Elastic structure, and pump type dispenser comprising the same

Abstract

To propose an elastic structure capable of suppressing an influence of setting even in a synthetic resin one.SOLUTION: In an elastic structure 50, a first elastic body 51 includes a first coil part 51a, a first spiral groove 51b spirally extending around the first coil part 51a and a first base part 51c connected to a root part of the first coil part 51a to have a rotation prevention shape, and a second elastic body 52 includes a second coil part 52a, a second spiral groove 52b spirally extending around the second coil part 52a and a second base part 52c connected to a root part of the second coil part 52a to have a rotation prevent shape. The second coil pat 52a is located at the first spiral groove 51b, and when the second base part 52c is relatively rotated around an axis line O with respect to the first base part 51c, an elastic non-deformable state with the first coil part 51a located at the second spiral groove 52b is switched to an elastic deformable state with the first coil part 51a and the second coil part 52a are located in series.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an elastic structure and a pump-type dispenser including the elastic structure. [Background technology]

[0002] A known pump-type dispenser includes a cap that is attached to the mouth of a container, a pump that is held at the mouth by the cap and is driven by the back and forth movement of a stem, and a head connected to the stem, and the liquid contents in the container are dispensed from the head's outlet by moving the head forward toward the cap (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] As shown in Patent Document 1, a coil spring is provided inside such a pump-type dispenser to impart elastic force to the head so as to return the head, which has been moved toward the cap, to its initial position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-31950 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in this type of pump type dispenser, most of the components are made of synthetic resin, but the coil spring is made of metal. Therefore, when it is discarded after use, it cannot be recycled as a resin product in this state. In addition, in general, in this type of pump type dispenser, the components are firmly fixed to each other, for example, by fitting, to prevent the components from coming off during normal use. Therefore, it is time-consuming to disassemble the pump type dispenser and separate the coil spring from the other components.

[0006] On the other hand, if an elastic body shaped like a coil spring is made of synthetic resin, the elastic body is likely to sag if it is left in a state where elastic force is exerted. In a pump container in which a pump-type dispenser is attached to a container containing a liquid content, the head may be moved to the lower limit (forward limit) and held in that state to prevent the liquid content from being accidentally dispensed during storage, etc. In other words, in this state, the coil spring is greatly bent. For this reason, simply replacing the conventional coil spring used in the pump-type dispenser with a synthetic resin coil spring will result in the problem of sagging.

[0007] The present invention aims to solve these problems, and aims to propose an elastic structure that can suppress the effects of settling even if it is made of synthetic resin, and a pump-type dispenser equipped with the elastic structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention provides an elastic structure including a first elastic body and a second elastic body made of synthetic resin, The first elastic body includes a first coil portion extending helically around a predetermined axis, a first spiral groove extending helically around the first coil portion, and a first base portion connected to a root portion of the first coil portion and having a rotation prevention shape that prevents rotation around the axis, the second elastic body includes a second coil portion extending helically around the axis, a second spiral groove extending helically around the second coil portion, and a second base portion connected to a root portion of the second coil portion and having a rotation prevention shape that prevents rotation around the axis, This is an elastic structure that switches from an elastically non-deformable state in which the first coil portion and the second coil portion are positioned in the first spiral groove and the first coil portion is positioned in the second spiral groove in an opposing orientation, to an elastically deformable state in which the first coil portion and the second coil portion are positioned in series when the second base is rotated relative to the first base about the axis.

[0009] It is preferable that the first elastic body and the second elastic body have the same shape.

[0010] It is preferable that either one of the tip end of the first coil portion or the tip end of the second coil portion has a stopper with which the other of the tip end of the first coil portion or the tip end of the second coil portion engages in the elastically deformable state to prevent relative rotation of the second base with respect to the first base into the non-elastically deformable state.

[0011] The present invention also provides a pump-type dispenser comprising: a cap attached to the mouth of a container that contains liquid contents; a pump that is held at the mouth by the cap and is driven by the back and forth movement of a stem; a head having a discharge port for discharging the liquid contents to the outside and connected to the stem; and the above-mentioned elastic structure that imparts an elastic force to the head in a direction that causes the head to retract, the head being advanced toward the cap to dispense the liquid contents from the container through the discharge port, the cap includes a cap side holding portion that engages with the first base portion to hold the first base portion, and a cap side rotation prevention portion that prevents the first base portion from rotating around the axis; the head includes a head-side holding portion that engages with the second base portion to hold the second base portion, and a head-side rotation prevention portion that prevents the second base portion from rotating around the axis; The pump-type dispenser is also one in which, when the cap is rotated about the axis relative to the head, the state is switched from the non-elastically deformable state to the elastically deformable state.

[0012] The cap has a cap side engagement portion, The head preferably has a head-side engaging portion that engages with the cap-side engaging portion in the non-elastically deformable state. Effect of the Invention

[0013] The elastic structure of the present invention includes a first elastic body and a second elastic body made of synthetic resin. By rotating the second base part relative to the first base part about an axis, the elastic structure can be switched from a non-elastically deformable state in which the second coil part is located in the first helical groove and the first coil part is located in the second helical groove to an elastically deformable state in which the first coil part and the second coil part are located in series. In other words, according to the elastic structure of the present invention, the elastically deformable state can be switched to when it becomes necessary to exert an elastic force, so that the effect of sagging can be suppressed even if the elastic structure is made of synthetic resin. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1A] 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a pump-type dispenser having an elastic structure according to the present invention, illustrating a state in which the head has moved to its forward limit. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B is a partial enlarged view of portion D1 shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1B is a partial enlarged view of part D2 shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 1D] FIG. 1B is a partial enlarged view of part D3 shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 2A] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the elastic structure shown in FIG. 1A in a non-elastically deformable state. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is a view taken along the arrow A in FIG. 2A. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2B is a view taken along the arrow B in FIG. 2A. [Figure 3A] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the first elastic body shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 3B] 3B is a view taken along the arrow C in FIG. 3A. [Figure 3C] 3B is a view taken along the arrow D in FIG. 3A. [Figure 4A] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 4B] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF shown in FIG. 1A. [Diagram 5] 1B is a diagram showing a state in which the head of the pump-type dispenser shown in FIG. 1A has been moved to its retractable limit. [Figure 6A]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the elastic structure shown in FIG. 5 in an elastically deformable state. [Figure 6B] 6B is a view taken along the arrow G in FIG. 6A. [Figure 6C] 6B is a view taken along the arrow H in FIG. 6A. [Figure 7] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing modified examples of the elastic structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] Hereinafter, an elastic structure 50, which is one embodiment of the elastic structure according to the present invention, and a pump-type dispenser 100, which is one embodiment of the pump-type dispenser according to the present invention, will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification and the like, the up-down direction is the direction along the illustrated axis O (the central axis of the stem 7a described later), and the side where the pipe 4 is located is the "lower" side, and the side where the head 12 is located is the "upper" side. The radial direction is the direction perpendicular to the axis O in a plane perpendicular to the axis O, and the circumferential direction is the direction around the axis O in this plane. The front side is the side where the nozzle 12c described later is directed (the left side in FIG. 1A), and the back side is the opposite side (the right side in FIG. 1A). The left side and the right side are the left and right directions when viewed from the front side toward the back side.

[0016] The elastic structure 50 is composed of a first elastic body 51 and a second elastic body 52 as shown in FIG. 2A. The pump-type dispenser 100 is composed of a cylinder 1, a valve member 2, a pipe 4, an internal member 5, a piston 6, a cylindrical member 7, a seal member 8, a holder 9, a packing 10, a cap 11, a head 12, and an elastic structure 50 as shown in FIG. 1A. Here, the cylinder 1, the valve member 2, the internal member 5, the piston 6, the cylindrical member 7, the holder 9, and the elastic structure 50 are members constituting a "pump" in this specification. Among the above members, the valve member 2, the piston 6, and the packing 10 are formed of elastic soft synthetic resin (e.g., polyethylene (LDPE, HDPE, foamed PE)), and the other members are formed of hard synthetic resin (e.g., polypropylene (PP), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyacetal (POM), polyketone (POK) resin, etc.). The elastic structure 50 and each member constituting the pump type discharger 100 are basically formed in a shape centered on the axis O.

[0017] First, the first elastic body 51 constituting the elastic structure 50 will be described. As shown in Figs. 3A to 3C, the first elastic body 51 includes a first coil portion 51a that extends in a spiral shape around the axis O. Here, a groove (gap) that extends in a spiral shape around the first coil portion 51a is referred to as a first spiral groove 51b. The root portion of the first coil portion 51a is connected to a first base portion 51c. The first elastic body 51 in this embodiment includes a total of two first coil portions 51a, and the two first coil portions 51a are provided at positions shifted by 180° with respect to the first base portion 51c with respect to the axis O. In addition, the first base portion 51c is formed in a shape that prevents rotation around the axis O (hereinafter referred to as a "rotation prevention shape"). The first base 51c in this embodiment is an annular plate centered on the axis O, and has a groove (first groove 51d) extending linearly in the radial direction in the center of the lower surface. In other words, when a protrusion or the like is inserted into this groove, the first base 51c is prevented from rotating around the axis O. The shape of the first base 51c having a rotation-preventing shape is not limited to the one shown in the figure, and may be, for example, a polygonal plate (a square or hexagonal plate) or a disk centered on the axis O with a recess provided in the lower surface at a position offset from the axis O.

[0018] The first elastic body 51 also has a step portion (first step portion 51f) formed on the side where the tip portion (first tip portion 51e) of the first coil portion 51a is located, which is formed by reducing the thickness in the direction along the axis O of the first coil portion 51a.

[0019] The second elastic body 52 shown in Figures 2A to 2C has the same shape as the first elastic body 51, and includes the second coil portion 52a, the second spiral groove 52b, the second base portion 52c, the second groove portion 52d, the second tip portion 52e, and the second step portion 52f, which have the same shapes as the first coil portion 51a, the first spiral groove 51b, the first base portion 51c, the first groove portion 51d, the first tip portion 51e, and the first step portion 51f described above. In Figures 2A to 2C, the second coil portion 52a is shown hatched to distinguish it from the first coil portion 51a. The first step portion 51f and the second step portion 52f described above correspond to the "stopper" in this specification.

[0020] As shown in Figs. 2A to 2C, the elastic structure 50 including the first elastic body 51 and the second elastic body 52 can be brought into a state in which the second coil portion 52a is positioned in the first spiral groove 51b and the first coil portion 51a is positioned in the second spiral groove 52b by rotating the second elastic body 52 around the axis O relative to the first elastic body 51 in a posture in which the first coil portion 51a and the second coil portion 52a face each other, thereby causing the second coil portion 52a to enter the first spiral groove 51b and the first coil portion 51a to enter the second spiral groove 52b. In this state, even if the second elastic body 52 is pressed against the first elastic body 51, the first coil portion 51a and the second coil portion 52a are basically not elastically deformed. Hereinafter, the state shown in Figs. 2A to 2C will be referred to as an "elastically non-deformable state". In addition, the elastic structure 50 can be switched to a state in which the first coil portion 51a and the second coil portion 52a are positioned in series as shown in Figures 6A to 6C by rotating the second elastic body 52 relative to the first elastic body 51 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the elastically non-deformable state was established. In this state, the second coil portion 52a is released from the first spiral groove 51b, and the first coil portion 51a is released from the second spiral groove 52b, so that the first coil portion 51a and the second coil portion 52a are in an elastically deformable state. Hereinafter, the state shown in Figures 6A to 6C will be referred to as the "elastically deformable state."

[0021] Next, the pump-type dispenser 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 1A and other figures.

[0022] The cylinder 1 has a disk-shaped bottom wall 1a with a central portion protruding upward, a cylindrical tube wall 1b standing from the outer edge of the bottom wall 1a, and a flange wall 1c extending radially outward from the upper portion of the tube wall 1b. A through hole (suction port 1d) is provided in the protruding central portion of the bottom wall 1a. A cylindrical holding tube 1e is provided on the lower surface of the bottom wall 1a, surrounding the suction port 1d and extending downward to hold the pipe 4. A through hole (vent hole 1f) is provided in the tube wall 1b.

[0023] The valve member 2 includes a base 2a that is fitted and held on the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder wall portion 1b, a valve body portion 2b that covers the suction port 1d and is seated on the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 1a, and an elastically deformable connecting piece 2c that connects the base 2a and the valve body portion 2b. The valve member 2 functions as a check valve, and when the pressure inside the cylinder 1 is reduced, the valve body portion 2b that has been closing the suction port 1d moves away from the bottom wall portion 1a to open the suction port 1d.

[0024] The pipe 4 is hollow, and its upper end is inserted into and fitted into the holding cylinder 1e.

[0025] The internal member 5 is disposed inside the cylinder 1 and is a member that moves up and down relative to the cylinder 1. The internal member 5 includes a cylindrical connecting tube 5a with a closed lower end, and a bottom portion 5b that extends radially outward from the lower portion of the connecting tube 5a and then downward. An opening (not shown) is provided in the bottom portion 5b, and the lower and upper portions of the bottom portion 5b are connected by this opening. The connecting tube 5a is provided with a hole (communication port 5c) that penetrates it, and an annular portion 5d that protrudes upward is provided on the upper surface of the bottom portion 5b.

[0026] The piston 6 is inserted through the connecting tube 5a and disposed above the bottom 5b. The piston 6 of this embodiment has an annular base 6a. An outer sliding piece 6b extending upward and downward from the base 6a is provided on the outer edge of the base 6a. The outer sliding piece 6b slidably and liquid-tightly abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the tube wall 1b. An inner sliding piece 6c extending upward and downward from the base 6a is provided on the inner edge of the base 6a. The lower part of the inner sliding piece 6c slidably and liquid-tightly abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the annular portion 5d, and the upper part of the inner sliding piece 6c slidably and liquid-tightly abuts against the inner peripheral surface of a diameter-enlarged portion 7b of the cylindrical member 7, which will be described later.

[0027] The tubular member 7 is a member having an overall tubular shape. The tubular member 7 includes a cylindrical stem 7a and an expanded diameter portion 7b that is connected to the lower end of the stem 7a and has a larger diameter than the stem 7a. When the connecting tube 5a is inserted into the inside of the stem 7a, the two are fitted together, so that the internal member 5 and the tubular member 7 move together relative to the cylinder 1.

[0028] The seal member 8 has a cylindrical wall 8a surrounding the stem 7a. A seal portion 8b is provided at the lower end of the wall 8a, which extends upward and downward and is in liquid-tight contact with the inner circumferential surface of the wall portion 1b so as to slide thereon. The seal portion 8b has a function of closing the vent hole 1f in the state shown in FIG. 1A (when the head 12 is pushed all the way downward (moved to the forward limit)).

[0029] The holder 9 is located radially outward of the stem 7a and has a holder base 9a that is fitted and held on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall portion 1b. A flange 9b that extends radially outward is provided on the upper end of the holder base 9a. The holder 9 prevents the internal member 5, the piston 6, and the cylindrical member 7 from slipping out of the cylinder 1.

[0030] The packing 10 is in the shape of an annular plate, and is inserted into and fitted into the cylindrical wall portion 1b of the cylinder 1. When the pump type dispenser 100 is attached to a container (not shown), the packing 10 is sandwiched between the mouth of the container and the flange wall 1c. This prevents problems such as the content liquid overflowing from the mouth when the container is turned over, for example.

[0031] The cap 11 has a disk-shaped top wall 11a with a through hole in the center. A cylindrical lower peripheral wall 11b extending downward is provided on the outer edge of the top wall 11a. An upper part of the inner peripheral surface of the lower peripheral wall 11b bulges radially inward to fit and hold the flange wall 1c, thereby holding the cylinder 1 in the cap 11. Also, a female threaded portion 11c that screws into a male threaded portion provided on the mouth of the container is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the lower peripheral wall 11b, and the cap 11 can be attached to the container by screwing the male threaded portion and the female threaded portion 11c together.

[0032] The cap 11 also has a cylindrical upper peripheral wall 11d extending upward from the upper surface of the top wall 11a. As shown in FIG. 1B, the outer peripheral surface of the upper peripheral wall 11d is provided with a cap side engagement portion 11e protruding radially outward. As shown in FIG. 1C and FIG. 4A, the cap side rotation prevention rib 11f is provided radially inward of the upper peripheral wall 11d, protruding upward from the upper surface of the top wall 11a and extending linearly from a through hole in the center of the top wall 11a toward the radially outward direction. As shown in FIG. 1C, the cap side engagement protrusion 11g protruding radially inward is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the upper peripheral wall 11d above the cap side rotation prevention rib 11f. The cap side rotation prevention rib 11f corresponds to the "cap side rotation prevention portion" in this specification, and the cap side engagement protrusion 11g corresponds to the "cap side holding portion" in this specification.

[0033] The head 12 is cylindrical and has a tubular portion 12a that is inserted into the stem 7a and fitted thereto. A top portion 12b having a passage therein that leads to the tubular portion 12a is provided at the upper portion of the tubular portion 12a. A nozzle 12c that is cylindrical and extends radially outward and leads to a passage provided inside the top portion 12b is provided at the tip of the nozzle 12c. A discharge port 12d through which the content liquid is discharged by the pump type discharger 100 is provided at the tip of the nozzle 12c.

[0034] The head 12 also includes a cylindrical outer peripheral wall 12e that extends downward from the top 12b and the nozzle 12c and surrounds the upper peripheral wall 11d. At the lower end of the outer peripheral wall 12e, a head-side engagement portion 12f that protrudes radially inward is provided as shown in FIG. 1B. At the radially inner side of the outer peripheral wall 12e, a cylindrical inner peripheral wall 12g is provided. At the radially inner side of the inner peripheral wall 12g, a head-side anti-rotation rib 12h that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the top 12b and extends linearly from the cylindrical portion 12a radially outward is provided as shown in FIG. 1D and FIG. 4B. In this embodiment, the head-side anti-rotation rib 12h extends to the radially outer side of the inner peripheral wall 12g. At the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall 12g below the head-side anti-rotation rib 12h, a head-side engagement protrusion 12j that protrudes radially inward is provided. The head side anti-rotation rib 12h corresponds to the "head side anti-rotation portion" in this specification and the head side engaging protrusion 12j corresponds to the "head side holding portion" in this specification and the like.

[0035] 2A to 2C, the elastic structure 50 is attached between the cap 11 and the head 12 in a position in which the first elastic body 51 is located on the cap 11 side and the second elastic body 52 is located on the head 12 side as shown in Fig. 1A. Specifically, the first elastic body 51 is held so as to be prevented from slipping out of the cap 11 and from rotating by inserting the first base portion 51c into the inside of the upper peripheral wall 11d, and the first groove portion 51d shown in Fig. 2A fits into the cap side anti-rotation rib 11f shown in Fig. 1C, and the first base portion 51c engages with the cap side engagement protrusion 11g. As for the second elastic body 52, the second base portion 52c is inserted into the inside of the inner peripheral wall 12g, and the second groove portion 52d shown in FIG. 2A fits into the head side anti-rotation rib 12h shown in FIG. 1D, and the second base portion 52c engages with the head side engagement protrusion 12j, thereby preventing the second elastic body 52 from slipping out of the head 12 and preventing it from rotating.

[0036] The pump type dispenser 100 made of such members is attached to the mouth of a container (not shown) containing the liquid content (e.g., cosmetics such as milky lotion or toner, shampoo, body soap, hand soap, facial cleanser, etc.) in the state shown in FIG. 1A. In the state shown in FIG. 1A, the head 12 is moved to the lowest position (to the forward limit). In this state, the head side engaging portion 12f of the head 12 is engaged with the cap side engaging portion 11e of the cap 11 as shown in FIG. 1B, so that the head 12 can be prevented from being inadvertently raised (retracted). That is, if the head 12 is raised during storage or the like, there is a risk that the head 12 is unintentionally pressed and the liquid content is discharged, but the pump type dispenser 100 does not lead to such a defect. In addition, in the state shown in FIG. 1A, the elastic structure 50 is in an elastically non-deformable state. That is, the first coil portion 51a of the first elastic body 51 and the second coil portion 52a of the second elastic body 52 are hardly bent, so that the effect of sagging can be suppressed.

[0037] 1A, the seal portion 8b of the seal member 8 closes the vent hole 1f. In other words, even if the container to which the pump type dispenser 100 is attached is accidentally turned over, the liquid content in the container can be prevented from entering the inside of the cylinder 1 through the vent hole 1f and leaking out of the pump type dispenser 100.

[0038] When discharging the content liquid from the pump type dispenser 100, the head 12 is rotated around the axis O with respect to the cap 11 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5. Here, the first elastic body 51 is held so as to be prevented from slipping out of the cap 11 and from rotating, as described above. The second elastic body 52 is held so as to be prevented from slipping out of the head 12 and from rotating. Therefore, in the elastic structure 50 in the non-deformable state shown in FIG. 2A, by rotating the head 12 with respect to the cap 11, the second coil portion 52a is released from the first spiral groove 51b, and the second elastic body 52 moves upward while rotating with respect to the first elastic body 51 so that the first coil portion 51a is released from the second spiral groove 52b, so that the engagement between the cap side engaging portion 11e and the head side engaging portion 12f shown in FIG. 1B is released, and the head 12 rises with respect to the cap 11. At this time, the elastic structure 50 switches from the state shown in Fig. 2A to a state (elastically deformable state) in which the first coil portion 51a and the second coil portion 52a are positioned in series as shown in Fig. 6A. That is, in the elastically deformable state, the first coil portion 51a and the second coil portion 52a are elastically deformable, so that the head 12 can be biased upward with respect to the cap 11.

[0039] In addition, the first elastic body 51 and the second elastic body 52 of this embodiment include the first step portion 51f and the second step portion 52f described above. Therefore, when the head 12 is rotated with respect to the cap 11 and the second elastic body 52 moves while rotating upward with respect to the first elastic body 51, the second tip portion 52e fits into the first step portion 51f, and the first tip portion 51e fits into the second step portion 52f, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B. That is, even if an attempt is made to rotate the head 12 in the reverse direction with respect to the cap 11 in this state, these function as stoppers against rotation in the reverse direction, so that it is possible to prevent the elastic structure 50 in the elastically deformable state from switching to the elastically non-deformable state.

[0040] When the head 12 in the state shown in Fig. 5 is pressed from above to move it down (forward) as shown in Fig. 1A, the stem 7a is pushed down together with the head 12. As the stem 7a is pushed down, the bottom part 5b also moves down via the connecting tube 5a, and the liquid-tight contact between the annular part 5d and the lower part of the inner sliding piece 6c is released. When the head 12 is further pushed down, the piston 6 also moves down together with the cylindrical member 7 and the internal member 5, and the inside of the cylinder 1 is pressurized. As a result, the liquid in the cylinder 1 passes through the communication port 5c, passes through the connecting tube 5a, the stem 7a, the cylindrical part 12a, the passages provided inside the top part 12b, and the inside of the nozzle 12c, and is discharged from the discharge port 12d to the outside world.

[0041] When the head 12 is pressed, the first coil portion 51a and the second coil portion 52a are elastically deformed, and an upward elastic force acts on the head 12. When the pressure on the head 12 is released, the head 12 starts to rise due to this elastic force, and the piston 6 rises together with the internal member 5 while the lower part of the inner sliding piece 6c abuts against the annular portion 5d again in a liquid-tight manner, so that the pressure inside the cylinder 1 is reduced. As a result, the valve body portion 2b moves away from the bottom wall portion 1a, the suction port 1d is opened, and the liquid content in the container can be sucked into the cylinder 1 through the pipe 4. In addition, when the head 12 is in the raised state as shown in FIG. 5, the seal member 8 rises together with the cylindrical member 7, and the seal portion 8b is located above the vent port 1f. That is, since the container (not shown) is in communication with the outside world through the vent port 1f, the pressure inside the container is not negative even if the liquid content in the container decreases, and the container is prevented from being deformed so as to be crushed.

[0042] In this manner, according to the pump type dispenser 100 of this embodiment, the head 12 can be returned to its original position after the content liquid is dispensed without using a metal coil spring, and the pump type dispenser 100 can be used in the same manner as a conventional pump type dispenser.

[0043] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the spirit of the present invention described in the claims unless otherwise specifically limited in the above description. For example, the configuration of the above-mentioned embodiment can be appropriately added or deleted, and the configuration of one embodiment can be applied to another embodiment. Furthermore, the effects of the above-mentioned embodiment are merely examples of the effects resulting from the present invention, and do not mean that the effects of the present invention are limited to the above-mentioned effects.

[0044] For example, the pump described above is merely an example, and the present invention also includes cases where other types of pumps are adopted.

[0045] In addition, the first elastic body 51 and the second elastic body 52 that constitute the elastic structure 50 have the same shape in this embodiment, which is beneficial in terms of reducing mold costs, etc., but the shapes of the first elastic body 51 and the second elastic body 52 may be different.

[0046] 7 may be used instead of the above-described elastic structure 50. The elastic structure 50A is composed of a first elastic body 51A and a second elastic body 52A. Here, the first elastic body 51A and the second elastic body 52A are obtained by omitting the first step portion 51f and the second step portion 52f provided in the above-described first elastic body 51 and the second elastic body 52. ​​When the elastic structure 50A is used, the function of preventing the first step portion 51f and the second step portion 52f from switching from the elastically deformable state to the elastically non-deformable state can be achieved by providing the cap 11 and the head 12 with a rotation prevention structure for preventing the head 12 from rotating relative to the cap 11, for example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1: Cylinder 1a: Bottom wall part 1b: Cylinder wall 1c: Flange wall 1d: Inlet port 1e: Holding cylinder 1F: Ventilation hole 2: Valve member 2a: base 2b: Valve body part 2c: Connecting piece 4: Pipe 5: Internal parts 5a: Connecting tube 5b: Bottom 5c: Communication port 5d: Ring section 6: Piston 6a: base 6b: Outer sliding piece 6c: Inner sliding piece 7: Cylindrical member 7a:Stem 7b: Expanded diameter part 8: Sealing material 8a: Cylinder wall 8b: Seal part 9: Holder 9a: Holder base 9b: Flange 10: Packing 11: Cap 11a: Ceiling wall 11b: Lower peripheral wall 11c: Female thread 11d: Upper peripheral wall 11e: Cap side engagement part 11f: Cap side anti-rotation rib (cap side anti-rotation part) 11g: Cap side engagement protrusion (cap side anti-rotation portion) 12: Head 12a: Cylindrical part 12b:Top 12c: Nozzle 12d: Discharge port 12e:Outer peripheral wall 12f: Head side engagement part 12g: Inner peripheral wall 12h: Head side anti-rotation rib (head side anti-rotation part) 12j: Head side engagement protrusion (head side holding portion) 50, 50A: Elastic structure 51, 51A: First elastic body 51a: First coil section 51b: First spiral groove 51c: First base 51d: First groove 51e: First tip 51f: First step (stopper) 52, 52A: second elastic body 52a: Second coil section 52b:Second spiral groove 52c:Second base 52d: Second groove 52e: Second tip 52f: Second step (stopper) 100: Pump type dispenser O: Axis line

Claims

1. An elastic structure including a first elastic body and a second elastic body made of synthetic resin, The first elastic body includes a first coil portion extending helically around a predetermined axis, a first spiral groove extending helically around the first coil portion, and a first base portion connected to a root portion of the first coil portion and having a rotation prevention shape that prevents rotation around the axis, the second elastic body includes a second coil portion extending helically around the axis, a second spiral groove extending helically around the second coil portion, and a second base portion connected to a root portion of the second coil portion and having a rotation prevention shape that prevents rotation around the axis, An elastic structure in which an elastically non-deformable state in which the first coil portion and the second coil portion are positioned in the first spiral groove and the first coil portion is positioned in the second spiral groove in an opposing orientation is switched to an elastically deformable state in which the first coil portion and the second coil portion are positioned in series when the second base is rotated relative to the first base about the axis.

2. The elastic structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first elastic body and the second elastic body have the same shape.

3. 2. The elastic structure according to claim 1, wherein one of the tip portion of the first coil portion and the tip portion of the second coil portion has a stopper with which the other of the tip portion of the first coil portion and the tip portion of the second coil portion engages in the elastically deformable state to prevent relative rotation of the second base with respect to the first base to the non-elastically deformable state.

4. A pump-type dispenser comprising: a cap attached to a mouth of a container that contains a liquid content; a pump that is held at the mouth by the cap and is driven by the back and forth movement of a stem; a head having a discharge port for discharging the liquid content to the outside and connected to the stem; and an elastic structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3 that applies an elastic force to the head in a direction to retract the head, wherein the head is advanced toward the cap to dispense the liquid content in the container from the discharge port, the cap includes a cap side holding portion that engages with the first base portion to hold the first base portion, and a cap side rotation prevention portion that prevents the first base portion from rotating around the axis; the head includes a head-side holding portion that engages with the second base portion to hold the second base portion, and a head-side rotation prevention portion that prevents the second base portion from rotating around the axis; The pump-type dispenser is configured such that when the cap is rotated about the axis relative to the head, the state is switched from the non-elastically deformable state to the elastically deformable state.

5. The cap has a cap side engagement portion, The pump-type dispenser according to claim 4 , wherein the head has a head-side engaging portion that engages with the cap-side engaging portion in the non-elastically deformable state.

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