Replacement cap for vessel

[0001] This application claims all benefits accruing under Paris Convention from the Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-29678, filed on Feb. 6, 2002.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a replacement cap, which is used by being mounted on a mouth portion of a vessel such as a PET bottle.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Conventionally, as a replacement cap of this type, the replacement cap disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2001-80664 has been known publicly.

[0006] The replacement cap described in the above Publication is constructed so that a cap in which at least two through holes are open is mounted on a mouth portion of a PET bottle so that a straw or a tube can be inserted in the mouth portion of the PET bottle, one through hole being formed so that a straw or a tube can be inserted, and the other through hole being provided with a detachable seal. When a liquid in the PET bottle is drunk by using a straw or a tube, by detaching the seal, air is supplied into the PET bottle through the through hole, so that the liquid in the vessel can be drunk smoothly.

[0007] When the liquid in the PET bottle is not drunk, by closing the through hole by the seal, the liquid in the bottle does not leak through the through hole even if the PET bottle falls down.

[0008] For the replacement cap of a type such that the through hole for supplying air into the PET bottle is closed by the detachable seal as in the case of the replacement cap described in the aforementioned Publication, however, in the case where the detachment and attachment of the seal are repeated, the seal cannot be used for a long time because of a decrease in bonding force of seal. In addition, the PET bottle in which the through hole is closed by a seal whose bonding force has been decreased falls down, the liquid in the bottle leaks, and hence the leaking liquid soils clothes etc.

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and accordingly an object thereof is to provide a replacement cap for a vessel, which is constructed so that even if the vessel falls down, a liquid in the vessel does not leak and is capable of being used for a long period of time.

[0010] To attain the above object, the present invention provides a replacement cap for a vessel, which is configured so that the replacement cap has a cap body mounted on a mouth portion of the vessel so as to be replaceable and a tube provided on the cap body, and the cap body has an air supply port penetrating the inside and outside faces of the cap body and valve means which is provided in the air supply port so as to be capable of opening and closing the air supply port according to the sucking operation of the tube.

[0011] According to this configuration, since the valve means enables the air supply port in the cap body to be opened and closed according to the sucking operation of the tube, for example, by mounting the cap body on the mouth portion of the vessel, a liquid in the vessel can be drunk by sucking the tip end of the tube. Further, when the interior of the vessel becomes at a negative pressure according to the sucking operation of the tube, the valve means is opened to supply the outside air into the vessel, so that the liquid in the vessel can be drunk smoothly.

[0012] To attain the above object, the present invention provides a replacement cap for a vessel, in which a cap body is mounted on a mouth portion of the vessel so as to be replaceable so that a liquid in the vessel can be drunk through a tube provided on the cap body, wherein the cap body is provided with an air supply port having cup-shaped valve means which is closed normally and is opened to supply the outside air into the vessel when the interior of the vessel becomes at a negative pressure.

[0013] According to this configuration, not only the liquid in the vessel can be drunk by sucking the tip end of the tube but also the liquid in the vessel can be drunk smoothly because the valve means is opened to supply the outside air into the vessel when the interior of the vessel becomes at a negative pressure.

[0014] Also, since the air supply port is normally closed by the valve means, even if the vessel is laid down or turned down mistakenly, the liquid in the vessel does not leak from the suction port, so that there is no fear that the leaking liquid soils clothes etc.

[0015] To attain the above object, in the replacement cap for a vessel in accordance with the present invention, the valve means is composed of a valve element which has elasticity and is provided with an air hole in the top portion thereof and a protrusion which opens and closes the air hole.

[0016] According to this configuration, even if the valve element opens and closes repeatedly, the sealing function of the valve element does not decrease. Therefore, the replacement cap can be used for a long period of time, and can be provided at a low cost because the valve means has a simple construction.

[0017] To attain the above object, in the replacement cap for a vessel in accordance with the present invention, the tube is composed of an internal tube and an external tube, and the internal and external tubes are connected to tube connecting portions projectingly provided on the inside and outside of the cap body, respectively.

[0018] According to this configuration, there is no need for forming a through hole for inserting the tube in the cap body, so that there is no fear that the liquid in the vessel leaks from the through hole.

[0019] To attain the above object, in the replacement cap for a vessel in accordance with the present invention, the length of the internal tube is set so that the tip end of the internal tube reaches a position near the inside bottom portion of the vessel, and a sucking member installed at the tip end of the external tube consists of a nipple.

[0020] According to this configuration, the liquid in the vessel can be drunk without leaving the liquid, and also the liquid in the vessel that is contained in a rucksack etc. can be drunk by increasing the length of the external tube. Further, even a patient etc. who are in a bedridden state can drink the liquid in the vessel through the external tube without raising himself/herself Therefore, the replacement cap for a vessel in accordance with the present invention can contribute greatly to nursing of a sick person.

[0021] To attain the above object, in the replacement cap for a vessel in accordance with the present invention, a nipple is installed at the tip end of the external tube.

[0022] According to this configuration, by mounting the cap body on a nursing bottle, the replacement cap can be used to feed milk to an infant. Also, since the infant takes down less air due to the internal tube reaching the inside bottom portion of the vessel, there is scarcely a need for belching after feeding milk.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a state in which a replacement cap for a vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the vessel;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a top view of a replacement cap for a vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a replacement cap for a vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in circle B of FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state in which a sucking member is covered with a cover installed on a tube provided on a replacement cap for a vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 7 is an explanatory view for illustrating the operation of a replacement cap for a vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0030] FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a nipple is installed on a tube provided on a replacement cap for a vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a vessel on which a replacement cap is mounted, FIG. 2 is a top view of the replacement cap, FIG. 3 is a bottom view thereof, FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in circle B of FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state in which a sucking member is covered with a cover installed on a tube, FIG. 7 is an explanatory view for illustrating the operation of the replacement cap, and FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a nipple is installed on the tube provided on the replacement cap.

[0033] A vessel 1 shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, a PET bottle formed of, for example, a synthetic resin. For the vessel 1, a mouth portion 1a is provided at the upper part thereof, and a replacement cap body (hereinafter referred simply as to a cap body) 2 is detachably mounted on a screw portion 1b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 1a.

[0034] The cap body 2 is formed into a short cylindrical shape such that the upper face thereof is closed, and the lower face is open. The whole of the cap body 2 is integrally formed of a synthetic resin, and a screw portion 2a which is threadedly engaged with the screw portion 1b formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 1a is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cap body 2.

[0035] In the upper face of the cap body 2, a suction port 3 and an air supply port 4 are formed at positions, which are opposed to each other on the opposite sides of the center of the cap body 2.

[0036] The suction port 3 is composed of an internal tube connecting portion 3a projectingly provided on the lower face of the cap body 2 in such a manner as to be substantially vertical and an external tube connecting portion 3b projectingly provided on the upper face of the cap body 2 in such a manner as to be substantially horizontal, and a flow path 3c is formed substantially into an L shape in the internal and external tube connecting portions 3a and 3b.

[0037] A tube 5 for sucking a drinking liquid contained in the vessel 1 includes an internal tube 5a one end side of which is fitted on the internal tube connecting portion 3a and the other end side of which reaches a position near the inside bottom portion of the vessel 1 and an external tube 5b one end side of which is fitted on the external tube connecting portion 3b and the other end side of which is connected with a sucking member 6, and is formed of a soft tube such as a silicone tube. The external tube 5b is configured so that the length thereof can be changed arbitrarily in such a manner that the liquid in the vessel 1 can be drunk even in a state in which the vessel 1 is contained in, for example, a rucksack.

[0038] The sucking member 6 connected to the other end of the external tube 5b is composed of a mouthpiece 6a formed of a soft material such as silicone and a tube connecting element 6b.

[0039] The mouthpiece 6a is projectingly provided with a lip portion 6c, which is formed into a substantially elliptical shape, in the tip end portion thereof as shown in FIG. 4. The lip portion 6c is put into a mouth and pressed vertically, by which a slit 6d formed in front is opened so that the liquid in the vessel 1 can be sucked. A cylindrical portion 6f, which is provided on one end side of the tube connecting element 6b, is fitted in a cylindrical portion 6e, which is projectingly provided on the back face side of the mouthpiece 6a, in a liquid-tight manner.

[0040] The other end of the external tube 5b is fitted on a connecting portion 6g projectingly provided on the other end side of the tube connecting element 6b.

[0041] If a cover 8 which can be opened and closed freely as shown in FIG. 6 is installed on the external tube 5b in advance, the sucking member 6 is housed in the cover 8 when the liquid in the vessel 1 is not drunk, by which dust, various bacteria, etc. are prevented from adhering to the sucking member 6. Therefore, this configuration is hygienic.

[0042] The air supply port 4 provided in the cap body 2 has an air supply hole 4a penetrating the upper and lower faces of the cap body 2. In an opening on the upper face side of the air supply hole 4a, a cross-shaped rib 4b is provided to prevent foreign matters from entering.

[0043] In an opening on the lower face side of the air supply hole 4a, a cylindrical projecting portion 4c is projectingly provided at the periphery of the opening, and valve means 10 is housed in the projecting portion 4c.

[0044] The valve means 10 is composed of a thin film-shaped valve element 10a formed of silicone rubber and a needle-shaped protrusion 10b projectingly provided on the lower face of the cross-shaped rib 4b.

[0045] The valve element 10a is formed into a cup shape whose upper face is closed as shown in FIG. 5. The top portion of the valve element 10a is formed with an air hole 10c which is opened and closed by the protrusion 10b, and a flange portion 10d projectingly provided in the lower end portion of the valve element 10a is held between the lower end of the projecting portion 4c and a pressing cap 11 mounted at the outer periphery of the projecting portion 4c. In the bottom face of the pressing cap 11 is formed an opening 11a having a diameter approximately equal to the inside diameter of the projecting portion 4c.

[0046] Next, the operation of the replacement cap constructed as described above will be explained.

[0047] In the case where the replacement cap is used by mounting the cap body 2 on the mouth portion 1a of the vessel 1 such as a commercially available PET bottle, an existing cap (not shown) having been installed on the mouth portion 1a of the vessel 1 is first removed, and the cap body 2 is mounted on the mouth portion 1a.

[0048] At this time, the length of the internal tube 5a having been installed in advance on the lower face of the cap body 2 is made a length such that the tip end of the internal tube 5a reaches the inside bottom portion of the vessel 1, whereby the liquid in the vessel 1 can be drunk without leaving the liquid. In the case where the vessel 1 is a nursing bottle for feeding milk, an infant does not take down air together with the liquid, so that there is scarcely a need for belching after feeding milk.

[0049] Also, the external tube 5b installed on the upper face side of the cap body 2 can have a length suitable for an environment in which the liquid in the vessel 1 is drunk. When the liquid in the vessel 1 is drunk, the sucking member 6 is taken out of the cover 8 and the mouthpiece 6a is held in the mouth, and the liquid is sucked while the mouthpiece 6a is pressed vertically with the lips.

[0050] Thereby, the liquid in the vessel 1 can be drunk, and also as the interior of the vessel 1 becomes at a negative pressure, the valve element 10a having been in a position indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. 7 is elastically deformed to a position indicated by a solid line so that the air hole 10c having been closed by the protrusion 10b is opened and hence the outside air is supplied into the vessel 1 through the air hole 10c, by which the liquid in the vessel 1 can be drunk smoothly.

[0051] When the drinking of the liquid in the vessel 1 is stopped, the valve element 10a returns to the position indicated by the imaginary line in FIG. 7, and hence the air hole 10c in the valve element 10a is closed by the protrusion 10b. Therefore, even if the vessel 1 is laid down or turned down mistakenly, the liquid in the vessel 1 does not leak from the suction port 4.

[0052] In the above-described embodiment, explanation has been given of the case where the replacement cap is used by mounting the cap body 2 on the mouth portion 1a of the vessel 1 such as a PET bottle. However, the replacement cap can also be used for feeding milk by installing a nipple 12 as shown in FIG. 8 at the tip end of the external tube 5b and mounting the cap body 2 on the mouth portion of a nursing bottle.

[0053] Although the cap body 2 is mounted on the mouth portion 1a of the vessel 1 such as a PET bottle in the above-described embodiment, the vessel 1 of PET bottle sometimes has the mouth portion 1a with a different diameter. In this case, it is a matter of course that the same effect can be achieved by providing an adapter fit for that diameter and connecting the cap body 2 to the mouth portion 1a via this adapter.

[0054] Also, although the tube 5 is formed of a silicone material in the above-described embodiment, the tube 5 may be formed of a soft elastomer or the like.

[0055] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the external tube 5b may be too long and be a hindrance. In such a case, the end portion of the external tube 5b is fixed on the clothing or the like with a fixing member such as a clip, by which the external tube 5b can be prevented from being a hindrance.

[0056] As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the cap body of the replacement cap, which is constructed so that the liquid in the vessel can be drunk through the tube, is provided with the air supply port having the valve means which is closed normally and is opened to supply the outside air into the vessel when the interior of the vessel becomes at a negative pressure. Therefore, not only the liquid in the vessel can be drunk by sucking the tip end of the tube but also the liquid in the vessel can be drunk smoothly because the valve means is opened to supply the outside air into the vessel when the interior of the vessel becomes at a negative pressure. In addition, since the air supply port is normally closed by the valve means, even if the vessel is laid down or turned down mistakenly, the liquid in the vessel does not leak, so that there is no fear that the leaking liquid soils clothes etc.

[0057] Also, since the valve means is composed of the valve element that has elasticity and is provided with the air hole in the top portion thereof and the protrusion that opens and closes the air hole, even if the valve element opens and closes repeatedly, the sealing function of the valve element does not decrease. Therefore, the replacement cap can be used for a long period of time, and can be provided at a low cost because the valve means has a simple construction. Also, since the tube is composed of the internal tube and the external tube, and the internal and external tubes are connected to the tube connecting portions projectingly provided on the inside and outside of the cap body, respectively, there is no need for forming a through hole. Therefore, there is no fear that the liquid in the vessel leaks out through the through hole.

[0058] Further, since the length of the internal tube is set so that the tip end of the internal tube reaches a position near the inside bottom portion of the vessel, and the sucking member is installed at the tip end of the external tube, the liquid in the vessel can be drunk without leaving the liquid, and also the liquid in the vessel that is contained in a rucksack etc. can be drunk by increasing the length of the external tube.

[0059] Moreover, if a nipple is installed at the tip end of the external tube, by mounting the cap body on a nursing bottle, the replacement cap can be used to feed milk to an infant. Also, since the infant takes down less air due to the internal tube reaching the inside bottom portion of the vessel, there is scarcely a need for belching after feeding milk.