Pump dispenser, discharge container, and discharge container filled with content

Abstract

To provide a pump dispenser, a discharge container and a discharge container filled with a content, which allow a user to discharge a content by one-hand operation.SOLUTION: A pump dispenser for use in a discharge container comprises: a cylinder; a piston reciprocally movable in the cylinder in one direction; a discharge nozzle disposed on the upper portion of the piston, and having a discharge passage through which a content flows and a discharge port for discharging the content; an operation head which is movable with respect to the discharge nozzle, and is connected to the piston and is operated, thereby moving the piston in the one direction; and a cylindrical member which forms part of the discharge passage, connects between the piston and the operation head, and is in fluid communication with the discharge passage of the discharge nozzle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pump dispenser for dispensing a liquid content, a dispensing container, and a dispensing container containing the content. [Background technology]

[0002] There have been known pump dispensers that discharge liquid contents or pump dispensers that discharge liquid contents in a foam form (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such discharge containers are configured to press down the nozzle section to reduce the internal volumes of the liquid cylinder section and the air cylinder section, thereby discharging foam, which is a mixture of liquid and air pushed out from each cylinder section, from the discharge port of the nozzle section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-105361 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional dispensing containers, the contents are dispensed when a press-down head equipped with a discharge port is pressed. Therefore, when dispensing the contents into the palm of the hand, the contents are received with the hand opposite to the hand pressing down the press-down head, making it difficult to receive the contents by operating with only one hand.

[0005] In addition, since the dispensing container must be placed on a stand for operation, when it is necessary to carry it with you at all times, it is not possible to remove the contents with one hand when the dispensing container is placed in a shoulder strap or waist pouch, or when the dispensing container is hung from the waist, etc.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pump dispenser, a dispensing container, and a dispensing container containing a content, which can dispense the content with a single hand operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a pump dispenser includes a cylinder, a piston that reciprocates in one direction within the cylinder, a discharge nozzle provided on an upper portion of the piston and having a discharge flow path through which contents flow and a discharge port through which the contents are discharged, an operating head that can move relative to the discharge nozzle and is connected to the piston and operated to move the piston in the one direction, and a cylindrical member that connects the piston and the operating head and forms a part of the discharge flow path, and is fluidly connected to the discharge flow path of the discharge nozzle. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pump dispenser, a dispensing container, and a dispensing container containing a content, which can dispense a content with a single hand operation. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a content-containing dispensing container according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the content-containing discharge container. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an operation head used in the content-containing dispensing container. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a cylindrical member used in the content-containing discharge container. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the configuration of a content-containing dispensing container 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 9. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a content-containing discharge container 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the content-containing discharge container 1 when an operation head 22 is operated. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the operation head 22, Fig. 4 is a side view showing the configuration of the operation head 22, Fig. 5 is a side view showing the configuration of the operation head 22 from a different direction from Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the configuration of the operation head 22. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a cylindrical member 24 used in the content-containing discharge container 1, Fig. 8 is a side view showing the configuration of the cylindrical member 24, and Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the configuration of the cylindrical member 24.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the content-containing discharge container 1 includes a discharge container 2 and a content 3 filled in the discharge container 2. Here, the content 3 is a liquid. The content 3 is, for example, a cosmetic, a detergent, a disinfectant, a medicine, a quasi-drug, a food, or the like, and specific examples thereof include a liquid containing a surfactant such as shampoo, hand soap, body soap, face wash, shaving cream, and disinfectant. Hereinafter, the content 3 will be described as a liquid 3.

[0012] 1 and 2, the discharge container 2 includes a container body 5, a pump dispenser 6, and a tube body 7. The discharge container 2 is a so-called hand pump that sucks up the liquid material 3 stored in the container body 5 through the tube body 7 with the pump dispenser 6 and discharges the liquid material 3 in a foam state. In this embodiment, the container body 5 of the discharge container 2 is defined as the lower side, and the pump dispenser 6 is defined as the upper side, and the following description will be given.

[0013] The container body 5 is, for example, a cylindrical shape with a bottom, but is not limited to a cylindrical shape as long as it can store the liquid material 3. The container body 5 can store the liquid material 3 therein. The container body 5 is formed of a resin material, a metal material, glass, ceramics, or the like. The container body 5 includes a main body 12 in which the liquid material 3 is stored, and a fixing part 14 which is an opening at the upper end of the main body 12 that protrudes. The fixing part 14 is formed so that the pump dispenser 6 can be fixed thereto. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the fixing part 14 has, for example, a male screw part 14a on the outer circumferential surface.

[0014] 1 and 2, the pump dispenser 6 includes a support portion 20, an operating head 22, a tubular member 24, a cylinder 26, a piston 28, and a spherical valve body 30. The operating head 22, the tubular member 24, and the piston 28 form a stem that reciprocates in one direction relative to the support portion 20 and the cylinder 26.

[0015] The support part 20 includes, for example, a cylindrical operation head guide tube 32, a fixed part 34 fixed to the fixing part 14 of the container body 5, which is formed in a cylindrical shape with a larger diameter than the operation head guide tube 32, and a discharge nozzle 36. In the support part 20, for example, the operation head guide tube 32 extends in one direction upward from an opening at the end of the fixed part 34 fixed to the fixing part 14 of the container body 5 on the opposite side to the container body 5, and the discharge nozzle 36 is integrally formed at the middle part of the operation head guide tube 32. In other words, the operation head guide tube 32 extends upward from the center side of the fixed part 34, and guides the up and down reciprocating movement of the operation head 22 along one direction with respect to the discharge nozzle 36 formed integrally at the middle part. The operation head guide tube 32, the fixed part 34, and the discharge nozzle 36 are integrally molded, for example, from a resin material. The operation head guide cylinder 32, the fixed portion 34 and the discharge nozzle 36 have portions extending in the vertical direction that are, for example, coaxial with each other.

[0016] The operation head guide tube 32 guides the operation head 22 so that the operation head 22 can move along the vertical direction, in other words, so that the operation head 22 can move along the axis of the operation head guide tube 32. For example, the operation head guide tube 32 may be formed so that the operation head 22 can rotate within a predetermined angle range around an axis along the vertical direction, or may be formed so that the operation head 22 cannot rotate. For example, when the operation head guide tube 32 is formed so that the operation head 22 cannot rotate, the operation head guide tube 32 may be configured so that a part of the operation head 22, for example, an operation part 22b of the operation head 22 described later interferes with the operation head 22 in the rotation direction (circumferential direction) to restrict the rotation of the operation head 22. By making the operation head 22 non-rotatable, it is not necessary to align the operation part 22b of the operation head 22 with the discharge nozzle 36 in the circumferential direction, which is preferable. For example, the operation head guide cylinder 32 has the operation part 22b disposed therein as a restricting part that restricts the rotation of the operation head 22 by interference with the operation part 22b, and has a notch 32a formed over a range of movement in which the operation part 22b reciprocates up and down. This notch 32a enables the operation part 22b to reciprocate up and down, and restricts the movement of the operation part 22b in the rotational direction.

[0017] The fixed part 34 covers the fixing part 14 of the container body 5, and has the operation head guide tube 32 and the discharge nozzle 36 formed in the center. The fixed part 34 has a female screw part 34a formed on the inner circumferential surface. The female screw part 34a screws into the male screw part 14a of the container body 5. This allows the container body 5 and the pump dispenser 6 to be detachable. The fixed part 34 may be configured to be fixed to the container body 5 by fitting. Furthermore, the discharge container 2 may have a cap for preventing erroneous operation of the operation head 22. In the case of such a discharge container 2, the fixed part 34 has a fitting part on the outer circumferential surface that can be fitted.

[0018] The discharge nozzle 36 is disposed in the middle of the operation head guide cylinder 32. The discharge nozzle 36 has an inner cylinder 42 having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the operation head guide cylinder 32, a discharge cylinder 44 fluidly connected to the inner cylinder 42, and a check valve 46 provided in the discharge cylinder 44. The inner cylinder 42 and the discharge cylinder 44 are integrally molded with the operation head guide cylinder 32 and the fixed part 34 by using a resin material, for example. That is, the discharge nozzle 36 does not move relative to the operation head guide cylinder 32 and the fixed part 34, and does not move relative to the container body 5 when the fixed part 34 is fixed to the container body 5.

[0019] The inner tube 42, together with the discharge tube 44, form a discharge flow path 36a that continues from the cylindrical member 24 to the outside, through which the foam-like liquid material 3 moves. Here, the discharge flow path 36a of the discharge nozzle 36 includes, for example, a first discharge flow path 36a1 formed in the inner tube 42 and extending along the movement direction (up-down direction) of the operation head 22, and a straight or curved second discharge flow path 36a2 extending in a direction intersecting the first discharge flow path 36a1.

[0020] The discharge tube 44 protrudes from the upper end of the inner tube 42 in a direction intersecting the axis of the inner tube 42, for example, laterally and downward. The discharge tube 44 is formed in a rectangular tube shape, a cylindrical shape, an elliptical tube shape, a polygonal tube shape other than a rectangle, etc. A check valve 46, for example, is fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the tip side of the discharge tube 44.

[0021] The check valve 46 prevents backflow of the liquid material 3 and air. The check valve 46 may also be configured to prevent dripping. The discharge nozzle 36 may not have the check valve 46, but may have a mesh or the like at the tip of the discharge tube 44 for finely dividing the foamed liquid material 3.

[0022] The operation head 22 reciprocates along the axis of the operation head guide cylinder 32 relative to the support part 20 between a first position (normal position) shown in Fig. 1 and a second position (pressed position) shown in Fig. 2 which is different from the first position. For example, when the operation head 22 is in the second position, the operation head 22 is separated from the discharge nozzle 36 with a slight gap between them.

[0023] 3 to 6, the operation head 22 includes a body portion 22a, an operation portion 22b, and a fitting portion 22c. The operation head 22 is inserted into the operation head guide cylinder 32 and is formed so as to be capable of reciprocating up and down along the axial direction of the operation head guide cylinder 32.

[0024] The body 22a is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a slit-like notch extending along the axial direction is formed on a part of the outer circumferential surface. In other words, the cross section of the body 22a is formed in an arc shape with a part in the circumferential direction cut out, and extends in one direction (up and down). The outer diameter of the body 22a is formed to be smaller than the inner diameter of the operation head guide cylinder 32, and the inner diameter of the body 22a is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the inner cylinder 42 of the discharge nozzle 36. As a result, the body 22a is disposed between the operation head guide cylinder 32 and the inner cylinder 42, and is formed to be movable along the up and down direction.

[0025] The cutout of the body 22a is formed so that the discharge tube 44 of the discharge nozzle 36 can be disposed therein. That is, the discharge tube 44 of the discharge nozzle 36 is disposed in the cutout of the body 22a, and does not interfere with the discharge tube 44 during up-down reciprocating motion. For example, when the body 22a rotates around an axis along the up-down direction, the portion where the cutout is formed comes into contact with the discharge tube 44, and rotation around the axis is restricted.

[0026] The operation portion 22b is provided at the upper end of the body portion 22a and extends in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the body portion 22a. The operation portion 22b is formed, for example, in a plate shape that is long in one direction. The operation portion 22b is formed so as to be operable by pressing with a finger.

[0027] The fitting portion 22c is a protrusion formed on the inner circumferential surface of the lower end side of the body portion 22a. The fitting portion 22c fits with the cylindrical member 24 inserted into the body portion 22a.

[0028] The tubular member 24 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and forms a flow path inside that is fluidly connected to the discharge flow path 36a. One end of the tubular member 24 is fixed to the operation head 22 and the piston 28, and the other end slides on the inner tube 42 of the discharge nozzle 36. As a specific example, the outer circumferential surface of the lower end of the tubular member 24 is fitted with the fitting portion 22c of the body 22a of the operation head 22. Also, the second fitting tube 128 of the air piston 102 of the piston 28, which will be described later, is fitted with the inner circumferential surface of the lower end of the tubular member 24. Also, the upper end side of the tubular member 24 is inserted into the inner tube 42 of the discharge nozzle 36 and slides on the inner surface of the inner tube 42. Also, the tubular member 24 has a foam finer member 24a, which is a foam forming member that generates a good quality foamed liquid material 3 by passing the liquid material 3 and air passing through the inside.

[0029] 7 to 9, for example, the cylindrical member 24 includes a first cylindrical portion 24b, a second cylindrical portion 24c integrally formed with the first cylindrical portion 24b, a fitting portion 24d formed on the outer circumferential surface of the first cylindrical portion 24b, and a sliding portion 24e provided on the second cylindrical portion 24c. In the cylindrical member 24, for example, the first cylindrical portion 24b, the second cylindrical portion 24c, the fitting portion 24d, and the sliding portion 24e are integrally molded from a resin material. For example, in consideration of slidability, the resin material forming the cylindrical member 24 is preferably a material having a lower hardness (softer) than the resin material forming the discharge nozzle 36 (inner cylinder 42).

[0030] The bubble fine-tuning member 24a is provided, for example, inside, at the upper end or the lower end of the second cylindrical portion 24c. The bubble fine-tuning member 24a is, for example, a mesh that generates high-quality foamed liquid material 3 when the liquid material 3 and gas are passed through it.

[0031] The first cylindrical portion 24b has an outer circumferential surface into which the fitting portion 22c of the body portion 22a of the operation head 22 fits, and an inner circumferential surface into which a second fitting cylinder 128 of an air piston 102 of the piston 28, which will be described later, fits.

[0032] The second cylindrical portion 24c is inserted into the inner cylinder 42 of the discharge nozzle 36. For example, the outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 24c is smaller than the inner diameter of the inner cylinder 42, and the outer diameter of the first cylindrical portion 24b is larger than the inner diameter of the inner cylinder 42.

[0033] The fitting portion 24d fits or engages with, for example, the fitting portion 22c formed on the inner surface of the body portion 22a of the operation head 22. The sliding portion 24e is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 24c and slides on the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 42. The sliding portion 24e is, for example, an annular protrusion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 24c. As a specific example, the sliding portion 24e is an annular protrusion having a semicircular cross-sectional shape. The sliding portion 24e may have a triangular or trapezoidal cross-sectional shape. Also, for example, one or more sliding portions 24e are provided. The sliding portion 24e is, for example, formed by integral molding with the second cylindrical portion 24c. The sliding portion 24e may be a dynamic seal such as an O-ring packing.

[0034] The cylinder 26 is supported on the lower side of the support part 20. The cylinder 26 is cylindrical. The cylinder 26 includes a first cylinder (air cylinder) 52, a second cylinder (liquid cylinder) 54 having an inner peripheral surface with a smaller diameter than the inner peripheral surface of the first cylinder 52, and a mounting cylinder 56 having an inner peripheral surface with a smaller diameter than the inner peripheral surface of the second cylinder 54 and to which the tube body 7 is attached. The first cylinder 52, the second cylinder 54, and the mounting cylinder 56 are integrally molded from a resin material, for example. The first cylinder 52, the second cylinder 54, and the mounting cylinder 56 are coaxial with each other and are also coaxial with the support part 20.

[0035] The first cylinder 52 has a first sliding portion 62 on which an air piston 102 (described later) of the piston 28 slides, a fixed end 64 supported in, for example, the fixed portion 34 of the support portion 20, and a first annular portion 66 connecting the lower end of the first cylinder 52 and the second cylinder 54. The first sliding portion 62 has, for example, a constant inner diameter. The first sliding portion 62 has a through hole formed therein, which is closed by the air piston 102 in the first position shown in Fig. 1 and is separated from the air piston 102 in the second position shown in Fig. 2, and which communicates between the inside of the first cylinder 52 and the inside of the container body 5.

[0036] The fixed end 64 is provided at the upper end of the first sliding part 62, and is continuous with the first sliding part 62. The fixed end 64 is fitted between, for example, the outer peripheral surface of the operation head guide tube 32 of the support part 20 and the inner peripheral surface of the holding tube 20a formed in the support part 20, which has a smaller diameter than the outer peripheral surface of the operation head guide tube 32. For example, the fixed end 64 may be supported at the upper end of the fixed part 14 of the container body 5 via a seal member such as a packing. The first annular part 66 is provided below the first sliding part 62. The first annular part 66 has an outer peripheral edge that is continuous with the first sliding part 62, and the center side is open, and the second tube 54 is continuous with the center side. For example, the first annular part 66 is inclined with respect to the axis from the outer peripheral edge side toward the opening on the center side so that the outer peripheral edge side is downward and the center side is upward.

[0037] The second cylinder 54 has a second sliding portion 72 along which the liquid piston 104 of the piston 28, which will be described later, slides, a plug seat portion 74 that supports the plug 112 of the piston 28, which will be described later, and a second annular portion 76 that provides continuity between the second cylinder 54 and the mounting cylinder 56.

[0038] The second sliding portion 72 has, for example, a constant inner diameter. The plug seat 74 forms a seat surface 74a extending in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the second cylinder 54. The seat surface 74a supports the plug 112 on its upper surface. The second annular portion 76 has a valve seat 76a for the spherical valve body 30. The valve seat 76a annularly contacts a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the spherical valve body 30.

[0039] The piston 28 is supported by the cylindrical member 24, and is disposed within the support portion 20 and the cylinder 26. The piston 28 has an air piston 102, a liquid piston 104, an air chamber valve body 106, an inner rod 110, a plug 112, and a biasing member 114.

[0040] The air piston 102 is coaxial with the liquid piston 104. The air piston 102 has an annular body 122, a holding portion 124 that holds the air chamber valve element 106, a cylindrical first fitting cylinder 126 that fits with the liquid piston 104, and a cylindrical second fitting cylinder 128 that fits with the cylindrical member 24. The body 122, the holding portion 124, the first fitting cylinder 126, and the second fitting cylinder 128 are integrally molded from, for example, a resin material.

[0041] When the air piston 102 moves in the up-down direction (axial direction), the body 122 slides on the inner circumferential surface of the first sliding portion 62 of the cylinder 26. The outer diameter of at least a part of the body 122, for example the outer diameters of the upper and lower ends of the body 122, is formed to be the same diameter as or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the inner circumferential surface of the first sliding portion 62 of the cylinder 26, and is elastically deformed when coming into contact with the first sliding portion 62 of the cylinder 26, maintaining contact with the inner circumferential surface of the first sliding portion 62 of the cylinder 26, allowing the body 122 to slide while sealing the air chamber 210.

[0042] The holding portion 124 is provided radially inward from the body portion 122. The holding portion 124 is formed, for example, in a double cylindrical shape with a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the body portion 122, and holds the air chamber valve element 106 by fitting it between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder.

[0043] The first fitting cylinder 126 has a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the inner cylinder of the holding portion 124. The first fitting cylinder 126 fits with the upper end of the liquid piston 104. The upper end of the liquid piston 104 and the upper end of the inner rod 110 are arranged inside the first fitting cylinder 126. The first fitting cylinder 126, together with the upper end of the liquid piston 104, forms a mixing chamber 136 for the supplied air and liquid material 3 inside. That is, the mixing chamber 136 for mixing the air supplied from the air piston 102 and the liquid material 3 supplied from the liquid piston 104 is formed on the secondary side of the air piston 102 and the secondary side of the liquid piston 104. The mixing chamber 136 communicates with the discharge flow path 36a of the discharge nozzle 36 through the cylindrical member 24. In addition, a communication hole 138 is formed in the upper part of the mixing chamber 136 in the first fitting cylinder 126, which communicates the mixing chamber 136 with the inside of the cylindrical member 24.

[0044] The mixing chamber 136 inside the first fitting cylinder 126 has an inclined surface or ribs or the like capable of pressing the valve body 164 of the inner rod 110. The inclined surface or ribs of the mixing chamber 136 are inclined so that the inner diameter or width decreases from the liquid piston 104 side toward the cylindrical member 24.

[0045] The communication hole 138 is formed in an upper wall formed at the top of the mixing chamber 136. The communication hole 138 is formed, for example, in the center of the upper wall of the mixing chamber 136. The flow path cross-sectional area (opening area) of the communication hole 138 is smaller than the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the cylindrical member 24 and the flow path cross-sectional area of ​​the mixing chamber 136. The communication hole 138 is, for example, a circular opening.

[0046] The second fitting cylinder 128 fits into the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 24. Therefore, the air piston 102 moves together with the cylindrical member 24 as the operation head 22 moves.

[0047] The air chamber valve element 106 is formed in an annular shape, and is made of a resin material which is more flexible than the air piston 102. The air chamber valve element 106 is provided at a position below the holding portion 124. The air chamber valve element 106 has a cylindrical portion 140 which is held by the holding portion 124, and an outer annular valve element 142 and an inner annular valve element 144 which are integrally formed at the lower end of the cylindrical portion 140.

[0048] The cylindrical portion 140 is fitted into the gap between the outer and inner cylinders of the holding portion 124. The outer annular valve element 142 is formed in an annular shape extending radially outward from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 140. The outer annular valve element 142 opens and closes a hole that serves as an air flow path of the air piston 102. The inner annular valve element 144 is formed in an annular shape extending radially inward from the lower end side of the cylindrical portion 140. The inner annular valve element 144 opens and closes the air flow path between the liquid piston 104 and the first fitting cylinder 126. The outer annular valve element 142 and the inner annular valve element 144 elastically deform due to a change in air pressure accompanying the movement of the discharge nozzle 36, thereby opening and closing the air flow path.

[0049] The liquid piston 104 is fitted into the first fitting tube 126 inside the air piston 102. The liquid piston 104, together with the first tube 52 of the cylinder 26 and the air piston 102, forms an air chamber 210. The liquid piston 104, together with the second tube 54 of the cylinder 26, forms a liquid chamber 220. The liquid piston 104 reciprocates together with the air piston 102 in accordance with the reciprocating motion of the discharge nozzle 36, changing the volumes of the air chamber 210 and the liquid chamber 220.

[0050] The liquid piston 104 has a cylindrical body 152, a valve seat 154, a support seat 156 that supports the upper end of the urging member 114, and a flange 158 that extends radially outward from the cylindrical body 152. The cylindrical body 152, the valve seat 154, the support seat 156, and the flange 158 are integrally molded from, for example, a resin material.

[0051] The upper end of the cylindrical body 152 is fitted into the first fitting cylinder 126 of the air piston 102. The outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the cylindrical body 152 has a plurality of ribs 152a extending in the axial direction and protruding radially outward. The ribs 152a are provided between the upper end of the cylindrical body 152 and the flange 158. It is preferable that the ribs 152a are formed at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the upper end of the cylindrical body 152. When the upper end of the cylindrical body 152 of the liquid piston 104 is fitted into the first fitting cylinder 126 of the air piston 102, the plurality of ribs 152a form an air passage that allows air to flow between the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 152 of the liquid piston 104 and the first fitting cylinder 126 of the air piston 102. Alternatively, the cylindrical body 152 may not have the plurality of ribs 152a that form the air passage, and the air passage may be formed by a notch or the like formed on the inside of the first fitting cylinder 126.

[0052] The outer diameter of the lower end portion of the tubular body 152 below the flange 158 is the same as or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the second sliding portion 72 of the second tube 54 of the cylinder 26. Therefore, the tubular body 152 of the liquid piston 104 slides on the inner circumferential surface of the second sliding portion 72 of the second tube 54 of the cylinder 26 while sealing the liquid chamber 220.

[0053] The valve seat 154 is provided on the inner circumferential surface at the upper end of the cylindrical body 152. The valve seat 154 is formed in an annular shape.

[0054] The support seat 156 is an annular seat surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The support seat 156 supports the upper end of the biasing member 114. The support seat 156 is provided inside the liquid piston 104. For example, the support seat 156 is provided at the same position as the flange 158 in the axial direction.

[0055] 1 and 2, the inner rod 110 has a shaft body 162, a valve body 164 provided at the upper end of the shaft body 162, and a first engagement portion 166 provided at the lower end of the shaft body 162. The shaft body 162, the valve body 164, and the first engagement portion 166 are coaxial. In addition, the shaft body 162, the valve body 164, and the first engagement portion 166 are integrally molded from a resin material.

[0056] The outer diameter of the shaft body 162 is smaller than the inner diameter of the liquid piston 104. The shaft body 162 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape having different outer diameters. For example, the shaft body 162 is formed so that the outer diameter on the valve body 164 side is larger than the outer diameter on the first engagement portion 166 side.

[0057] The valve body 164 is formed as, for example, a poppet valve. A vertical cross section including the axis of the valve body 164 is formed into a substantially triangular pyramid shape or a substantially V shape having an inclined surface. The valve body 164 is movable toward and away from the valve seat 154 of the liquid piston 104.

[0058] The first engagement portion 166 has a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the axis that is larger than that of the shaft body 162. The first engagement portion 166 is formed in a cone shape, a dome shape, a sphere shape, or the like.

[0059] The plug 112 has a cylindrical body 180, a second engagement portion 182 which is a circular opening formed on the inner circumferential surface at the upper end of the body 180, and a flange portion 184 formed at the lower end. The body 180, the second engagement portion 182, and the flange portion 184 are coaxial.

[0060] A plurality of openings 186 are formed on the lower end side of the body 180, and serve as liquid passages that communicate between the inside and outside of the plug 112. The openings 186 are formed in a rectangular shape extending along the axial direction. The inner diameter of the body 180 is larger than the inner diameter of the second engagement portion 182.

[0061] The second engagement portion 182 is provided at the upper end of the body 180, and is an annular opening portion into which the first engagement portion 166 of the inner rod 110 is inserted and which engages with the first engagement portion 166 in the axial direction in the direction in which the inner rod 110 and the plug 112 move away from each other.

[0062] The flange portion 184 is supported by the seat surface 74a of the plug seat 74. The outer diameter of the flange portion 184 is smaller than the inner diameter of the second tube 54 of the cylinder 26. The outer diameter of the flange portion 184 is larger than the inner diameter of the valve seat 76a of the second annular portion 76 of the second tube 54. Therefore, the plug 112 is supported by the plug seat 74 with the flange portion 184 facing downward.

[0063] In the content-containing discharge container 1 configured in this manner, the operation head 22 is formed to be movable in the up-down direction relative to the discharge nozzle 36. In addition, the operation head 22 is fixed to a cylindrical member 24, which is fixed to a piston 28. Thus, the operation head 22 reciprocates up-down, causing the cylindrical member 24 and the piston 28 to reciprocate. As a result, the piston 28 reciprocates within the cylinder 26 as the operation head 22 reciprocates.

[0064] Therefore, when the operation head 22 is pressed downward by the finger, the cylindrical member 24 in the first discharge flow passage 36a1 of the discharge flow passage 36a of the inner cylinder 42 also moves downward at the same time, and the piston 28 connected to the cylindrical member 24 also moves downward at the same time. When the cylindrical member 24 moves downward in the first discharge flow passage 36a1, the volume of the first discharge flow passage 36a1 above the upper end of the cylindrical member 24 expands, and a storage space is formed in the first discharge flow passage 36a1 to temporarily store a part of the liquid material 3 that remains when the operation head moves downward. Then, when the finger is released from the operation head 22, the piston 28 and the cylindrical member 24 return upward due to the biasing force of the biasing member 114, the volume of the first discharge flow passage 36a1 decreases, the cylindrical member 24 pushes out the contents of the storage space, and the remaining liquid material 3 is discharged from the discharge port at the tip of the discharge cylinder 44 via the second discharge flow passage 36a2. In this way, the liquid content is discharged when the operating head moves in both the downward and upward directions.

[0065] Moreover, the pump dispenser 6 provides the foam finer member 24a on the cylindrical member 24, so that the foamed liquid material 3 discharged from the discharge port of the discharge tube 44 has good foam quality. Moreover, the pump dispenser 6 provides the check valve 46 on the discharge tube 44 to prevent dripping and suppress air from entering the second discharge flow path 36a2, so that deterioration of the foam quality and change in the discharge amount of the liquid material 3 can be prevented.

[0066] In this way, by pressing down the operating head 22 and biasing the biasing member 114, the liquid piston 104 reciprocates, opening and closing the spherical valve element 30 and the valve element 164, moving the liquid material 3, and mixing the air and the liquid material 3 in the mixing chamber 136. The liquid material 3 mixed with the air is then discharged from the discharge tube 44. In this way, the liquid material 3 is discharged by the reciprocating movement of the tubular member 24 connected to the piston 28, so that the discharge amount of the liquid material 3 flowing from the mixing chamber 136 through the tubular member 24 and through the discharge flow path 36a can be always kept constant.

[0067] The pump dispenser 6 is configured to operate by pressing down the operation head 22 which is movable in the vertical direction relative to the discharge nozzle 36. For example, the operation head 22 moves toward the discharge nozzle 36 by facing the palm upward, touching the lower part of the discharge nozzle 36 with the index finger, touching the upper surface of the operation part 22b of the operation head 22 with the thumb, and pinching the discharge nozzle 36 and the operation part 22b between the index finger and thumb. As a result, the liquid material 3 discharged from the discharge nozzle 36 is discharged onto the palm. In this way, the pump dispenser 6 allows the liquid material 3 to be discharged with one hand.

[0068] The content-containing discharge container 1 allows the operation head 22 to be operated with one hand and the liquid material 3 to be received with the operating hand, so that the liquid material 3 can be taken out even when the other hand is occupied. In addition, since the discharge nozzle 36 does not move and the operation head 22 moves, the positional relationship between the discharge nozzle 36 and the palm does not change significantly during the discharge operation of the liquid material 3, so that the liquid material 3 can be prevented from being missed. In addition, even when the content-containing discharge container 1 is stored in a shoulder bag or a waist pouch, or is hung from the waist, the liquid material 3 can be taken out with one hand. In this way, the content-containing discharge container 1 has high usability and operability.

[0069] In addition, the operating head 22 is shaped to have an operating part 22b that is located above the discharge nozzle 36 and extends in the same direction as the discharge tube 44, i.e., in a direction intersecting or perpendicular to the axial direction. This makes it easy to operate the operating part 22b by pinching the operating part 22b and the discharge nozzle 36 between two fingers, for example, the index finger and thumb.

[0070] Furthermore, when the operation head 22 moves from the first position to the second position, it is positioned slightly away from the discharge nozzle 36, so the movement distance between the first position and the second position is constant, making it possible to discharge a predetermined amount of liquid material 3. Furthermore, even if too much force is applied to press the operation head 22 down and it moves below the second position, the operation head 22 comes into contact with the discharge nozzle 36, so excessive movement and damage can be prevented.

[0071] Furthermore, since the cylindrical member 24 has the sliding part 24e, the sliding part 24e slides in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the inner tube 42, and therefore it is possible to prevent the liquid material 3 from leaking out from the gap between the cylindrical member 24 and the inner tube 42. Furthermore, since the sliding part 24e is annular, it is possible to reduce sliding resistance and improve adhesion, and therefore it is possible to prevent an increase in the force required to operate the operation head 22.

[0072] As described above, the content-containing discharge container 1, the discharge container 2, and the pump dispenser 6 according to the embodiment allow the liquid material 3 to be discharged by one-handed operation.

[0073] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, in the above-mentioned example, the discharge container 1 containing the content, the discharge container 2, and the pump dispenser 6 are configured to discharge a foam-like liquid material (content) 3, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be configured to discharge a liquid material 3.

[0074] In the above example, the operation unit 22b of the operation head 22 is formed in a plate shape that is long in one direction and faces the discharge nozzle 36 in the up-down direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the operation unit 22b may be formed in a disk shape, with a portion of the circumferential direction facing the discharge nozzle 36. That is, as long as the operation head 22 is configured such that the operation unit 22b can be pressed down with one hand by operating a portion of the operation unit 22b during operation, the operation unit 22b can be in various shapes, such as a rectangular shape, an elliptical shape, a circular shape, or an irregular shape.

[0075] That is, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the gist of the invention. In addition, the embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combination, and in that case, the combined effect can be obtained. Furthermore, the above-mentioned embodiment includes various inventions, and various inventions can be extracted by combinations selected from the multiple components disclosed. For example, if the problem can be solved and the effect can be obtained even if some components are deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment, the configuration from which the components are deleted can be extracted as an invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 1...dispensing container containing contents, 2...dispensing container, 3...liquid material (contents), 5...container body, 6...pump dispenser, 7...tube body, 12...main body, 14...fixing portion, 14a...male thread portion, 20...support portion, 20a...holding tube, 22...operating head, 22a...body portion, 22b...operating portion, 22c...fitting portion, 24...cylindrical member, 24a...bubble finer member, 24b...first cylindrical portion, 24c...second cylindrical portion, 24d...fitting Joint portion, 24e... sliding portion, 26... cylinder, 28... piston, 30... spherical valve body, 32... operation head guide tube, 32a... notch, 34... fixed portion, 34a... female screw portion, 36... discharge nozzle, 36a... discharge flow path, 36a1... first discharge flow path, 36a2... second discharge flow path, 42... inner tube, 44... discharge tube, 46... check valve, 52... first tube (air cylinder), 54... second tube (liquid cylinder), 56... Mounting tube, 62...first sliding portion, 64...fixed end, 66...first annular portion, 72...second sliding portion, 74...plug seat, 74a...seat surface, 76...second annular portion, 76a...valve seat, 102...air piston, 104...liquid piston, 106...air chamber valve body, 110...inner rod, 112...plug, 114...urging member, 122...body portion, 124...holding portion, 126...first fitting tube, 128...second 2 fitting cylinder, 136...mixing chamber, 138...communicating hole, 140...cylindrical portion, 142...outer annular valve body, 144...inner annular valve body, 152...cylindrical body, 152a...rib, 154...valve seat, 156...support seat, 158...flange, 162...shaft body, 164...valve body, 166...first engagement portion, 180...body, 182...second engagement portion, 184...flange portion, 186...opening, 210...air chamber, 220...liquid chamber.

Claims

1. A cylinder; A piston that reciprocates in one direction within the cylinder; a discharge nozzle provided on an upper portion of the piston and having a discharge flow path through which the contents flow and a discharge port through which the contents are discharged; an operating head that is movable relative to the discharge nozzle and is connected to the piston and is operated to move the piston in the one direction; a cylindrical member that connects the piston and the operating head and fluidly connects with the discharge flow path of the discharge nozzle and forms a part of the discharge flow path; A pump dispenser comprising:

2. 2. The pump dispenser according to claim 1, wherein one end of the cylindrical member is fixed to the operation head and the piston, and the other end slides against an inner circumferential surface of the discharge flow path of the discharge nozzle, and reciprocates in association with the reciprocating movement of the piston.

3. The pump dispenser according to claim 2 , wherein the cylindrical member has an annular sliding portion on an outer circumferential surface of the other end side, the annular sliding portion sliding against an inner circumferential surface of the discharge flow path.

4. The pump dispenser according to claim 3 , wherein the sliding portion is an annular projection having a semicircular cross section, which is formed integrally with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical member.

5. The discharge nozzle extends in a direction intersecting the one direction, The pump dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the operating head has an operating portion extending in a direction intersecting the one direction.

6. The pump dispenser according to claim 5 , wherein the operation head is formed to be rotatable around an axis along the one direction.

7. A restricting portion restricts rotation of the operation head around an axis along the one direction, The pump dispenser according to claim 5 , wherein the operation portion is provided at a position facing the discharge nozzle in the one direction.

8. The pump dispenser according to claim 1 , further comprising a foam fine-fine member provided in the discharge flow path or the tubular member for foaming the content.

9. A container body for storing liquid contents; The pump dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is fixed to the container body; A discharge container comprising:

10. A liquid content; A container body for storing the contents; The pump dispenser according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is fixed to the container body; A discharge container containing a content.

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