Container with elastic sieve

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container (1) with an elastic sieve (32) having a container body with an opening inside it for extracting the contents; an external lid (2) that seals the opening, removably attached to the container body; a sieve (32) made of an elastic mesh material arranged to cover the opening; and a mesh adjustment mechanism for adjusting the mesh size of the sieve. The mesh adjustment mechanism includes a movable element (5) and a fixed element (42b). With a direction normal to the plane in which the sieve is stretched as a vertical direction, the movable element has a portion that comes into contact in an annular shape with the peripheral edge of the top surface of the sieve and makes the portion movable in the vertical direction relative to the opening. The fixed element is attached to the opening while fixing a vertical position of the movable element.Figure for the abridged version: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Container with elastic sieve technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container with an elastic sieve.

[0002] Description of related art

[0003] There are containers for cosmetic powder in which a sieve is placed in the opening or mouth of the container body in which the contents are stored. The sieves for these containers are made of an elastic mesh material. The sieve is provided, for example, in an inner cover fitted into the container body, the sieve being stretched over a frame and the inner cover fitted into the opening of the container body. The contents of the container body are then extracted through the sieve. In some cases, the powder storage container is equipped with a sieve in which the mesh density varies according to the particular location on the sieve, so that the amount of extracted contents can be regulated.

[0004] In an ordinary container equipped with a sieve, the mesh density is uniform over the entire surface when no external force is applied to the sieve. Therefore, the force required to press the contents below the sieve relative to the upper part of the sieve must be adjusted to regulate the amount of extracted content.

[0005] On the other hand, in the powder storage container equipped with a sieve in which the mesh density changes continuously from a coarse mesh to a fine mesh, the change of position on the surface of the sieve where the contents are extracted allows the quantity of extracted contents to be regulated.

[0006] To regulate the amount of extracted contents, however, it is necessary in such a container to extract the contents from a limited area of ​​the total sieve area where the mesh has an appropriate density. As a result, it is naturally difficult to quickly extract a sufficient quantity of contents. Furthermore, it is also difficult to prevent leakage of contents from other areas of the sieve. Moreover, with such a powder storage container, the smaller the area of ​​the container opening in which the sieve is stretched, the more significant the problem described above becomes. SUMMARY

[0007] Therefore, one object of this disclosure is to provide a container with an elastic sieve that allows the amount of extracted content to be easily regulated.

[0008] To achieve the objective described above, one aspect of the present invention relates to a container with an elastic sieve comprising a container body for storing contents, inside of which is an opening for extracting the contents; an outer lid that seals the opening, which can be removably attached to the The container body; a sieve made of an elastic mesh material, arranged to cover the opening of the container body, and a mesh adjustment mechanism for adjusting the sieve mesh size, having a moving element and a fixed element. With a direction normal to the plane in which the sieve is stretched as a vertical direction, the moving element has a portion that comes into contact in an annular shape with the peripheral edge of the top surface of the sieve and makes the portion movable in the vertical direction relative to the opening, and the fixed element fixes a vertical position of the moving element while it is fixed to the opening.

[0009] The container with the elastic sieve may further include a sieve pressure element comprising a hollow cylindrical outer tube and a hollow cylindrical inner tube arranged coaxially and connected by an annular top surface provided at one end of the outer and inner tubes. The container body has a top end in which the opening is formed and a hollow cylindrical neck with a male screw thread formed on its outer peripheral surface. The mesh adjustment mechanism is constructed of the neck as a fixed element and the sieve pressure mechanism as a moving element. The outer tube of the sieve pressure element has a female screw thread formed on its inner peripheral surface that engages with the male screw thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the neck.When the outer tube is screwed into the neck, a bottom edge of the inner tube comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the top surface of the sieve and presses the peripheral edge downwards, and the size of the sieve mesh is adjusted according to the depth of screwing the outer tube into the neck: the further the outer tube is screwed into the neck, the more the sieve is stretched outwards from its periphery and the larger (wider) the meshes become.

[0010] The mesh adjustment mechanism may further have, as a fixed element, a vertical positioning element having a flattened hollow cylindrical shape and which is fixed relative to the sieve, and as a moving element has a pressure element on the sieve, which is adjusted by sliding inside the fixed element.The pressure element on the sieve may have projections extending radially outwards on an external peripheral surface thereof; the vertical positioning element has grooves of a predetermined shape on the internal peripheral surface which engage with the projections at a plurality of locations; the grooves have closed ends in the circumferential direction at a plurality of locations having different vertical positions; and the sieve mesh size is adjusted by maintaining the projections of the pressure element on the sieve at any one of the positions of the ends of the grooves formed at a plurality of locations.

[0011] The mesh adjustment mechanism may further have as a fixed element a vertical positioning element having a flattened hollow cylindrical shape and which is fixed relative to the sieve, and as a moving element has the pressure element on the sieve, which is adjusted by sliding inside the fixed element.The vertical positioning element may have grooves of a predetermined shape at a plurality of positions on its external peripheral surface and projections extending radially inwards from an internal peripheral surface thereof; the sieve pressure element has grooves of a predetermined shape which engage with the projections at a plurality of locations on its external peripheral surface; the grooves having closed ends in the circumferential direction at a plurality of locations having different vertical positions; and the sieve mesh size is adjusted by maintaining the projections of the vertical positioning element at any one of the positions of the ends of the grooves formed at a plurality of locations.

[0012] The container with the elastic sieve may further include a marking indicating the mesh size of the sieve relative to the vertical position of the moving element with respect to the fixed element. The frame may be provided with an internal cover linked to the opening of the container body, the sieve being stretched over the internal cover.

[0013] Effect of disclosure

[0014] According to this disclosure, the invention relates to a container with an elastic sieve that allows for easy regulation of the amount of extracted contents. Other effects will be readily apparent from the following description. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container with a sieve according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure as visualized from the above.

[0016] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a container with a sieve according to a first embodiment as visualized from the above.

[0017] Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the external appearance of a container with a sieve according to the first embodiment.

[0018] Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the external appearance of a container with a sieve according to the first embodiment with an external cover removed.

[0019] Figures 5A and 5B are diagrams explaining the operation of a mesh adjustment mechanism supplied in the container with a sieve according to the first embodiment.

[0020] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of a container with a sieve according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from this figure. which precedes.

[0021] Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a container with a sieve according to the second embodiment as visualized from the following.

[0022] Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the external appearance of a container with a sieve according to the second embodiment.

[0023] Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating the external appearance of a container with a sieve according to the second embodiment, with the external lid removed.

[0024] Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the shape of the grooves formed in a vertical positioning element supplied in a container with a sieve according to the second embodiment.

[0025] Figures 11 A, 1 IB and 1 IC are diagrams explaining the operation of the mesh adjustment mechanism supplied in the container with a sieve according to the second embodiment.

[0026] Figures 12A and 12B are diagrams illustrating other examples of the groove shape.

[0027] Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a mesh size indicator supplied in the container with a sieve according to the first embodiment.

[0028] Figures 14A and 14B are diagrams illustrating an example of the mesh size indicator supplied in the container with a sieve according to the second embodiment.

[0029] Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating another example of a mesh size indicator supplied in the container with a sieve according to the second embodiment.

[0030] Figure 16 is a diagram illustrating another example of a pressure element on the sieve supplied in the container with the sieve according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Embodiments of the present invention are described below by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which identical or similar parts, the description of which will not be repeated, may be designated by identical or similar reference numbers.

[0032] Embodiments

[0033] Similar to a container with a conventional sieve, the container according to the embodiments of this disclosure comprises a container body for storing contents. The container body has an opening for extracting the contents and a sieve arranged to cover the opening of the container body. Furthermore, the container according to the embodiments includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the mesh size, in other words, the fineness of the mesh (hereafter referred to as the mesh size), over the entire surface of the sieve. As a result, the container user can easily regulate the amount of extracted content passing through the sieve mesh. Furthermore, since the container, according to this embodiment, allows for adjusting the mesh size across the entire surface of the stretched sieve, the amount of extracted content can also be easily regulated even if the container body opening is small.

[0034] The mesh adjustment mechanism of the container according to the embodiments uses the fact that when a sieve made of an elastic mesh material is stretched, the meshes spread further apart (in other words, their size increases) compared to the unstretched state. If the normal direction with respect to the plane in which the sieve is stretched is the vertical direction (defined as the container body opening upwards), then the mesh adjustment mechanism is configured to include a movable element that can move in the vertical direction while coming into contact with the peripheral edge of the sieve and a fixed element that fixes the mesh size of the sieve in an adjusted state by fixing the vertical position of the movable element.As a container according to the first and second embodiments, a description is given below of a container equipped with a sieve for storing a cosmetic product composed of powder, in which the moving element and the fixed element which together constitute the mesh adjustment mechanism have different configurations.

[0035] First embodiment

[0036] Basic configuration

[0037] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the configuration of a container 1 according to a first embodiment, in which [Fig. 1] is an exploded perspective view of the container 1 as visualized from the foregoing and [Fig. 2] is an exploded perspective view of the container 1 as visualized from the following. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, in its basic configuration the container 1 has a container body 4 for storing a cosmetic product in powder form, an external lid 2 which is removably attached to the container body 4 and which seals an opening 43 in the container body 4, and an internal lid 3 which is connected to the opening 43 in the container body 4. The container 1 further includes a pressure element on the sieve 5 which constitutes the moving element of a mesh adjustment mechanism (which will be described in detail later).In the following description, it is assumed that the outer lid 2, the inner lid 3, the container body 4, and the pressure element on the sieve 5 constituting the container 1 are assembled in a coaxial arrangement along a common cylindrical longitudinal axis 10 (hereafter referred to simply as axis 10). Furthermore, with respect to the upper and lower parts of each of the outer lid 2, the inner lid 3, the container body 4, and the pressure element on the sieve 5, the upper and lower directions in the assembled state are used. like directional references independent of true up and down.

[0038] The container body 4 is a one-piece molded product made of plastic, and has a hollow cylindrical neck 42 with a diameter reduced compared to a flat-bottomed cylindrical portion 41 (hereinafter referred to as the base 41), with the neck 42 located above and continuous with the base 41. The neck 42 has a circular opening at its upper end, and this opening 43 serves as an outlet for the contents. With the axis 10 defined in the vertical direction passing through the center of the opening 43, the neck 42 is a two-stage cylinder formed by joining two hollow cylinders of different diameters along the same axis 10 in the vertical direction. The upper part of the neck 42b (hereinafter referred to as the upper neck 42b) is of reduced diameter compared to the lower part of the neck 42a (hereinafter referred to as the lower neck 42a).Male screw threads 44a, 44b are formed on the external peripheries of the upper neck 42b and the lower neck 42a.

[0039] The outer lid 2 is a one-piece molded product made of plastic and has a hollow cylindrical shape with a closed top 21. As illustrated in [Fig. 2], a female screw thread 22 that screws onto the male screw thread 44a of the lower neck 42a in the container body 4 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer lid 2, to form a so-called screw cap. The outer lid 2 is attached to the container body 4 by being screwed into the lower neck 42a. [Fig. 3] illustrates the container 1 with an outer lid 2 attached to the main container body 4.

[0040] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the inner lid 3 has a flattened hollow cylindrical shape and is configured by a cylindrical frame 31 made of a one-piece molded plastic and a continuous edge-shaped flange 33 formed around the top of the frame 31. A sieve 32 made of an elastic mesh material is stretched around the bottom of the frame 3. When the frame 31 of the inner lid 3 is fitted into the opening 43 of the container body 4, the underside of the flange 33 comes into contact with the top 45 of the peripheral edge of the opening 43 of the container body 4 to support the inner lid 3 and prevent it from falling into the container body 4. As a result, the opening 43 of the container body 4 is covered by the stretched sieve, such that the contents of the container body 4 are extracted through the mesh of the sieve 32.

[0041] Mesh adjustment mechanism

[0042] In addition to the basic configuration described above, the container 1 has a mesh adjustment mechanism for variably adjusting the mesh size of the sieve 32 in the inner cover 3 over the entire inner surface of the frame 31. The mesh adjustment mechanism in the container 1 according to the first mode of The system consists of the upper neck 42b, which is a fixed element, and the pressure element on the sieve 5, which is a moving element.

[0043] The pressure element on the sieve 5 is a one-piece molded product made of plastic, and as illustrated in [Fig. 2] has a double cylindrical shape in which a hollow cylindrical outer tube 51 and a hollow cylindrical inner tube 52 are formed coaxially on the same axis 10. The upper end of the pressure element on the sieve 5 is an annular top 54 that connects the outer tube 51 and the inner tube 52. The inner tube 52 has an internal diameter that corresponds to the internal diameter of the annular top 54 and extends downwards to open at the lower end. In addition, a female screw thread 53 that screws onto the male screw thread 44b of the upper neck 42b is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 51.

[0044] The external diameter of the inner tube 52 of the pressure element on the sieve 5 is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the frame 31 forming the inner cover 3. As a result, when the pressure element on the sieve 5 is connected to the upper neck 42b, the external peripheral surface of the inner tube 52 (reference number 55 in [Fig. 2]) slidably comes into contact with the internal peripheral surface of the frame 31 in the inner cover 3 (reference number 34 in [Fig. 1]). Furthermore, when the pressure element on the sieve 5 is connected to the upper neck 42b of the container body 4, the pressure element on the sieve 5 can be screwed until the underside surface of the top 54 comes into contact with the top surface of the flange 33 of the inner cover 3.The container 1 is designed so that, when closed, the underside surface of the top 21 of the outer cover 2 comes into contact with the top 54 of the pressure element on the sieve 5 in such a way that the outer cover 2 and the lower neck 42a screwed into the outer cover 2 are tightly sealed to each other when the pressure element on the sieve 5 is connected to the upper neck 42b regardless of the relative vertical position of the pressure element on the sieve 5 with respect to the inner cover 3. For reference, [Fig.4] illustrates the container 1 with the outer cover 2 removed.

[0045] The operation of the mesh adjustment mechanism will now be described by reference to Figures 5A and 5B. Figures 5A and 5B illustrate vertical cross-sections of the container 1 along the plane of the axis 10, on which the outer cover 2 is omitted for clarity and convenience.

[0046] As illustrated in [Fig. 5A], when the pressure element on the sieve 5 is screwed into the upper neck 42b, the lower edge 56 of the inner tube 52 comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the upper surface 35 of the sieve 32. As illustrated in [Fig. 5B], when the pressure element on the sieve 5 is screwed in further, the peripheral edge portion of the sieve 32 is pressed downwards by the lower edge 56 of the tube internal 52, thus causing the expansion of the mesh of the elastic sieve 32. As described above, the container 1 according to the first embodiment can variably and continuously adjust the mesh size of the sieve 32 depending on the screwing depth of the pressure element on the sieve 5 in the upper neck 42b: the further the pressure element on the sieve (outer tube) 5 is screwed into the upper neck 42b, the more the sieve 32 is stretched outwards from its periphery and the larger (more widely spaced) the mesh becomes. With the container 1 according to the first embodiment, the external cover 2 can be connected to the container body 4 regardless of whether the sieve 32 is unstretched and the mesh size is in an initial state unadjusted by the mesh adjustment mechanism, or whether the sieve 32 is stretched and the mesh size is adjusted.As a result, it is not necessary to adjust the mesh size each time the contents are extracted from container 1. Of course, the adjustment mechanism can be adjusted for each opportunity to retrieve the contents according to the user's preferences.

[0047] Second embodiment

[0048] Basic configuration

[0049] A second embodiment of a container having a mesh adjustment mechanism configuration different from that of the first embodiment is described below. Figures 6 and 7 are perspective views of a container 11 according to the second embodiment in an unassembled state, showing each component thereof. Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the container 11 as viewed from above, and Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the container 11 as viewed from below. In the second embodiment as well, the axis 10 and the upper and lower directions are defined in the same way as in the first embodiment.

[0050] As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the container has a basic configuration including an outer lid 12, an inner lid 13 in which a sieve 132 is stretched over a frame 131, and a container body 14. The container body 14 has a structure in which a neck 142 corresponding to the lower neck 42a of the container body 4 of the first embodiment is located above and continuous with a flat-bottomed cylindrical base 141, and a male screw thread 144 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the neck 142. Similar to the outer lid 2 of the container 1 according to the first embodiment, the outer lid 12 has a cylindrical shape having a closed top surface 121 and opens downwards, with a female screw thread 122 that screws onto the thread 144 of the neck 142 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer lid. 12.

[0051] Similar to the inner lid 3 of the container 1 according to the first embodiment, the inner lid 13 of the second embodiment has a sieve 132 composed of an elastic mesh material stretched over the underside of the frame 131, with a flange 133 continuous with and formed around the top of the frame 131. The inner lid 13 is fitted into the neck 142 through an opening 143 in the container body 14, while the flange 133 is supported by the upper edge of the neck 142. The outer lid 12, the frame 131, and the container body 14 are one-piece molded plastic products, like the container 1 according to the first embodiment. For reference, [Fig. 8] illustrates a container 11 with the outer lid 12 attached to the container body 14. As illustrated in [Fig. 8], the appearance of the container 11 in a state where the outer lid 12 is attached is the same as that of the container 1 according to the first embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 3].

[0052] Mesh adjustment mechanism

[0053] In addition to the basic configuration described above, the container 11 according to the second embodiment has a frame-shaped element 15 (hereinafter referred to as a vertical positioning element 15) fixed inside the frame 131 of the inner cover 13 as a fixed element of the mesh adjustment mechanism and a sieve pressure element 16 as a moving element of the mesh adjustment mechanism. The vertical positioning element 15 and the sieve pressure element 16 are one-piece molded products made of plastic.

[0054] The vertical positioning element 15 has a flattened hollow cylindrical shape with a flange 151 formed around its upper end. The vertical positioning element 15 is fitted inside the inner cover 13, with the flange 151 supported by the top of the flange 133 of the inner cover 13. Grooves 153 branching into three are formed in an internal peripheral surface 152 of the vertical positioning element 15 at three equal angular intervals around the axis 10. The grooves 153 all have the same shape and are located at the same vertical position in each of the three positions at which they are formed.

[0055] The pressure element on the sieve 16 is a hollow cylinder having a circular frame-shaped underside 161 and continuous irregularities at regular angular intervals around the top along the circumferential direction. In the pressure element on the sieve 16 of the container 11 according to the second embodiment as illustrated in the drawings, tongue-shaped portions 162 (hereafter referred to as rotation aid elements 162) that project convexally upwards in curves from the sides of the pressure element on the sieve 16 are formed at four points around the top of the pressure element on the sieve 16. As will be described later, these rotation aid elements 162 help the user to easily apply a force in the direction of rotation, for example, by hooking their fingers around these during the rotation of the pressure element on the sieve 16 around the axis 10. In addition, projections 164 projecting outwards with respect to the axis 10 are formed in three positions on the external peripheral surface 163 of the pressure element on the sieve 16 at equal angular intervals.

[0056] Fig. 9 illustrates the appearance of the container 1 with the outer lid 12 removed. As illustrated in [Fig. 9], the upper surface 135 of the sieve 132 is exposed upwards through an opening 161 in the underside of the sieve pressure element 16. The rotation aid elements 162 protrude upwards from the upper edge of the vertical positioning element 15. In the assembled container 11, the projections 164 of the sieve pressure element 16 are fitted into the grooves 153 so that the sieve pressure element 16 is loosely fitted inside the vertical positioning element 15. As a result, the sieve pressure element 16 slides vertically and radially about the axis 10 relative to the vertical positioning element 15 within a range in which the projections 164 are guided by the grooves 153.Furthermore, due to the shape of the internal walls at the ends of the grooves 153, the pressure element on the sieve 16 is fixed in its vertical position when the projections 164 reach the ends of the grooves 153. Since the pressure element on the sieve 16 is fitted inside the vertical positioning element 15 when the container 11 is assembled, it retains sufficient flexibility to absorb at least the height of the projections 164. Alternatively, if the pressure element on the sieve 16 is not configured to be flexible, a path can be provided in the grooves 153 of the vertical positioning element 15 so as to extend upwards or downwards and open at the top end so that the projections 164 can be guided into the grooves 153 from the open end upwards of the vertical positioning element 15.

[0057] Figure 10 illustrates in detail the shape of the grooves 153 formed in the vertical positioning element 15. As shown in Figure 10, each of the grooves 153 branches in three directions while extending along the inner periphery of the vertical positioning element 15 (in other words, laterally along the surface of the paper on which the figure is drawn), with the ends of the branches 154a, 154b, 154c forming closed dead ends. When the projections 164 indicated by the dashed circles in Figure 10 are fixed at any one of the positions 154a, 154b, 154c, the pressure element on the sieve 16 is also fixed at one of the three vertical positions relative to the vertical positioning element 15.

[0058] In the grooves 153 illustrated in [Fig. 10], inwardly convex portions 155 (hereinafter referred to as the projecting portions 155) are formed on the inner wall at the ends 154a, 154b, 154c. When the projections 164 of the pressure element on the sieve 16 move past the projecting portions 155 in the process of being guided by the grooves 153 to reach the ends 154a, 154b, 154c, the projections 164 are fixed in the regions (upper region 156a, middle region 156b, lower region 156c) on the side of the ends 154a, 154b, 154c illustrated by the dashed circle in the figure. As a result, the projections 164 cannot accidentally deviate from the regions 156a, 156b, 156c and the pressure element on the sieve 16 is thus fixed at one of the three vertical positions.

[0059] A description will now be given of the mesh adjustment mechanism of the container 11 according to the second embodiment. Figures 11A, 11B, 11C illustrate the operation of the mesh adjustment mechanism of the container 11. In other words, Figures 1IA to 1IC illustrate the state of the sieve 132 when the projections 164 of the pressure element on the sieve 16 are located at each of the three positions 156a, 156b, and 156c of the grooves 153 formed in the vertical positioning element 15.

[0060] As illustrated in [Fig. 1 IA], when the projections 164 are at the upper position 156a in the grooves 153, the sieve 132 retains its original state of being stretched over the inner cover 13 even when the underside surface 161 of the pressure element on the sieve 16 is in contact with the peripheral edge of the upper surface 135 of the sieve 132. Then, the user presses the pressure element on the sieve 16 downwards by placing their fingers on the rotation aid elements 162 on the sides of the pressure element on the sieve 16 while rotating the pressure element on the sieve 16 relative to the vertical positioning element 15.As a result, as illustrated in Figures 11B and 11C, once the projections 164 of the pressure element on the sieve 16 are fixed in place at the intermediate position 156b of the grooves 153 and the lower position 156c of the grooves 153, respectively, the peripheral edge of the upper surface 135 of the sieve 132 is pressed downwards by the underside 161 of the pressure element on the sieve 16, and the mesh size of the sieve 132 in its initial stretched state is adjusted. In this way, according to the second embodiment of the container 11, the fixed position in the vertical direction of the pressure element on the sieve 16 is gradually defined, and the mesh size is also gradually defined, so that the previous mesh size can be reliably reproduced even after a change in the vertical position of the pressure element on the sieve 16.As in the first embodiment, with the container 11 according to the second embodiment the external cover 12 can be fixed to the container body 14 independently of how the mesh size of the sieve 132 is adjusted with the mesh adjustment mechanism.

[0061] It should be noted that the shape of the grooves 153 is not limited to the example illustrated in [Fig. 10]. Figures 12A and 12B illustrate modified examples of grooves (253, 353). The groove 253 illustrated in [Fig. 12A] branches in the internal peripheral direction from a plurality of vertical positions extending in the vertical direction to reach the respective ends 254a, 254b, 254c. When the protrusion 164 of the pressure element on the sieve 16 surmounts the same protrusions 255 as those formed in the groove 153 illustrated in [Fig. 10]. 10] adjacent to each of the ends 254a, 254b, 254c at the branching destination, the protrusion 164 is fixed in the regions 256, 256b, 256c indicated by the dotted circles on figures 12A, 12B. As a result, the pressure element on the sieve 16 is fixed at one of the three positions in the vertical direction.

[0062] The groove 353 illustrated in [Fig. 12B] has a stepped shape, each step extending further than the previous one along an internal peripheral surface 152 of the vertical positioning element 15 in the circumferential direction to reach the ends 354a, 354b, 354c. Then, adjacent to the ends of each step, protrusions 355 similar to those formed in the grooves 15 illustrated in [Fig. 12B]

[10] are formed in the groove 353. When the projections 164 of the pressure element on the sieve 16 rise above the protrusions 355 in the process of being guided towards the end of the grooves 353, the projections 164 are fixed in the regions 356a, 356b, 356c indicated by the dashed circles in [Fig. 12B]. As a result, the pressure element on the sieve 16 is fixed at one of the three vertical positions corresponding to one of the three respective ends 354a, 354b, 354c of the groove 353.

[0063] Naturally, in the groove 153, 253, 353, the regions where the projections 164 of the pressure element on the sieve 16 are fixed are not limited to three places, and by increasing or decreasing the number of ends 154a, 154b, 154c; 254a, 254b, 254c; 354a, 354b, 354c whose vertical positions are different from each other, it is possible to adjust the vertical position of the pressure element on the sieve 16 in either two steps or four or more steps. Of course, if the shape of the groove 153, 253, 353 is such that it has ends 154a, 154b, 154c; 254a, 254b, 254c; 354a, 354b, 354c at different vertical positions, the shape of the groove 153, 253, 353 can be modified as needed.

[0064] It is sufficient that the projections 164 are maintained so as to remain fixed at the predetermined ends 154a, 154b, 154c; 254a, 254b, 254c; 354a, 354b, 354c of the groove 153, 253, 353. In other words, it is sufficient that the vertical position of the pressure element on the sieve 15 relative to the material of the fixed vertical element 15 can be maintained in accordance with the position of the projections 164 in the groove 153, 253, 353. Alternatively, it is not necessary for the projections 164 to The pressure element on the sieve 16 is fixed at the ends 154a, 154b, 154c; 254a, 254b, 254c; 354a, 354b, 354c of the groove 153, 253, 353. Thus, for example, while the shape of the groove 255 illustrated in [Fig. 12B] is a simple stepped shape, it is not necessary to provide the protrusions 255 adjacent to the ends 254a, 254b, 254c shown in [Fig. 12A]. In any case, it is sufficient for the groove to have ends closed in the circumferential direction at different vertical positions such that the projections 164 are maintained at the vertical position corresponding to each end.

[0065] Mesh size indicator

[0066] In the container 1 according to the first embodiment, the mesh size of the sieve 32 can be continuously adjusted according to the screwing depth of the pressure element onto the sieve (in other words, the outer tube) 5 in the neck 42b. However, when the screwing depth is changed, the vertical position of the pressure element on the sieve 5 before the change cannot be precisely known, and it is therefore difficult to readjust the mesh size of the sieve 32 to the mesh size before the change.Accordingly, an indicator designed to enable the user to visualize the relationship between the relative vertical position of the pressure element on the sieve 5 with respect to the sieve 32 and the mesh size at the vertical position by means of a sign such as a line, mark, character, symbol, or pattern (hereafter referred to as a mesh size indicator) may be provided at a suitable location on or in the container 1.

[0067] Figure 13 illustrates an example in which a mesh size indicator is provided on the container 1 according to the first embodiment. In the example shown in Figure 13, the mesh size indicator is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the pressure element on the sieve 5 and on the outer peripheral surface of the upper neck 42b. The mesh size indicator on the outer peripheral surface of the pressure element on the sieve 5 is a pattern 57 in which the height difference between the vertical marks gradually decreases clockwise as viewed from above, and a graduation is added at equiangular intervals. Furthermore, the pattern 57 is also characterized by a gradation in which the color of the pattern gradually darkens as the height difference between successive vertical marks decreases.The difference in height between the vertical markings and the shading of pattern 57 are designed to allow the user to quickly visualize the stitch size. The greater the difference in height between the vertical markings and the darker the color, the wider the stitch spacing (in other words, the larger the stitches). Of course, the indicator can also simply be a pattern in which, while the density of... stitch decreases, the difference in height between vertical marks gradually increases, or the color of the pattern gradually fades.

[0068] In contrast, the mesh size indicator on the outer peripheral surface of the upper neck 42b is a linear shape (hereinafter referred to as the indicator line 47) extending downwards from the upper end of the outer peripheral surface of the upper neck 42b of the container body 4 and extending outwards in the radial direction at the step 46 in the lower neck 42a. The indicator line is intended to indicate the relative rotational position of the pressure element on the sieve 5.

[0069] In the example of the sieve density indicator illustrated in [Fig. 13], the pressure element on the sieve 5 is such that a female screw thread 53 with a right-hand thread is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer tube 51 (see Figures 5A, 5B). The female screw 53 is designed so that in a final state the lower edge of the outer tube 51, as illustrated in [Fig. 5B], comes into contact with the step 46 between the upper neck 42b and the lower neck 42a, and the sieve 32 is stretched when the pressure element on the sieve 5 is tightened by one complete turn relative to the initial state illustrated in [Fig. 5A], in which the lower edge 56 of the inner tube 52 simply rests on the peripheral edge of the upper surface 35 of the sieve 32.In addition, the indicator line 47 is defined to indicate the limit between the position in which the difference in height between the vertical marks is the smallest and the position in which the difference in height between the vertical marks is the largest in pattern 57 when the pressure element on the sieve 5 is in the initial or final state.

[0070] With a mesh size indicator such as that described above, when the user progressively tightens the pressure element on the sieve 5 attached to the upper neck 42b relative to its initial state, the difference in height between the vertical marks along an extension line of the indicator line 47 in the pattern 57 gradually increases. As a result, the user can quickly see the mesh size of the sieve 32 by the difference in height between the vertical marks and the degree of shade of the pattern 57 at the indicator line 47 when the pressure element on the sieve 5 is screwed into the desired vertical position. Furthermore, by remembering the relative positions of the indicator line 47 and the graduation of the pattern 57, the previous mesh size can be reproduced each time the mesh size is subsequently readjusted.

[0071] In a case where the pressure element on the sieve 5 is designed to be clamped over more than one full turn from the initial state to reach the final state, the sieve density indicator consisting of the pattern 57 and the indicator line 47 illustrated in [Fig. 13] can be replaced, for example, by a density indicator of sieve with a graduation added to the indicator line 47. In such a case, the user can read the graduation on the indicator line 47 at the level of the position of the bottom edge of the outer tube 51 of the pressure element on the sieve 5 to check the relative vertical position of the pressure element on the sieve 5 with respect to the upper neck 42b.

[0072] In the container 11 according to the second embodiment, when the difference between the upper and lower positions of the upper and intermediate levels and between the upper and lower positions of the intermediate and lower levels is small, it can be difficult to verify the actual mesh density. Therefore, the container 11 according to the second embodiment may also be equipped with a mesh size indicator. Figures 14A and 14B illustrate an example in which the container 11 according to the second embodiment is equipped with a mesh size indicator. Figure 14A illustrates a state in which the outer lid 12 is removed from the container 11 according to the second embodiment, and Figure 14B is an enlarged view of the circle 200 on Figure 14A.

[0073] As illustrated in [Fig. 14A], an indicator line 166 extending in the vertical direction is provided on one of the rotation aid elements 162 formed on the external peripheral surface 163 of the pressure element on the sieve 16. Three triangular marks 157a, 157b, 157c indicating the rotation position of the pressure element on the sieve 16 when the vertical position of the pressure element on the sieve 16 is fixed are provided on the top surface of the flange 151 of the vertical positioning element 15. As illustrated in [Fig. 14B], the triangular marks 157a, 157b, are of different shades, such that the mesh size of the sieve 132 is indicated by the dark tone of said triangular marks 157a, 157b, 157c.In the illustrated case, the darker the triangular marks 157a, 157b, and 157c, the smaller the mesh size (the eyes are finer), allowing the user to quickly visualize the mesh size. Then, when the user fixes the vertical position of the pressure element on the sieve 16 at a desired position while rotating the pressure element on the sieve 16, the user can verify the current mesh size by the darker shade of the triangular mark 157a, 157b, or 157c at the position indicated by the guide line 166. Furthermore, by recalling the shades of the marks 157a, 157b, and 157c at the positions indicated by the guide line 166, the previous mesh size can be reproduced when the mesh size is subsequently readjusted.It should be noted that an indicator line 166 may be provided on two or more of the rotation aid elements 162 and sets of three triangular marks 157a, 157b, 157c may be provided on the top surface of the flange 151 of the vertical positioning element 15 for each of these indicator lines 166.

[0074] It should be noted that when grooves such as the branches 253 as illustrated in [Fig. 12A] are formed in the vertical positioning element 15, the pressure element on the sieve 16 has the same angle of rotation around the axis 10 when fixed at each of the upper and lower positions, and it is therefore not possible to use a mesh size indicator such as the mesh size indicator illustrated in Figure 14. In such a case, as illustrated in [Fig. 15], the shape of the mesh size indicator can be modified. [Fig. 15] is an enlarged view corresponding to the region inside circle 200 in [Fig. 14A], illustrating an example of a mesh size indicator used when the container 11 according to the second embodiment includes the vertical positioning element 15 in which the groove 253 as illustrated in [Fig. 12A] is formed. As illustrated in [Fig.

[15] , the indicator line 166a in the vertical direction has three graduated lines 166b corresponding to the vertical positions of the three ends 254a, 254b, 254c of the groove 253. In the vertical positioning element 15, a triangular mark 157 having its apex at a position overlapping the indicator line 166a is displayed on the top surface of the flange 151. As a result, the user can confirm the relative vertical position of a pressure element on the sieve 16 with respect to the vertical positioning element 15 by the position of the graduation on the indicator line 166a indicated by the apex of the triangular mark 157.

[0075] It should be noted that the design constituting the mesh size indicator is not limited to printing, and can be formed, for example, by a transfer, a sticker, asperities in the molding matrix, or equivalent.

[0076] Mesh size

[0077] As described above, the container 1,11 according to the embodiments is configured to press the peripheral edge of the top surface 35, 135 of the sieve 32, 132 with the pressure element on the sieve 35, 135 to stretch the sieve 32, 132 and thus increase the mesh size. Of course, the mesh size of the sieve is a relative term to express the relative fineness of the sieve when the sieve 32, 132 is not pressed versus when it is pressed, and is not any specific physical unit or measurement method. Therefore, we investigated whether and to what extent the mesh size actually changes depending on the presence or absence of pressure on the sieve 32, 132 and the degree of such pressure.

[0078] Specifically, using the container 1 according to the first embodiment, the change between the amount of screwing of the pressure element onto the sieve 5 relative to the upper neck 42 and the mesh size was studied using light transmittance. A commercially available light transmittance measuring device (an MJ-TM110 colorimeter, manufactured by Sato-Shoji Cor) was used. The pressure element (poration) was used to measure the amount of light transmittance. With the light transmittance set to 100% when the light was not filtered through the sieve 32, the sieve 32 was pushed in and the light transmittance was measured (1) in the initial state (when the pressure element on the sieve 32 was 0 mm), and (2) when the pressure element on the sieve 5 was screwed into the upper neck 42b and the sieve 32 was pressed down 2 mm and 5 mm relative to the sieve 32 in the initial state. At the time of measurement, the bottom of the container body 4 was opened by breaking it open, and then a light source was inserted into the opening and light was projected upwards. A sensor was placed on the top surface of the sieve 32, and the light-receiving surface of the sensor was positioned facing the light source.When the amount of pressure applied to the sieve 32 by the pressure element on the sieve 5 pushed the sieve 32 in by 0 mm, 2 mm, and 5 mm, the light transmittances were 38.7%, 41.9%, and 48.8%, respectively.

[0079] The measurement results above are only an example, and the relationship between the amount of pressure exerted on the sieve 32 by the pressure element on the sieve 5 and the light transmittance differs depending on the mesh size of the sieve 32 in the initial state and the elasticity of the material constituting the sieve 32. In any case, in the container 1 according to the embodiment described above, it was confirmed that the mesh size increased as the amount of pressure exerted on the sieve 32 by the pressure element on the sieve 5 increased. Obviously, the same applies to the container 11 according to the second embodiment.

[0080] Other embodiments

[0081] In the container 1,11 according to the embodiments described above, the mounting structure of the outer lid 2,12 relative to the container body 4,14 is a screw cap. However, the mounting structure of the outer lid is not limited to a screw cap, and any known mounting structure may be adopted.

[0082] In the container 11 according to the second embodiment, the projections 164 are formed on the external peripheral surface 163 of the pressure element on the sieve 16, and the grooves 153 which engage with the projections 164 are formed on the internal peripheral surface 152 of the vertical positioning element 15. Alternatively, the grooves 153 can be provided on the surface 163 of the vertical positioning element 15, and the projections 164 can be provided on the internal peripheral surface 152 of the vertical positioning element 15 so that they project inwards.

[0083] In the container 11 according to the second embodiment, a force on the pressure element on the sieve 16 in the direction of rotation is easily generated by the user placing their fingers on the rotation aid elements 162 of the element pressure on the sieve 16. Alternatively, for example, if the rotation aid elements 1162 are provided on the inner peripheral surface of a pressure element on the sieve 116 so as to protrude radially inwards as illustrated in [Fig. 16], the user can rotate the pressure element 16 while placing his fingers on the rotation aid elements 1162.

[0084] The contents of container 1,11 according to the embodiment described above are not limited to cosmetic products. For example, a seasoning consisting of a powder or granules is possible. If the contents of container 1,11 according to the embodiment described above are a seasoning, the amount of the contents extracted when the container body 4,14 is agitated can be regulated as appropriate by the mesh adjustment mechanism.

[0085] Alternatively, the contents may be a viscous fluid such as a cosmetic cream. For example, when the contents are a viscous cosmetic, in the container 1,11 according to the embodiments, the quantity of the cosmetic product transferred to the puff can be adjusted by the mesh adjustment mechanism.

[0086] The container 1,11 and the elements 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 constituting the container 1,11 according to the embodiments described above have an external shape that is generally flat and cylindrical. Of course, the external shape of each element 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 constituting the container 1,11 can be changed as needed, and can be, for example, a vertically elongated cylindrical shape.

[0087] The neck 42, 142 of the container body 4, 14 can be composed of a square cylinder, and the opening 43, 143 of the container body 4, 14, and the frame 31, 131 in the inner cover 3, 13 can have a rectangular shape. For example, in the container 1 according to the first embodiment, when the upper neck 42b is a square cylinder and the flat shape of the opening 43 is rectangular, the outer tube 51 and the inner tube 52 of the pressure element on the sieve 5 can both be square cylinders. So, instead of the male screw thread 44, cavities can be provided at a plurality of positions at the same vertical position on the external surface of the upper neck 42b, and furthermore, sets consisting of multiple cavities formed at these same vertical positions can be provided at multiple different vertical positions.Next, hooks which are removable relative to the cavities of the upper neck 42b using the elasticity of the material (plastic or equivalent) of the pressure element on the sieve 5 itself can be formed on the inner surface of the outer tube 51 of the pressure element on the sieve 5. As a result, the hooks engage with the cavities at different vertical positions and the pressure element on the sieve 5 is fixed at a plurality of different vertical positions.

[0088] It is not necessary for the sieve 32, 132 to be stretched over the frame 31, 131 of the inner cover 3, 13. If it is not necessary to replace or refill the contents, the sieve 32, 132 can be arranged to cover the opening 43, 143 by being glued to the top edge of the container body 4, 14. Apart from the opening 43, 143 located on the top of the neck 42, 142, a dedicated opening with a cap for refilling or replacing the contents can also be provided at a suitable location such as the side surface of the container body 4, 14.

[0089] In the container 1,11 according to each of the above embodiments, the vertical position of the sieve 32, 132 relative to the container body 4, 14 is fixed and only the sieve pressure portion 5, 16 of the mesh adjustment mechanism is configured to be movable up and down relative to the sieve 32, 132. However, if the sieve 32, 132 is also configured to be movable up and down relative to the container body 4, 14, then even if the contents in the container body 4, 14 are reduced and the top surface of the contents descends, then the space between the top surface of the contents and the bottom surface of the sieve 32, 132 can be kept constant. As a result, if, for example, the contents are a viscous cosmetic product that is transferred to the puff, then the amount of cosmetic transferred to the puff can be kept constant regardless of the amount of cosmetic product remaining in the container.

[0090] In order to allow the sieve (32, 132) to move up and down, for example, in the case of a container 1 according to the first embodiment, if the upper neck 42b is formed as an element separate from the other parts of the container body 4 and only the upper neck 42b is configured to be movable up and down relative to the container body 4, then the entire sieve 32 stretched over the inner cover 3 can be moved up and down relative to the container body 4. In order to move the upper neck 42b up and down, for example, it may be sufficient for a female screw thread to be formed on the internal peripheral surface of the lower neck 42a and for a male screw thread that screws onto this female screw thread to be formed on the external peripheral surface of the underside edge of the upper neck 42b.In order to allow the sieve 132 to move up and down in the container 11 of the second embodiment, for example, it is conceivable that a female screw thread can be formed on the internal peripheral surface of the neck 42 of the container body 4, and that a male screw thread is screwed onto the female screw thread of the neck 42 formed on the external peripheral surface of the frame 131 of the internal cover 13 in place of the flange 133.

[0091] If the sieve is configured to be vertically movable in the manner described above, then if the content is a viscous cosmetic material it is possible to maintain constant the space between the top surface of the sieve and the cosmetic material while arbitrarily defining the amount of pressure against the sieve 32, 132 by the sieve pressure mechanism. In addition, in order to maintain a constant space between the sieve 32, 132 and the top surface of the contents regardless of the quantity of contents in the container body 4, 14, the container body 4, 14 can be provided with a movable bottom part which can move up and down.

[0092] The outer cover 2, 12, of the chassis 31, 131, the container body 4, 14, the vertical positioning element 15, and the pressure element 5, 16 constituting the container 1, 11 according to the embodiments described above are all one-piece molded products, each made of plastic. Alternatively, some or all of the elements 2, 3, 4, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 constituting the container 1, 11 may be made of a material other than plastic, for example, metal, wood, glass, or equivalent. It is not necessary for all the elements constituting the container 1, 11 to be one-piece molded products, and some of them may instead be composed of a plurality of constituent parts, joined, for example, by bonding or screwing the parts together.

[0093] List of reference numbers:

[0094] 1, 11 container

[0095] 2, 12 outer cover

[0096] 3, 13 inner cover

[0097] 4, 14 container body,

[0098] 5, 16, 116 pressure element on the sieve (moving element)

[0099] 10 axis

[0100] 15 vertical positioning element (fixed element)

[0101] 31, 131 chassis

[0102] 32, 132 sieves

[0103] 35, 135 top surface of the sieve

[0104] 42, 142 bottleneck

[0105] 42a lower neck

[0106] 42b upper neck (fixed element)

[0107] 43, 143 opening of container body

[0108] 47, 166, 166a indicator line (sieve density indicator)

[0109] 44a, 44b, 144 male screw thread

[0110] 51 external tube [YES] 52 inner tube

[0112] 53 female screw thread,

[0113] 56 lower edge of inner tube

[0114] 57 pattern (sieve density indicator)

[0115] 153, 253, 353 grooves

[0116] 154a-154c, 254a-254c, 354a-354c groove ends

[0117]

[0118]

[0119]

[0120]

[0121] 157, 157a, 157b, 157c marks (sieve density indicator) 161 underside 162, 162 rotation aid elements 164 projections 165 underside surface of pressure element on the sieve

Claims

Demands

1. Container (1; 11) with an elastic sieve, comprising: a container body for storing contents, in which an opening (43; 143) is formed for extracting the contents; an external cover (2; 12) that seals the opening, removably connected to the container body; a sieve (32; 132) made of an elastic mesh material, arranged to cover the opening of the container body; and a mesh adjustment mechanism for adjusting the size of the sieve mesh, having a sieve fixing element (31; 131) and a sieve pressure element (5; 16; 116) provided to be movable within the sieve fixing element, wherein the sieve fixing element (31; 131) is provided at the periphery of the sieve;The pressure element on the sieve has a ring (52) provided to come to the inner periphery of the sieve fixing element and adapted to be moved downwards to press the sieve downwards to the inner periphery of the sieve fixing element.

2. A container with an elastic sieve according to claim 1, wherein the pressure element on the sieve (5; 16; 116) is composed of a hollow outer cylindrical tube and a hollow inner cylindrical tube arranged coaxially and connected by an annular top surface provided at one top end of the outer tube and the inner tube, the container body has a top end in which the opening is formed and a hollow cylindrical neck with a male screw thread formed on its outer peripheral surface, and the outer tube of the pressure element on the sieve has a female screw thread formed on its inner peripheral surface which engages with the male screw thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the neck, whereby, when the outer tube is screwed into the neck,The bottom edge of the inner tube comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the upper surface of the sieve and presses the peripheral edge downwards; the mesh size of the sieve is adjusted according to the screw depth of the outer tube into the neck.

3. Container with elastic sieve according to claim 1, in which the

4. The mesh adjustment mechanism further has, for the pressure element on the sieve, a vertical positioning element having a flattened hollow cylindrical shape and which is fixed relative to the sieve, and the pressure element on the sieve is adjusted as a sliding movable element inside the fixed vertical positioning element, wherein the pressure element on the sieve has projections (164) extending radially outwards on an external peripheral surface thereof, the vertical positioning element has grooves (153; 253; 353) having a predetermined shape on the internal peripheral surface which engage with the projections at a plurality of locations, the grooves having closed ends in the circumferential direction at a plurality of locations having different vertical positions, and the size of the sieve mesh is adjusted by maintaining the projections of the pressure element on the sieve at any one of the positions of the ends of the grooves formed at a plurality of locations. A container with an elastic sieve according to claim 1, wherein the mesh adjustment mechanism further has, for the pressure element on the sieve, a vertical positioning element having a flattened hollow cylindrical shape and which is fixed relative to the sieve, and the pressure element on the sieve is adjusted as a sliding movable element inside the fixed vertical positioning element, the vertical positioning element having projections extending radially inwards from an internal peripheral surface thereof, the pressure element on the sieve having grooves having a predetermined shape on its external peripheral surface, which engage with projections on the vertical positioning element, the grooves having closed ends in the circumferential direction at a plurality of locations having different vertical positions,and the mesh size of the sieve is adjusted by maintaining the projections of the vertical positioning element at any one of the positions of the ends of the grooves formed at a plurality, of pressure element locations on the sieve.

5. Container with an elastic sieve according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising a mark indicating the mesh size of the sieve relative to the relative vertical position of the moving element with respect to the fixed element.

6. Container with an elastic sieve according to claim 1, further comprising an inner cover (3; 13) having a frame over which the sieve is stretched, in which the inner cover is fixed to the opening of the container body.

Images