Patent Application
20140197203
The present invention relates to a gasket for a spout and, more particularly, to a gasket for a spout of a thermos bottle for preventing the spout from being damaged by the heat and prolonging the service life of the spout while providing an appearance quality.
A conventional thermos bottle generally includes a body and a spout. A metal container is mounted in the body and has an opening in an upper end thereof. An insulating layer is mounted around the container. The spout is made of plastic and mounted on top of the body. The spout includes a recessed portion in a center thereof. The recessed portion includes a through-hole aligned with the opening of the container, allowing hot water to be filled into the container through the through-hole. The through-hole of the spout is sealed by a cap. A user can detach the spout from the body for cleaning the container.
However, a periphery of the through-hole of the plastic spout contacts the hot water while filling the hot water into the container. The periphery of the through-hole of the plastic spout deteriorates, blanches, and corrodes after a period of time, providing poor appearance quality and having a shortened service life.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a gasket for a spout of a thermos bottle to prevent the spout from being damaged by the heat and prolonging the service life of the spout.
A thermos bottle according to the present invention includes a body having a container made of metal. The container includes an opening in an upper end thereof. A spout made of plastic is mounted on top of the body. The spout includes a recessed portion in a center thereof. The recessed portion includes a bottom having a through-hole aligned with the opening of the container. The bottom of the recessed portion includes an upper face having an annular area surrounding the through-hole. A gasket made of metal includes an annular portion having a hollow. The gasket is mounted in the recessed portion of the spout. The hollow of the gasket is aligned with the through-hole of the spout. The annular portion rests on the annular area of the upper face of the bottom of the recessed portion.
Preferably, the annular portion of the gasket includes inner and outer peripheries and an upper surface extending between the inner and outer peripheries. The upper surface slopes downward from the outer periphery towards the inner periphery.
Preferably, the gasket is integrally formed with the spout by molding injection.
Preferably, a hook extends downward from each of the inner and outer peripheries and is engaged with the annular area of the upper face of the bottom of the recessed portion.
The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.
With reference to
The gasket 3 is made of metal and includes an annular portion 31 having a hollow 32. The gasket 3 is mounted in the recessed portion 21 of the spout 2. The hollow 32 of the gasket 3 is aligned with the through-hole 22 of the spout 2. The annular portion 31 rests on the annular area of the upper face of the bottom of the recessed portion 21. The annular portion 31 of the gasket 3 includes an inner periphery 312 and an outer periphery 311. The annular portion 31 of the gasket 3 further includes an upper surface extending between the inner and outer peripheries 312 and 311. The upper surface slopes downward from the outer periphery 311 towards the inner periphery 312. A hook 313, 314 extends downward from each of the inner and outer peripheries 312 and 311. Each hook 313, 314 engages with the annular area of the upper face of the bottom of the recessed portion 21.
The gasket 3 can be integrally formed with the spout 2 by molding injection. The gasket 3 is placed in a mold for the spout 2. Then, the plastic material for the spout 2 is filled into the mold. The plastic material engages with a lower surface of the gasket 32 and the hooks 313 and 314 when the plastic material takes shape. Furthermore, the annular portion 31 of the gasket 3 locates on the annular area of the upper face of the bottom of the recessed portion 21. The hooks 313 and 314 provide enhanced engagement effect.
With reference to
In view of the foregoing, the gasket 3 effectively avoids deterioration of the surface of the plastic spout 2 to prolong the service life while providing enhanced appearance quality. The gasket 3 can be fixed to the spout 2 by other provisions, such as gluing.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.
