide gas, and the quality will deteriorate quickly. Will end up.
[0006]
On the other hand, in order to solve such a problem, the can outlet with the easy-to-open can lid with the mouth protruding in the center of the can lid is re-sealed in a sealed state at the opening of the can lid after opening. In order to be able to do so, a resin reseal cap is attached to the mouth of the can lid in advance and assembled, and the reseal cap is opened while pressing the can lid from above and breaking the weakened portion. It has already been proposed that the can lid can be opened through the cap without directly touching the can lid by using a structure that functions as an opening tool when the piece is pushed down. (See Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-264931).
[0007]
That is, in a conventionally known beverage can with a reseal cap (can container with a reseal cap) described in JP-A-10-264931, the reseal cap (reseal cap) as a whole is the head of the beverage can. It consists of a cap body that fits into the mouth of the can lid and a reinforcing ring that fits around the outer periphery of the cap body. A contact piece is placed at the center of the cap body (the center of the top wall). A pressing portion at the lower end is formed to be movable up and down.
[0008]
When opening the can lid, first, the reinforcing ring is removed from the cap body, and the upper surface of the pressing portion of the cap body is strongly pressed with a finger so that the tip of the abutting piece on the lower surface side of the pressing portion is , The upper surface of the pressing tab (opening piece) of the lid body (can lid) to be separated by the score is pressed down, the score is broken, and the pressing tab (opening piece) is lowered downward, the lid body The spout of (can lid) is opened. Thereafter, the reseal cap (reseal cap) composed of the cap body and the reinforcing ring is removed from the lid (can lid), and the content liquid in the can container (beverage can) is drunk.
[0009]
Next, when the beverage is left unfilled and the spout is resealed, the cap body is resiliently crowned on the cap fitting portion of the head of the beverage can (the mouth of the can lid), thereby The packing attached to the inner surface of the main body is brought into pressure contact with the top surface of the beverage can head (the upper end surface of the mouth of the can lid) to seal the spout, and in addition, the outer periphery of the cap main body By fitting the reinforcing ring into the cap body, the cap body is firmly brought into contact with the outer periphery of the lid (can lid mouth), thereby further enhancing the sealing performance of the spout by the cap body. .
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the above-mentioned conventionally known can containers with caps for resealing (beverage cans with reseal caps), when the cap is attached to the mouth of the can lid (the head of the beverage can), first, the cap body is the can. It is necessary to fit the reinforcing ring from the top of the cap body after it is attached to the mouth of the lid (the head of the beverage can), and from the mouth of the can lid (the head of the beverage can) When removing the cap, the cap ring must first be removed from the cap body and then the cap body must be removed from the mouth of the can lid (the head of the beverage can). The attachment / detachment operation on the can) is troublesome.
[0011]
In addition, since the top wall of the cap body itself is easily elastically deformed by forming a pressing portion for opening operation, when the reinforcement ring is fitted and the outer periphery of the cap body is tightened strongly, the reaction There is a tendency for the top wall of the cap body to be lifted upward, so that the close contact between the upper end surface of the mouth of the can lid (the top surface of the top of the beverage can) and the inner surface of the top wall of the cap body is loosened and the beverage is released from the gap Even if the packing is attached to the inner surface of the top wall of the cap body, there is a possibility that the beverage may leak from the gap between the can lid and the cap body if the can container falls down.
[0012]
On the other hand, since the pressing portion for the opening operation is formed on the top wall itself of the cap body, even if the pressing portion is pressed strongly, the movable range in the vertical direction is small, and the lower surface of the pressing portion Since the central point of the can lid is pressed down by the contact piece, the central point of the opening piece (push tab) of the can lid is pushed down. As a result, it is difficult to work effectively as a force for pushing down the push-down tab), and as a result, a large force is required for the opening operation through the cap body.
[0013]
That is, by forming the pressing part on the top wall itself of the cap body, the more the pressing part is made to be elastically deformed as much as possible and the movable range is large, the inner surface of the top wall of the cap body and the mouth part of the can lid The close contact state with the upper end surface (the top surface of the beverage can head) increases the possibility of beverage leakage, and conversely, the top wall inner surface of the cap body and the upper end surface of the mouth of the can lid (the beverage can If it is going to make a close contact state with the top surface of the head more reliable, the pressing portion of the cap body is difficult to elastically deform, and a large force is required to open the spout.
[0014]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems. Specifically, with regard to a can container provided with a cap that doubles as an opening device and a resealing device, the cap can be easily attached to and detached from the can lid. In addition, the opening operation of the can lid using the cap can be easily performed with a small force, and the re-sealing of the spout opened by opening the can lid can be performed with a good sealing performance. The challenge is to make it possible.
[0015]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention has a can lid that is fastened and fixed to the upper end of a can body, and a mouth portion that protrudes upward and is closed by a central panel portion is integrally formed. For a metal can container in which a weakened portion that can be broken substantially annularly except for a portion that becomes a hinge portion is formed in a central panel portion that is surrounded by the upper end surface of the portion and is recessed below the upper end surface. And opening the spout by pushing down the portion surrounded by the weakened portion while breaking the weakened portion into the can body, and a resin cap for resealing the opened spout is the mouth of the can lid In a can container with a cap for resealing that is detachably attached to the part,
An annular flange portion having a portion where the cap is in close contact with the upper end surface of the mouth portion, a first cylindrical portion extending downward from the flange portion and having an engagement portion with the mouth portion formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof, and a flange A second cylindrical portion that extends upward from the cylindrical portion, a cylindrical button-like push button portion that is provided inward of the second cylindrical portion and concentrically with the cylindrical portion, and from the vicinity of the lower end of the push button portion A plug part extending outward and upward, and a movable connecting part of a thin annular conical plate that connects the upper end of the plug part and the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical part, are integrally formed,
With respect to the second cylindrical part fixed by the cap being attached to the mouth part of the can lid, the push button part and the stopper part are moved upward and downward by reversing in the vertical direction by elastic deformation of the movable connecting part. It is formed so as to be integrally displaced at any of the positions,
When the cap is attached to the mouth of the can lid, when the push button part and the stopper part are in the upper position, the cylindrical lower end of the push button part is above the part surrounded by the weakened part of the central panel part. In the state where the push button portion and the plug portion are in the lower position, the tapered outer peripheral surface of the plug portion is configured to be in close contact with the peripheral portion of the opened spout. To do.
[0016]
According to the can container with a cap for re-sealing as described above, the cap can be easily attached and detached simply by engaging the mouth portion of the can lid and the first cylindrical portion of the cap, or simply releasing the engagement. When opening the can lid, the flange portion is in close contact with the upper end surface of the mouth portion of the can lid by pressing the push button portion of the cap attached to the mouth portion of the can lid with the finger from above. Even if the rigidity of the can lid is high, the movable connecting part can be elastically deformed with a small force regardless of that, and only the push button part and the plug part can be greatly displaced downward. The opening operation can be easily performed.
[0017]
In addition, when re-sealing the spout opened by the opening operation of the can lid with the cap, the cap attached to the mouth of the can lid is flipped downward beyond the dead point by elastic deformation of the movable connecting portion. By keeping the push button portion and the stopper portion in the lower position with respect to the second cylindrical portion, the cap flange portion is securely attached to the upper end surface of the mouth portion of the can lid, and the opening is opened. Since the stopper is fixed so that the tapered outer peripheral surface of the stopper is in close contact with the peripheral edge of the outlet, the stopper is re-sealed by the cap of the spout with very good sealing performance.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a can container with a cap for re-sealing of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an upper portion of an unopened canned beverage container with a cap attached thereto, according to an embodiment of the can container with a cap for re-sealing of the present invention.
[0020]
The can container with a cap for re-sealing is formed by detachably attaching a resin cap 3 to a portion of a can lid 2 of a metal can container 1 and re-sealing a spout that is opened after opening. The cap 3 for resealing is attached to and detached from the opening 14 formed in the can lid 2 by snap engagement so as to cover the planned opening portion formed in the central portion of the unopened can lid 2. Freely worn.
[0021]
The can container 1 having an easy-to-open can lid (easy open end) is basically a two-piece can having a conventionally known structure in which a bottom plate and a can body are integrally formed. Alternatively, it may be a three-piece can in which the bottom lid is fastened and fixed to the lower end of the cylindrical can body. A mouth portion 14 is formed so as to protrude, and a planned opening portion is formed inside the mouth portion 14.
[0022]
The can lid 2 of the can container 1 is press-molded from a flat metal plate such as an aluminum alloy provided with a resin-made inner surface coating layer made of resin paint or resin film on one surface, and is cylindrical and has an upper portion. The flange portion formed on the outer periphery of the can lid 2 is fixed to the upper end flange portion of the can body 4 that has been subjected to necking and flange processing, and the radius from the winding portion 11 of the can lid 2 is fixed. An outer circumferential groove 12 having a U-shaped cross section is formed in an annular shape below the winding fastening portion 11 inwardly in the direction.
[0023]
Further, a neck portion 13 whose diameter decreases from the inner side of the outer peripheral groove 12 toward the center portion of the can lid rises upward from the tightening portion 11. The upper end portion is an annular mouth portion 14, the upper end of the mouth portion 14 is formed as an annular flat surface (upper end surface) 14 a having a predetermined width, and a cap engaging recess 14 b is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 14. The inner side of the mouth portion 14 is closed by a central panel portion 15 that is recessed below the upper end surface of the mouth portion.
[0024]
The central panel portion 15 that closes the inside of the mouth portion 14 is formed with an annular layer portion 16 formed by folding the metal plate of the central panel portion 15 in a triple manner along a portion that is to be opened as a spout. On the lower surface side of the lowermost layer of the annular multilayer portion 16, a score 17 that becomes a weakened portion that can be broken is engraved in a substantially annular shape excluding a portion that becomes a hinge portion, and the outer side of the annular multilayer portion 16 is folded. A plastisol 18 is annularly applied to the lower surface of the can lid so as to cover both the stepped portion formed by the curved portion and the score 17.
[0025]
In addition, the bending part inside the annular | circular multilayer 16 is a part used as the peripheral part of the spout opened by the fracture | rupture of the score 17 and the plastisol 18, and the plastisol 18 which covers the score 17 from the lower side is a can body. The score 17 is prevented from breaking due to a change in internal pressure, and damage to the inner surface coating layer due to the formation of the score 17 is repaired, and the content liquid in the can enters the damaged portion of the inner surface coating layer. This is to prevent corrosion.
[0026]
By applying the plastisol 18 so as to cover the score 17 from the lower side as described above, even if the score 17 engraved as a score groove in a substantially annular shape is partially cut completely, the leakage of the content liquid is prevented. For this reason, in this embodiment, the substantially circular score 17 is engraved as a score groove so as to have a remaining thickness portion over the entire line. It is also possible to carry out by completely disconnecting from the above.
[0027]
The portion that becomes the opening piece of the central panel portion 15 that is surrounded by the breakable score 17 and that is bent at the hinge portion (the portion where the score is interrupted) when the spout is opened and pushed down into the can body includes an annular multilayer portion 16 and An annular convex portion 19 is formed in the vicinity of the score 17, and a central bulging portion 20 bulging upward is formed at a predetermined interval from the annular convex portion 19. A shallow annular groove is formed between 19 and the central bulging portion 20.
[0028]
The cap 3 that is attached to the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2 as described above is formed by integrally molding a synthetic resin material such as polyethylene resin or polypropylene resin by injection molding or the like. An annular flange portion 32 having a portion in close contact with the upper end surface 14a of the portion 14, a first cylindrical portion 31 extending downward from the flange portion 32, a second cylindrical portion 33 extending upward from the flange portion 32, and a second cylinder A cylindrical button-like push button part 36 provided concentrically and spaced apart from the cylindrical part 33 inward of the part 33, and a plug extending outward and upward from the vicinity of the lower end of the outer peripheral surface of the push button part 36 It consists of a part 35 and a movable connecting part 34 of an annular conical plate that connects the upper end of the plug part 35 and the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical part 33.
[0029]
The first cylindrical portion 31 of the cap 3 protrudes inward in the radial direction so as to snap-engage with a concave portion 14b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2 at the lower end portion of the inner peripheral surface thereof. A plurality of convex portions 31 a are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the flange portion 32 connected to the upper end of the first cylindrical portion 31 is snap-engaged with the cap 3 and the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2. In this state, the lower surface of the flange portion 32 comes into close contact with the upper end surface 14a of the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2, and the outer edge of the flange portion 32 extends further outward in the radial direction than the first cylindrical portion 31. The grip portion 37 extends to be gripped when the cap 3 is attached to and detached from the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2.
[0030]
The plug portion 35 provided at a distance from the second cylindrical portion 33 includes an upper taper portion 35a having a large inclination angle from the horizontal direction and a lower taper portion 35b having a small inclination angle from the horizontal direction. The upper end of 35a is connected to the inner peripheral edge of the movable connecting portion 34, the lower tapered portion 35b is connected to the vicinity of the lower end of the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the push button portion 36, and the tapered outer peripheral surface of the upper tapered portion 35a is connected to the tapered outer peripheral surface. A plurality of (for example, four) protrusions 35c bulging outward in the radial direction along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface at the intermediate portion in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Yes.
[0031]
In addition, about the diameter of the plug part 35, the outer diameter near the upper end of the upper taper part 35a which is the base end part is larger than the inner diameter of the peripheral part of the spout (the bent part inside the annular multilayer part 16), And the outer diameter of the lower end (upper end of the lower taper part 35b) of the upper taper part 35a is smaller than the internal diameter of the peripheral part of a spout.
[0032]
Further, the protrusions 35c are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction at locations where the outer diameter of the tapered outer peripheral surface of the upper tapered portion 35a is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the peripheral portion of the spout, The maximum outer diameter of the protrusion 35c bulging from the tapered outer peripheral surface is larger than the inner diameter of the peripheral edge of the spout.
[0033]
The cylindrical lower end portion 36a of the push button portion 36 continuing downward from the lower end of the lower tapered portion 35b of the stopper portion 35 has an inner diameter and an outer diameter formed in the opening piece portion of the central panel portion 15 of the can lid 2. Further, it is designed to enter a shallow annular groove between the annular convex portion 19 and the central bulging portion 20.
[0034]
Regarding the thickness of each part of the cap 3, the first cylindrical portion 31 is formed to have a thickness having elasticity and rigidity suitable for snap engagement with the mouth portion 14, and the flange portion 32, the second cylindrical portion 33, and the push button. The plug portion 35 is formed to have a highly rigid wall thickness (thick wall portion) that hardly deforms elastically, and the plug portion 35 is an elastic material that can be slightly deformed so that the protruding portion 35c can forcibly get over the peripheral edge of the spout. The shape of the movable connecting portion 34 of the annular conical plate extending from the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 33 to the upper end of the plug portion 35 can be maintained for the time being. And it is formed in the comparatively thin thickness (thin part) which is easy to elastically deform easily.
[0035]
Accordingly, the push button portion 36 and the plug portion 35 are integrally moved in the vertical direction with respect to the second cylindrical portion 33, thereby moving the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 33 and the upper end of the plug portion 35. The connecting part 34 exceeds the dead point with the position where the connecting part on the second cylindrical part 33 side and the connecting part on the plug part 35 side become the same height as the stopper part 35 moves in the vertical direction. Inverted by the above, a mountain-shaped annular cone extending obliquely upward from the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 33 and a bowl-shaped annular cone extending obliquely downward from the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 33 It is displaced to any shape.
[0036]
In the state where the movable connecting portion 34 is inverted upward and extends obliquely upward from the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 33, and the push button portion 36 and the plug portion 35 are in the upper position, the push button portion 36 and the plug portion Each upper end of 35 is lower than the upper end of the second cylindrical portion 33, and does not protrude upward from the second cylindrical portion 33. The height of each upper end of the push button portion 36 and the plug portion 35 may be the same height as the upper end of the second cylindrical portion 33, but as shown in the drawing, the height is higher than the upper end of the second cylindrical portion 33. It is desirable to keep it low.
[0037]
2 (A) and 2 (B) show the use state of the can container with a cap for resealing of the present embodiment provided with the can lid 2 and the cap 3 as described above, and FIG. 3 (A). (B) is an enlarged view of the main part of each use state shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B), and (A) is before opening (the spout is not opened). The state is shown, and (B) shows a state after opening (the opened spout is resealed by the cap).
[0038]
For the can container with a cap for re-sealing before use, as shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 3 (A), the movable connecting portion 34 is a second cylindrical portion with respect to the unopened can lid 2. The cap 3 extending obliquely upward from 33 and having the push button portion 36 and the plug portion 35 in the upper position is formed with an engaging convex portion 31 a and a mouth portion 14 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion 31. Is attached to the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2 in a detachable manner by snap engagement with a concave portion 14b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the can lid 2.
[0039]
In addition, in order to prevent beverages from being canned with such a can container with a cap for re-sealing, the cap 3 will not be mischievous by dust adhering to the cap 3 during store display or by removing the cap 3 without permission. A part or the whole of the can container including 3 may be shrink-wrapped with a transparent or opaque heat-shrinkable plastic film or the like.
[0040]
In this state, the lower surface of the flange portion 32 of the cap 3 is in close contact with the upper end surface of the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2, and the cylindrical lower end portion 36 a of the push button portion 36 of the cap 3 The upper surface of the central panel portion 15 is positioned above the shallow annular groove between the annular convex portion 19 and the central bulging portion 20 formed in the opening piece portion of the central panel portion 15 inside the mouth portion 14. Lightly touching.
[0041]
From such an unused (unopened) state, in order to open the can lid 2 and first open the spout, if it is shrink-wrapped, first remove the packaging, and then simply leave the cap 3 By simply pressing the push button part 36 from above with a finger and pushing it down, the part of the opening piece surrounded by the score 17 of the center panel part 15 is pushed down by the cylindrical lower end part 36a of the push button part 36. As shown in FIG. 2 (B) and FIG. 3 (B), the score 17 is broken, the plastisol 18 is torn off, and the portion of the opening piece is pushed down into the can.
[0042]
At that time, since the score 17 is formed in a substantially circular shape except for a portion that becomes a hinge portion (that is, there is a portion where the score 17 is not formed in the circular portion by the score 17), the portion is a hinge portion. As shown in FIG. 2B, the portion of the opening piece pushed downward from the central panel portion 15 is suspended in the can body by the hinge portion.
[0043]
As such, the score 17 and the plastisol 18 are broken, and the portion of the opening piece of the central panel portion 15 is pushed down and suspended, so that the portion surrounded by the score 17 of the central panel portion 15 is opened as a spout, and the score A bent portion on the inner side of the annular multi-layered portion 16 projecting slightly inward from 17 is a peripheral portion of the spout.
[0044]
In addition, when the push button portion 36 of the cap 3 is pressed, the movable connecting portion 34 is reversed downward beyond the dead point, and the push button portion 36 and the plug portion 35 are opened in a state where they are displaced downward. As shown in FIG. 3B, the spout has a close contact between the flange portion 32 of the cap 3 and the upper end surface 14a of the mouth portion 14, and the tapered outer peripheral surface of the upper tapered portion 35a of the plug portion 35 and the can. Since the inner bent portion of the annular multilayer portion 16 of the lid 2 is in close contact, it has already been resealed, and by removing the cap 3 from the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2, Resealing is released and the consumer can drink the beverage from the mouth 14 of the can lid 2 through the open spout.
[0045]
Thereafter, when the spout is resealed with the beverage left in the can container 1, the cap 3 is attached to the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2 by snap engagement, and then the protrusion of the plug portion 35. As shown in FIG. 3 (B), the push button portion 36 is lightly pressed downward with a finger so that the portion 35c gets over the inner bent portion of the annular multilayer portion 16, and the movable connecting portion 34 is The projection 35c is turned downward, and the projection 35c is engaged with the inner bent portion of the annular multilayer portion 16 from below, so that the push button portion 36 and the plug portion 35 are reliably displaced to the lower position.
[0046]
According to the can container with a reseal cap of the present embodiment as described above, when the cap 3 is attached to and detached from the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2, the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2 is in any case. The cap 3 can be easily attached and detached with one touch only by snap engagement of the concave portion 14b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cap and the engaging convex portion 31a formed on the inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion 31 of the cap 3. Can do.
[0047]
Further, when the can lid 2 is opened, the push button portion 36 of the cap 3 is pressed with a finger from above without removing the cap 3 already attached to the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2. Thus, the cylindrical lower end portion 36a of the push button portion 36 can be largely moved downward with a small force, and the operation of pushing the opening piece downward while breaking the score 17 can be easily performed via the cap 3. The can lid 2 can be opened and the spout can be opened without fouling the finger with the contents beverage or injuring the finger or the nail at the broken end of the score 17.
[0048]
And after opening the can lid 2, when removing the cap 3 from the mouth part 14 of the can lid 2 and drinking the drink of the contents of the can container 1, the mouth part 14 of the can lid 2 protrudes upwards. Therefore, compared to a can container with a normal easy open can lid where the pouring part is formed below the tightening part of the can lid, when drinking with a mouth directly on the can container, The nose can be easily drunk without hitting the winding part or the lid plate surface or spilling the drink, and also when drinking in a cup etc., without spilling when pouring the drink into the cup etc. Can be poured out easily.
[0049]
Further, when the beverage 14 is left unfilled and the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2 is resealed by the cap 3, the close contact between the upper end surface of the mouth portion 14 and the flange portion 32 of the cap, and the stopper portion 35 (upper taper portion 35a). ) And the peripheral edge of the spout (the inner bent portion of the annular multi-layered portion 16) can be double sealed. In particular, the plug portion 35 and the push button portion 36 are vertically The flange portion 32 has a high rigidity and is difficult to be elastically deformed even though it is configured to be greatly movable, so that the beverage does not leak due to the deformation of the flange portion 32. The sealed state by adhesion between the lower surface of 32 and the upper end surface of the mouth portion 14 of the can lid 2 is reliably maintained.
[0050]
Further, since the plug portion 35 is displaced to the lower position due to the downward reversal of the movable connecting portion 34, the plug portion 35 is lifted, and the peripheral portion of the spout (the inner bent portion of the annular multilayer portion 16) and the plug The portion 35 (the tapered outer peripheral surface of the upper tapered portion 35a) is hardly loosened, and the sealed state by the close contact between the tapered outer peripheral surface of the plug portion 35 and the peripheral portion of the spout is reliably maintained. Therefore, each of the double sealing of the flange portion 32 and the plug portion 35 is surely performed, and the re-sealing by the cap 3 can be performed with extremely good sealing performance.
[0051]
In the present embodiment, the protrusion 35c is integrally formed on the tapered outer peripheral surface of the stopper portion 35 (upper tapered portion 35a), and the stopper portion 35 is displaced to the lower position so that the tapered outer peripheral surface is covered with the can lid. 2 so that the protrusion 35c gets over the peripheral edge of the spout and engages with the peripheral edge from the lower side when it is brought into intimate contact with the peripheral edge of the spout 2 (the inner bent portion of the annular multilayer portion 16). Therefore, even when the beverage left over contains carbon dioxide gas and the internal pressure of the can which has been resealed is increased, the stopper 35 is lifted upward by the internal pressure of the can. Thus, it is reliably prevented that the contact state is loosened.
[0052]
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the score 17 that is the weakened portion of the can lid 2 is formed in the lowermost layer of the annular multilayer portion 16 of the central panel portion 15, and the inner bent portion of the multilayer portion 16 is more than the score 17. Since it protrudes inward and becomes the peripheral portion of the spout opening opened by breaking the score 17, even if a consumer's finger or the like touches the peripheral portion of the spout, there is no injury from the broken end of the score 17 .
[0053]
Further, in the present embodiment, the score 17 is covered with the plastisol 18 from the inner surface of the can lid, so that the score 17 can be prevented from being broken due to a change in the internal pressure of the can body. In addition, the damage to the inner surface coating layer is repaired to prevent corrosion of the can lid caused by the beverage in the can entering the damaged portion of the inner surface coating layer, and the score 17 engraved in a substantially annular shape is partially partially complete Even if it is cut into pieces, it is possible to prevent the beverage from leaking from the cut portions.
[0054]
Further, in the present embodiment, even when the push button portion 36 and the plug portion 35 of the cap 3 are in the upper position, their upper ends do not protrude above the upper end of the second cylindrical portion 33 (first For example, other canned foods or the like from the top of the cap 3 which is attached to the can lid 2 of the unopened can container 1 during the display of goods at the store, etc. Even in the case where they are piled up easily, it is possible to prevent the load from being applied directly to the push button portion 36 and the plug portion 35 by the upper end of the second cylindrical portion 33 receiving the load, and as a result, it is not intended. Opening of the can lid 2 can be prevented.
[0055]
Moreover, in this embodiment, in the part used as the opening piece of the center panel part 15, the substantially cyclic | annular convex part 19 close | similar to the cyclic | annular multilayer part 16, and the center bulged with the said cyclic | annular convex part 19 spaced apart by predetermined spacing By forming the bulging portion 20, the rigidity of the portion that becomes the opening piece is increased, and when the can lid 2 is opened, the pressing force by the cylindrical lower end portion 36 a of the push button portion 36 is reduced. By effectively transmitting to the surrounding score 17, the score 17 can be reliably cut and the opening piece pressed down when the can lid 2 is opened.
[0056]
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of the can container with the cap for resealing of this invention was described, this invention is not restricted to the above embodiments, For example, about the 2nd cylindrical part of a cap, it is a flange. As long as it extends upward from the part, the position may be on the extension line of the first cylindrical part or outside the first cylindrical part, and the first cylindrical part of the cap and the can lid The engagement of the mouth portion is not limited to the snap engagement by the concave portion of the mouth portion and the convex portion for engagement of the cap as shown in the above embodiment, but, for example, a ridge inclined to the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion Are provided at equal intervals, and on the other hand, the inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical part is provided with a convex part or an inclined convex line, and the cap is placed on the mouth part of the can lid and rotated to screw them together. You may make it engage.
[0057]
In addition, the weakened portion for partitioning the opening piece is a score groove having a remaining thickness portion over the entire line in the above embodiment, but by applying a sealing agent such as resin (plastisol), In order to improve the openability, it is also possible to carry out by completely cutting a part of the score groove from the beginning. Furthermore, the metal plate is formed into a predetermined shape while leaving the hinge part. Needless to say, it is possible to change the design as appropriate, such as by cutting and then joining and sealing the cut part with a sealing agent such as resin (plastisol) to form a weakened part. Nor.
[0058]
【The invention's effect】
According to the can container with a resealing cap of the present invention as described above, the cap can be easily attached to and detached from the can lid by engaging the inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion of the cap and the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion of the can lid. In addition, when opening the can lid, simply press the push button part of the cap attached to the can lid with the finger as it is from above, and the finger is soiled with the content liquid or at the cut end when opening. It can be easily opened through the cap with relatively little force without injuring fingers or nails, and when the cap of the can lid where the spout is opened is resealed with the cap. The close contact between the upper end surface of the mouth portion of the can lid and the flange portion of the cap is ensured, and the close contact between the spout of the can lid and the cap portion of the cap is ensured. Reseal with a cap with good sealing performance It is possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the upper part of an unopened can container with a cap attached thereto according to an embodiment of the can container with a cap for re-sealing of the present invention.
2 shows the state of use of the can container with a cap for re-sealing shown in FIG. 1; (A) the spout is unopened before use, and (B) the opened spout is re-sealed by the cap. Sectional drawing which shows the state which has each.
3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part partially enlarged for each of the use states (A) and (B) shown in FIG. 2;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Can container
2 Can lid
3 cap
4 Can body
15 Central panel (of the can lid)
14 Mouth (of can lid)
16 Annular multilayer (in the center panel)
17 Score (weakening part)
18 Plastisol (resin)
19 Annular projection (in the center panel)
20 Center bulge (in the center panel)
31 First cylindrical part (of cap)
32 Flange (of cap)
33 Second cylindrical part (of cap)
34 Movable connecting part (of cap)
35 (cap) plug
35c (plug part) protrusion
36 Push button part (of cap)
36a Cylindrical lower end (of push button part)

Claims

A can lid that is fastened and fixed to the upper end of the can body is integrally formed with a mouth portion that protrudes upward and is closed by a central panel portion, and is surrounded by the upper end surface of the mouth portion and below the upper end surface. A portion surrounded by the weakened part while breaking the weakened part against the metal can container in which the weakened part that can be broken in a substantially annular shape except the part that becomes the hinge part is formed in the recessed central panel part With the cap for resealing, the cap made of resin for resealing the opened spout is removably attached to the mouth of the can lid. In a can container,
An annular flange portion having a portion where the cap is in close contact with the upper end surface of the mouth portion, a first cylindrical portion extending downward from the flange portion and having an engagement portion with the mouth portion formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof, and a flange A second cylindrical portion that extends upward from the cylindrical portion, a cylindrical button-like push button portion that is provided inward of the second cylindrical portion and concentrically with the cylindrical portion, and from the vicinity of the lower end of the push button portion A plug part extending outward and upward, and a movable connecting part of a thin annular conical plate that connects the upper end of the plug part and the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical part, are integrally formed,
With respect to the second cylindrical part fixed by the cap being attached to the mouth part of the can lid, the push button part and the stopper part are moved upward and downward by reversing in the vertical direction by elastic deformation of the movable connecting part. It is formed so as to be integrally displaced at any of the positions,
When the cap is attached to the mouth of the can lid, when the push button part and the stopper part are in the upper position, the cylindrical lower end of the push button part is above the part surrounded by the weakened part of the central panel part. In the state where the push button portion and the plug portion are in the lower position, the tapered outer peripheral surface of the plug portion is configured to be in close contact with the peripheral portion of the opened spout. A can container with a cap for resealing.

The weakened part formed in the central panel part of the can lid is formed in the lowermost layer of the annular multi-layered part in which the central panel part is folded in three along the part serving as the spout, and from the inner side of the can lid The can with a cap for re-sealing according to claim 1, wherein the can is covered with a resin, and a bent portion inside the annular multilayer portion projects inward from the weakened portion to become a peripheral portion of the spout. container.

A portion surrounded by the weakened portion of the central panel portion of the can lid is formed with a substantially annular convex portion adjacent to the weakened portion and a central bulging portion that bulges with a predetermined distance from the convex portion. When the cap with the push button part and the stopper part in the upper position is attached to the mouth of the unopened can lid, the cylindrical lower end part of the push button part is between the annular convex part and the central bulge part. The can container with a cap for re-sealing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein

The push button portion and the plug portion of the cap are such that even when they are in the upper position, their upper ends are so high that they do not protrude upward from the upper end of the second cylindrical portion. Item 4. A can container with a cap for resealing according to any one of Items 1 to 3.

The tapered outer peripheral surface of the cap portion is integrally formed with a protruding portion that bulges outward along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface at an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the outer peripheral surface. When the portion is displaced downward and its tapered outer peripheral surface is brought into close contact with the peripheral portion of the spout, the protrusion of the plug portion gets over the peripheral portion of the spout and engages with the peripheral portion from below. The can container with a cap for resealing according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the can container is configured as described above.