Recording head protective cap, inkjet recording apparatus using the same, and method of producing the same

A protective cap for an inkjet recording apparatus including a recording head having an ejection surface in which open ends of a plurality of nozzles are arranged in a row, the protective cap adapted to cover the row of the open ends of the nozzles such that a sealed space is formed inside the protective cap, and comprising:

• a mainbody formed of a first material mainly composed of thermoplastic elastomer and containing butyl rubber, the first material having a hardness of a first degree, the mainbody including:
• a base portion;
• and
• a protruding portion formed integrally with the base portion to protrude from the base portion;
• and
• an elastic lip portion formed of a second material mainly composed of thermoplastic elastomer and containing butyl rubber, the second material having a hardness of a second degree which is lower than the first degree, and the lip portion being disposed on both the protruding portion and the base portion to cover both an entirety of the protruding portion and the base portion,
• wherein the lip portion is configured to contact the ejection surface such that a space defined by the base portion, the protruding portion, and the ejection surface is sealed.